Is this an exploit?

**Agent Miles** · January 27, 2009, 09:58 AM

I was able to get a Crusade against Arhus. Before I took the settlement with my Crusader army, I had all of my leaders and military units, wherever they were, join the Crusade (In preparation I had stacked them in large groups), a sort of 'marshalling of the reserves'. Then I took Arhus. I got a lot of money from the Pope as a reward for my huge force and all my units got an extra level of experience.

**Platomasso** · January 27, 2009, 10:31 AM

It's only an exploit if you feel bad about it...

But seriously it is a bit of weird mechanism.. I agree... Alas.. us it as you see fit!

**Silent Assassin** · January 27, 2009, 10:47 AM

It's not an exploit, they did this to make players go more on crusades they have made them more appealing that is it.

**Leonidas_I** · January 28, 2009, 04:32 AM

Originally Posted by Rebel6666

It's not an exploit, they did this to make players go more on crusades they have made them more appealing that is it.

We'll it works i love crusades!

**Silent Assassin** · January 28, 2009, 08:00 AM

Originally Posted by Leonidas_I

We'll it works i love crusades!

Same here. I used them for two things:

1- The get my Prince or Heir better traits, as if he as better traits he's offsrping will get some also

2- The keep back my fellow catholic factions when they are excommunated

**pileyourbodies** · January 27, 2009, 02:22 PM

Thats exactly whats supposed to happen but its...still just a bit wrong on the level of morals(in a single player game this means nothing.) So I still do it mostly because i'm a cheap bastard.

**eggthief** · January 27, 2009, 02:27 PM

It's just a bit of experience, dont worry.

**Surgeon** · January 27, 2009, 09:23 PM

It technically is an exploit, but since I've a weird obsession with getting my units fully promoted all the time I do it anyway. Remember to make this work you'll have to get your crusade organized and at the target location within 10 turns or your other armies will not be able to join, so it can be a bit challenging to exploit properly.

**AytchMan** · January 27, 2009, 10:51 PM

I'd call it a minor exploit. Organizing several huge Crusader armies the day before the target city falls wouldn't gain real troops any experience. Nor would a real Pope likely reward a king for such a facile gesture. In fact, it might decrease your standing with the Pope.

**Niterider1784** · January 28, 2009, 01:04 AM

I originally thought your units wouldn't get any experience if they didn't have a piece of the action on taking the Crusade Target.

But logically, I guess they would gain some experience during their long journey, not necessarily gained in battle. Crusaders got to see the world outside their own villages and realms. If you have traveled anywhere away from your hometown you learn a lot about the world, if you keep your eyes open.

**Pink Beard** · January 28, 2009, 02:18 AM

Originally Posted by Niterider1784

I originally thought your units wouldn't get any experience if they didn't have a piece of the action on taking the Crusade Target.

But logically, I guess they would gain some experience during their long journey, not necessarily gained in battle. Crusaders got to see the world outside their own villages and realms. If you have traveled anywhere away from your hometown you learn a lot about the world, if you keep your eyes open.

agreed but if you decided "yay I'm going to join the crusade" and then right after that (thus without going anywhere) the crusades end, u shouldn't get any experience for "saying that you joined the crusade"

it's an exploit. even IF your decide to make more then 1 crusade u should atleast have them travel together or near eachother (to symbolize the unified armies, helping one and another out in case the "Heathens and Infidels" attack)

**Conquistatore** · January 28, 2009, 06:53 PM

Crusades are fun things to do. While I don't think the experience bonus for all troops that join the crusade is justified it is good that the game has such a mechanic, it gives a sense of accomplishment and realism which I find nice.

I think CA botched crusades a bit, I thought they were more realistic in MTW. Crusades in MTW2 consist of a general with at least 8 units recruiting a full stack of very cheap and strong crusader units and then covering half the world in a couple of turns to decimate a poorly defended city. I think CA could have done a lot more with the crusades feature in MTW2, made units more expensive and have no movement bonus and have some troops deserting depending on what province you are traversing. It would have been good if CA had left the crusades of MTW unchanged, as the army was recruited from the province according to it's zeal, a feature I believe should be brought back into the game.

whew
/end rant