I think it takes away from the series. They are supposed to be historical games. So what is with all the stupid inaccuracies? Three Roman factions? WTF?
Mods FTW.
Right, but the acknowledge they're never going to get the history COMPLETELY accurate. It's impossible. So they've decided to sacrifice a little bit of history nerdity in favour of some fun. IMO, to an extent gameplay > history.
Three Roman factions actually represented how ancient Rome functioned prior to the Marius reforms and Rome's real rise to power (and after, but to a slightly lesser extent) and although they could've made it work better the theory was sound. Having three Roman factions constantly vying for dominance not only meant that Rome wasn't as unstoppable as it would otherwise be ingame (another instance of where gameplay > history. Sure, it'd be historically accurate to have the Romans steamrollering out of Italy and flattening everyone, but it wouldn't be much fun playing as the Gauls) but that it also reflects the precarious, volatile foundations Roman society worked on.