Crusades

[the_holy_knight]

I am really new to the game and I can't figure out how to send crusades which is frustrating http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pissed.gif because I want some knights templar because they are really powerful knights and they can dismount into foot soldiers for sieges anyway can someone please tell me what I have to do

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

You got to build a ChapterHouse in a province.
Fort--->Keep--->Church--->ChapterHouse

[Voigtkampf]

After which you build a crusade - a symbol of a cross. Takes four years and costs, if I remember correctly, around 1000. After building the crusade, take the cross and drop it on the province you wish to conquer. You can also add regular armies into your crusade, but you won't be able to extract them as long as the crusading army hasn't achieved it's goal (conquering the said province).

Oh, and for the crusade you will need the approval from the Pope, which will cost you some money.

[Shamus]

Quote[/b] (the_holy_knight @ Dec. 11 2003,11:18)]I am really new to the game and I can't figure out how to send crusades which is frustrating http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pissed.gif because I want some knights templar because they are really powerful knights and they can dismount into foot soldiers for sieges anyway can someone please tell me what I have to do
As I understand it though, you can only get those Knights Templars within the crusade itself. You will get to use any of them that are still in the crusade once you have taken the target province, however, it wont give you KT creating abilities in your provinces. Just something to note.

[MrWhipple]

Also the moves that you are allowed to move towards your target are limited. You can't go backwards, or away from your target. The AI decides on what choices you have, so sometimes you can get stuck. And don't remember that there are conquences for loosing a crusade. One is that you loose influence. If it goes down too much it could even cause a revolt in your own kingdom.
I like to have a sea lane open to the targer and send a large army with a good general to land in the target at the same time that the crusade does. This way my gen can lead the fight while not having to be come part of the crusade. Also don't forget that you may have losses on the way to the target as well as new recruits. Try to pass through catholic areas with high zeal and you will pick up the most and best men, like those templars and knights of santiago etc. that you like sooooo much.

[Gregoshi]

Hmmm, the_holy_knight can't start a crusade...not good. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

Fear not, you weren't the first who couldn't figure it out, nor will you be the last. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pat.gif

[Magraev]

And I'm sorry, but templars can't dismount...

You need a modded game to build the templars. Try med-mod and play as the crusaderstates in the high era.

[o_loompah_the_delayer]

btw Knights Templar arent that powerful, in fact I think compared to Santiago/ Hospitallers/ Teutons they are quite rubbish. Very annoying for England (and France) http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/angry.gif

[fruitfly]

If you're going to crusade, it's a good idea to build a monastery too.

This lets you build Inquisitors, who will raise the zeal in the province they're in. The higher the zeal, the more men will join your crusade as it passes through. If you can create a line of high zeal provinces between where your crusade starts and its target province, then you'll get thousands of free troops joining it as it goes along.

It's a good idea to move your own armies out of the way of the crusade though, as if they're in the same province then your own troops will join.

[Lord Rom]

btw Knights Templar arent that powerful, in fact I think compared to Santiago/ Hospitallers/ Teutons they are quite rubbish. Very annoying for England (and France) [QUOTE]

I believe CA did that just to even out the advantage of the english longbows and billmen...not to any historical accuracy http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif
Rom

[Phatose]

I have a small question about crusade routing, if anyone knows. While the game seems to be very distinct about only allowing me to actually head toward my target, the computer factions seem to be allowed to backtrack. I've had a german crusade headed for the middle east try to pay a quick visit to my border provinces in France on more then a few occasions. Is there any reason for this, or anything I can do about it? I could really use one, since after one particularly annoying crusade took a good portion of my border guard and a seven star general, I refuse to let any of them pass through my lands - which means I spend a lot of time excommunicated and at war with crusader neighbors who can't seem to understand that one does not need to pass through France to get to Tripoli from Germany.

[fruitfly]

Quote[/b] (Phatose @ Dec. 19 2003,14:38)]I have a small question about crusade routing, if anyone knows. While the game seems to be very distinct about only allowing me to actually head toward my target, the computer factions seem to be allowed to backtrack. I've had a german crusade headed for the middle east try to pay a quick visit to my border provinces in France on more then a few occasions. Is there any reason for this, or anything I can do about it? I could really use one, since after one particularly annoying crusade took a good portion of my border guard and a seven star general, I refuse to let any of them pass through my lands - which means I spend a lot of time excommunicated and at war with crusader neighbors who can't seem to understand that one does not need to pass through France to get to Tripoli from Germany.
I think it's possible for crusades to move in more than one direction due to the fact that AI controlled ones can use allied shipping to reach their destination, or at least get part of the way there (I've never tried that tactic myself, but I think player controlled crusades can only leave your own provinces by sea). When moving a crusade by sea, you've got a wide range of potential target provinces to choose from, but on land the options tend to be fairly limited.

I've often had crusades head through my territory to reach a port and then use my chain of trading ships to reach their destination in a single turn. If you know it's going to happen, then it's possible to move your defending army out of harms way, but sometimes the AI is annoying (or cunning depending on how you look at it) and invades your province with a regular army on the same turn that the crusade moves in, giving them far more troops to fight with.

The alternative to refusing entry and being excommunicated is to start inquisitions in your border provinces to drop the zeal right down so that you don't lose that many troops. This may also discourage the AI from following that path.

[Phatose]

Ah, I see. Normally I would just move the army out of the way, but on the occasion where they got the general, at least, they launched the crusade from the bordering province, and the only warning I got was the 'A crusade wants to pass through your lands' message. The inquisition sounds like a good plan though. Thanks http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[fruitfly]

Quote[/b] (Lord Rom @ Dec. 19 2003,14:24)]
Quote[/b] ]btw Knights Templar arent that powerful, in fact I think compared to Santiago/ Hospitallers/ Teutons they are quite rubbish. Very annoying for England (and France)

I believe CA did that just to even out the advantage of the english longbows and billmen...not to any historical accuracy http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif
Rom
Templars have exactly the same combat stats as Hospitalers Santiagos and Teutonic knights. The difference is that their charge bonus is only 4 instead of 8.

This is supposed to reflect the fact that in the game they're armed with swords rather than lances, which isn't really historically accurate as the knights would use lances when charging and then their sword in melee (according to this website (http://www.ordotempli.org/knights_templar_armour_research1.htm) anyway).

There's nothing wrong with Templars in melee, they just don't have the devastating charge that other units are capable of.

[o_loompah_the_delayer]

But thats the main point of heavy cav the impact of the charge A good charge can kill upto 10 men on impact thats a lot for a 60 man unit

[fruitfly]

Quote[/b] (o_loompah @ Dec. 19 2003,16:10)]But thats the main point of heavy cav the impact of the charge A good charge can kill upto 10 men on impact thats a lot for a 60 man unit
True enough.

I guess I tend to use Templars differently to other heavy cavalry because I know they're terrible at that. Their main role in my armies is either intercepting enemy cavalry that are trying to flank my lines, or attacking enemy cavalry on the flank once they've been engaged by my infantry.

Santiagos are more fun (and look much, much better) and also have the charge advantage, but Templars can still have their uses.

[LittleGrizzly]

Quote[/b] (fruitfly @ Dec. 19 2003,12:41)]If you're going to crusade, it's a good idea to build a monastery too.

This lets you build Inquisitors, who will raise the zeal in the province they're in. The higher the zeal, the more men will join your crusade as it passes through. If you can create a line of high zeal provinces between where your crusade starts and its target province, then you'll get thousands of free troops joining it as it goes along.

It's a good idea to move your own armies out of the way of the crusade though, as if they're in the same province then your own troops will join.
very useful info i never knew that

[Shamus]

Quote[/b] ]This lets you build Inquisitors, who will raise the zeal in the province they're in. The higher the zeal, the more men will join your crusade as it passes through.
Wait a minute, I thought priests/bishops raised zeal in provinces, and inquisitors lowered it. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

[Phatose]

Priests/Bishops don't affect zeal at all, they just convert people to the faith. Inquisitors raise zeal in catholic provinces, but if you leave them in an area too long, they start an inquisition, and the zeal drops drastically with the massive burnings.