The Dreaded Steppe

I'm playing an Arche Seleukia campaign and despite 80% of my generals either desecrating the temples of local gods, thinking they are gods themselves, or worse, both, I'm on the verge of completing my victory conditions. I want to conquer the whole map though and since its only 218 BC, time doesn't seem to be an issue. My question is for those who have conquered the whole map: would it be wise to ignore the steppe and just set up fortifications and river blocks along my northern borders while I push through Italy, North Africa, Iberia, and Northern Europe and then just blast through the steppe last using the wealth of these far more financially beneficial regions? It seems like my armies will quickly become bogged down in the steppe with minimal gains if I begin marching north once I'm officially done with Baktria and Parthia, both having one settlement left, respectively.

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Originally Posted by HopliteElite

I'm playing an Arche Seleukia campaign and despite 80% of my generals either desecrating the temples of local gods, thinking they are gods themselves, or worse, both, I'm on the verge of completing my victory conditions. I want to conquer the whole map though and since its only 218 BC, time doesn't seem to be an issue. My question is for those who have conquered the whole map: would it be wise to ignore the steppe and just set up fortifications and river blocks along my northern borders while I push through Italy, North Africa, Iberia, and Northern Europe and then just blast through the steppe last using the wealth of these far more financially beneficial regions? It seems like my armies will quickly become bogged down in the steppe with minimal gains if I begin marching north once I'm officially done with Baktria and Parthia, both having one settlement left, respectively.

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I play the AS too, I think it would be wise to mop up all eastern factions and keep the Massagatae and Alani lands as border or buffer provinces against the Sauro's. If you would leave steppes alone I would leave Sauro's for the last. If the Hayasdan still live they probably keep the Sauro's at bay.

But about the cash, faraway huge cities are as much money munchers as poor settlements are (garrisson costs).

Good luck!

~Fluvius

You're conquering the whole map? Why?

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Originally Posted by Megas Methuselah

You're conquering the whole map? Why?

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The correct question is: Why not?

I haven't conquered all of the map but I would suggest to leave the Nomads lands alone for a long time three reason:
- there lands are as poor as hell (taking the Steppes is a job for time when you have money to burn)
- theres better and easier loot closer by.
- they are damm dangerous in there home terrain while the land it self is poor - much much effort for little gain. Like I said wait until you want to see money burn.

If you get to the point of conquering them: always fight in there cities and don't let them fight you on open terrain. As has acces to the most diverse troop selection east of the Atlantic, use that to your adventage.

Good luck to painting the world Silver Grey!!!

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Originally Posted by vartan

The correct question is: Why not?

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Exactly!

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Originally Posted by HunGeneral

If you get to the point of conquering them: always fight in there cities and don't let them fight you on open terrain.
Exactly!

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I wouldn't worry TOO much about that. Best way to kill horse archers on the open steppe is with your own horse archers. Just move a family member into the region and then hire as many mercenary horse archers as you can. Problem solved.

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Originally Posted by Titus Marcellus Scato

I wouldn't worry TOO much about that. Best way to kill horse archers on the open steppe is with your own horse archers. Just move a family member into the region and then hire as many mercenary horse archers as you can. Problem solved.

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Or fill your army up with dirt cheap archers (persian, sarmatian, caucasian, subeshi)! About 10 groups in loose formations will defeat HA's, however armoured enemies can be tricky.

~Fluvius

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Originally Posted by Fluvius Camillus

Or fill your army up with dirt cheap archers (persian, sarmatian, caucasian, subeshi)! About 10 groups in loose formations will defeat HA's,

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That certanly is true.

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Originally Posted by Fluvius Camillus

however armoured enemies can be tricky.

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That even more - especially if we remember that Sauro FM bodyguards seem to be wearing Kevlar and or more armor then a T-34...

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Originally Posted by HunGeneral

That even more - especially if we remember that Sauro FM bodyguards seem to be wearing Kevlar and or more armor then a T-34...

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IIRC Sauro FM bodyguard armour value is over 9000.

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Originally Posted by vartan

IIRC Sauro FM bodyguard armour value is over 9000.

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Yeah, those guys are crazy. I'm terrible with horse archers, and yet I once managed to win a Sauro v KH battle because these guys simply refused to die. They were the last unit I had left and they routed three units without losing a single man. This included three frontal charges into a Greek General hoplite unit (I had basically given up and decided glory was the best option), and not a man fell.

The only ggod thing about Sauro FMs under AI command is the AI itself - too stupid o use them right. And ususally a half stack of Slingers friring at the same time should take these Riding Tanks down after a few volleys. (I wonder wether nomad horsemen in EBII will be as deaadly as they are in EB...:idea2:)

Yeah, as deadly, or to have some trigger! i love to play as sauromate, but no reforms and always using same tactics, is nice but can get long. I'm not saying to add a reform to give them legionarries when they conquer Barbaropolis, but some kind of trigger... revolting cities, or anyway... you all got to the point! making some different colors for the gameplay!

Sauro don't need a reform - unless it's a reform to make their early FM bodyguards WEAKER and give them the full 'tank' guys only after a reform.

just like the Saka reform perhaps... they got heavy hoplite units and bunch of half greeks at their disposal

Some kind of reform would be nice for the Sauros, but Idon't know what kind .... well maybe one to give them dismounted Nobles - change of terrrain usually leads to change of tactis and/or fghting style.

I recommend that you take a few of the nearby steppe towns so that you can get regional horse archers or something so that at least you'll be better equipped to deal with raids from the steppe. It's much cheaper than stomping around the whole area with giant phalanx armies.

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Originally Posted by Zradha Pahlavan

I recommend that you take a few of the nearby steppe towns so that you can get regional horse archers or something so that at least you'll be better equipped to deal with raids from the steppe. It's much cheaper than stomping around the whole area with giant phalanx armies.

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Alan Nobles in Gava Maszakata, Sarmatian Nobles in Uspe are available for the AS. The former are the only cav' apart from generals (who are, more than often, nomadic nobles mercenaries) I use in my current AS campaign. Once you have them, you love them.

Apart from the cavalries, I found out that Voinos is all Sauro need when it comes to infantry..... cheap human eating spearmen are awesome... :grin: they sent all the Makedonians I found running with their tail between their legs.....

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Originally Posted by Cute Wolf

Apart from the cavalries, I found out that Voinos is all Sauro need when it comes to infantry..... cheap human eating spearmen are awesome... :grin: they sent all the Makedonians I found running with their tail between their legs.....

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LOL Are these the Slavs? Love 'em.