I won as the Romans (H-M). FUN challenge -- and I do mean challenge. You work your keester off taking down Pyrhhus with a 3/4 stack, conquering Tarentum (and usually re-conquering Capua) while having to hold off the Gauls with a quarter stack and a lot of chutz-pah. Then you get to race up and down the peninsula (roads are life) with the one full stack that you can barely affford to reinforce, fire-fighting against Roman rebels in the South, Gaul to the North, and Greek Independents from North and (until Cartha does for Syracuse) South. Consolidating Sicily and Italy up to the Alps took almost 70 years.

Saba (VH-M) is less vexing so far. As scripted, I am at war with the Ptollies and the Selkies simultaneously (though I had almost 15 years before any war started), as well as Baktria (took Patala with a general who bought mercs on scene). Quite enjoyable so far and a better cash-flow per town than the Romoi.