QUOTE=Rumpole;2053320355]You start with just one city, but there are lots of lightly defended nearby settlements that belong to your supposed allies the Seleukids. You can capture three of them and get out of debt in just a couple of years.

Send the army of Patrokles, minus one archer, to attack Alexandreia-Eschate.
Send the army of Theodotes to attach Antiochea-Margiane.
Send all the troops in Baktra, plus the extra archer, to attack Alexandreia-Ariana."

Silly me. Since the Seleukids were my good buddies and I didn't want to ruffle their feathers, I thought it would be a great idea to go after Chach. Brilliant, eh? Chach turned out to be an isolated backwater, Saka were furious, Pahlava attacked me a few turns later because of my "alliance" with Selukiae, and then the Ptolemoids jumped in since they were allied with Pahlava. So I wound up fighting a three-front war just to keep friendly relations with a useless ally!


"Beating the Saka on the battlefield is almost impossible. If you are not averse to exploits, build phalanxes and auto-resolve all your battles with them. It is convenient to wipe them while you are free from Seleukid attacks."

Difficult and exhausting, but not impossible. As others have mentioned, you should fight them in hills, mountains, and settlements to reduce their mobility. Have at least a two-to-one numerical advantage. Try to get them to attack you; otherwise avoid attacking them if they have a significant elevation advantage. Keep your units together at all times and don't chase routers (unless you've already won). Keep your phalanxes in front to absorb missile fire, while guarding their flanks with regular infantry and skirmishers (more armor the better). Stay constantly on the alert for sudden attacks to your flanks and rear. And once you (finally!) manage to take one of their towns, get a Type-IV government and mercenary general as soon as possible.