Is my perfect game of EB possible?

[d'Arthez]

Those traits are probably hidden in export_descr_character_traits. Sadly changes to that file are probably not save game compatible.

[Bodeni]

Easy difficulty is annoying in that it doesn't offer a challenge. However, it does make the AI much less aggressive and seems to limit the elite unit/merc spam you get with hard/very hard. Keeps the Independant factions alive for a more reasonable time too. I use this is conjunction with the "force diplomacy" mini mod so I can role play more historical campaigns. I've not yet noticed a money boost for the player on Easy, but then again I just use add_money and keep my troops to a realistic amount/quality.
Far from perfect but very good for AARs or RP. Wish I could remember how to set up faction swapping again, made campaigns even more interesting.

[d'Arthez]

The only "money boost" you get on Easy is an increase in Trade income. You get 1.2 x Trade income on Easy, 1.00 on Medium, 0.92 on Hard and 0.85 on Very Hard if memory serves. Hardly earth shattering in EB.

[QuintusSertorius]

I always play on M/M - I don't like the AI getting bonuses in battle, nor them getting even more money on the campaign map. Maybe I should have gone E/M, if that means they're less aggressive towards each other?

I used some FD at the start to get some ceasefires, though ironically I haven't needed it since then. The AI is surprisingly reasonable when I've only taken one settlement off them and beaten everything they've sent my way.

I'm about to liberate Athenai, which has fallen to Makedon, and gift it back to Koinon Hellenon. I wonder if it's a losing prospect in the end, though. At least KH always have Rhodos, assuming I don't steal it, to keep them in the game. I might gift-migrate them to the Bosporan Kingdom if they continue to struggle and let Makedon have Greece.

[QuintusSertorius]

Is this convoluted? I've installed Koinon Hellenon in Kyrene (to give them an extra source of income besides the fallback of Rhodos). Now I'm looking to install Makedonia in Mesana, so that there's some actual tension and fighting on Sicily. As it stands Syrakousai is still independent and the Qarthadastim otherwise have the run of the place.

It's 243BC, there's still a load of unconquered territory, but my recent actions have broken quite a few alliances (the Ptolemies stuck with me rather than the Qarthadastim - don't know if that means a new ahistorical war in the desert or if they'll continue ignoring each other).

I'm wondering if I should have a go at a Qart-Hadast game; they have a lot of units just like the Greek ones I like (hoplites, thureophoroi, etc) and loads of merc options too.

[d'Arthez]

I would say that would partly depend on the political relationships between SPQR, Makedonia and Qarthadastim. One can reasonably argue that control of Sicily has some merit before attempting to expand eastward. Not to mention that it might be better for Makedonia to try and limit the SPQR expansion, fearing that the Romans will aim to expand to Greece / suppress Greeks in the colonies.

You can also declare war via a custom-made script between two AI-factions. So in terms of getting things interesting, that may do the trick, especially if you can argue that expansion eastward is blocked by Pergamon.

With regards to sustaining KH in mainland Greece: I find that they need to take Korinthos to sustain themselves in Southern Greece. Sometimes they will take Korinthos after Athenai has fallen. But that is the exception rather than the rule. Part of the reason is that Korinthos puts pressure on both Sparte and Athenai. Conquering Korinthos will effectively reduce the borders for KH. It might be better to transform KH in a Bosporan Kingdom, also to keep things interesting around the Crimea.

I think desert wars between Ptolemies and Qarthadastim is not high on the agenda for either faction. the KH base in Kyrene could however blow up and cause a "full-scale" war between the two of them.

[QuintusSertorius]

Ultimately it's a western Greek outpost, so at least there won't be huge culture penalties, and it's not as if adventurers from the mainland haven't tried their hand in Sicily before. I could imagine some aristocrat chafing under Qarthadastim dominion appealing to Makedonia for aid.

I'm trying to avoid scripting if possible, things get really messy and complicated fast if I do.

Ironically, they've took Korinthos themselves, then re-took Athenai recently, so your prediction was pretty accurate. I'd love to install them in the Bosporous, but there are some massive stacks of Eleuetheroi chock-full of horse archers, and both Chersonesos and Pantikapaion have stone walls (and big garrisons). Maybe later if I'm stuck for things to do I'll give them a go, but stone wall-sieges are hardcore.

Let's hope you're right about the desert war. Both have had a go at Kyrene, which is why I thought it would be in better hands having a proper faction controlling it. Even if independence is ahistorical after 250BC.