Quote Originally Posted by Tollheit View Post
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 .

Quote Originally Posted by Tollheit View Post
- 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.

Quote Originally Posted by Tollheit View Post
- 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.