I tried playing these guys in my early experiences with BI. First time I tried staying put. That was a disaster, I managed to somehow kill the first Hunnic stack that attacked me. Those General Bodyguards are tough b******s. The second stack pulverized my weakened forces before I could replenish them. I went into a horde and kicked the Roxolani out. They moved west and conquered Constantinople!! Now they were getting rich and kicking butt, while I was stuck with their poor lands and Campus Sarmatae. The Huns took over my original home town, and just for kicks fortified it with a full stack!

I just couldn't produce units and still keep my main city happy. The population growth overwhelmed me (and that's sad since it really isn't anything great). When I finally had a decent stack to go after the Huns, the Sassanids had triumphed over the ERE and came after me! I decided I had enough, folded my tail between my legs and wept.

I have decided that next time I play these guys I will move Southwest and pillage and plunder as much as I can. I figure I will settle in Athens since during all my games I have yet to see a horde pillage or settle there.

I agree that the Sarmatians should be rated as Hard. I mean their starting position puts them square on the sights of both the Vandals and the Huns. Not to mention the lands around them are resource poor. Add the fact that you don't have peasants to garrison your cities and things aren't looking favorable. At least you can horde, a small consolation.