I try to keep my finances under control by spending money on ports, markets and mines; and having just my capital (and two or three other strategic cities) where I fully develop barracks and stables. I train armies in these settlements and then move them to the provinces or to the front with family members. This strategy also means that when towns do rebel they have low grade soldiers and are easily taken back.

Sometimes I have to go round my settlements cutting troop numbers to bring the finances under control.

I have just completed a successful Carthage campaign. It was very difficult at first and I nearly quit. I wasn't making much money and everyone seemed out to get me: the Roman factions, the Spanish, Gaul, Numidia and Greece. I had one friend and that was Egypt who eventually stabbed me in the back (but paid dearly for it).

Early on I lost Corduba in Spain to Gaul and had little choice but to concentrate on winning and holding the islands next to Italy. The Julii and Scipii failed to expand because they were busy sending small forces to my well garrisoned cities. To prevent this I eventually landed forces in Italy, taking along some war elephants. The Brutii put up a fight but the Eternal City fell without much fuss.

I found that a wall of hoplites with units of Sacred Band infantry, supported by cavalry and slingers defeated most of the Roman armies sent against me. They were very experienced troops by the time I marched on Greece - engaging the Greek phallanx whilst Sacred Band cavalry flanked them and charged the rear.

I would have liked some archers in my armies, but slingers are good too - if you don't stand in front of them. And of course there are few mercenaries out there who can use a bow.

One mistake I did make was to "pacify" enemy towns in Egypt by destroying all military buildings. I garrisoned them with peasants so I could move my armies further into Egypt. These cities rebelled and I ended up with towns full of Egyptian peasants. When I took them back I stationed proper armies in them and they remained loyal until the end of the game.

Nice to write this to members as my work colleagues might mock me in the office tomorrow