Initial Crusade Target

**Darviathar** · May 06, 2008, 12:49 AM

What is the reason that the initial crusade is always aimed at Gaza? Is there something there that causes the computer to pick this target over Jerusalem? I am playing Byzantium, so I am not part of the catholic community, and unable to "influence" this. I'd like to see the initial crusade always aimed at Jerusalem.

**Serious J** · May 06, 2008, 12:55 AM

I don't recall seeing Gaza being a target myself. Usually it's Cairo or Jerusalem for me. Heck, in my current Kievan Rus campaign, not only was the first Crusade called for Jerusalem, but the first Jihad was as well... during the same turn! I can't wait to see what happens when the Catholic Crusaders and the Muslims come together en-masse to the Holy City... should be fun

**Caesar Clivus** · May 06, 2008, 12:57 AM

Originally Posted by Serious J

I don't recall seeing Gaza being a target myself. Usually it's Cairo or Jerusalem for me. Heck, in my current Kievan Rus campaign, not only was the first Crusade called for Jerusalem, but the first Jihad was as well... during the same turn! I can't wait to see what happens when the Catholic Crusaders and the Muslims come together en-masse to the Holy City... should be fun

If I were you I'd send a few spies down that way, grab some popcorn and watch the fun

**Darviathar** · May 06, 2008, 01:07 AM

I meant Cairo, not Gaza.

**shenryyr** · May 06, 2008, 01:10 AM

It's usually the capital of the faction with the worst standing with the pope. Typically, that's the Fatimids. They begin with capital at Cairo, but it eventually moves to Gaza, so you'll see crusades to both.

**Player8** · May 06, 2008, 01:31 AM

I've seen them call a crusade against the rebel controlled baghdad within the first 10 turns.

**Erlinggra** · May 06, 2008, 03:19 AM

Originally Posted by Player8

I've seen them call a crusade against the rebel controlled baghdad within the first 10 turns.

aye, and antioch.

I guess the crusade target is quite random. As (at least i thik) the AI can request a crusade, but when the pope calls one it usually goes for cairo

**raloszet** · May 06, 2008, 05:31 AM

By the way,for how long will catolics try to take targeted cities ? the first and the only crusade i have seen in my campaign is Vilnuis,the capitol of pagan Luthania.it has been initiated on turn 19.Now i am on turn 83.
would they ever give up or crusades work till the target city is captured?
it was one jihad as well.to my Constantinopol.After 26 turns i got a message jihad is failed.
the question is how and when the game decides a crusade/jihad has failed ?

**Erlinggra** · May 06, 2008, 05:49 AM

Originally Posted by raloszet

the question is how and when the game decides a crusade/jihad has failed ?

A crusade/ jihad does not fail until all armies that have joined have been destroyed. The problem with the crusades is as long as the AI armies still have a general the army is still in the crusade, and armies walking to their target tend to get stuck in Europe. Most likely some faction has a crusading army is stuck somwhere.

**Ftmch** · May 06, 2008, 07:39 AM

Crusades are pretty random I belive, I have seen Jerusalem being the first target several times. Now I'm playing as the templars, and I'm calling out crusades every now and then to get some support down in the holy land, the fatimids had 4-5 full stack armies near my wooden fortresses, about to crush me, when the HRE, the french, the polish and sicily showed up on their doorstep with their crusading armies, made them pull back

**ImKyleJames** · May 06, 2008, 07:53 AM

my first crusade on my wonderful and very fun Irish campaign was Vilinius. Sent my heir there, and pretty much stood around. Came back to a fleeting homeland with my armies, beat back the English from Dublin and finally.. many years later, with William Wallace's help.. sacked London!