Not true at all sah.

I havent even managed to build up an army, I am retrying my Casse campaign, however it happened again!

You see I also have just sat on my barbarian ass and saved money and built the correct structures.
However as the Sweboz and the Casse, I have been constantly besieged by mostly full-stacks of Independents! ! !

My Getai campaign was very fun, however long it lasted, I did very well in defeating the Eleutheroi and I expanded very quickly over 4 settlements in a year. I kept out of debt, and then the kingdom of Epeiros migrated north! !

Anyway, as far as the Casse and other northern tribes go, it's sounds like it's partly a matter of luck as to whether your start is shaky or downright devastating!
I love it! I'll persevere then!

However if anyone wants to post their strategies briefly on the beginnings of finance and expansion for any and all factions, I would still very much like to hear them.