Crusades - how ot use them best?

[Satyr]

I used to only use crusades in the later years after I was pretty well built up and thought it was time for some serious muslim a$$ kicking. But lately, I have started using crusades very early in the game. Even if the territory I take is on the other end of the map, I use it to grow and launch other crusades from. Are other people suing crusades this way?

Another instance, as Spain, I crusaded the Almo in 1110. Then I crusaded Egypt in 1118. This is just such a good way to get VERY advanced troops early in the game. I am using these more and more often.

[Kraxis]

Well early Crusades have become more important after the patch, the earlier the better due to the power of quality knights. Order troops will simply run over most enemies in the very early game.

[Niccolomachiavelli]

Its also useful to surgically capture territories. I usually employ crusades to take Egypt, Constantinople and my favorite, Switzerland. The Germans always get excommunicated


edited to mention, yay, I'm a k'niggit now