Heya Barry,

Being fascinated by the Qart Hadashtim myself for a long time, I played two long campaigns with them in EB II yet (both 300+ turns).
They have one of the most complete rosters so far.
I do understand your plea for their elite troops, of course (although I've never come across any clear source that the Elite Phalanxes were used much, to be honest) - but at the moment they are one of the most fun factions to play in EB II.

Just use an army like this to be prepared for almost anything the AI throws at you:

1 general
3 Libyan Spearmen
4 Liby-Phoenician Infantry
1 Sacred band Infantry
1 Libyan Skirmishers
1 Numidian Skirmishers
1 Numidian Infantry
1 Maure Infantry
1 Numidian Archers
1 Balearic Slingers
1 Numidian Cavalry
1 Iberian Light Cavalry
1 Iberian Medium Cavalry
1 Liby-Phoenician Cavalry
1 Sacred Band Cavalry

If you have the money, add in a unit of elephants (as replacement for one of the light cavalry units) and/or replace some of the Libyan/Liby-Phoenician Infantry with mercenary phalanxes.

That is a good (yet a bit expensive) "eastern" army, in Iberia you have various iberian spear-/swordmen you can use instead of the Libyans. Once you enter Gaul there's plenty of celtic troops to add even more variety.

And then there is one general thing about the Carthaginians: they didn't use factional troops often. For example: during the hundreds of years of warfare in Sicily they used citizen armies only a couple of times. They relied on mercenaries, mercenaries and ... more mercenaries for the most part of their history. Just do the same in your campaign.

In my second campaign with them I never used more than 6 recruited units in any army, the bulk of my armies were mercenaries.

You don't even need phalanxes to be honest. Your cavalry rules the battlefields of Europe. (The Near East would be much different, all those heavy bodyguard cavalry units would probably waltz over you, but which sensible Carthage general would lead an army to - for example - Asia Mikra? )

What is especially interesting about a Carthage campaign is the fact that you are - while potentially the richest and most secure faction in the west - in danger throughout the whole campaign. In the first 100 turns you will most probably have to face the Massylians (therefore the EB I "strategy" of not having any troops in North Africa after the conquest of the coast provinces is not recommended at all anymore) and the Areuakoi/Lusotannan (although you can get an alliance with the Lusos if your offer is good enough), the Romans will sooner or later attempt to grab the island provinces/Sicilia from you, whichever faction holds Massilia/Tolosa (usually Aedui in my campaigns) will go for the Baleares and Corsica/Sardinia, too ... and you should not neglect the Ptolemaioi, either, although the somewhat depressing inevitable EB I Sand Wars can be avoided with clever diplomacy.

The building tree is rich in options, the colony system is a long-time motivator, the units themselves are stunningly beautiful (and versatile) etc etc etc

So, again: while I'm looking forward to for example the Iberian Assault Infantry myself (one of my absolute favourite units in EB I), I don't agree that the lack of a handful of late-game units is a serious problem for the Carthaginian campaign to be fun.

If you want to play a faction that feels incomplete, try Getai (who don't even have a real bodyguard by now, using a low-tier spearman unit for their family members) or to a lesser extent Sab'yn (they are a lot of fun nevertheless!).

And generally - just have patience. At the moment there are "only" about 40% of the planned units in game, the other will follow over time.
(Although the EDU doesn't list heavy Liby-Phoenicians or Heavy Libyans so those two might not appear at all in EB II).

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