are crusades useless

**davidtotalwar** · October 14, 2008, 07:53 PM

I am playing England on VH/VH in Early Era and I decided to go on a crusade. However because to go on crusade you have to put an army out side my settlements I started losing all my money and my economy crashed. To make matters worse with in three turns of joining the crusade my army started deserting so buy the time I got to my target only my general remained. But because I no money I was unable to buy mercenaries at my target location, so as you can gess my crusade did not go well.

So my question is am I having a problem with a bug or is that supposed to happen and if that is the case would you not agree with me that it makes crusades useless.

**Stinkfloyd** · October 14, 2008, 08:16 PM

When you go on crusade all the units that are crusading are free upkeep. The only thing you pay for is the generals upkeep script (1000) per turn. You should be able to afford that if you decide to go on crusade. Second, your troops desert if you are not making progress towards your goal settlement or if it appears that you are going the wrong way. Third, successful crusades boost your general's stats, give you money and ingratiate you with the pope. Hope that helped.

**es_bih** · October 14, 2008, 11:59 PM

Technically you will make up the 1,000 in General's upkeep by having regiments of units who are all free upkeep and you may even make a surplus. At least that is what happens with mine. I usually end up making money when I go on crusade. Other than that, go by ship it is faster, keep a priest perhaps, too...I usually do, and don't derail anywhere just go straight - the fastest route - to your target. Ideally you can go without any loses or perhaps one or two, and usually with up to five regiments.

**davidtotalwar** · October 15, 2008, 07:03 AM

thanks to your replies but my problem has not gone away.

According to my Financial Overview I should be getting 2477 profit and according to the replies I should only lose 1000 because of the General script meaning I should get a profit of 1477. But when it gets to my next turn I find out I have lost 521 meaning I am going more and more into the red.

Is there another script I should be looking for which is taking my money away. I also have two generals in my crusade army does that make a difference.

**DaVinci** · October 15, 2008, 08:29 AM

Originally Posted by davidtotalwar

thanks to your replies but my problem has not gone away.

According to my Financial Overview I should be getting 2477 profit and according to the replies I should only lose 1000 because of the General script meaning I should get a profit of 1477. But when it gets to my next turn I find out I have lost 521 meaning I am going more and more into the red.

Is there another script I should be looking for which is taking my money away. I also have two generals in my crusade army does that make a difference.

What SV says.

I also have two generals in my crusade army does that make a difference.

This makes of course a difference. You pay for every general character 1000 F if you are outside your territories.

**davidtotalwar** · October 15, 2008, 05:12 PM

Thanks for your replies they have been very helpful. Now I know what I need to do.

Just to conform for every general you have out side your own territory you lose 1000, I am glad I know that now.

Is that the only script that takes money away or r there others.

**Obilic** · October 15, 2008, 05:36 PM

Not just outside your territory but outside your settlements...

**Tariq** · October 15, 2008, 05:44 PM

Crusades were very expensive(in money and manpower) and timesinking ventures IRL.If there were for free , you would had more then 11 of them in total.Rulers of crusade countries were raising special taxes to fund it and they were draining manpower.
Vanilla M2 ones are something that is pretty much exploit,to make extra money and units for free, almost arcadish type.As such i never used them, but with this setup like in SV , i don't mind it.

Forth crusade sacked Constantinople after they were given choice by Venetians to pay their expenses or do before mentioned.Except first one , none other accomplished their original goals.

I am glad that some mod finally changed them from free-for-all enterprise into something more realistic.Good job on that.

**SicilianVespers** · October 15, 2008, 07:28 AM

You should really think about building up your ecomomy. and waiting until you have a surplus before going on crusade. Realistically, you should always build up your treasury (ie. supplies for the campaign) before initiating an invasion.

As a general rule, launching invasions without adequate supplies/treasury will lead to deficit very quickly.