Crusades: Book II

Crusades: Book II

Continue the struggle for the eastern Mediterranean in Crusades: Book II, a tactical medieval wargame covering the wars that followed the failure of the Second Crusade and the long contest that led to the Third and Fourth Crusades.

Beginning in 1149, the game follows a period of shifting alliances, fragile Crusader forces, and increasingly ambitious campaigns that reshaped the balance of the region. From the defeat at Inab and the rise of Nur al-Din, to Saladin’s victory at Hattin, the struggle for Jerusalem, the great operations of the Third Crusade, and the shocking diversion to Constantinople in 1204, this is an era defined by endurance, reconquest, siege warfare, and grand expeditions strained by distance and logistics.

Take command in Crusades: Book II, where 40-meter hexes and 10-minute turns place you in control of armies fighting across the Levant, Anatolia, and beyond. Storm fortresses, hold vital routes, defend ports, and fight major battles.

Command the Rival Armies of the Later Crusades

Recreate the campaigns of the later Crusading era from either side of the conflict.

Lead the Crusader Alliance, built around:

• Armored knights and lance cavalry

• Infantry armed with sword, spear, and axe

• Crossbowmen and bowmen

• Sappers and siege crews

• Ballistas and other engines used to force fortified positions

Or command the Anti-Crusader Alliance, fighting with:

• Fast cavalry able to strike, harass, and disengage

• Horse and foot archers armed with powerful recurve bows

• Spearmen and swordsmen

• Onagers and other siege weapons used to break strongpoints and resist invasion

The historically accurate Order of Battle captures the changing military character of the 12th century: Crusader armies built around shock action, fortified defense, and siege assaults, facing opponents whose growing strength lay in mobility, missile fire, regional coordination, and the ability to concentrate force at decisive points. The result is a broader and more developed battlefield than Book I, shaped by reconquest, counterattack, and increasingly large-scale coalition warfare.

A Wider War of Sieges, Routes, and Reconquest

Crusades: Book II expands the conflict beyond the foundations of the Crusader states and into a broader struggle for dominance. The frontier is no longer a story of sudden conquest alone, but of repeated campaigns to seize, defend, isolate, and relieve the strongpoints that control entire regions.

Fight across battlefields where:

• Castles, ports, and walled cities anchor strategy

• Roads, crossings, and supply lines are vital

• Field armies must cooperate with garrisons, fleets, and relief forces

Crusades: Book II captures the military character of the period through major sieges, open battles, raids, marches, relief attempts, and desperate defenses. Siege warfare plays a central role, with medieval engines and assault methods helping decide the fate of key strongholds and cities.

From Inab, Harim, Montgisard, Jacob’s Ford, Hattin, Acre, Arsuf, and Jerusalem to the storming of Constantinople, Crusades: Book II recreates an age in which the fight for the Holy Land became part of a far larger contest stretching across the eastern Mediterranean.

102 Detailed Scenarios

Crusades: Book II includes 102 scenarios covering a wide variety of engagements and battlefield situations, including:

• A solo tutorial scenario

• Five training scenarios

• Historical battles

• Variant scenarios

• What-if scenarios

• Specialized versions for both head-to-head play and play against the AI

The game covers actions from the years between the Second and Third Crusades, the Third Crusade, and the Fourth Crusade, including battles such as:

• Inab

• Ascalon

• Lake Huleh

• Butaiha

• al-Buqaia

• Harim

• Bilbeis

• al-Babein

• Alexandria

• Montgisard

• Damietta

• Hama

• Jacob’s Ford

• Kerak Castle

• Hattin

• Jerusalem

• Tyre

• Safed

• Acre

• Arsuf

• Constantinople

Four Branching Campaigns

Four dedicated campaigns containing 26 scenarios allow you to follow the major operations of the era through connected battles and strategic decisions.

Play through:

The Fourth Crusade

The Third Crusade: Anatolia

The Third Crusade: The Levant

The combined Third Crusade: Levant and Anatolia

These campaigns are branching in structure, allowing players to make strategic choices that affect which scenarios follow and how the wider campaign develops. Play from the perspective of either the Crusader Alliance or the Anti-Crusader Alliance as the conflict unfolds across multiple theaters.

Extensive Maps and Medieval Visual Detail

A wide range of maps covers the major locations fought over during the later Crusading era, from the Levantine coast and inland fortresses to Anatolian battlefields and the walls of Constantinople.

All of Crusades: Book II's maps are built from careful study of real terrain and historical locations, helping create battlefields that reflect the operational realities of the age. Crusades: Book II also includes extensive 3D unit graphics representing the major armies involved, bringing the later Crusades to life in rich medieval detail.

Powerful Editing Tools

Customize and expand your experience with a full suite of editors, including:

Campaign editor

Scenario editor

Sub-map editor

Use these tools to modify existing content or create entirely new medieval battles and sieges of your own.

Multiple Ways to Play

Multiple play options include:

Play against the computer AI

Play-By-Email (PBEM)

LAN and live Internet play

Two-player Hot Seat mode