Sauromatae is my new favorite faction.

[plutoboyz]

hmm... yeah, Sauromatae is tough. it cost a lot to exterminate them.

[[cF]HanBaal]

Sauromatae are a great faction with great units. Their bodyguards are definitely the best in game imo. Kinda easy start since there is no real menace from other factions. I think only Hayasdan after some years attacked my southern town. This makes it a bit boring if you like to roleplay and use diplomacy to survive. I remember i blitzed my way until I conquered Pella with its uber mines, acquiring in the way the provinces needed to get Elite Thracian Infantry. These combined with your powerful horse archers (aim for Aorsi Noble riders -> kinda cheap, armoured, good charge, fast, great range and available in many of your home provinces) make your armies virtually invincible. Pella and the preceding provinces conquered on the way there, which also have mines and ports, took me out of debt in no time since the Maks had just built in Pella mines level2 (send a spy and see when they build it). From there on roleplay and see how easy you devastate greek and roman armies.

[Brave Brave Sir Robin]

Ugh in my Sauro campaign the Saka blitzed me by turn 10 or so. Fighting them back was a real chore and I never even conquered further west than Gelonus before a CTD killed my campaign.

[Madoushi]

I can never get the Force Diplomacy mod to work, so 'roleplaying diplomacy' isn't really an option for me. When I bump into another civ and they attack me, if I can't ignore them, I have to wipe them out, which is why I try and avoid Greece and Hayasdan

[Unintended BM]

Saka attacked me and took my eastern most starting town. I made a good army and I'm over there now holding them back from going any further. I think that's the way to do it.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I love when this happens:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Madoushi]

Well, I've had a lot more success playing Sauro in my most recent game. I'm getting much better at combat, but I have no idea how to make money.

No matter how far west I conquer, and how quickly, I always end up thousands upon thousands of mnai in debt.

[vartan]

Well, I've had a lot more success playing Sauro in my most recent game. I'm getting much better at combat, but I have no idea how to make money.

No matter how far west I conquer, and how quickly, I always end up thousands upon thousands of mnai in debt.

Exterminate. Sack. Or more correctly, Enslave.

[WinsingtonIII]

Exterminate. Sack. Or more correctly, Enslave.

Those steppe towns are so small that enslaving doesn't net you very much though, and you need to make sure you build up population to get a more stable economy as well.

[Titus Marcellus Scato]

Well, I've had a lot more success playing Sauro in my most recent game. I'm getting much better at combat, but I have no idea how to make money.

No matter how far west I conquer, and how quickly, I always end up thousands upon thousands of mnai in debt.

Then you're not blitzing fast enough - Tanais, Gava-Yugra, and Gelonus should all be in your hands by the beginning of the fourth turn, Spring 271 BC. And your taxes probably aren't high enough either. It doesn't matter if you're losing population through negative town growth at the beginning, money is more important. Just keep public order at 85% or higher.

Can give you more detailed tips if you want.

[vartan]

Then you're not blitzing fast enough

No such thing.