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Having a high Dread Faction Leader is also a problem. People like you depending on what you've done. Also, if you've been excommunicated, well, problems can arise, such as the Pope launching a Crusade against Cairo that you control.
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it doubles the army's movement speed, gives them free upkeep (except mercenaries) but the HAVE to keep moving to the Crusade target. It's a little bright blue button with the Cross. To join a Crusade you have to select an army of at least 8 units or so and click the "Join Crusade" button. Almost all Europeans have that unit type there. You can make your own Feudal Knights if you really want to with a Castle with Barracks. To fight dismounted feudal knights, just let your crossbowmen skirmish them (flee & shoot) and don't let them get into combat, even with your spearmen, till you're ready. Note: the city has to actually be able to make the unit for it to be free. Also you don't need castles.Įach city can support a few militia unit with no upkeep, they have a different coloured unit card when they're in a city, bigger walls let you have more free upkeep units so check that out and try to always have at least that many units in the city.
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Consider making one of your cities have low taxes to get the next level for a better barracks that has Pavise Crossbowmen who are a powerful ranged unit that can fight in melee if needed. Don't bother making the weakest variety, they have spearmen militia with about 7 attack and 13 defense or so, which is almost as strong as sergent spearmen that you make at castles. Yep, Venice has some of the best militia in the game.
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