Piss-poor economy starts?

[John Mayer]

I've noticed in trying to start Arverni or Helleni campaigns that even with very high taxes I begin the damn game with -6000+ income.
How and why is this a good feature if not a bug?

[Boriak]

With the exception of Rome, Carthage and Seleucids everyone can have economic problems at the start if you don't know how to effectively build armies. The difference between EB and Vanilla RTW is the change in unit prices. You have to develop economies before you can benefit the results.

You can always use the add money cheat if you're in a pickle. That's how I'm planning to play the really difficult campaigns such as Baktria and Hayasdan where I always run out of money or time.

[The Kybrothilian]

Unit costs and upkeeps are pretty high in this game, especially for ships and elephants. Your options are to either blitz nearby settlements, or disband most of your units.

[smoesville]

You have to consider that carefully, in some cases if you disband you may never get enough men together to repel the enemy should they attack.

[The Kybrothilian]

Yeah, it depends on, how close the other factions are. If you are one of the factions in Gaul or Greece, you better not disband, but Saba, Cassae and Sweboz can disband without much concern.