I have to admit that I agree with Pharnakes on this one. As much as it is historically accurate to say that Rome was able to make this huge empire, I believe that EB is still a game of putting players in a historical context and then letting them change history. After long periods of time I think all factions should have their lvl 2 government areas expanded and be able to recruit their factional troops in larger areas. After all, who knows what would have happened if Carthage had supported Hannible more, and as a result won the Second Punic War, or if one of the Sucessor States were able to hold off the others and make a powerful kingdom. We can't say for sure, but I think all of the factions should be able to make as unified and mighty an empire as Rome can. Plus, if you say that there wouldn't be enough people of your empire's ethnicity to provide factional troops in larger areas, consider the fact that Greeks moved everywhere when Macedon conquered Persia, and Romans lived in all corners of the empire eventually. Again, I believe that the factional expansion at the beginning is fine, but it should be expanded as countries stay alive for long periods of time. Just copy Rome and increase it during reforms.