Quote Originally Posted by Tellos Athenaios View Post
The problem is that RTW doesn't allow recruitment pools. The mechanism of recruitment pools really fits the historical levy mechanism of factions like the SPQR which rely on loyal colonies of settlers to raise armies; it will be part of the "empire building" effort that is simply not there in EB 1 since you are quite right that the SPQR faction is almost "given" an empire at turn 0 (at least as far as the military/order infrastructure goes).

On the other hand far as I know the engine is heavily (if not overly so) biased towards sea trade; which means that without substantial re-mapping of Italy (less regions = less ports = less income) the SPQR simply starts out with an unrealistic strategic advantage over factions like the Arche Seleukeia which arguably had a more potent economy at turn 0. (Unfortunately the trade with India and Arabia doesn't yield its fair share of lucrative income in EB 1; nor do the Silk Road and similar trade routes.) So even in EB 2 I expect that the SPQR will be among the easier-to-manage factions.
I gues Medieval2 unit recruitment system will mean more historical accurate armies for factions? (Meaning no more levy spams and such)