Mini Guide: Getting started with Rome II

[Myth]

You may be right about the Cloaca Maxima, however there is nothing much else to build really. If you are expanding in all directions you will end up seeing provinces that have not grown. Also, the AI has food management issues so I speculate that some areas might be underdeveloped.

About the Auilia Barracks I agree - players should consider it after putting down a training field. I figured that with a barracks, temple to Mars and a training field, and a workshop close by, they'd be far ahead so from then on they're free to do as they deem fit.

I have to disagree with you on the barracks. First of all, you only need one barracks to start and thus upgrading it isn't a big expense. Also, you can get it after you get your military tech and from then on you start investing similar amounts of money and food in ports and civic buildings. Thus it's not a big amount that you save from not getting it. However I find that the Urbans actually perform better than legionaires. Also, come patch 3, the AI will be a lot more competent and thus I suspect the players will need the edge the urbans provide.

Now a tier 4 barracks and maxed military techs is a completely different matter, and probably won't do much of a difference when they come up.