Sauromatae is my new favorite faction.

[Blxz]

Oh yeah, sauro's are another of my favs. Cheaper and weaker horse archers with no reforms. Also the ability to recruit your nobles anywhere on the map is pretty awesome. Possible to conquer the whole world using only a single type of unit. I like to play where I unite all the nomads on the map. Unfortunately the lands to the east are not rich enough to support the long distances and difficult border that forms. My most recent game I had MAJOR issues with saka bribing my towns. I couldn't blitz them faster than they could bribe me to death. Pity.