I shall try what you suggest - thank the gods for game saves. I have won on H/H for both the Jullii and the Brutti and had similar challenges, it just seems to me that the scippi are a bit more difficult to control. I have met with some success by shifting my population from over populated cities to smaller towns thru the use of raising peasants and transfering but it takes a level of micro-management that is difficult to maintain on a regular basis. Multiple distraction factors on the home front - kids - wife equals 1 or 2 turns before my attention is required elsewhere - know what i mean? I find very easy to lose track of where I am in the game and what my intent was......Thanks for you imput Professorspatula......