why are most factions poor?

[athanaric]

AS requires too much macro and micro for a beginner to be comfortable with IMO. Macedon is a gamble, as are KH and Baktria. I'd recommend Carthage or Rome, both have fairly unique units and a powerful economy, as well as an easy start. I believe the OP could actually succeed with his start as Saba, if he adjusts his style accordingly. Their economy isn't super strong, but decent enough to make up for a few botched early turns. Plus once you have conquered two settlements, Saba should be getting positive income.

Actually the one faction with the most "horrible startig debt" potential is Lusitania, I believe. They start with four or so extremely expensive units of elite cavalry which are good later on in the campaign (against elephants or for harassing slow Carthaginian/Roman units), but almost useless at the start.

[Titus Marcellus Scato]

Actually the one faction with the most "horrible startig debt" potential is Lusitania, I believe. They start with four or so extremely expensive units of elite cavalry which are good later on in the campaign (against elephants or for harassing slow Carthaginian/Roman units), but almost useless at the start.

I use two of those four units of elite light cavalry to help my Lusotann family members take out the enemy cavalry in Sucum-Murgi and Tyde. They take massive losses in the process, but if used to pin down the enemy horsemen, they can save the life of your general, whose light cavalry bodyguard is too weak to protect him alone against heavier and/or more numerous enemy cavalry. Better to lose a unit of elite light cavalry you can't afford to maintain anyway at the beginning, than to lose a family member.

[themilo]

I’m going to try out Rome since my biggest issue with vanilla Rome is that playing as Rome is very easy, please tell me that the marius reform automatically upgrades all of my units so that I don’t have to manually replace all of my troops.

I tried out some other factions and I’m surprised how many factions start out with negative income and surrounded by enemies, maybe this mod just isn’t for since I like challenging games not frustrating games.

[athanaric]

I’m going to try out Rome since my biggest issue with vanilla Rome is that playing as Rome is very easy, please tell me that the marius reform automatically upgrades all of my units so that I don’t have to manually replace all of my troops.

Well the Marian reforms aren't very easy to get - I'm still waiting for them - but there's another reform before that. And the only units that can get "upgraded" to another unit type are the bodyguards of a couple of eastern factions, which happens when Rome upgrades one of her Central Italian cities to "huge".
Rome should be pretty easy though, the first thing is to build paved roads ASAP and take Taras from the Epeirotes (like, during the first few turns). After that, you can slowly expand as you see fit.

I tried out some other factions and I’m surprised how many factions start out with negative income and surrounded by enemies, maybe this mod just isn’t for since I like challenging games not frustrating games.

Well, 272 BC wasn't a very good year for a faction in the Med to be in. Also, you'll get used to the rough start in EB.

[Titus Marcellus Scato]

Oh, one other tip - highly recommend EB beginners play on Medium/Medium difficulty level. In vanilla you can play Very Hard/Very Hard and still win quite easily, but not in EB.

I know the EB website recommends Medium Battle and Very Hard Campaign difficulty, but Very Hard Campaign is really, very hard. The AI factions get loads of extra money, plus they treat your faction as Public Enemy No.1 as soon as they share a border with you and get very aggressive.

Very Hard battle difficulty is even worse - the enemy troops fight like the near-invincible Spartans in the movie '300' and they have +7 combat and morale bonuses on top of their default stats. Stick to Medium battle difficulty, so the enemy troops get no more bonuses than your own (apart from bonuses gained from the command abilities of the general - AI generals are very good in EB and will have more command stars than yours.)

[themilo]

This may seem like an odd question but can rebel cities train troops in this mod?

[NeoSpartan]

This may seem like an odd question but can rebel cities train troops in this mod?

Most don't, there are very few "rebel cities" that are scrypted to represent actual factions/tribes that cannot be represented in the game due to limits of the RTW engine. You will see these rebel cities have a full stack in its capital, and a roaming full stack. Also, once you siege the city another army pops up. I can't remember them all, but I know there is 1 in the Iberian peninsula and 2 in/around the Alps representing 2 major gallic tribes (Helvetti, and Boii) IIRC.

....ps, its been years since I posted in this forum!

[athanaric]

This may seem like an odd question but can rebel cities train troops in this mod?

They do, but usually only low tier units, unless there's a script involved (see above).

[Principe]

Public Enemy Number 1. So true. I once had the British in RTW march all the way through Gaul to Italy use to attack Patavium.

[sleep_well]

Starting treasury is more a balancing issue I think, I mean can we know for sure how much money or wealth each faction had at that time?