What would you say was the hardest faction to play as, and why? I waould say the Saba.

For the Hai and Pontos, the early game poses big financial problems but if you can expand into the weak neighbouring provinces (ie take the rebels and pontos of you are Hai, and vice verse) then you can hold out against the sucsessor spam and begin to make real progress. The Saka, although they have no money, have arguably the best units in the game and they have no dangerous neighbours as Baktria and the AS are busy elsewhere.

So I would say the Saka are the hardest, as you have to be a very good commander to break the sucsessor armies with red sea hoplites and arabian light A-S (ie all your units are naff). Your financial situation isnt great but it has potential. However your strategic position is shockingly bad. Expanding means taking on PT's or the AH, neither of which you can beat without being awsome on the battlefield. Moving your armies takes forever due to the deserts, and it is very hard to play the AS and the PT's off against each other. Altogether a very hard faction to play as.