I see this topics is about rules on MP BI games.
Some say rules are necessary cause the game is unbalanced. Some say that cantabrian, art, ele, berserker are not fair.
My opinion is that BI is the most balanced game of the totalwar series. I mean the one that presents the most number of different factions all competitive.
All factions have strength and weakness.
Lombardi/Burgundi – axes, berserkers, archers, no cantabrian
Eastern empire – plumbatarii, e. archers, no cantabrain
Western empire – plumbatarii, palatine, bad archers, no cantabrian
Sassanid – archers, ele, catafracts, cantabrian, bad infantry
Saxons – hearts, axes, bad archers, no art
Slavs, Hun, Vandals – Good archers and horse achers, cantabrian circle, some good infantry, no art
And so on.
Imo if you play without rules, accepting ele, art, berserker, and so on, the game is various and still balanced. And for this we must thank CA … for this not for other.

Some can spam. And that surely could spoil the game. I saw more than once 10-12 plumbatarii army, and more than once 6-8 eastern archers armies. I saw all elephants too. But usually the spam is tipical of new players and childish persons, because it is not challenging.
So if you are veteran, try to beat it. That’s all.

Marcus