Crusaders going haywire

[Spetulhu]

Started a GA campaign as the Egyptians yesterday, and things are going smoothly. My western land borders are Egypt and Constantinople, the nothern Georgia. Well, the Turks and Byzantine started it There has been some crusader trouble recently, though, everyone and their mother-in-law wants to send a crusade to the holy land. I had a good general in Constantinople who managed to fight back an attack, English and German crusaders working together. That was 1170. In 1171 a French crusade arrived to Bulgaria, where the English and Germans were already waiting. To my chagrin all three crusades set sail across the Black Sea in 1172 and landed in Georgia, where I had only 320 men - 200 Saracens and 120 Archers. Setting up high on a mountainside, I was determined to take as many men as I could with me. My general was outnumbered by about 8-1...

To my surprise the three crusader armies started beating each other up, English and Germans against the French http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif They spent half the day on killing french pigs, and just didn`t have the oomph to rip me down from my mountain after that http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Next year the same armies peacefully rested in Bulgaria before ferrying over to Georgia again. I looked closer at the invasion text this time, and it said the Germans had invaded and the French had sent along a force and intended to claim the land for themselves.

This time the French were utterly destroyed in about a third of the day, but the allies were sorely taxed by it. My brave general routed the Germans after the English ran away for some reason I didn`t understand.

The year 1174 rolled up, and the English and German armies in Bulgaria were joined by an Italian crusader force This time I sensibly destroyed my port in Georgia http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif After all, I have a 9-star general with a full stack of troops guarding Constantinople...

[Spetulhu]

Blah, destroying the port didn`t help any. The evil Byzantine lend their fleets to the crusaders http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/angry.gif

Not that I would have wanted to miss the next fiasco. The third battle for Georgia - my general had received some reinforcements making his total number exactly 661. The crusaders numbered ~2200. Apparently the Italians were at war with the English and Germans, since they destroyed those before moving on me http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif They had to advance into a mountain pass to get at me, and it was quite lethal. The Italian general was quickly singled out as a target for missile attacks and got killed. After that it was just a slaughter of sheep. Some 300 of them escaped - and attacked Trebizond next year Whatever you might say about the patch, at least the crusades have been improved. They really try to reach their objective.

[Cash]

I am also playing Egyptian and am having to fend off Spain and Germany who are doing a one two punch with crusades against me. I must have started this campaign too aggressive. I have lost Egypt three times and Georgia twice and now both of those countries are sending a crusade. Looks like we need to ready the ships to save the spouse and children. What a great game. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Spetulhu]

I just got greedy http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif Expanded trade routes westward when I should have been exterminating all the Byzantine ships. When all ships at sea are yours it means the enemy has to come to you walking. They`re easier to keep at bay when you know what they`ll attack.

[MizuKokami]

correct me if i am wrong, but aren't armies that attack by sea and fail to conquer the enemy supposed to be lost, as they have no place to retreat to?

[Bob the Insane]

Quote[/b] (MizuKokami @ Nov. 22 2002,15:25)]correct me if i am wrong, but aren't armies that attack by sea and fail to conquer the enemy supposed to be lost, as they have no place to retreat to?
If there is a port and the ships are still there they can withdraw by sea to, I think...

[Spetulhu]

The manual says they`re lost, but it`s wrong. They get to retreat even if there isn`t a port.

[Teutonic Knight]

you sure about that?

[FesterShinetop]

I've seen this happen as well.