I tend to have levels of taxation that are dependant on the type of settlement. I put Carthaginian colonies on normal taxation, Allied and client states on high/very high. Poorly developed regions epanded into that are by the coast always become Carthaginian colonies, highly developed regions become Allied/Client states (especially enemy faction capitals).

This makes expansion and army recuitment much much harder due to poor levels of tax revenue (most of your regions are carthaginian colonies and therefore most of the tacation you are getting per season is 'normal'), but I think for a trade-based faction like Carthage, its a much more 'proper' way of playing them. I also think from a pseudo-roleplaying perspective, the races and tribes that fought for Carthage were so wide spread and of dubious loyalty (they not having any real equivalent of Romanisation) that low levels of taxation keep certain elements 'sweet' to the Elders.

Any views on this method and how to improve it further?