Beautiful Crusade!

**Magraev** · 09-15-2004, 08:02

I just had a very nice game as the italians last night, and I thought I'd share a short story.

I started the game in normal/high and was planning on a slow easy game. I'd eliminated the Sicilians and grabbed provence from the germans but otherwise taken it easy. Both had started by attacking me, forcing some desperate defences at sea and in Milan. I made peace with the germans soon after they'd lost thousands on the hilly plains of Milan in 3 fruitless attack on my elite, heavily outnumbered troops in the province.

It was 1240 and the Italian king (4* and a pervert) was getting on in years. He was 46 when the first heir was born. I realized there was a real chance my reign would be over if my king died early. Besides the king had only 4 influence and I feared I'd get a poor heir.

I soon hatched a cunning plan, and years before my heir came of age the king joined a crusade for Trebizond (former turk, now in rebel hands). I went off and captured the province (luckily guarded by 53 men after a mongol attempt to capture it the year before). My heir came of age the same year, but by then the influence of the king was high, and the heir had 5*.

The crusade was a succes, the succession was secure and my king died a happy man two years later, his only regret not seeing the palaces of venice again.

**Tricky Lady** · 09-15-2004, 18:18

Ah, it's so fun when you can save your empire from collapsing with a brilliant plan.

Did your king have brothers, or did his son succeed him when he just matured?

**Magraev** · 09-15-2004, 21:18

There weren't any brothers left after the succesion of the current doge. He took the throne at a late age, and had no brothers (at least not any left alive).

The less cunning part is, that I accidently deleted the savegame today

ah well starting a new campaign with a moslem faction (more sons).

**CherryDanish** · 09-16-2004, 16:22

Yeah, the lineage thing is a crapshoot. I was playing an English/Hard/early game and my king died of illness 8 years before his next of kin matured. After having played the campaign for a week and having LOVED my accomplishments to date, I loaded the last saved game and restarted from that point. The king miraculously lived 12 more years. I had married the bugger off to some foreign bint, but for some reason they didn't have any male heirs (now I know how my father in law felt

). Something in the water I guess. I was going to make a crack about the fact that he was English, but I'm relatively new here and not sure if someone might actually take those comments seriously.

**Lonewarrior** · 09-16-2004, 16:38

Beautifull story, I'm gonna cry now....................

Oh since we talking about crusades, I'm tired of making crusades to get the Knigths Of santiago. I have built every dam building and still no santiago cav. Whatacrap is the problem?

**Magraev** · 09-16-2004, 20:37

Let me just help you after your rude reply.....

You can't build crusader knights kiddo - you have to build crusades and hope you get knights to join.

**Lonewarrior** · 09-16-2004, 22:27

Originally Posted by Magraev

Let me just help you after your rude reply.....

I really ment that in a non offensive way.

**Magraev** · 09-17-2004, 06:59

no harm no foul.

But you still have to build a crusade to get crusader knights - sorry

**Lonewarrior** · 09-17-2004, 15:12

Originally Posted by Magraev

no harm no foul.

But you still have to build a crusade to get crusader knights - sorry

Yeah I noticed yesterday, when I did an sp campain with spanish.

**katank** · 09-17-2004, 21:48

since they are statistically equivalent to CK's, I typically mod them in with reqs of armor guild and horse guild like the CK's except with the chapter house replacing the baronial court.

It still makes it tempting to build only crusader kngihts though due to lower upkeep and chapterhouse takes less time than baronial court.

only thing is CKs from Toulouse which are better.

**Magraev** · 09-18-2004, 23:15

I tried the same, but as you say they're really too cheap and will replace all other knights. They should be modded to be a bit more expensive if you want to put them in the game (the same could be done with order foot).

**BigC5** · 09-21-2004, 12:21

This is probably a rookie question, but what is the best way to make sure your royal family thrives?

**Magraev** · 09-21-2004, 12:35

First off - the higher influence you have the better heirs. That means, that an heir born just after a king takes power will probably be poorer than one born after the king has managed to conquer lands and especially has succeded with crusades or jihads (thereby increasing his influence and piety). There is also some dependence on the present kings stats and a large random element.

This means, that the crownprince sometimes will have to die to protect your kingdoms long-term interests, if a far better younger brother is born. Be aware, that the first heir born after a king takes power is not always the heir to the throne. The first heir to come of age that is actually the kings son will take that honor.

The best way to eliminate worthless heirs is by sending them into battle against owerwhelming odds.

Edit: If by thrive you mean that sons are born then the only thing you can do (besides cheating) is to make sure the king and his sons are married as soon as possible.

**YAKOBU** · 09-21-2004, 12:43

Hi BigC5

I normally play as catholic but here's what I do:

- I don't risk my king or heirs in battle unless I have replacements ready i.e. at least a king and 2 heirs.
- I prune my line by losing unsuitable heirs in battle so more able heirs further down the line come to the throne i.e. heirs with bad stats or too old and single die against impossible odds.
- I ensure if possible that my chosen heir for Kingship is married as soon as possible once he reaches maturity by sending emmissiaries to request foreign princesses to wed.
- My chosen heir will take part in battles to increase his V&V's and gain command stars.

That's all I can think of for now