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==Castles and strategies==
 
==Castles and strategies==
 
Saladin is one of the hardest AI characters in Stronghold Crusader. He is able to get rich very quickly and swarms troops with ease. One of his weaknesses is that he takes a medium amount of time to set up his keep and defenses.
 
Saladin is one of the hardest AI characters in Stronghold Crusader. He is able to get rich very quickly and swarms troops with ease. One of his weaknesses is that he takes a medium amount of time to set up his keep and defenses.
===Economy===
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===In Stronghold Crusader===
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Saladin tends to build one of the best all-round economies. He has extensive resource mining, as well as he tries to make use of every opportunity to gain gold. He uses a very high number of [[bakery|bakeries]] and [[brewery|breweries]], and he employs positive [[fear factor]] to maximize taxes. He also constructs a number of workshops to convert raw iron into more valuable equipment.
Saladin runs the best (if not the most efficient) economy in the game. He gathers all raw materials with many [[stone Quarry|quarries]] and [[Iron Mine|mines]], builds a lot of wheat farms to harvest wheat, a few apple farms to provide food variety and several hop farms for ale. His economy is based on heavy bread production, fuelling many bakeries and mills. Unusually for an Arabian lord, Saladin also manufactures swords and metal armour from iron (to sell, not for recruitment). Saladin buys in apples and cheese to provide variety for his peasants. To boost taxing further, he applies positive Fear Factor at the cost of efficiency.
 
   
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Saladin constructs square-shaped castles with numerous [[round tower]]s, thick walls and large [[gatehouse]]s. He uses [[mangonel]]s along with [[ballista]]e and mans his towers with [[Arabian bowmen]] and [[fire thrower]]s. A narrow [[moat]] is also dug to protect outlying buildings (mostly good things) under the walls.
===Offense===
 
When attacking, Saladin uses a mix of Arabian units of all types apart from slingers. Some [[Fire Ballista|fire ballistae]] are also used to thin out enemy ranks, with support from catapults behind these, out of the range of enemy tower and wall missile units. [[Assassin]]s and [[Arabian Swordsman|Arabian swordsmen]] will be busy destroying the walls, but assassins will also head for gatehouses and vulnerable walls. Slaves are brought if the enemy has a moat, and, while other troops are distracting enemy missile units, will advance quickly to fill it in. Horse archers are also sent and these can be hard to kill as Saladin usually likes to keep them moving in front of the enemies' walls unlike the other Arabian lords.
 
   
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Saladin is active in harassment and organized attacks, using almost every Arabian unit except for slingers. He constructs numerous [[fire ballista]]e for long-range attacks, as well as he sends [[catapult]]s to destroy exposed farms and industry buildings. Saladin is notable for his [[horse archer]] raids and the high number of [[Arabian bowmen]] he uses in conjunction with [[Arabian swordsmen]].
Saladin likes to harass from the very beginning with [[horse Archer|horse archers]]. They can be very annoying if not prepared adequately. Later in the game, or if Saladin has lots of gold, expect to see [[catapult]]s and fire ballistae slowly rolling forward.
 
   
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''For more details, see: [[Saladin/Strategies (SHC)]]''
===Defense===
 
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==In Stronghold Crusader 2==
   
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Saladin remains pretty much unchanged compared to Stronghold Crusader. Though his economy excludes weapons workshops, he produces most food types to enhance tax rates. He builds no mosques however and therefore he relies on his industrial buildings to gain income, making his economy a bit less effective.
He builds round towers, upon which he mounts [[ballista]]e and [[mangonel]]s. His keep itself is a square, with most of the key buildings located inside. Occasionally, narrow moats will be around certain parts of the wall. Arabian bowmen will be swarming the walls and towers, [[Fire Thrower|fire throwers]] guarding crucial places and the keep hosting entire armies. Saladin does not use traps but firepower to repel attacks.
 
   
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Saladin's most common castle consists of two rings of walls with a wide courtyard for his buildings inbetween. He adds a boost to his defense by a lot of [[lookout tower]]s, as well as he uses a lot of [[mangonel]]s and [[ballista]]e. He uses no traps, as Saladin relies on plenty of [[Arabian bowmen]] and several siege engines to repel attacks.
Saladin handles provocations with a handful of Arab bowmen and a smaller pack of Arabian swordsmen.
 
   
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Saladin attacks in multiple waves and he has retained his fond for [[horse archer]] harassment. His siege armies contain [[Arabian bowmen]], [[Arabian swordsmen]] and [[whirling dervish]]es, as well as he constructs a number of [[mantlet]]s, [[catapult]]s and [[war wagon]]s filled with Arab bowmen.
In Stronghold Crusader 2 his castle is somewhat different. While, as in the first Stronghold Crusader his castle is large with mangonels and ballistae atop round towers, there are also lots of lookout towers, which Saladin does not have in the first game. There is also an inner enclosure surrounding the keep for additional defence. Like his castle in the first Stronghold Crusader, there are no traps, Saladin relying on plenty of archers and several siege engines to repel attacks.
 
 
==How to deal with==
 
==How to deal with==
 
<span style="font-size:17px;">Defense</span>
 
<span style="font-size:17px;">Defense</span>
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Saladin has an all-round army constitution that needs a good variety of troops to handle. It is suggested that ballistae/mangonels are used with [[Crossbowman|crossbowmen]] and [[archer]]s/[[Arabian Bowman|arabian bowmen]] Crossbowmen can handle [[swordsmen]] and really any troops around, but they need help from bowmen to finish off enemies due to their slow firerate. Mangonels are also useful against groups due to their inaccuracy (they can also pick off scattered [[Assassin|assassins]] even if they are invisible), but ballistae perform better against [[Siege Equipment|siege equipment]].
 
Saladin has an all-round army constitution that needs a good variety of troops to handle. It is suggested that ballistae/mangonels are used with [[Crossbowman|crossbowmen]] and [[archer]]s/[[Arabian Bowman|arabian bowmen]] Crossbowmen can handle [[swordsmen]] and really any troops around, but they need help from bowmen to finish off enemies due to their slow firerate. Mangonels are also useful against groups due to their inaccuracy (they can also pick off scattered [[Assassin|assassins]] even if they are invisible), but ballistae perform better against [[Siege Equipment|siege equipment]].
   

Revision as of 00:55, 10 November 2014

My forces have struck another blow against you! This is but the beginning of the end for you, my friend.
— Saladin, destroying enemy buildings

Saladin is one of the AI opponents that appears in Stronghold CrusaderStronghold Crusader Extreme and Stronghold Crusader 2.

Background

Saladin was the Sultan of Egypt & Syria who led the Muslim army against the Crusaders. He eventually recaptured Palestine from the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem after his victory in the Battle of Hattin. In the third crusade, he fought against the forces of Christian opposition lead by Richard The Lionheart. The battle ended with a treaty that allowed for entrance of Christianity into Jerusalem, and called for a three year truce.

Appearance

As an Arabian lord, he wears a white turban with a golden crescent symbol at the front. His calm face is adorned by a thick facial hair around his mouth, and surrounded by red scarf with yelow color on the edge that is connected  at the front of his chest by a sunflower-like emblem. Like most other lords, he wears a metal chain armor. He wields a sword.

The Arabian lord unit in the game is modelled on Saladin.

Personality

He is a calm, kind-hearted person that always cares for his people. He tends to refer the player as "my friend", indicating that he is an easy-going person. Despite this, he has a very serious tone of voice unlike the similarly easy-going Emir. In battle, he never underestimates his enemies, nor does he overestimate them. He likes to show off his might with confidence, troops and mild taunts.

Castles and strategies

Saladin is one of the hardest AI characters in Stronghold Crusader. He is able to get rich very quickly and swarms troops with ease. One of his weaknesses is that he takes a medium amount of time to set up his keep and defenses.

In Stronghold Crusader

Saladin tends to build one of the best all-round economies. He has extensive resource mining, as well as he tries to make use of every opportunity to gain gold. He uses a very high number of bakeries and breweries, and he employs positive fear factor to maximize taxes. He also constructs a number of workshops to convert raw iron into more valuable equipment.

Saladin constructs square-shaped castles with numerous round towers, thick walls and large gatehouses. He uses mangonels along with ballistae and mans his towers with Arabian bowmen and fire throwers. A narrow moat is also dug to protect outlying buildings (mostly good things) under the walls.

Saladin is active in harassment and organized attacks, using almost every Arabian unit except for slingers. He constructs numerous fire ballistae for long-range attacks, as well as he sends catapults to destroy exposed farms and industry buildings. Saladin is notable for his horse archer raids and the high number of Arabian bowmen he uses in conjunction with Arabian swordsmen.

For more details, see: Saladin/Strategies (SHC)

In Stronghold Crusader 2

Saladin remains pretty much unchanged compared to Stronghold Crusader. Though his economy excludes weapons workshops, he produces most food types to enhance tax rates. He builds no mosques however and therefore he relies on his industrial buildings to gain income, making his economy a bit less effective.

Saladin's most common castle consists of two rings of walls with a wide courtyard for his buildings inbetween. He adds a boost to his defense by a lot of lookout towers, as well as he uses a lot of mangonels and ballistae. He uses no traps, as Saladin relies on plenty of Arabian bowmen and several siege engines to repel attacks.

Saladin attacks in multiple waves and he has retained his fond for horse archer harassment. His siege armies contain Arabian bowmen, Arabian swordsmen and whirling dervishes, as well as he constructs a number of mantlets, catapults and war wagons filled with Arab bowmen.

How to deal with

Defense

Saladin has an all-round army constitution that needs a good variety of troops to handle. It is suggested that ballistae/mangonels are used with crossbowmen and archers/arabian bowmen Crossbowmen can handle swordsmen and really any troops around, but they need help from bowmen to finish off enemies due to their slow firerate. Mangonels are also useful against groups due to their inaccuracy (they can also pick off scattered assassins even if they are invisible), but ballistae perform better against siege equipment.

Offense

Saladin has a much better defense than most other AI lords. In fact, his troops get almost always a +25% morale boost. His mangonels and ballistae in conjunction can really deal damage on advancing ranks. Two strategies:

  • Mass horse archers: Use Saladin's own tactic against him with 100-150 horse archers. These are enough to take out the outer defenses and any soldiers that may attempt to sally forth. Expect some casualties from extreme firepower and mangonels (ballistae will not hurt if always on the move) and consider focus firing on mangonels/ballistae. Encircle methodically the castle until you can take out most defenders, then concentrate on the keep and campfire. Always keep gatehouses closed and consider bringing slaves to light up the encampment. Saladin will have most of his troops and peasants killed so he cannot put fires off very well. Do not leave your troops in the flames and move in for the kill once the flames die.
  • Standard siege: This method needs a huge number of fire ballistae, catapults and mantlets. Slowly work your way towards the castle, repelling counterattacks constantly. Soon your catapults may fire at the closest tower(s) without much trouble. Leave towers crumbled so Saladin will not rebuild them. You may bring your fire ballistae closer to kill any remaining troops. Continue pounding the walls and structures you see in the perimeter, taking out the mercenary post, market and granary with a priority. When you reach the keep, have your fire ballistae get in range and fire at will. When little to no troops remain on the keep, rush in melee units ignoring fire from remaining units to dispose of Saladin. Use your mantlets in front of your ballistae whenever you can. Again, upgraded fire ballistae may save you troops.

Quotes

See: Quotes:Saladin.

Trivia

  • He is the only historical personality whose nicknames are not simply numbers, rather actual titles. 

External Links

Article on Saladin (Wikipedia)

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