Getting a blood economy going

[Cohen]

I'd usually avoid common troops, because you'll lose too many of them in the effort ... well, usually it's the SC to catch my troops however.

I prefer to try to go toe-to-toe if I've someone big enough, but if I find myself without SCs (and this happens too often) I'm used to prepare some small thugs that could cripple the SC.

Usually I use the 2 nature shields, eye and tangle vine. Fire Bolas is good too to hold him while others try to hit him.
Since probably your thugs won't harm him directly for the first round (til usually the eye shield make him totally eyeless so Att 0 Def 0) I use a faithful to have luck, and having 2 misc slot free (usually a Cat Charm to raise defence, it the SC hits you less times he regains less hitpoints and something else depending the situation).
Boots of quickness if possibile or Jade Armor, not very useful for the 2 moves/round but for the +3Att&Def.

Small thugs could be any knight commander with magic/sacred with bless, and something pretty sacrificable costing only gold.

They should be combined with an army ready to strike once the SCs is crippled (I mean usually without eyes).