Is this a bug or just poor gameplay?

[lemming3k]

Having just started out on Rome I'm having a serious civil war issue.
I can't really win because the turncoat general was already such a high level with elite loyal troops (of which I somehow removed some a long time ago as I saw this coming, but he's instantly tripled in size).
Fair enough, it now says I can wait it out and they're confined to dacia and northern greece:

The main issue however is my manpower is now 0 after only a year. I've built no troops, I've just constantly been given them by other characters. This is a serious issue as they all have a personal loyalty to whoever raises them so they can't be disbanded, and they don't seem to want to get wiped out either, even at 0 troop level they're just stuck there. They're just sucking my manpower dry!
Is it really designed this way? I can't refuse the troops or get rid of them in any way, and now I can't re-enforce any that need it.
Am I just supposed to accept them and ignore them? I think I have to go back to an old save, I just can't accept over 40k troops in such a short space of time.

 

[Selenimar]

The manual sayeth...

The unit’s Loyalty extends even after that Character is no longer in command of the cohort. If the country
enters a Civil War, these cohorts will stay with the leader they remain Loyal to, no matter which side he chooses.
The Loyal cohorts may also bring other cohorts that are with them onto the side which is chosen by the subject of
their Loyalty.

By spreading the cohorts of the potential traitor, you increased the chances of them getting more troops on their side.

Actually, the entire civil war mechanics seem to be covered in the manual. The rich characters do buy troops using their own money.

 

[lemming3k]

That's odd. The cohorts I took away from him haven't defected at all, they're still with me, he only got his current stack + new troops. The additional ones are of his own making, presumably mercenaries. Several characters have defected, but no legions or generals. I guess they're buying units for him like they're being brought for me. But surely both our manpower should be close to 0 then especially as he has so few provinces? I noticed AI units replenish far more effectively than my own.

And that still doesn't help me having my manpower drained by "gifts" I can't refuse or disband.(the option is greyed out, not just expensive as the manual states).

 

[Wave]

Your manpower also drains when you lose provinces but this

And that still doesn't help me having my manpower drained by "gifts" I can't refuse or disband.(the option is greyed out, not just expensive as the manual states)

Sounds weird. Maybe you're just having the pop up window placed badly, try moving them as I've never seen permanently grayed out options in EU games

 

[lemming3k]

Your manpower also drains when you lose provinces but this

Yep, it went down by 22k, which I thought was fair enough though I have no idea how the enemy raised so many troops and still has the manpower to replace them, especially now they're down to 2 provinces. :/

Sounds weird. Maybe you're just having the pop up window placed badly, try moving them as I've never seen permanently grayed out options in EU games

It says units with personal loyalties cannot be disbanded - which is a major issue when they're randomly popping up by the half dozen every month. :/