well with all nations in, I can understand that this is blood fest! You are playing 'Last of the gladiator' or what?
I prefer to use settings which leave something like 15-20 provinces for each empire (in average), when I try a new strategy.
I dont touch at all the taxes (well I reduce them until unrest is at 0, then put them back to 100%), as I'm not a big fan of home province burn out (I find the idea a bit sad), and have not figured anything interesting to do with patrols in doms II.
edit for Cherry : Its in my first post Cyber-Marionette: 6 impossible AI on The Eye. It leaves some room sure. I only engaged an AI (Tien Chi) at turn 15 and onward I think.
[ October 31, 2003, 20:11: Message edited by: Pocus ]