How do you beat Level 41 on the Stronghold Crusader Trail Number 1

This mission, my overall favourite out of all fifty, sees you up against two Caliphs and the Lionheart. You start with 3000 gold and excellent supplies, but a terribly vulnerable position. The enemy has 40,000 gold so early attacks can almost be guaranteed. This mission is o­ne of o­nly two where I felt the need to beat an orderly retreat from the keep and establish a camp elsewhere.

This mission can be played by rushing the opponents from the start, by staying put at the keep or by the approach described below. Either way, it provides great entertainment. Speed in placing your economy buildings is of the essence here, as is recruiting enough troops and engineers at the start. Take advantage of the Pause key when you are buying and selling at the market and recruiting at the barracks.

Immediately destroy your stockpile and rebuild it in the northern mountains (4 squares is sufficient). Rotate the map 180 degrees (two clicks) so that you are now looking out from the position you will be defending. Place a granary, armoury and market at your new position. Get your troops and Lord to these mountains. Place three hovels, three woodcutters, o­ne quarry, three oxen and two iron mines.

Build three round towers, a gatehouse and small wall to completely seal off the mountain pass. Put the gatehouse between the towers. Don't wait for "the keep is enclosed" message as it will never come! You will have sufficient resources to complete all the above from the initial stocks.
Sell your pitch and iron. Buy 30 bows, 5 crossbows, 5 leather armour, 150 wood and 20 stone. Place a barracks at your new settlement and recruit these 35 troops. Place o­ne hops farm and two wheat farms (one will be outside the wall), o­ne mill, three bakeries, a brewery, an inn and the engineers' guild. Recruit 16 engineers (thus ensuring that you can have a maximum of 8 active tower ballistae).

Place a water-pot and build two fletchers and a poleturner (to give your armourer something to look after). Set taxes to -4 or -6. Man the barricades by placing manned ballistae and braziers o­n the towers and getting all your bowmen to the towers and gatehouse.

The biggest initial problem will be slaves trying to set alight the mines and quarry. Protect these at all costs with your archers and by placing killing pits as the wood comes in, or you can buy it in.

Once your economy is up and running, including the placement of a second quarry and oxen, you can work your way back to the keep with round towers, manned ballistae and your initial archers. Make sure that the first building placed is a small gatehouse or your miners and oxen might have a long route to take. Place the towers as far away from Richard's encampment as possible to minimise his catapult threat.

When you retake the keep, you can build blacksmiths' and armourers' workshops, site the mercenary post and recruit military personnel to your heart's desire. It's still a hard fight from then o­n, but a thoroughly enjoyable o­ne if you get the tactics right.

This walkthrough was composed by Lord Michael Mikando and Earl Listibald.