Favorite Nomad Faction in EB?

[Rilder]

Bah horses are for weaklings!

Though Sauromatae's isolation makes it a bit fun.

[HunGeneral]

Bah horses are for weaklings!

Hmmmm. Sounds like someone could do with a "visit" of Pahlav and Saka horse archers and cataphracts.

[Tolg]

Hmmmm. Sounds like someone could do with a "visit" of Pahlav and Saka horse archers and cataphracts.

Just ignore him, it's his fear speaking.

On Topic:
Pahlava, the Sauros don't have proper catas and it just feels wrong that the Saka are still building tents after having conquered all of asia... (I hope the Saka get a reform similar to the Pahlava one in EB II) (Apparently something like that was planned for EB I, but was never realized.)

[Rilder]

Fear of what? Afraid of using horse archers?

I don't like nomad factions because I don't like using calvary. not because I'm afraid of my own units shooting me or something.

[bobbin]

Voted for the Saka as they get the best of both worlds with excellent cavalry and then good infantry with the indosaka reform. They also have in my opinion the best horse archer unit in the game the Saka Early Nobles. The only annoyance is that theire settlements can't reach above city level.

Not even close to the Russian steppes my freind. .

My guess is either the massagetae or a numidian tribe as they were at least semi nomadic.

[Ibrahim]

Pahlava-only ones with freely recruiteable Clibinarii, rather than tying them to FM's. excellent cavary too.

I still fondly remember the pahlava tryout I had-them cata's were Awesome!

[delra]

Pahlava are best Nomads cause they can settle down and civilise and have normal build trees. So you can build a big empire with big cities. Not just a bunch of tents here and there.

[HunGeneral]

I voted Saka - I like there units alot pluss they can recruit there best horse units everywhere (including the best Horse archers - early Saka nobles - like bobbin said). Pahlav is also nice but I don't like there limited recruitment area.

(I hope the Saka get a reform similar to the Pahlava one in EB II) (Apparently something like that was planned for EB I, but was never realized.)

So do I - that would make te Saka my absolute favourite (among the nomads for sure)

I don't like nomad factions because I don't like using calvary. not because I'm afraid of my own units shooting me or something.

Oh, I had the (wrong) impression you claimed nomad units were weak and I meant you should try fighting against them to prove otherwise

[Fabio Scevola]

I voted Sauromatae, only nomad faction I have played so far but only (nomad) faction I have feel like playing. Basically because they have the most beautifull unit in the whole game (Sauromatae FM), are in the best position to atack/sack/raid both Europe and Asia, are trully nomads (never settle, in the game at least) and the most close to scytians, who I would love to be in game. Perhaps in EBII, I hope.
PS: And because I reaaally like their Dragon faction symbol.

[Tollheit]

Why are the Early Saka Nobles so popular?
The Saka are my favourite nomad faction, but I don't like the ESN all that much...

Granted, they do have excellent arrow range, but:
- they can't do cantabrian circle
- they have low ammo (30, compared to 40 for most HAs)
- they have all the disadvantages of heavy armour, but still their armour value is pretty low (they seem to be on the disadvantageous side of a turning point); I'd prefer either Yancai Uaezdaettae, who have (only slightly) worse armour but retain all mobility including cantabrian circle, or a heavy HA with decent armour like Daha Uazdaettae for example.

[HunGeneral]

Why are the Early Saka Nobles so popular?

Granted, they do have excellent arrow range, but:
- they can't do cantabrian circle

Actually I don't even use cantabrian circle - as much as I know they only start "circling" when the enemy gets somewhat close which is not really useful - (with armored horse- archers it wouldn't be worth it because they tire faster) loose formation works better .

- they have low ammo (30, compared to 40 for most HAs)

True but thats why you need some HA for support. In the beginning the ESN are the heavy cavalry arm after your Saka FMs - they cost less then Saka Cataphracts/ Saka Bodyguards (as they are called in EB1.2) are easier acceseable and supporting your FMs first with bows and then with charging the rear of engaged enemy units they gain exp quite fast.

- they have all the disadvantages of heavy armour, but still their armour value is pretty low (they seem to be on the disadvantageous side of a turning point); I'd prefer either Yancai Uaezdaettae, who have (only slightly) worse armour but retain all mobility including cantabrian circle, or a heavy HA with decent armour like Daha Uazdaettae for example.

There armour really doesn't seem to be to great but there main task should be to shoot arrows at the enemy, rest if possible an then follow the charging FM cavalry to finish of any enemy forces remaining. Differently from other HAs they can fight quite well in meele especially if there used to charge alreday engaged troops.

Besides thiss the other reason why they are so usefull is that these guys are you only HA who (in theory) are availeable everywhere, in every province of the campaign map pluss they only requiere the first level "nobility" training facility (court) to train them which is availeable both with Nomadism and Pastorialism. So once you get far away from the steppes they could turn out to be the only HA you have close by in sufficient numbers and can retrain them fast enough for constant use.

The other noble- nomad units you mentioned are also quite usefull but there recruitment areas are quite limited.

[Tollheit]

Actually I don't even use cantabrian circle - as much as I know they only start "circling" when the enemy gets somewhat close which is not really useful - (with armored horse- archers it wouldn't be worth it because they tire faster) loose formation works better .

I do use cantabrian circle a lot, and it works well for me.
If you order each HA unit to attack a target, they will start circling as soon as they start to shoot at that target. It makes a big difference (less losses). Even standard unarmoured HAs can withstand arrow fire for quite some time while circling.

but there main task should be to shoot arrows at the enemy, rest if possible an then follow the charging FM cavalry to finish of any enemy forces remaining. Differently from other HAs they can fight quite well in meele especially if there used to charge alreday engaged troops.

I often use Saka Riders for this job. Albeit not armour-piercing, their lances are faster than those of ESN, they are probably as fast as any infantry weapon, so they do quite well, too. (+ they are cheaper)

[bobbin]

Why are the Early Saka Nobles so popular?
The Saka are my favourite nomad faction, but I don't like the ESN all that much...

Granted, they do have excellent arrow range, but:
- they can't do cantabrian circle
- they have low ammo (30, compared to 40 for most HAs)
- they have all the disadvantages of heavy armour, but still their armour value is pretty low (they seem to be on the disadvantageous side of a turning point); I'd prefer either Yancai Uaezdaettae, who have (only slightly) worse armour but retain all mobility including cantabrian circle, or a heavy HA with decent armour like Daha Uazdaettae for example.

They're cheap, upkeep 643 compared to 898 for the yancai, excellent in melee, have good morale and a MASSIVE recruitment area. I'd have to disagree with you on the armour front, i feel they have good enough armour for repelling arrows whilst still having lots of mobility. Their only downside would be the number of arrows but thats pretty much it in my opinion.

I tend to use them supported by swarms of light HA's early in the game, but later on they become my main HA component supporting the cataphracts. I use the Dehbed to fufill a similar role in my Pahlava games.

[Macilrille]

All those nomad Barbaria/Barbarus should be wiped out and led through Rome in Triumph so they no longer bother civilised peoples!!!

I never actually played a Nomad faction. When current Roman one is over it will probably be Baktria or Suebi, then a Nomad one. I will look at your recommendations then.

[Rilder]

Despite my hate of Nomads, I have played a sauromatae game, it was funish, but horribly unsatisfying, the AI couldn't fight back and felt way to exploitive to use them

[athanaric]

EBII has another great nomad faction though. I think that's going to be my new favourite.

Looks as if it will have another "barbarian" faction as well... I bet it's the Boii.


Voted Saka for their lovely units and their ability to adapt in certain way to Hellenic and Indian ways. Economically speaking, I like Pahlava best though.

[HunGeneral]

All those nomad Barbaria/Barbarus should be wiped out and led through Rome in Triumph so they no longer bother civilised peoples!!!

Well first of all: "quisqe est barbarus alio".

Actually I found roman and hellene slave... levy soldiers to be quite usefull as fodder... distraction while my horsemen finish of anyone who opposes them.

I never actually played a Nomad faction. When current Roman one is over it will probably be Baktria or Suebi, then a Nomad one. I will look at your recommendations then.

I'll be here, don't worry.

New nomad faction in EBII? - I should check the EBII forum more often.

[Ignopotens]

the Sauros don't have proper catas

The Sarmatians don't need cataphracts! Their FM's are tanks. I don't think I ever had one die in battle, and I had their empire essentially the size of modern Russia when I lost my save in the 1.2 upgrade.