"@Dani:
Thanks.....I think the main thing with the rebellion is to do three things:
1) Check the number and strength of initial rebel legions is right - are there enough armies and are they strong enough opposition?
2) Are the settlement garrisons strong enough?
3) Are the finances right for a) the player and b) the rebels? - do the rebels start spawning further legions? is it financially right - not too much into debt and not too much money...ideally the player should have very limited resources to see them through the crisis."

By the rebellion, I assume you mean the rebellion that starts at turn 3 or 4? Tested this with 6 different starts, four on H/H, two on M/H. Trying to get a feel for how to efficiently start the game.

In general, my games go like this:

Carthage takes Arritium and Ariminum with ease. I use Nepos to weaken Hannibal's army (I've never actually defeated him). Carthage seems to raise new units from Genoa, but not a lot. In every game, no armies spawn when I take Genoa.

Around turn 3 or 4, I get the rebellion notice. In six games, rebellions occurred three times at the notice and twice afterwards. In one game, they never occurred at all. I think the factor there was my saving the game after I got the notice and then not starting the script right when I resumed the game.

The rebellions occur in different cities. In general, one full army spawns, with double chevrons and silver shields. There may be two but it seems as if only one is the "tough" army (maybe I'm wrong?) Croton is one city that usually always goes rebel, with Rhegium and Cannae being common. Two cities go rebel.

Once Capua went and that was a real challenge: Capua goes rebel, the tough army spawns right next to it, and two turns later it lays siege to Rome, despite the fact that I have a full legion in the city. My legion (copper shields, two chevrons) lost. Rebels take Rome and, with it, my primary resource for building armies.

I was stunned. You should be proud, that's the first time I've ever, ever lost Rome in any RTW game anywhere.

My strategy is usually to let the Rebels take as much of southern Italy as they want, as they don't seem to raise armies - other than those that spawn. If they do, there not raising very many. My usual strategy is to kick Carthage out of the north, taking Genoa. I raise three full armies or legions, but this runs my treasury into the ground. It takes three legions to put down the rebels in the south, attacking from two points and splitting the enemy.

On H/H, it's a real challenge to me. I know there are other players out there who are better and might find it easier. I can always play on medium (and I'm not the least bit ashamed to do so ).

The settlement garrisons: usually there's one or two "strong garrisons" (remember, I let the rebels take four or five cities) and often on or two others with just one unit garrisoned in the city. I lay siege and the AI attacks. I fight a defensive battle and usually win.

Money: I have enough to build three legions. Because I know history, I don't fight a two front war. I kick Carthage out and then focus on the Rebels. Except for one turn, maybe two, I always money. Maybe not enough to build every building I want, but 15-30k per turn, depending upon how many of the southern cities the Rebels have taken.

It's hard to tell how much money the rebels have, but they don't seem to building lots of armies. Me, personally, I like the first few turns to be a challenge and they could even be harder. As it is, it's such a magnificent improvement over the version I playtested back in April.

"I've just updated the script with stronger rebel legions (silver armour and weapons)."

Looks like I'll be playing on medium.

"There are one or two buildings bugs and I'm aware that units can move through some rocks - there's no way of handling that ideally - you can reduce the size of the rocks and they look puny, you can increase the size of the collision area around them but then you run into unit formation issues....hopefully you can live with this?"

I can and quite easily. I figure at this point, I'll tell if you I see something outta place and you can just tell me to ignore it. That's better than releasing it and having you say, "Why didn't someone tell me about this?"

"The names shouldn't be an issue as we have multiple instances of the same "visible" name using different "hidden" names (to avoid CTDs and confusion of the game engine) as there were so few praenomina in use then."

Again, it's okay. I actually thought father and son, makes for a nice bit of roleplay. Just letting you know.

Apple: "Btw great to see you again."

Likewise. I just got back from a four week internship at the Freer Gallery of Art at the Smithsonian Museum. No money, long hours, bad food. Greatest four weeks of my life.

~ Dani ~