Lordbula, I feel like I remember that campaign. Were you posting recaps of action in the AI expansion thread or something?

Let me begin by saying that I love to hear that people are playing the Getai and enjoying them. You'll be pleased then to hear that there are some new units and other things in store for the Getai in the next build, only some of which have been previewed.

It is possible to blitz with the Getai and get most of your conditions met within 15-20 years, but remember that, while the Getai controlled a total of 4 provinces not long before 272, they don't regain a unified territory that large for more than 100 years, as best we can tell. Now, that doesn't mean you can't blitz, go for it, it is kinda fun. But my most satisfying Getai campaign saw me with about 5 core provinces in 250, and then playing the Epeirotes and Maks off each other (Getic raiding armies are a lot of fun) until Pontos invaded Europe.

Anyway, I guess your question was primarily about the start. If you take 1 of the 3 provinces easily reached from your starting position (Kallatis, Naissos, and Sarmiszegethusa), and then disband most of your troops, you can be in the black pretty quickly. Taking 2 does it a little faster than that even.