In my case the amount of Roleplay depends on which faction I play as. Most of the time I only start roleplaying after having a stable economy.

One of my favourite Ideas (with Saka) is that after I take the most northern city in India I roleplay that they became allies (type 4 goverment) of the Nomads who mostly left the area because of weather conditions. Then the "Indo -(Saka)- Hellenes" continue there war with the minor kingdoms in India - no nomad units used there just local forces, everything there will be payed from the Income of the towns (or towns) in India and from Time to time the Saka will ask the "Indo Hellenes" for suporting troops which must be sent and after a while be returned to there place of training.

I don't always disband experienced troops -most of the time I just send them backt to there province (they tend there fiels and live there lives but in case of crisis they can be called to fight).