Sauromatae-very surprised!!!

I have started on my first version 1 campaign the sauromatae. A faction I have never tried for more than two turns. I am very pleasantly surprised. For those of us who don't like constantly being attacked by foreign invaders this is probably the faction you should try. Though, do not get me wrong, you are invaded every so often by the Hai and the pahlav. But it is not every turn. I am now into Bc 202 and I have expanded to about 10 settlements and have a decent income where you can put up a fight if needed when attacked. Very interesting and wondering what others might say regarding playing this faction and the Nomadic version of this game? Very interested in hearing your responses.

Sauromatae Campaing set in 226bc on H/M.

http://rapidshare.com/files/66614724...matae.zip.html


https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/...romataehp7.jpg

https://img502.imageshack.us/img502/...2235427mb7.jpg
https://img502.imageshack.us/img502/...4b1c30f373.jpg

Allies: Sab'yn
Enemies: AS, Baktria, Hai (the saka shares a long frontier with you and are protectorates from the AS)

After conquering the steppes and the Crimean peninsula I planned to move west and attack Hellas.
Unfortunately the Palhava made the mistake of attacking me and I had to destroy them. This lead to the infamous AS vs Sauromatae.

Ten years ago I have managed to sack Persepolis leaving everyhting in ashes while my horses ruled over those territories. In the meantime I allied with the Saka who were fighting the Baktrians and the AS. Together we could rule the east and ripe greek influence from the earth.
The Hai declared war on me and I sacked their northernmost province.
In the meantime the AS began to train more elite units whose armour I found too hard to pierce with my arrows and they managed to win control of Syria from the ptolomei.

One year ago my armies conquered Gabai only to be encircled by a stronger elite-infantry army which I won’t defeat on time.
Then the stupid AI made it’s appearance by making the baktrians attack me which led to the following chain of events:
1º The saka broke our alliance.
2º The saka became protectorates from the AS ( I don’t know why since they were winning both wars.)
3º The saka allied with the Baktrians.

I have lost Gabai to the AS and Antiochia Margiane to the Baktrians. The AS has offered me to become a protectorate of them, I refused (even though it may not be a bad idea to accept it, destroy the HAI and then attack the AS by surprise....)

This is one of the most difficult campaings I have played. My economy is bad even though I built every trade building I could. I’m surrounded by enemies, fighting a thre front war (saka on the east, Hai on the center and the AS on the south).

It is definitly not easy. Thought pretty much what happened to you is what is happening to me. I found that using my cavalry is the key to winning each battle. Use them smart and when the enemy is weak, exhausted or when flaming arrows overwhelm them, attack by charging their rears. Having some infantry is the key to hold the lines.

Then attack from the rear!