Sauromatia is a nation of nomadic warrior tribes ruled by women. Men and women fight side by side and all prominent tribes are ruled by warrior queens. This is a legacy of the Sauromatians merging with the Amazon tribes in times past. The Amazons leaders were not accepted, because they were not warriors, but they influenced the Sauromatians, and women warriors gained power and prestige. Only the tribe of the Androphags has totally rejected the notion of female leadership. The Androphags are ruled by ancient Witch Kings who introduced cannibalism and man flaying to the Sauromatians. The Androphags also use hydras from the Marshes of Pythia in warfare.
"Sauromatia is a nation based on Herodotus' accounts of the Scythian peoples in The Histories. Here Scythians, Amazons, Sarmatians, and Androphags are described with their strange traditions and unsavory practices, and the book is a splendid source for any modder seeking inspiration for a new nation. Grave goods, archaeological findings and Osprey military books have given the nation further life. Finally, Witch Kings and elements of the Pythian predecession (serpents, swamps and hydras) were added to the Androphags to make the nation more sinister and Dominion-esque." -Illwinter
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Magic Access | Alt. Access | Unit Summary | Core Abilities | Buildings |
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4 (rare 5) 2 (rare 3) 2 (rare 3) 1 (uncommon, rare 2) 1 1 | Hero 2442 243 | Light and medium cavalry Serpent riders Lizard riders Hydras | Magic Snake Tattoo Magic Horse Tattoo Mobile Archer Skilled Rider Pillager | Standard Forts |
Capitol Gems: 1312
Blood Sacrifice: Priests can sacrifice a blood slave at a temple to help extend the dominion.
Magic Tattoos: Most of Sauromatia's units have magic tattoos. The Awaken Tattoos spell (11) gives those units limited Invulnerability. The Magic Snake Tattoo also grants Magic Resistance and the Magic Horse Tattoo also grants increased Defence Skill and Speed.
Sprite | Unit Name | Special Attributes | Comments |
---|---|---|---|
Scout 35 4 1 | Stealthy (50) Mountain Survival Forest Survival | Commentary here. | |
Soothsayer 75 4 2 | 190% Fortune Teller (10%) Old Age (55/50) | Commentary here. | |
Chieftain 85 20 1 Non-fort Recruit Available | Inspirational (+1) Pillager (3) Magic Horse Tattoo (1) Mobile Archer Skilled Rider (3) | Commentary here. | |
Armored Steppe Horse | Animal | Commentary here. | |
Sauromatian Manflayer 130 40 1 | Inspirational (+1) Pillager (5) Magic Horse Tattoo (2) Mobile Archer Skilled Rider (2) Female | Commentary here. | |
Warrior Queen 240 37 2 | Sacred Pillager (10) Magic Horse Tattoo (3) Mobile Archer Skilled Rider (4) Female | Commentary here. | |
Warrior Priestess 185 37 1 | 1 Sacred Pillager (5) Magic Horse Tattoo (2) Mobile Archer Skilled Rider (3) Female | Commentary here. | |
Cataphracted Steppe Horse | Animal | Commentary here. | |
Spirit Guide 65 1 2 | 17 Spirit Sight | Commentary here. | |
Enarie 205 1 2 | 12113 Spirit Sight Supply Bonus (10) Fortune Teller (10%) | Commentary here. | |
Warrior Sorceress 260 25 2 | 111100% 9 Sacred Supply Bonus (10) Magic Horse Tattoo (1) Magic Snake Tattoo (2) Combat Caster Skilled Rider (3) Female | Commentary here. | |
Armored Jade Lizard | Sacred Poison Resistance (5) Animal Cold Blooded Forest Survival | Commentary here. | |
Hydra Tamer 35 5 1 Capital Only | Resist Poison (15) Beastmaster (+2) Swamp Survival Tight Rein Swimming Magic Horse Tattoo (1) | Commentary here. | |
Manflayer 190 15 1 Capital Only | Sacred Inspirational (+1) Magic Snake Tattoo (2) Swamp Survival Swimming Skilled Rider (3) | Commentary here. | |
Witch King 525 14 4 Capital Only | 3111100% 10% 17 Sacred Resist Poison (15) Fear (5) Supply Bonus (10) Magic Snake Tattoo (2) Swamp Survival Swimming Skilled Rider (2) | Commentary here. | |
Serpent | Sacred Poison Resistance (5) Smart Mount (75) Undisciplined Animal Cold Blooded Swamp Survival Swimming Stupid | Commentary here. |
Sprite | Unit Name | Special Attributes | Comments |
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Sauromatian Archer 10 5 9 | Magic Snake Tattoo (1) | Commentary here. | |
Androphag Archer 12 6 20 Capital Only | Magic Snake Tattoo (1) | Commentary here. | |
Sauromatian Amazon 12 12 14 | Magic Snake Tattoo (1) Female | Commentary here. | |
Raider 20 13 19 Non-fort Recruit Available | Pillager (1) Magic Horse Tattoo (1) Mobile Archer Skilled Rider (2) | Commentary here. | |
Steppe Horse | Animal | Commentary here. | |
Lancer 25 20 24 Non-fort Recruit Available | Magic Horse Tattoo (1) Skilled Rider (2) | Commentary here. | |
Armored Steppe Horse | Animal | Commentary here. | |
Sauromatian Raider 25 18 36 | Pillager (1) Magic Horse Tattoo (1) Mobile Archer Skilled Rider (2) Female | Commentary here. | |
Steppe Horse | Animal | Commentary here. | |
Sauromatian Lancer 30 29 36 | Magic Horse Tattoo (1) Mobile Archer Skilled Rider (2) Female | Commentary here. | |
Armored Steppe Horse | Animal | Commentary here. | |
Sauromatian Cataphract 35 37 46 | Magic Horse Tattoo (2) Skilled Rider (2) Female | Commentary here. | |
Cataphracted Steppe Horse | Animal | Commentary here. | |
Hydra Hatchling 35 1 15 Capital Only | Regeneration 10% Fire Vulnerability (10) Resist Poison (25) Poison Cloud (4) Unsurroundable (2) Undisciplined Blunt Resistant Pierce Resistant Animal Cold Blooded Swamp Survival Swimming Recuperation Shapechange below HP 19: Hydra Hatchling | Commentary here. | |
Hydra 200 1 Recruit Max 1/turn Capital Only | Regeneration 10% Fire Vulnerability (10) Resist Poison 25 Poison Cloud 8 Fear 5 Unsurroundable 4 Undisciplined Blunt Resistant Pierce Resistant Animal Cold Blooded Swamp Survival Swimming Recuperation Shapechange below HP 70: Hydra | Commentary here. | |
Oiorpata 50 25 46 Capital Only | Sacred Magic Horse Tattoo (1) Magic Snake Tattoo (1) Skilled Rider (3) Female | Commentary here. | |
Androphag 55 15 41 Capital Only | Sacred Magic Snake Tattoo (1) Swamp Survival Swimming Skilled Rider (2) | Commentary here. |
Sprite | Unit Name | Special Attributes | Comments |
---|---|---|---|
Skögu - Man Eater Earliest Arrival Turn (5) | 413 21 Sacred Resist Poison (15) Fear (14) Supply Bonus (10) Magic Snake Tattoo (2) Swamp Survival Skilled Rider (2) | Commentary here. | |
Serpent Carcass | Sacred Cold Resistance (15) Poison Resistance (30) Mindless Pierce Resistant Undead Inanimate Swamp Survival Need-Not-Eat Spirit Sight | Commentary here. | |
Kirke - Pharmakeia Earliest Arrival Turn (10) | 2442 29 Sacred Glamour Resist Poison (7) Supply Bonus (40) Stealthy (65) Healer (1) Female | Commentary here. | |
Delgnat - Partholonian Sorceress Earliest Arrival Turn (10) | 243 23 Sacred Fire Vulnerability (5) Resist Cold (15) Resist Poison (25) Homesick (20%) Iron Vulnerability (1) Immortal Undead Glamour Poor Amphibian Inanimate Spell-Singer Need-Not-Eat Female Summon Allies : Longdead Partholonian x 1 | Commentary here. |
Summon Spell | Unit | Special Attributes | Comments |
---|---|---|---|
Daughter of Typhon (Conjuration 8) 52 and 30 | Hydra - Daughter of Typhon | Sacred Regeneration (10%) Fire Vulnerability (10) Poison Resistance (25) Poison Cloud (12) Fear (10) Blunt Resistance Pierce Resistance Animal Cold Blooded Swamp Survival Swimming Recuperation Eyes 18 Unique Immortal Shapechange Below HP (205) (Daughter of Typhon) | Summons a gigantic Hydra who can attack five targets at a time. Only one may exist, but she's immortal, often saving Sauromatia the trouble of needing to re-summon her. Her direct damage output isn't very high against massive crowds, for which her fear aura and poison cloud will need to do the heavy lifting, but at least she's in an era of troops with low armor Protection. |
Call Ancestor (Conjuration 1) 1 | Ancestral Spirit | Cold Resistance (15) Poison Resistance (25) Stealthy (40) Salt Vulnerability (1) Sacred Poor Amphibian Undead Ethereal Need Not Eat Floating Spirit Sight Spiritform | A free combat summon, the Ancestral Spirit is distinguished from the Longdead and the Soulless by being Ethereal and Sacred, not to mention its Paralyzing attack. It has only 1 HP and (without a stat bless) easily-cut-through Defense Skill, so other magic will generally counter it. |
Wrath of the Ancestors (Conjuration 7) 1 and 1 | x 20 + [2/lvl] | For just a single death gem per person, or perhaps three death gems for two castings, your Spirit Guides and other Death mages can form ranks with these ghosts. The Ancestral Spirits fit five-to-a-square, so they can overwhelm even magic-weapon-using elites with attack density and paralysis, just so long as the foe isn't running magical Evocations or area-of-effect weaponry. |
See Magic Access. These guides supplement the summaries at the top.
No native access. 5 and Bind Heliophagus has 1 in 4 chance of 4.
No native access. 41 Enarie can cast Ether Gate, which has a 1 in 4 chance of 1.
Start with a 1 Witch King (1 in 4 chance). Follow the path as normal. Its crosspaths allows for a lot of the water summons.
Delgnat - Partholonian Sorceress, the hero, starts with 2, which can save you a level of empowering.
No native access. A 1 in 4 chance 1 Witch King can cast Hidden in Snow. 3 and Forest Troll Tribe give a 1 in 4 chance of 1. 5 for Awaken Treelord gives a 1 in 3 chance of 1, although it's stationary.
The Enarie is the only normal recruit option. Follow the path as normal. Its crosspaths means you can cast Ether Gate but that's it.
Kirke - Pharmakeia, a hero, has 2. If given Glamour boosters, she can create The Trapped Dreams of Hruvur. Otherwise, she's not much additional help.
Start with a 4 Witch King (1 in 4 chance). Skull Staff gets you to 5 and the Skullface. A Witch King with 24 can create Abominable Arms, which is helpful with Death boosters.
Skögu - Man Eater is a hero with 413, which can make the Death path easier.
Start with a 2 Witch King (1 in 4 chance). A 23 Witch King can create Armor of Twisting Thorns, but otherwise it is a difficult climb.
A Witch King with 24 can create Abominable Arms, which allows holding both the Thistle Mace and the Treelord's Staff.
Kirke - Pharmakeia, a hero, has 4, which makes the progression easier. She also can make a Moonvine Bracelet.
Two EA Sauromatia heroes have Glamour, Kirke - Pharmakeia and Delgnat - Partholonian Sorceress.
If the heroes aren't available, 3 allows Summon Spectre which gives a 7 in 16 chance of Glamour. 3 and Forest Troll Tribe gives a 1 in 4 chance. 8 and Bind Demon Lord gives a 3 in 6 chance.
A relatively easy climb. Start with a 2 Witch King (1 in 4 chance). Go along the standard path. 22 will get The Black Book of Secrets, so long as no one else has it, and that will avoid empowering for a level. 23 gets the Armor of Twisting Thorns.
Skögu - Man Eater is a hero with 413, which can make the Blood path easier.
How to win as the nation. Feel free to use the following sections, or delete them, or change them.
Different expansion options.
Early game options.
Mid game options.
Late game options.
Chassis: Awake Titan of Crossroads
Paths: 457
Bless: MW/Arcane Finesse, Invuln 10, Regen.
Scales: 6203123
What are the nation's weaknesses?
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