Crusader Armies' Relations: Special?

[dearmad]

Not sure if this was in MTW, but:

I imagine you should be able to designate an army of yours as a "crusader army" when there is a crusade. Then, until that army faces some enemy of the crusade, it should remain so designated.

Crusader armies should have special relations to each other: de facto allies. This means that if you (England) are at war with France, when two of your crusader armies meet, they fight as allies, and don't attack each other. While you should be allowed to attack another crusader army, your diplomatic hit should be severe both against the papacy and the xtians you just betrayed. The army would lose it's "crusader" status.

Nothing really complex, but just some status checkbox that you can use when there is a crusade that allows for the crusades to operate a bit like they did historically- mostly... you're allies, but... once in awhile you betray your christian "friends."

In essence it creates a sub-faction (the crusaders) that operates as allies on the map and allows the AI a notion of what you're doing with an army so that it doesn't attack them if it is a fellow xtian.

What do you all think?

[Hells Bells]

i remember that in mtw the armies could apply for safe passsage but usually if they were your enemies that was out of the question. There was no coordination in the crusader armies in mtw. I think weve all had our own inspired vison on how the crusader thing should have been done, at some point or another.

[dearmad]

Well here's hoping CA revision their inspired vision of it . As it is it could stand some serious improvement.

[Ó Cathasaigh]

I realy like your Idea dearmad. I mean, I don't ever recall Crusadeing armies on the way to the holy lands being fought off by European armies or other Crusader armies.

[Hansa]

In MTW1, a crusader army passing through your lands whould occationaly plunder one of your provinces/sack a city. This is a feature that should be kept. I also want to see a large civilian non-facton based army representing average peasants figting for the pope. This(ese) army(ies) should be very large and very incapable when it comes to fighting. As with the crusader armies in MTW1 is should attract people from the provinces it passes though (although civilians, not soldiers). It should also plunder its way through any region it passes through. Representing the complete lack of essensial logistics such a rabbling horde had when moving.

This crusader army will basically be completely innefective in battle, and only really problematic for people who allow it to pass through their land. It should though be punishments if a christian (particularly chatolic) faction, decides to crush this plundering mob. This could be things like morale losses in troops, desertions, excommunication, rebellions etc representing moral outrage.

Also, when a crusade is called for, any participating faction leader should, if excommunicated, get this withdrawn and return into favour with the pope.