how many factions are playable?

[hung41584]

i count 11,

[LordKhaine]

With a touch of unlocking via config file...

romans_julii
romans_brutii
romans_scipii
egypt
seleucid
carthage
parthia
gauls
germans
britons
greek_cities
macedon
pontus
armenia
dacia
scythia
spain
thrace
numidia

That's 19 fully playable. I believe there are problems trying to play as the rebels or the senate, so I wouldn't count them.

[hung41584]

but if you beat all 3 roman faction campaigns, only 11?

[Pausanias828]

but if you beat all 3 roman faction campaigns, only 11?

Yes, there are only 11 playable factions available by winning a long or short campaign, they are as follows, the houses of Julii, Brutii & Scipii, Egypt, The Seleucid Empire, Carthage, Parthia, Gaul, Germania, Britannia & the Greek city states. All the others require you to mod the game.