How to end a Crusade called on me?

**Flavius Gonzo** · 12-15-2006, 19:20

OK... I have a complicated question.

Many turns ago in my H/VH Turkish campaign, the Pope called a crusade on Antioch, which is my best financial producing city, raking in over 7000 florins a turn. No way I was going to even let the crusader hordes get close...

Anyway, My strategy is was simple. I put two strong naval stacks in the western med to patrol for sea-faring crusaders, and two smaller ones each blocking the land bridges outside Constantinople.

Many turns later, I'm stuck in this situation: There are 4 crusader armies milling around, but not crossing the land bridge southeast of Constantinople, Milan, Poland, Venice, and Denmark. They're all stuck on that tiny peninsula, and most haven't moved in like 4-5 turns.

I just noticed a Venetian NAvy pass by Corinth, presumably they will attempt to destroy my navy blocking the land bridge, or help the Venetian stack cross. I've got a much bigger stack that will get to the Venetians first, so they won't succeed there. I have a strong enough army in Constantinople that I can probably take out the crusaders, especially if I can fight 1-2 at a time.

My question is this: what conditions need to get met for the Crusade to end? The mission says "make ammends with the Pope or prepare to defend Antioch". I've been bribing the pope for a while now, and he's already up to "amiable" but I still can't offer an alliance and the crusade goes on. I want to avoid attacking hte crusader stacks because of the drop in reputation, but the stacks won't attack Constantinople on their own, so it's kind of a stalemate right now.

What are things I can do to get this over with? The AI is beat, but this thing is just dragging on!

Also, I think, though have no way of telling for sure, that having a crusade active on the player stalls the Mongol invasion. I heard from other people that it comes between turn 52 and 55... I'm on turn 62 and no dice yet. This is actually the biggest reason for me to get the Crusade over with -- I have 3 stacks on my western front that are a huge drag on my economy. I need to crush the mongols so I can disband or redploy most of those units.

**Basileus** · 12-15-2006, 19:42

Should be a specific amount of turns which i dont know of, btw the Mongols might have got lost in the Asian steppes heh..i play with dates and the horde arrives around 1208 if im not mistaken.

**gardibolt** · 12-15-2006, 19:57

If it were the player doing this, the crusader forces would have melted away by now since they're not getting any closer to the target. But the AI's crusades apparently don't work by the same rules.

**Bob the Insane** · 12-15-2006, 19:58

Kill the Pope!!!

Good luck with that...

**phred** · 12-15-2006, 19:59

If you defeat all the crusading armies, eventually there will be a popup saying that the crusade failed.
At least that's what happened in my Turk campaign. It took a while for the popup to show up.

I remember dealing with the crusades and the Mongols at the same time.
After the Mongols crushed my two best armies and took Antioch, the Venetians waltzed right in with a crusade and took Antioch from the Mongols.

**Flavius Gonzo** · 12-15-2006, 20:10

Interesting... so my theory about not getting the Mongols and a crusade simultaneously is BS, I guess. WTF is taking the Mongols so long then? Seriously, I need those Western armies to go to war, they are sucking the life out of my economy.

Bob, will killing the pope really call off the crusade? My 2 best assasins are operating out of Venice right now, this could totally be feasible.

**Dearmad** · 12-15-2006, 20:17

When a pope dies naturally the crusade he called ends.

Don't know if assassinating would work, however. Try it!

**magnum** · 12-15-2006, 20:23

When a Crusade is called (or a Jihad for that matter) the player and AI have 9 turns in which generals with at least 8 units (including themselves) to join. Those crusading generals are what keeps the crusade/jihad alive. Until the crusade is successful, generals are killed in battle, or die of old age, the crusade will continue. These generals, as long as they are alive, can continue to add new troops to their crusade; hire new mercenaries; and hire new crusaders. If you want to end the crusade/jihad, build and army and go out and destroy them or build up an assassin(s) and assissinate the generals. But as long as they are alive and the objective hasn't been completed, the crusade will continue.

Not sure if pope dieing ends all crusades, or only crusades vs catholic factions/cities.

Note: Playing currently as the turks, I've had 5 crusader armies throwing themselves at Constanople for the last 27 turns. I've succeeded in killing on one of the generals and the other four are still throwing themselves at me, rebuilding their armies, and throwing themselves at me again. The good news is that my troops in the city are now all silver with a few gold chevrons appearing. Great way to chew up enemy troops for experience. Since its free upkeep of their troops through, it lousy at bankrupting them.

**Flavius Gonzo** · 12-15-2006, 20:31

F yeah! I'm going to try it then, that seems like a great way out, and I think I have a lvl 9 and lvl 10 assassin right nearby the ole pope-o-matic. Too bad I can't have a had in installing one of my christian allies as the Pope.

Thanks for the tips (and anymore on this conundrum are welcome) I always get such good advice from the ORG.

One more question: any thoughts on what will become of the 4 crusader stacks once the crusade ends? If they all make a beeline for Constantinople, I could be in trouble.

**Flavius Gonzo** · 12-15-2006, 20:33

Magnum, just saw your post. I wonder what the deal is with my campaign vs. yours -- the crusader stacks are not attacking Constantipole in mine, whereas they seem to be in yours. What gives? Do you have a full stack in Constantinople? Maybe my problem is it's too strongly garrisonned?