Commanding the battles from the general's point of view would be tremendous fun if the battles would be slower.

Back to ironman rules:

No more rebel hunting with family members. Rebels are unworthy opponents for your noble family line, send your captains to do the task.

Family members shall fight only other family members. That is, if an enemy army lead by a captain then you shall send a captain too (and autoresolve!).

Diplomats shall not be used to "defend" chokepoints, bridges.

You can bribe only family members, or troops lead by family members. After all who wants unworthy barbarians when you have the best soldiers of the word (playing a roman faction that is).

No more mass extermination. You can exterminate only 1 newly councuered city out of 10. And of course, no more tricks letting one city to rebel only to recapture and exterminate.