When i was playing i was loosing 140k a turn until i took back most of Italy, so financially i would say that the rebellion is fine.

But my main point was that somehow we need to spur on the player to take rome back, either giving them some sort of benefit, or some sort of punishment if not. The civil war didnt last years and years. Julia ceasar quickly united rome, through defeating his enemies or bribery. But in this case im sure many players may decide to defend rather then attack the situation. So if they were to loose the named legions as a result of loosing rome after a certain time, and many of the colonies loosing happiness over time. This could spur on the player to take rome, and to end the rebellion quickly.

Who knows what would of happened, there was never this situation, but both the rebel romans and the senate romans may stay strong, the player could choose to avoid the rebels and just defend, so i think there definitely needs to be something to push them into direct fighting.

If it could be scripted of course.

Also are the rebels scripted to mainly attack rome? if that can be scripted.