Mine has turned out pretty well also. The increases in population have kept the Gauls in the game. It is around 217BC and playing very well so far. The brits were kicked out early by the Gauls. But they have finally returned. The spanish kicked the Gauls out of Spain. I took the 2 northern italian Gaul cities and have moved along the coast to Narbo. However it is a struggle. Without forts, I wouldn"t have managed it. The Gauls still have lots of troops but they are running out of provinces slowly but surely. It has been a really challenging campaign so far.

PS: I also reduced maintainance cost of lower level barbarian troops such as spears and axes by about half. They are able to maintain larger armies with the lower costs.