Crusaders

              http://www.wanadoo-edition.com/

Between 1150 and 1250, the Holy Lands went through a pivotal
period dominated by fear and chaos, and where everything could
change dramatically from one moment to the next. The strategic
choices made by the Frankish barons in the region were to reveal
themselves crucial to the survival of the Eastern Roman Empire. On
the one side, three well-known western monarchs were involved in
the Crusades: Richard the Lion- Hearted, Philip Augustus and
Frederick Barbarossa. On the other, the unifier of Islam, Saladin,
was growing ever more powerful and was mortally opposed to the
Crusades.

As an ambitious young noble, will you be able to take advantage of
this knife-edge situation to establish your own stronghold in the
Holy Land?

Crusader's rich and subtle gameplay will make you face up to the
complex difficulties which marked the Crusades. You will have to
win battles and lay siege to towns in order to expand your
kingdom, but you will also have to overcome economic and political
problems if you want to increase your resources. You will also
slowly learn to appreciate the Saracens' point of view.

Your "prestige" level is one of the factors that will determine
your success. It is influenced by your acts of bravery (killing
your enemies) and piety (maintaining a holy shrine), and by your
ability to manage your town's resources in order to attract as
many pilgrims as possible.

In your town, building monuments will increase your prestige,
wells will prevent sickness, and markets will encourage trade,
etc.

Your success will depend on your economic and military prowess,
but also on your diplomatic skills which will have to well honed
if you are to survive.

Relive the great battles of the period from 1150 to 1250 (Acre,
Arsuf, Ascalon and Hattin) in a completely 3D environment. You can
play these battles from the side of the Crusaders or the Saracens.

Up to 8 players on Lan and the Internet.














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