I really want a mod lowering the games replenishment to make it truly a hardcore experience, to slow down the snowballing that occurs when someone gets a tad too powerful.

Yeah, i use Pack File Manager (PFM), watch and READ some tutorials and then its easy. Further you can learn by opening other mods with PFM and learn how other do it. Start with small mods and then do small steps to get bigger. Dont start with an overhaul mod!
Further: If you can mod this game, then you can also mod Rome 2, Attila, Warhammer 1 + 2 (and probably even 3 after release)
Even Empire, Napoleon and Shogun 2 (Some small things are a tiny little different with these 3, but almost all is the same)
I wish you much fun and success learning to mod and then releasing mods on the world ^___^

hey can you tell how you make the mods ?

Hi Roebuck,
The mod is done and will be onlien in a few minutes ^____^

Can you make a mod that changes the speed of replenishing the units in the recruitment pool?