Medieval Fest, April 20-27

From April 20 through April 27, Crusades: Book I and Crusades: Book II are both on sale for 15% off, bringing each title to $33.96. This special promotion runs alongside our regular Game of the Week offer, so for one week, we have two separate sales live at the same time: the normal GOTW on one hand, and this additional Sword & Siege promotion tied to Steam’s Medieval Fest on the other. Crusades: Book I and Book II are officially joining the sale on Steam, and we are matching that pricing on the WDS store as well. Also, this is the first time Crusades: Book II, released earlier this year, is on sale.

From Clermont to Constantinople

When Urban II called for armed aid to the East in 1095, he helped set in motion a series of campaigns that would become one of the defining movements of medieval history. The Crusades were shaped not only by religious purpose but also by ambition, rivalry, logistics, and the constant difficulty of sustaining war far from home. Early victories created fragile gains in the Levant, while later expeditions showed how difficult those conquests were to defend or recover.

Across the First through Fourth Crusades, the movement passed from dramatic success to mounting strain and division. What began with conquest and the creation of crusader states ended, in one of history’s great ironies, with the sack of Constantinople in 1204. Together, these campaigns chart the rise, instability, and fracture of crusading power in the eastern Mediterranean.

A more detailed historical background is available on the pages of the Crusades, Book I and Book II,  as well as on our blog post "Between Cross And Crescent: The Border Wars Of The Crusader States."

It is also worth noting that purchases made through the WDS store include a Steam key next to the regular WDS serial number. It can be found directly on your WDS store account.

So buying directly remains a convenient option for players who want both storefront access and the latest installer through their WDS store account, as well as support us directly. And this is only the beginning: Age of Longbow Volume I is planned as the next Sword & Siege title to come to Steam.

What is in the games

• Crusades: Book I includes 65 scenarios, while Crusades: Book II includes a further 102 scenarios – covering a variety of sizes and situations, including tutorial and training scenarios, Historical, Variant, and What If versions for both head-to-head play and vs. the computer AI.
• A range of maps is included, covering all the significant locations fought over during the Crusades, as well as some lesser-known ones.
  
• The order of battle files cover the various forces that participated in the campaigns, with additional formations added for hypothetical scenarios.
  
• There are extensive 3d unit graphics covering all of the major armies involved.
  
• Campaign and Scenario Editors, which allow players to customize the games.
  
• The sub-map feature allows the main maps to be subdivided into smaller segments for creating custom scenarios.
  
• Design notes covering the production of the games, campaign notes, and a bibliography of sources used by the design team to produce these historical simulation games.
  
• Crusades: Book I and Book II provide multiple play options, including play against the computer AI, Play by E-mail (PBEM), LAN & Internet "live" play, and two-player hot seat.

Books and Videos

Here's a list of book recommendations to give you a detailed historical background of the era as well as video documentaries and gameplay videos.

Asbridge, Thomas S. The Crusades: The War for the Holy Land. Simon & Schuster, 2010.

Asbridge, Thomas. The First Crusade: A New History. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005

France, John. Victory in the East: A Military History of the First Crusade. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994.

Morton, Nicholas. The Crusader States and Their Neighbours: A Military History, 1099–1187. London: Routledge, 2020

Maalouf, Amin. The Crusades Through Arab Eyes. London: Saqi Books, 2020.

Phillips, Jonathan. The Second Crusade: Extending the Frontiers of Christendom. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2007.

Hillenbrand, Carole. The Crusades: Islamic Perspectives. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1999.

Screenshots

Now for some screenshots from the games. As with the entire Sword & Siege series, this title has three 2D views and two 3D views to choose from. The game also features  3 different 2D icon sets (image, NATO-style, and silhouette)

Crusades: Book I

Crusades: Book II

Unlock the ultimate gaming experience with our exclusive offer! When you purchase Crusades, Book I and Crusades, Book II here, you’ll receive both the regular WDS serial number for direct access on our website and a Steam key. Don’t miss out on this deal!