Really this should be posted elsewhere but I am still not allowed to post except in the newbies corner.

A my first attempt at RTW I decided to emulate Belisarius and reconquer Rome via Carthage. I amasses plenty of troops and had no difficulty in taking Carthage but by the time I reached Rome I was heavily in debt and short of troops and since I am in the wrong time scale I had to fight the WRE. Very badly outnumbered I was totally defeated. So what do I do?

My latest plan is to ignore the rest of the empire and leave Constantinople with a large fleet and pick up troops in Ephesus, Athens,Kydena, and Cyrene before attacking Carthage.

Questions

1. How many troops should I leave in each large town to avoid serious disorder?

2. Is there any way to start in the sixth century when the Goths occupy Rome since I think they will be easier meat than the Romans.

3. Does it matter how much you go into the red? When I started I was the richest and most powerful faction?

4. Any other suggestions for a beginner who is fascinated by RTW even though M2TW has finally arrived on how best to emulate my hero General Belisarius?

Andrew