One feature of both rtw and mtw2 is to use the city detail panel.

Proposing a new building( say a port) you will see what benefit it will bring as a half-coloured icon corresponding to the type of building. Try different buildings and see their effect . If you have many cities and can build only a few things then you can make a much better assessment of what and where to build.

Also consider demolishing extra buildings like blacksmiths in cities well away from the front. Make sure you demolish any building not going to make it when you convert castles to cities. Knock over unnecessary guilds in cities captured(who wants every city with a thieves guild?).

Moove your capital city to place where your empire will get max benefit(usually near its center) use to financial button to gauge this will taxes on automanagement.

The key to $'s is trade income and taxes, growing your cities is more important in mtw2 than in rtw . Chivalrous generals will help here as they have a direct benefit on growth.


Also I'd like to correct the impression about roads. Highways often (but not always) bring much increased trade. Also being able to hammer rebels early by rapid response troops over quick roads means a less loss of income from rebels.