i would like to share my experiense with PP playing for 2 years so far. All tips i give would help a non coiner progress in the game.
First to say i dont use revivng ( all drachmas go for sketches). So my results regarding persians gain/loss are not poluted from reviving.
Here is how i understand PP System:
1. PP work on loan system based on resourse value. When you get a payout you get a loan.
2. In order to get the next payout you pay the loan + tax of 20%
3. The tax you pay is your LOSS of playing persians. More payouts result more tax payed, therefore higher losses. If you play so often PP and payouts are too frequent you may end up loosing large amount of your army inevitable and irreversible, because your production doesnt cover the tax payed.
4. Losses can be minimized when playing PP during tourneys but never neutralized. Overall loss is always 10% and higher
5. Best units for persians are Sidonians, golden shields and Carthaginians. Those units make your city to convert up to 30% more resourses per day comparing to regular army. They cost a lot of grain, which is good because grain is the most abundat resourse at the moment. Their production time in academy and amphetheater must be maxed out.
6. The more upgraded those units are - better rewards from tourneys i.e reducing loss from tax payed. Deff/off booster, dominion helps at the same manner.
7. If you are not a coiner- dont go over position of 65
8. A payout from position 65 is payed usually for 18-20 days of sacrifycing sidoniaans G.Sh. and Cart. With normal units >24days
9. Dont use any regular, champions, denari or imperial units on persians.
10. With this type of system city produces 2-3 mil of deffense/offense every 18-20 days
11. Always play parsians with full storages. It is acceptable if you lack of wood for example use persians to fill it up. It will reduce army payout with the ammount of resourse given.
Using this system will allow a non coiner to get a decent general quipment, decent tournament rewards (drachmas and champions) and nice leveling.