Perhaps we can reuse the models but come up with a new cloth player color pattern.

Some of them IIRC only the clothes

"Barbarians" also used formations and army groups (bands, squads, regiments, battalions, myriads, etc.).

So, it reuses the Ptolemy props?

Probably one of the more egregious examples I've seen. Some thought and code should be put into this at some point. It's been an issue since territory was first introduced, but it's never been a priority item. I think the code should decide when to "vacuum" closed these holes and choose how to assign it to someone. Might be more complicated than we think, but worth looking into.