New Campaign

[Lord Matt]

Well, I want to start a new Early Campaign as Crusader States but I'm new to SS and I dont know much about this Faction.
Can anyone give me some tips?

[Gogolometro]

Look here: http://www.pressdat.com/mtw2/jerusalem/Jerusalem.html

[Lord Matt]

Look here: http://www.pressdat.com/mtw2/jerusalem/Jerusalem.html

Thanks man you really helped me. This link should be stickyed.

[Caesar Clivus]

Also remember to call crusades whenever you can. You'll get free upkeep on armies plus as you are already in the Holy Land, you're the best placed to take the target.

[Lord Matt]

Also remember to call crusades whenever you can. You'll get free upkeep on armies plus as you are already in the Holy Land, you're the best placed to take the target.

Oh i see.
Also a lot of Catholic Factions will be at war with my enemy and their armies will help me a bit to conquer the muslims.
Thanks.

[Navajo Joe]

Lord Matt,

Take as many rebel settlements as possible within first 10 turns, such as Kerak, Acre, Tortosa, Antioch and Aleppo, then call a Crusade against Cairo, then join the crusade and take Gaza, very very important and Damietta, then you will have teh Fatties over a barrel

[Rat-tail]

The Crusader States are a great faction, they just are SURROUNDED by their enemies. You should never be bored.

This can be tough for inexprinced player and retarded AI.

Main problem would be defending yourself against jihad. Yet enjoy the diverse troops and the many battles that will come.

[Lord Matt]

@Navajo Joe
I did what you said but instead of taking Aleppo i took Damascus because Aleppo was under the Seljuks control. I called a Jihad against Cairo and I took Gaza but I waited for them to sally out and I lost some turns and Venice took Cairo -.-
I couldnt take Damietta because my armies had many losses but the Templars really kicked some ass. The HRE and Aragon are attacking their armies even with the end of the Crusade. I'll create some reinforcements armies because my economy its pretty good and I really need some new armies to new invasions. The Seljuks and the Romans are my allies so I'll not worry to put an army at north, maybe some egyptian auxillias. I created lot of Alliances with that diplomat Colin, most all with the Catholic Factions. I'm doing pretty well now. Thank you for your tips

@Rat-tail
I had lot of battles against rebels and Fatimids and I really enjoyed all. Most of the battles the enemy had more units than me but I did pretty good. Some battles I had unnecessary losses. After the Fatimids, I'm going for Seljuks and then the Romans or the Khwarezians (I dont know how they are called). Well I'm allied with the Selkuks so I wont have a Jihad, for now. And I'm killing all the Fatimids Imams with my horde of assassins xD
I'm really enjoying my campaign especially because I really like about the crusades and the Knights Templar and Knights of St John.
And like you said there is lot of diverse troops, I and can create lot of different armies.
Thanks.

[Vespasian92]

Most of the key strategies have already been mentioned, but don't forget to quickly build Chapter Houses in your settlements, especially Jerusalem. With a major chapter house (only one for each order though) you can recruit dismounted knights as well as the mounted kind. They will be the best cavalry units and one of the best heavy sword infanty units you get for a while.

[Lord Matt]

@Vespasian92 Yeah I constructed Minor and Major Templar Chapter House in Jerusalem and Minor St John Chapter House in Antioch. The Templars really saved me lot of times. They kill arround 300-500 units per battle with Hit-and-Run.