Templar Advice?

**ChapMan** · November 20, 2007, 08:26 PM

Hey all,

So I'm about to embark on a campaign as the Templars in SS4.1 (I don't have Kingdoms sadly...) Anyone have any advice for me? Everything I hear seems to say that you have to either migrate or...die. How have people survived? I've also noticed in their unit roster that they virtually no heavy cavalry...do they start w/ any Templar chapter houses or anything?

Any help would be appreciated!

**Sevachenko** · November 20, 2007, 10:11 PM

I say take all the soldiers you can muster without putting yourself in a financial crisis and take Antioch before the turks do or before it becomes too garrisoned. Antioch should bring you in good money. Id open trade rights with people as soon as possible and preferably the byanztine empire. Then I would take Aleppo or Damascus as soon as your secure somewhat. Aleppo will probably be dangerous because the turks might come knocking at your door. Damascus might attract the Egyptians so becareful

.

**ChapMan** · November 20, 2007, 10:14 PM

Hmmm...ok. Do you think there's a way to actually survive the Mongol/Timurid onslaughts?

**Viva Espana!** · November 20, 2007, 10:26 PM

Hey, I've been playing as the Templars and I love 'em! Though the Mongols have not arrived yet, I am withstanding both the Egyptians and the Turks and taking cities from them at the same time. Unless you can create a large army quickly, Jerusalem is probably out of reach, and its walls are formidable. Antioch, however, is close, profitable, and isn't constantly the target of Crusades/Jihads.(Well, not as much as Jerusalem.) It's also close to that useless wooden castle(Tortosa). What I would suggest is taking Antioch and Aleppo and making that your starting power-base and changing your capitol to Antioch. From there, expand as you wish. Personally, I went to Jerusalem/Edessa/Damascus and pissed EVERYONE off. But ain't that the fun of it?

**Sevachenko** · November 20, 2007, 11:51 PM

Yeah I agree with Viva and don't worry about the Mongols or Timurids. By the time they come around you should have a foothold in the middle east. Just keep garrisoned troops in Edessa and Jerusalem. In fact once you take Jerusalem keep it well guarded because everyone will come for the holy land

. I would also suggest keeping allied with the Byazantine Empire until you need to expand on their land

.

**Bluice** · November 21, 2007, 12:38 AM

Learn to fight the Mongols by avoiding their bloody arrows, you lose half your men before you even clash steel with them, almost all of them carry a bow.

**gogis** · November 21, 2007, 02:25 AM

There is plenty of topics with tips concerning Templars, just DO search

**ChapMan** · November 21, 2007, 12:49 PM

Yeah, but a lot of that is for older versions of SS and everything I find just seems to say "you're going to die!!!"

**Frankie1** · November 21, 2007, 03:46 PM

It's very simple. Concentrate on Antioch, if possible recruit mercs and take it first turn. Empty your entire city on the first turn, and send every unit you have up to Antioch. In the meantime in your city concentrate on being able to create a diplomat. This is very important

As soon as said diplomat is there, send him to Egypt, and get an Alliance. They almost always accept if offered very early, but it is very important to have an alliance BEFORE you attack Jerusalem. Attacking Jerusalem is a sure way for a early war against Egypt if you do not get an Alliance first.

The moment you have an alliance, at the very minimum trade rights in place, call a crusade on Jerusalem. You get 5 or 6 cheap mercs to recruit and send your entire army over to Jerusalem. The main key to playing as the Templars is speed. You want to get a decent amout of rebel settlements BEFORE egypt and turkey get them, or you will find yourself forced to attack them while still weak, and this is how most people end up dying.

**Galdrik** · November 22, 2007, 03:36 AM

I have been doing Templars (v5.1)for some time now, and i reached turn 106. It has been by far the most challenging campaign i ever done in TW. I have wiped out egypt from the south west africa, and they just remain in eastern asia (bagdad etc). But now i see no reason to go on. Why? the Mongols... They started wandering around my country, so i declared war on them, since it would just be a matter of time before they attacked me. anyway, there is simply no way of defeating 1 stack without loosing 50% or more of your army in open field, atleast not that i know of. and i need all the toops i can have and not loose too many so i have to bring up new armies each time i meet them.

and in sieges they bring 2-3 stacks, so its impossible to not loose a city. and i need every penny i can get to support my army. I have to keep a strong army in the north, cus im at war with Byzantium. Now the mongols have split up his 3 stacks (i defeated one stack) and he is sieging jerusalem, and rest is going for damaskus. Both Have a full stack to defend and i have brought 1.5 stack to his stack at jerusalem, so i should defeate him there. But then it happend. He brings 4 more stacks from the north.... I just give up lol.

**Americanus Supremus** · November 25, 2007, 07:34 PM

But that is what Im looking for, a game that is hard to win and has a good chance I could lose. Im so tired of being just about invincible 25-50 turns into every campaign I play. I wish hotseat was working, or maybe it just doesnt work for me, as I would love to get a community game going on with this mod.