Dealing with the Sab'yn

[duncan.gill]

Does anyone have any suggestions regarding dealing with the Sab'yn? In almost all of my campaigns I have been in the situation where I have taken out most of the middle east - unfortunately it means that I am constantly being raided by Sab'yn armies that come out the desert. It is more a nuisance rather than a proper threat dealing with these raids however the trek to their homeland is too long/hard to make to conquer a few poor cities. Does anyone have any suggestions? I was thinking of conquering a city down the bottom of the nile, gifting it to them and hoping that they would then expend their energies fighting against the Ptolemies? Any suggestions?

[AlexanderSextus]

put like a 3/4 stack army in a fort on the border of where they attack you...you could even put it over the border. let them siege it, and whoop their ass every time you sally out. Works against Gauls in my romani campaign.

[Fondor_Yards]

All those near their starting city get decent trade, and a few have mines, so might be worth it to conquer at least those, and let them siege their old homeland instead. Or us FD to make them see the light.

[Megas Methuselah]

I say you use a combination of tactics, starting with sending an Expeditionary Force to strike at their homelands, then FD'ing their *sses all the way to Ireland!
:dizzy2:

[Ibrahim]

I've had a similar situation to what you are describing, and advise against attacking the homeland; it's too far, roads are too poor, and the culture penalty means that you will have a very high risk of a riot, and with it, heavy losses; also, missile trrops in a wall= death to attacker. and knowing the saba'yn's propensity to use them, i say no assaults unless if absolutely necessary. I lost around 200 in the entire egyptian campaign (as AS); one city in arabia cost me 2 times the number, all for one city.

my suggestion: go late roman on this; put forts in strategic areas where the saba'yn attack, garrison with troops, and when they come, have a field army ready; you don't need a big one, as the enemy will have light units, and you can be reinforced by the fort garrison. diplomacy and assassination can help as well.

[Danest]

Quite likely that they are not as poor as you think. Some of them are potentially important cities with a fair amount of wealth.

[Ibrahim]

Quite likely that they are not as poor as you think. Some of them are potentially important cities with a fair amount of wealth.

I never said they were poor; only a hastle to hold.:dizzy2: