High Crusade
High Crusade is a Fortress Age Church technology for the Knights of St. John in Act I: Blood. It delivers eight Hoop Throwers and increases their hit points, grenade damage and hand damage by 20%, while reducing military hit points by 5% under the listed effect.
Research profile
- Age
- Fortress Age
- Civilization
- Knights of St. John (Act I: Blood)
- Research location
- Church
- Home City Card
- Royal Decree to Claim the New World
- Research time
- 15 seconds
- Effect
- Delivers 8 Hoop Throwers; Hoop Thrower hit points, grenade and hand attack damage +20%; Military hit points -5%
Effect & research conditions
The technology takes 15 seconds to research at the Church. The Hoop Throwers are a one-time reinforcement; the other modifiers apply to the relevant forces in the campaign rules. The military health penalty is part of the trade-off, so do not treat High Crusade as an unconditional army durability upgrade.
Research condition
Available to Knights of St. John (Act I: Blood) from the Fortress Age. Research it at Church.
When to research
Research before an attack where eight improved Hoop Throwers can contribute, and keep them supported so the grenade and hand attacks can be used safely. Account for the 5% military hit-point penalty when deciding whether to commit the rest of the force. The mission roster and Church access are campaign-specific.
A campaign power spike with a health trade-off
High Crusade delivers a focused group and improves three parts of the Hoop Thrower’s combat profile, but the listed military hit-point reduction affects the broader army. Use the technology when the extra siege and hand damage can advance the mission objective quickly, and avoid taking unnecessary exchanges while the penalty is active. Keep the Hoop Throwers protected from fast melee units and preserve other forces that can screen them.