The Dreaded Steppe

[HopliteElite]

I'm playing an Arche Seleukia campaign and despite 80% of my generals either desecrating the temples of local gods, thinking they are gods themselves, or worse, both, I'm on the verge of completing my victory conditions. I want to conquer the whole map though and since its only 218 BC, time doesn't seem to be an issue. My question is for those who have conquered the whole map: would it be wise to ignore the steppe and just set up fortifications and river blocks along my northern borders while I push through Italy, North Africa, Iberia, and Northern Europe and then just blast through the steppe last using the wealth of these far more financially beneficial regions? It seems like my armies will quickly become bogged down in the steppe with minimal gains if I begin marching north once I'm officially done with Baktria and Parthia, both having one settlement left, respectively.

[Fluvius Camillus]

I'm playing an Arche Seleukia campaign and despite 80% of my generals either desecrating the temples of local gods, thinking they are gods themselves, or worse, both, I'm on the verge of completing my victory conditions. I want to conquer the whole map though and since its only 218 BC, time doesn't seem to be an issue. My question is for those who have conquered the whole map: would it be wise to ignore the steppe and just set up fortifications and river blocks along my northern borders while I push through Italy, North Africa, Iberia, and Northern Europe and then just blast through the steppe last using the wealth of these far more financially beneficial regions? It seems like my armies will quickly become bogged down in the steppe with minimal gains if I begin marching north once I'm officially done with Baktria and Parthia, both having one settlement left, respectively.

I play the AS too, I think it would be wise to mop up all eastern factions and keep the Massagatae and Alani lands as border or buffer provinces against the Sauro's. If you would leave steppes alone I would leave Sauro's for the last. If the Hayasdan still live they probably keep the Sauro's at bay.

But about the cash, faraway huge cities are as much money munchers as poor settlements are (garrisson costs).

Good luck!

~Fluvius

[Megas Methuselah]

You're conquering the whole map? Why?

[vartan]

You're conquering the whole map? Why?

The correct question is: Why not?

[HunGeneral]

I haven't conquered all of the map but I would suggest to leave the Nomads lands alone for a long time three reason:
- there lands are as poor as hell (taking the Steppes is a job for time when you have money to burn)
- theres better and easier loot closer by.
- they are damm dangerous in there home terrain while the land it self is poor - much much effort for little gain. Like I said wait until you want to see money burn.

If you get to the point of conquering them: always fight in there cities and don't let them fight you on open terrain. As has acces to the most diverse troop selection east of the Atlantic, use that to your adventage.

Good luck to painting the world Silver Grey!!!

The correct question is: Why not?

Exactly!

[Titus Marcellus Scato]

If you get to the point of conquering them: always fight in there cities and don't let them fight you on open terrain.
Exactly!

I wouldn't worry TOO much about that. Best way to kill horse archers on the open steppe is with your own horse archers. Just move a family member into the region and then hire as many mercenary horse archers as you can. Problem solved.