The only serious drawback with SS that I have found yet after playing almost 40 turns is that auto-resolving, esp. assaults on settlements, is almost invariably a disaster of the most monumental proportions. I had the same experience in Kingdoms when playing as the Spanish. Field battles as the Spanish against the Moors are ridiculously easy but the assaults are not. It sure is slow moving armies, even with increased movement. I wonder if my generals all die of old age before being able to get to the Middle East if they go crusading or will the armies all starve to death.