I have just finished two games of the BOR First Punic War 264 BC start managing to lose as both Rome and Carthage. Just before the end of the 284 turns, Carthage rose from “certain” defeat to dispatch my Roman army. After only about 2/3 of that number of turns on the other side, the Roman landing tipped the Carthaginian NM into surrender.
This scenario is surprisingly challenging each and every turn despite the main action centering on siege warfare prior to automatic siege engines for the Romans. Only Syracuse possesses a mobile siege tower, so Rome's first action must be to win Syracuse's alliance from Carthage.
Thoroughly well designed naval and land combat and action. The economic side requires careful planning in order to sustain the essential supply wagons and to build the fleets.