I'd like to generate discussion on how long it takes for a campaign to stop being enjoyable. This has consequences on gameplay experience if certain game mechanics take too long to achieve. Oftentimes (I speak for myself, but I suspect this may be the same for everyone else) I look forward to reforms and scripted events and enjoy a fun campaign trying to reach them, but should they take too long by the time they have happened the campaign has become a slog. My empire has become huge while working towards reform objectives and borders too many enemies. Every turn it's the same siege defense battles. Every turn I lose more interest.
An example would be the Marian Reforms or the Sweboz and Lugiones Panoply Reforms. You would have to wait about 600 turns at the very least to access some exciting features, but by then you've either become burnt out or you're that rare 1% with supreme perseverance. Even the turn 200 Thorakitai Reforms is a little too late for my tastes. The solution may be to modify campaign_script.txt to allow for early activation of reforms if more difficult objectives than the on-time reform's are fulfilled. For example the early Thorakitai Reforms trigger could be prematurely triggered by the Hellenistic player owning 3 level 2 mines and fighting 11 large battles against the Romans or rebels in Eastern/Central Europe and Galatia. Of course this basically limits the early trigger to the Western Hellenistic factions, but it makes sense considering they would be closer to Roman and Celtic military influences. The goal is not to expedite the satisfaction of achieving the certain game mechanics, but to allow them to occur earlier so that the player would be able to play with his/her new toys for longer periods of time before losing interest.
Another limiting factor is the complete lack of construction options late-game. Once all the buildings have been built by the player and AI, the entire administrative aspect of this game is gone. Perhaps 2.4 could dedicate some time for advanced construction options? Roma Surrectum II has a building tree for expensive but somewhat beneficial "monuments" buildings that provide a good money sink (and cultural flex option!) for the late-game player.
Anyways, post your experiences in this format please:
Average duration of campaign:
[Number of turns]
[Explanation]
Exceptions
[Number of turns and faction]
[Explanation]
[Number of turns and faction]
[Explanation]
[Number of turns and faction]
[Explanation]
...
I would like to just say that I really appreciate the work that the EBII team has put into crafting an immersive experience. This post is not to trash your work, but to foster ideas on how to prolong that experience even more.