Since I removed the negative farm levels, I've played to about 235 bce with only one CTD which didn't repeat when I reloaded the game. Population growth is pretty slow compared to some other mods, which is good, but with negative base farming levels growth would probably remain negative for decades after a conquest -- sewer systems can only do so much, and farms and colonies and Policies take forever to build. So far, Rome is my only huge city.
I'm having a blast, but the poor Gauls, Germans and Spaniards have not managed to conquer a single province. The Ptolomies are doing very well. Carthage has taken a couple of African provinces and one Spanish province, but they've lost all of Sicily to Rome.
Just for fun, I adjusted all Roman units (not Italic, just Roman) to zero turn recruitment. I feel like Pompey the Great, stamping my feet and having legions rise up all over Italy. Seriously, it really does feel quite historical -- you can raise half an army at Rome in one turn, and another half from the rest of Italy, if you have the money.
I also activated naval units in the EDU and made Marian Legions dependent on the reforms. Should the Polybian units disappear with the Marian Reforms? I sometimes wonder if they should, or if we should just have the option of raising troops from the head count. Maybe "Marian" cohorts should be a type of mercenary unit only available to Rome.
Thanks again for this.