Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Editionis a remastered version of the 2002 classic RTS with a fresh coat of paint and new content. To survive and thrive in the Holy Land, players will need to grow their castle and town, keep their population happy, and be ready to defend or attack at any time.
While some veterans won’t need any help, those returning after two decades might need to refresh themselves with somebeginner tips forStronghold Crusader, although these are primarily aimed at newcomers to the game and series.
7Complete The Tutorial
Players Have To Find This Themselves
If players are completely new toStronghold Crusaderor theStrongholdfranchise, then they should play the tutorial. However, unlike most games, the tutorial is not forced upon players and nor is it easily visible. To access it, go to the main menu and open the book in the bottom right corner. It is easily missed.
The tutorial will explain the UI, building mechanics, and all the basics. After completing the tutorial, for which there is an Achievement, players can move on to the Historical Campaigns and perhaps start with The Call To Arms. In their first missions, they will have simple objectives that show players important things to focus on.
6Go Into Free Build Mode & Use Cheats To Practice Building
Build With Unlimited Resources Without Worrying About Enemies
Figuring out how to build castles, especially when it comes to walls, towers, and gates, is something that should be done in a relaxed mode without the stress of enemies. Free Build is accessed via Sandbox in the main menu, players can choose their map and elect to have no raiding enemies or events.
Touse cheats inStronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition, open the menu, go to options, and then press the chicken button. Players can then give themselves unlimited gold and popularity while focusing on building, and most importantly, they can turn the costs of buildings off.
5Learn How To Delete Buildings & Walls In Stronghold Crusader
An Important Mechanic
Players will inevitably make mistakes whenplacing buildings and walls, or at a later stage of development, they may need to make space. If players cannot figure out how to delete buildings inStronghold Crusaderor cannot find the button, it is the X or Cross on the right of the building panel.
This will change the cursor, and players can then left-click on buildings or sections of walls they wish to delete. Buildings close to the enemy cannot be destroyed. There is also the option to undo just beneath the delete button. Unfortunately, this will only undo the last action, with no more being remembered, nor is there a hotkey for it.
4Hide Buildings During Combat For A Better View
Spacebar Flattens Buildings & Foliage
Sometimes, combat will occur behind walls from the player’s current perspective, and without clear vision, they might not see some enemies until it’s too late. Thus, it can be a good idea to hide buildingsduring combat. This is done by pressing the Spacebar or by holding RMB and moving the mouse down.
Buildings will be flattened for a better tactical view, and even elements of the world will be hidden, such as foliage and rocks. Alternatively, to preserve immersion, players can also rotate their camera with Q or E to see combat behind walls. However, this can also be disorientating.
3Turn The Game Speed Down
Have More Time To Construct Buildings & React In Combat
As there is no UI for it, many beginner players won’t realize the game speed can be turned down. To alter the game speed, use the - and + keys, or whatever is listed in the hotkeys menu. Changes can be seen in the top right corner. As nothing can be built or produced while the game is paused, slowing everything down will help players against the AI, which does everything instantly.
This is particularly useful at the start of the game, when players will want to construct several buildings, and perhapsalter their taxesand rations. Slowing the game down is also beneficial in combat, as players have more time to react. The game speed can always be turned up when waiting for things to progress.
2Learn Hotkeys For Faster Navigation & Control Of Soldiers
This Is Particularly Important In Co-op & Multiplayer Matches
In RTS gameslikeStronghold Crusader, hotkeys are essential to quickly locate buildings and manage troops. This is especially true in multiplayer matches when the game cannot be paused or slowed down.
The best thing to do is go to the hotkeys menu and try to learn a few and put them into practice until they become second nature. To start off with, learn the hotkeys for going to the Marketplace (M), the Barracks (B), the Granary (G), and centering on your Keep (H). These buildings are all important, and the camera will snap to them instantly, no matter how far away. Next, learn some hotkeys for managing troops in combat, such as the different stances: Stand Ground (R), Defensive (T), and Aggressive (Y).
1A Higher Population Isn’t Always Good
More Mouths To Feed Under Siege Is Not Good
With a higher population, work will be more efficient, lords have more heads to tax, and players will always have soldiers to recruit as long as they have weapons and gold. However, bigger populations aren’t always good inStronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition. The maximum population is determined by the number of hovels built.
For example, when players are under siege and have no way to produce more food, a small population is actually superior. They won’t eat as much food, meaning it will take much longer for the castle to starve out, and during this time, popularity can also remain high. There is even ahistorical precedentfor this, as medieval cities under siege would often expel those who weren’t necessary to the defense.
