Orvis: Yes I know a lot of factions are really really hard to start out with on VH/VH, i'm just saying that once you get going, it's too easy.

Dedmoroz: Nice name hehe (i speak russian)
Yes you're totally right, and I do that as well, in my current Brutii game I've only gone for the Egyptians who normally get way too strong. I've now conquered them fully at around 190BC, however many other factions are now huge, especially Armenia, Seleucia, Germania and Brittania (other than the romans who are also all doing decently). Also since I left the greek peninsula alone completely, something that the Brutii AI never does, the Macedonians are now the single most powerful faction (equivalent in strength to me after conquest of all Egypt), having taken out the Greeks and Thracians both. The other Romans have just declared war on them...hehehe, I don't think i'm gonna help, lol