Twitter discussion

[Cyclops]

Very juicy option this one. I can imagine faction-typical approaches, with Carthage sprining to mind (trade and tribute on their province's centres, military alliance with the periphery giving access to juicy local elite troops) as opposed to the crushing taxation usually preffered by Romans and Hellenes, relying on colonae/klerouchies as manpower sources.

Romans of course would mix it up, granting a degree of freedom to some conquered cities (eg Athens) but still taxing the arse off the province, and even absolving some tribal allies from taxation, only requiring soldiers for the Auxillia (Tacitus mentions somen German tribe like that, was it the Frisii?). I imagine the Hellenes did likewise?

This feature along with the colonae is going to give some real depth to province control.