Saba army makeup?

[Magmaniac]

I'm playing a campaign as Saba, and I'm having a little trouble deciding what my high tier armies for facing the giant Seleucid menace should look like. I feel like I've been using too much cavalry, the next stack I make is going to have:

4 Temple Guard (TG)
6 Heavy Spearmen (HS)
4 Ethiopian Axemen (EA)
4 Heavy Cavalry (HC)
1 Saba Camel Archer (CA)
1 General (G)

arranged like this:

[-EA-][-EA-][--HS--][--HS--][--HS--][--HS--][--HS--][--HS--][-EA-][-EA-]
[-__-] [-__-] [--__--] [--__--] [--__--] [--__--] [--__--] [--__--] [-__-] [-__-]
[---------TG--------] [---------TG--------] [--------TG---------] [--------TG---------]
[---------__---------] [---------__---------] [---------__---------] [---------__---------]
[----------------------------------------------CA-----------------------------------------------]
--------------------------------[---------------G---------------]--------------------------------

And the heavy cavalry out on the flanks.


The plan is to engage the enemy line with the heavy spearmen, and try to flank with the ethiopian axemen if possible. The temple guards will dish out ranged damage as long as possible, and I can either charge them into the line if it needs help, or send them flanking if the opportunity arises. The camel archer is to do some random ranged damage and support my general should any random enemy unit approach my rear, and the cavalry will deal with the enemy cavalry/general and then hit the back of their line. Does this sound good or should I do it differently? Should I be using different units? What do you usually do?

[TM Is Back]

It looks good, though I would not use to many Ethiopians because they cannot be retrained in TSE held lands. I would instead try something with chariots Personally I would make a strong anvil and then smash the enemy from the sides and behind.

So maybe something like:

Eastern Spearman and Heavy Spearman to form the first line. Heavy Cavalry, maybe chariots, and hammer infantry a bit further back to the sides. Circle the enemy and smash them.

[CaesarVincens]

Personally, I've always favored cavalry heavy armies with Saba. Saba really doesn't have the infantry to face most other factions. But, 4-6 heavy spearman backed up by various cavalry: Bedouin camel archers (better than the Sabaean version, IMO), light and heavy cavalry, and whatever mercenaries come your way; Median cavalry are nice around Mesopotamia.

[Magmaniac]

I have sort of a cavalry heavy army right now, but it feels like I take too many losses even though I win the battles. *shrug*

...and I really hate chariots so I'm not going to use any.

[CaesarVincens]

I agree. Chariots rarely give you the value you want.

For cavalry tactics, it's all about hit and run, maximizing the effects of your javelins, and charging when the time is right. If you can hold your cavalry's javelins until they have an open flank or rear to attack, you will cause many more casualties than if you throw them at the front. And don't let your cavalry get caught by any infantry heavier than peltasts. Finally, try to keep an eye on the morale of weakened enemy units. When they are wavering, or sometimes even just shaken, a charge from two or three units on the back or better two sides will cause a rout.

Saba takes some getting used to - they can't fight through an infantry battle so well - but the reward is an new interesting style of play.