TheLand said:
That's interesting. I was pondering making this kind of change, so thanks for your feedback
Next update on my "experiment": The year is now 530
The Seleucid Empire is always at "0" manpower, but that didn't stop them from achieving a major victory against the Egyptians.
After two middle scale aggressive wars with Carthage, Egypt was unable to fend off the Seleucids.
Carthage: after two minor aggressive wars with Rome, two wars (both defensive) with Egypt and one war with Epirus/Magna Grecia, Carthage seems to be at a severely weakened state (no manpower, and possibly not many existing armies). Lusitani lauches two aggressive wars against Carthage. The result: Carthage is out of Spain, leaving the Lusitanians ruling half of the Iberian peninsula.
Rome (me): I have no manpower problems. I successfully colonise the Alps and palleoveneti. I DOW Magna Grecia and get Anger Bruttus and Syracusae. I also take advantage of the Carthaginian second war with Egypt and I DOW them. I quickly capture Sardinia, Corsica and Panormus. I demand Corsica but the Carthaginians refuse. I land some forces at Africa and get two provinces there, while the Lusitanians DOW the Carthaginians a second time. Being in such a desperate state, the Carthaginians accept to cede control of Corsica, Sardinia and Panormus to me. The addition of new "imperial" provinces vastly imrpoves my economy, and the future seems bright.
My conclusion: An increase in manpower gain from allied provinces (maybe i should remove their manpower penalty) or imperial provinces (from nothing to 10%) is necessary. This was the first time i saw a minor (Lusitani) humiliate a major power, and this can only be explained by their manpower reserves (tribal brotherhood). Carthaginian wealth was not enough to hold back the Lusitanians.