When do you decide to take out the pope or hold him for ransom

[ajaxfetish]

I've never refused a crusade without getting instantly excommed, regardless of where it's going (and I usually play GA mode), even if the Pope's my ally (I've had him excommunicate me but break his alliance with the crusading faction since the two of us went to war).

I try to move my important troops out of a crusade's path and then let it through, but sometimes I don't have that option and the excommunication is less damaging than the crusaders would be. Very annoying if I'm trying to be a good Catholic and my neighbors insist on sending crusades through my lands over and over.

Ajax

[gaijinalways]

Maybe the manual needs to be updated, though we'll need a new volunteer. In my current campaign, I lucked out as the Spanish decided to crusdae by sea, thus sparing me a battle.

[bretwalda]

On Crusades: It is odd how a Crusade is let through on a given territory or not.

Catholics can always let through (except if excommed), sometimes Orthodox, too, and if your territory is the target you will be attacked on the first encounter.

But sometimes pagans and orthodox are attacked and sometimes they can let through the Crusade. E.g. the Mongols (GH) in my game has an English Crusade sitting in Kazar, but the Crusade is not occupying the province because the Mongols are not in the Castle being besieged and the color the territory is not red.

So my q: what decides?

[caravel]

On Crusades: It is odd how a Crusade is let through on a given territory or not.

Catholics can always let through (except if excommed), sometimes Orthodox, too, and if your territory is the target you will be attacked on the first encounter.

But sometimes pagans and orthodox are attacked and sometimes they can let through the Crusade. E.g. the Mongols (GH) in my game has an English Crusade sitting in Kazar, but the Crusade is not occupying the province because the Mongols are not in the Castle being besieged and the color the territory is not red.

So my q: what decides?

I think it works like this:

1) A crusade passing through any Muslim lands counts as an instant attack. Whenever I've played as the Turks, I've often been faced with a crusade aimed not at one of my provinces, but at the Almohads (often Morocco). When they enter my province, e.g, Anatolia, it is a declaration of war. I don't have the option let them pass nor do they ask for it.

2) With regard to Christians you always have the option to let them pass or deny them passage (unless subject to excommunication). If you deny it you are at war, and ex communicated instantly. If you allow, it that crusade can pass through your provinces and use your shipping network, sucking up your troops in the process (depending on the provincial zeal).

3) For Orthodox it's the same as with christians, unless the Orthodox faction itself is the crusade target, though the crusade may also loot the orthodox provinces it passes through. I think they are likely to deny you entry if you are at war with them.

4) Pagan is the same as Christian though the Pagans seem to be more likely to deny you permission to pass through their provinces. Especially if you're at war with them.

Rebels are often known to give up the province peacefully to Jihads and Cruisades.

Any corrections, anything more to add appreciated.