Fun way to play AS.

[Smelly Jelly]

You'll need an Eleutheroi barrier between you and the Ptolies. Easiest to get this would be if you stayed in Mesopotamia,, rather than Micra Asia, because Ptollies are close there.

Also, i wouldn't bother getting a ceasefire & trade rights with them, until they solidly have Cyrene. Otherwise about every turn they'll attack Cyrene, and you'll get a scripted war. Makes me think... one should have the option to let the Cyrenians take care of their own bussiness.. but yea, the game's called total war after all, so what can you expect, huh?

Move your capital as far away from the provinces you'd like to lose.