For the hardest experience in the game, use this set-up:
- Economy - Poor
- Fighter Transactions - Off
- Player Perks - Off
- Side Quests - Off
- Ironman Mode - On
As developer, I would be interested to hear how people do with that setting when the game is released!
Here's hoping you can reach Rome and wipe the smug looks off the opposing bosses faces waiting for you there (had the artist make them as annoying as possible to rub sand in the wounds of the player whenever a match was lost):