I think the enemy will define the tacts IMO, you did like I did in my roman campaign and took the west side first. You may have en taken carthage before they fully developed. If enough time elapses tho the eastern side with the phalanxes and elephants is a whole different ballgame. Altho the AI is dumb and will keep their units in slow phlanx that you can harass them to death or simply use your long range bowmen to decimate them. But the cataphract cavalry, elephants and scythed chariots can cause havoc.


For me javelins are supposed to be good vs chariots and elephants, but if they are in a run speed, in the time it takes you to set and aim and fire a javelin unit , usually means they are, just about if not already, on you.


The camel cavalry while slow has a chance to spook horses, so this can offset roman cav.

10 armies is more than I ever fielded, I usually had 3-4 at the most unless your planning on attacking cities behind your lines, or if you start a civil war you may need that many when the other 2 roman factions start hitting you. For me it was sorta easy as they came to me pretty much so just defended against them and wore them down.

ATM I am playing the western side and have yet to meet romans in battle, but I do the slow and steady approach myself.