Crusades as "reserve" troops

[afrit]

Hi gang,
I am playing Spain on early, hard level, with VI (MTW 2.01). It is 1104 or so, and I managed to kick the Almohads out of Spain and Morocco with the help of scrusade.

Unfortunately, I am running low on funds, and army upkeep costs are too much. I am thinking of disbanding most of my army to save florins and tech up trade etc.. , but I am afraid I will not be able to answer an attack by an enemy (Almos or maybe Aragon). So I am thinking of building a couple of crusade markers with the money saved by disbanding the standing troops. Then if I am attacked, I 'll activate the crusades and get instant reinforcements. The idea being to only pay for the troops when you need them.

Problems with this strategy are:
1. Must be attacked by a non-catholic or excommed catholic to crusade (but I am expecting Almo attack anyway)
2. There is an additional turn for the crusade to activate.
3. Crusade has to conquer targeted province first before being usable elsewhere.
4. One crusade at a time.

Still I think it is an interesting strategy.
Anyone tried it?

afrit

[Ulair]

Hi afrit,

Sounds a bit risky. Crusades don't seem to gather the same quality troops that jihads do: couple of Order knights, some Order foot and a pile of trash typically. Not sure I'd build a defensive strategy on it, meself - but I'd be interested in whether it works if you try http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

To deter attack you could build a few stacks of peasants; the size of your stacks may be enough to deter aggressors, especially since it's still early and no-one has too many killer armies..?

[dessa14]

if you have alot of influence just make alliances with everyone.
thanks, dessa

[PseRamesses]

Quote[/b] (afrit @ June 29 2004,14:18)]I am playing Spain on early, hard level, with VI (MTW 2.01). It is 1104 or so, and I managed to kick the Almohads out of Spain and Morocco with the help of scrusade.

I am thinking of building a couple of crusade markers with the money saved by disbanding the standing troops. Then if I am attacked, I 'll activate the crusades and get instant reinforcements. The idea being to only pay for the troops when you need them.
Afrit,
When playing the Spaniards I actually adopt this strategy for a couple of reasons. I love the Knights of Santiago, fanatics can do wonders when used properly and a lot of crusades has a tremendous impact on my faction in many ways.

Usually I start by building ordinary troops the replace them with "crusade-units" as times goes by and more successfull crusades has been launched. I never leave my borders undefended though. I only go to war as a crusade if I´m not defending, that is.

For more info take a look at my post in the Guides-section on the Spaniards. Good luck

[Ar7]

There is another side to this. Think if you activate the crusade in one of your provinces to defend it. You do not get many good troops, your crusade is beaten, your influence drops and you end up with a civil war.

[katank]

besides, your chapterhouse might get hit and you'll lose the army instantly as well as influence drop.

Spanish are easy.

look in Guides. I think I posted there. go straight for crusades in Castille and you shoudl have wiped out the Aragonese and all rebel provinces adjacent except for Portugal before you crusade (1.5 markers on line). You should also have grabbed Toulouse off the French by that time.

Then consecutively crusade by crusading in succession Cordoba, Morroco, Granada, Algeria, and then Tunisia if you want to.

leave the Almos one province as buffer to Eggy or do the full gamut and just run through to the Holy Lands but I like to build for a decade before doing so.

packs of crusader troops are awesome.

knights santiago are like chiv knights and only cost 50 florins support

[Doug-Thompson]

If you try this, put an inn in the same province as your chapter house.

Put mercs in the Crusade. You don't have to pay upkeep while they're in Crusade.

[katank]

I like the inn in the province on the way to popular targets but less developed

if you have a chapterhouse, except for Spainards in Castille, you probably have a keep and that usually keeps a lot of mercs away.

[afrit]

Thanks for the feedback.

I finished that campaign (and did quite well)I found that Crusades are more of an offensive wepon, rather than defensive one.

I eventually built a bunch of markers , and once my fleet was able to ferry them to the East, I unleashed them upon muslim provinces (launch crusade, immediately sail to target, take target, launch next on in next year). Makes for a nice offensive with good troops

They are expensive though (Marker Price + Pope blessing).

afrit

[katank]

when you launch enough, the pope likes you and lets you launch them practically for free and getting 3-4 knights per crusade if you have really good zeal more than pays for the crusade itself.

[afrit]

On the topic of cost of Pope's blessing: I noticed in one campaign that if I launch a crusade against the GH, he charged me 2000+ florins, but against the Turks 750 florins, no matter which province I picked, same crusade marker and all.

I also noticed you get different troops (more Knights for the expensive blessing). I guess this is a feature to balance the crusade against its target.

can anyone confirm?

afrit

[WorkNeglecter]

Quote[/b] (afrit @ July 13 2004,16:39)]On the topic of cost of Pope's blessing: I noticed in one campaign that if I launch a crusade against the GH, he charged me 2000+ florins, but against the Turks 750 florins, no matter which province I picked, same crusade marker and all.

I also noticed you get different troops (more Knights for the expensive blessing). I guess this is a feature to balance the crusade against its target.

can anyone confirm?

afrit
Deny.

I found that the Pope asked for cash depending on how much I had. I had 257 florins and he asked for 250; I had 4000 and he asked for 1500.

Also, I got Santiago for the cheaper crusade and only OFK for the other.

[katank]

depends on zeal and whether you are allied, his relation to target etc.

if h called for crusade against target, then it's free and you can launch as many markers as you want with plenty of knights etc.

it's all relative. just be on his good side and also nice and pious.

[The_Emperor]

During one of my campaigns I actually tried to Crusade against the Byz who were rapidly growing (as they often do).

The Problem was that the moment I tried to declare a crusade the Pope Refused to allow it, stating that the Byzantines were an ally of the Church

Well I was gutted.

[katank]

you know what? I think that happened to me too now that I thought about it.

that and one instance of asking for 5k for a crusade which was prohibitive for my little treasury.

often you can get by with 250 if it's the Eggy or some other faction the pope has little love for.