Crusader Rex

CRUSADER REX

1.0 MAPBOARD Rulebook Organization This rulebook is formatted so that the sidebar The mapboard depicts the Levant, (this column) contains designer and historical from Antioch south to Egypt. The Frank notes to help you understand and enjoy this player sits at the western edge of the game. mapboard, the Saracen player opposite. Fog-of-War Surprise is an exciting aspect of Crusader Rex. 1.1 TOWNS Blocks generally stand upright facing the owner. The map shows the key settlements This promotes bluff and innovative strategies of the 12th Century. They govern the because players are uncertain of the strength or movement and location of blocks. identity of an enemy block. • Green towns are friendly to the Saracen Battle Sites player, unless curcurrentlyrently occupied bbyy The main battles of the period are shown on Frank blocksblocks.. the map for interest, red for Frank victories and green for Saracen victories. • Orange towns are friendly to the Frank player, unless curcurrentlyrently occupied bbyy Saracen blocks. Names & Places • Black totownswns are unplayable locationslocations,, Modern day translations of names and places shown for historical interest. from the Crusading era can vary. When confronted with spelling choices, we have Most towns are rated as 1, 2, or 3. generally deferred to Lyons & Jackson’s Saladin: EGYPT is rated 4. Town ratings reflect local The Politics of Holy War. INTRODUCTION fortifications and supply. Crusader Rex is a game cocoveringvering the 1.2 CASTLES The Early Crusades The Crusades began on November 27, 1095, Third Crusade. One player commands the Blocks can withdraw into castles rather FRANKS, the other the SARACENS. when Pope Urban II called upon Christendom than fight in the field. Although there is no to reclaim the holy land. Although Jerusalem limit to the number of blocks located in GAME TURNS had been under relatively benign Muslim rule a town, there is a castle defense limit equal The game is played in a series of years for over 400 years, Urban II decried a rising to the town rating. Thus, any number of tide of deprivations and desecrations by “the starting at 1187. Within each year are six blocks may occupy ACRE, but only 3 blocks enemies of Christ.” Less than four years later, (6) Game Turns. Each Game Turn has four may defend its Castle. the Franks completed a long and bloody march (4) Phases, played in the sequence given: to Jerusalem, whereupon they slaughtered 1.3 PORTS every Jew and Muslim they found in the city. [1] Card Phase Independent kingdoms and principalities were Both players start every year with six A town with an anchor symbol is a established in Jerusalem, Tripoli, Antioch, (6) cards. They each play one (1) card face port. They enable Sea Movement. Under and Edessa (modern-day Armenia), which down. The cards are then revealed and the siege, a port is friendly to the besieger, collectively became known as “Outremer” – the higher card becomes Player 1 (first turn). not the besieged. lands over the sea. Ties go to the Frank plaplayer.yer. The Crusader States prospered for 45 years 1.4 SEATS until Zangi, the Atabeg of Aleppo, conquered [2] Move Phase Some towns have nearby heraldic the County of Edessa. The new military hero Cards valued 1, 2, or 3 allow a shields that indicate they are the Seat of Islam was soon murdered by a servant. corresponding number of GROUP MOVES. (home area) for a particular block(s). Zangi’s young son Nur al-Din took command ALL friendly blocks located in one town Duplicate shields exist, such as at Sidon and braced his Emirate for the inevitable Frank are a Group. Depending on their Move and Beauport. Sidon is the main seat since counterattack. Rate, blocks may move along roads up to it is the town named on the block, but Pope Eugenius III launched the 2nd Crusade on four (4) towns per Move, but must stop Beauport is an alternate seat. March 31, 1146. German, French, and English upon entering an enemy-occupied town. armies under the command of King Louis VII of France and King Conrad III of Germany Player 1 moves first, then Player 2. Any 1.5 VICTORY CITIES opted to strike first at Damascus, then an ally battles created are then resolved. Seven (7) towns (hexagons) are of Outremer and an enemy of Aleppo! Their Victory Cities. The Saracen player starts assault upon Damascus was broken when Nur [3] Battle Phase play controlling three (3) victory cities: al-Din’s forces swooped down from the north. Battles occur when opposing blocks ALEPPO, DAMASCUS, and EGYPT; the Frank The Crusaders retreated in panic, and the 2nd are located in the same town. Sieges can player controls four (4) victory cities: Crusade ended in disaster. The Zangid Empire occur if the Defender wishes to refuse ANTIOCH, TRIPOLI, ACRE, and JERUSALEM. under Nur al-Din now controlled Aleppo and battle and withdraw into the castle. Player Damascus. The object for either player is to 1 determines which battle/siege is fought control a majority of the seven (7) VictorVictoryy first, which second, and so on. Cities after the year 1192 is played. An [4] Draw Phase instant (sudden death) victory occurs Each player Draws one (1) block from should one player gain control of all seven their Draw Pool. Victory Cities.

2.0 ARMIES 2.2 FRANKS The Military Orders Frank blocks contain a mix of knights, The Templars and Hospitallers were the military The wooden blocks represent FRANK infantry, and archers. elite of Christendom. Members were primarily (orange) and SARACEN (green) forces. There minor nobility recruited from all over Europe, is also one ASSASSIN (black) block. 2.21 Outremers although the majority came from France. They were deeply religious, highly trained, well A sheet of die-cut labels is included. Eleven (11) blocks represent disciplined, and ferocious in battle. One label must be attached to the face of the Christian feudal lords of each block. Lightly position each label, the Kingdom of Jerusalem, The Order of St. John of the Hospital of Principality of Antioch, and County of Jerusalem was founded by Italian merchants ensure it is straight, and then press firmly prior to the crusading era as a charitable Tripoli. to the block. medical organization. Once under the • Green labels on green blocks 2.22 Military Orders supervision of Benedictine monks, it evolved into an autonomous religious institution with a • Tan labels on orange blocks Seven (7) blocks represent distinct military caste by around 1160. • Black label on the black block. the elite fighting orders of the “The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Jesus Christ,” on The blocks add surprise and secrecy Hospitallers and Templars. the other hand, were founded by nine crusading to the game. When standing upright, knights in 1119 as a religious order dedicated to block type and strength is hidden from the 2.23 Turcopoles Two (2) blocks represent the protection of pilgrims. Their headquarters opponent. at the al-Aqsa mosque on the southern edge of Syrian light horse employed by the Temple Mount (known to the crusaders as 2.1 BLOCK DATA the Franks. the Temple of Solomon) earned them the name Blocks have numbers and symbols “The Templars.” defining movement and combat abilities. 2.24 Crusaders Nine (9) blocks represent the By the time of the 3rd Crusade, the religious orders had become fearsome military powers 2.11 Strength ENGLISH, FRENCH, and GERMAN and were the wealthiest landowners in The current strength of a block is forces of the Third Crusade. Outremer. Their leaders treated the Kings, the number of diamonds on the top They all begin play off-board in the Frank Princes, and Emirs of the Middle East as edge when the block is standing upright. Draw Pool. sovereign equals. Strength determines how many six-sided 2.25 Pilgrims Members who fell into enemy hands were dice (d6) are thrown for a block in combat. generally executed. The military orders refused A block at strength 4 rolls 4d6 (four six- Four (4) blocks represent to pay ransom. “I wish to purify the land of sided dice); a block at strength 1 rolls 1d6. numerous small groups of these two monstrous orders,” declared Saladin, warriors who came to the Holy Blocks vary in maximum strength. “whose practices are of no use, who will never Land. Four prominent sources are named, renounce their hostility, will render no service Some blocks have four steps, some three but pilgrims came from Castile to Jutland. as slaves, and are all that is worst in this infidel steps, and some only two steps. For each They begin play off-board in the Frank race.” Two hundred and thirty were executed hit taken in combat, the block’s strength Draw Pool. en masse a few days after capture at the Battle is reduced one step by rotating the block of Hattin. 90 degrees counter-clockwise. The sidebar 2.3 SARACENS shows a block at strength 1, 2, and 3. Saracen blocks contain a mixture of 2.12 Combat Rating light horse, horsebow, and infantry. STEP REDUCTION The Combat Rating is indicated by a 2.31 Emirs letter and number, such as A1 or B2. The Nineteen (19) blocks represent letter determines when a block attacks. All Muslim lords loyal to Saladin. A blocks attack first, then all B blocks, then Several of them came from all C blocks. The number indicates the areas off-map, but are given starting map Strength 1 Strength 2 Strength 3 maximum roll that will score a hit. locations to ease play. Note that Saladin EXAMPLE: a block rated B1 only scores a plus four other blocks bear the same BLOCK DATA hit for each “1” rolled, but a block rated B3 heraldry – his three sons and a brother. scores one hit for each 1, 2, or 3 rolled. 2.32 Nomads STRENGTH 2.13 Move Rating Twelve (12) blocks represent a (3) A block’s Move rating indicates how variety of irregular forces from SEAT many towns a block may move. All blocks off-map regions. They all begin (Caesarea) have +1 move if they force-march. play off-board in the Saracen Draw Pool. 2.14 Seat 2.4 ASSASSINS NAME A block’s SEAT is its major holding The BLACK block rerepresentspresents (Walter) or home area. Blocks begin the game the Assassins. It is deployed deployed in their Seats. Some blocks have in Masyaf and used to attack alternate seats (see 1.4) but only the main an enemy block when the seat is named. Assassin event card is played. MOVE COMBAT (2) (B2)

3.0 DEPLOYMENT 5.0 MOVEMENT Saladin & The Ayyubid Empire Salah al-Din Yusuf ibn-Ayyub (shortened by the Both sides set-up their blocks at their Players are never compelled to Move. Franks as “Saladin”) was a Kurd born into high designated seats. Blocks are deployed at They must play a card, but can do nothing places. His father was the Governor of Tikrit in full strength. if desired. Moves cannot be saved. modern day Iraq, and a shrewd political advisor to both Zangi and Nur al-Din. His father’s Blocks may pass freely through 3.1 FRANK DEPLOYMENT brother – Shirkuh – was a veteran general of Outremers, Turcopoles, and Military friendly blocks, but must stop and the Zangid Sultanate and commander of Nur al- Orders start at their named (or alternate) fight a battle when they enter any town Din’s military expedition in 1164 against Fatmid Seats. The Frank player cannot exceed containing enemy block(s). (Shiite) Egypt. The young Saladin joined his Town Ratings during deployment, and EXCEPTION: Blocks of the besieging uncle on this bloody but successful conquest. player may move through a town under When Shirkuh died of illness in 1169, the 31 must make Seat adjustments before the year-old Saladin inherited control of Egypt. Saracen player draws his Nomads. siege. Tensions gradually rose between Saladin and his EXAMPLE: King Guy starts at Jerusalem, Blocks only move once per Game nominal lord in Damascus. Open war between but can be deployed at Hebron or Jaffa. Turn, except to RETREAT or REGROUP. the two loomed, but Nur al-Din died from The 13 remaining blocks (Crusaders an untimely illness in 1174. Saladin quickly 5.1 INITIATIVE marched an army into Damascus and seized and Pilgrims) are placed face-down off Card values determine play order each power from the regency governing in the name map as a Draw Pool. Game Turn. The higher card (Franks win of Nur al-Din’s 11 year-old son, al-Salih. Civil war ensued, but Zangid loyalists were no match 3.2 SARACEN DEPLOYMENT ties) is PLAYER 1 who must play first. for Saladin’s political savvy or military strength. Emir blocks start at their noted seats, By 1186, Saladin controlled Egypt, Syria, most except Saladin can be exchanged with any 5.2 GROUP MOVEMENT of the old County of Edessa, and all important other block of his family. Hence, Saladin All blocks (even one block) located city-states of Mesopotamia except Baghdad. in one town are referred to as a GROUP. has DAMASCUS as a seat, but may switch Saladin had a mixed reputation among his with the al-Aziz block frfromom EGYPT or the Players may move as many Groups as the Islamic contemporaries. Many lionized him as a al-Zahir block from ALEPPO. card they play, meaning a Card 3 allows wise and compassionate ruler, a deeply devout up to three Groups to move. A player can The 12 remaining blocks (Arabs, Sunni Muslim, and the greatest hero in Arab move any number of the blocks in a Group history. Nearly as many, however, disparaged Kurds, Turks) are placed face-down off to one or more areas within their move him as a cynical opportunist and power-hungry map as a Draw Pool. Six (6) of them are rating. usurper more bent on war against fellow immediately drawn and deployed at their Muslims than the Crusader kingdoms. EXAMPLE: With 7 blocks in Damascus, appropriate seats (Kurds at Damascus). The 3rd Crusade was called by Pope Gregory the Saracen player moves 4 blocks to VIII in 1187 after Saladin defeated a Christian Tiberias (via Ashtera and Ajlun), 2 blocks army at Hattin (near Tiberias) and then seized 4.0 THE CARDS to Tyre (via Banyas and Beauport), and the entire Kingdom of Jerusalem except Tyre. The game has twenty-one (21) MOVE leaves 1 block in Damascus. and four (4) EVENT cards. At the beginning of each year, all cards are shuffled and six 5.3 MUSTERS OPTIONAL RULES (6) are dealt out face-down to each player. Instead of a Group Move a player may ❒ Richard's Seaboots Players may then examine them. declare a MUSTER. Designate one friendly Once ashore in the Holy Land, Richard the town and then move any/all blocks with Lionheart (only) may Sea Move to a port 4.1 CARD PLAY sufficient movement to reach that town. besieged by the Saracens, to join or initiate a field battle. His firepower is reduced to B3 for Both players start a Game Turn by EXAMPLE: 4 blocblocksks in JJerusalem,erusalem, 1 in playing one card face-down. The cards the first Combat Round. Richard can retreat to Jaffa, 2 in Tiberias, and 2 in Beirut move an adjacent friendly totownwn as normal,normal, or bbyy Sea to are then revealed and the higher card to Acre, the designated muster town. any friendly porport.t. determines PLAYER 1 for that Game Turn Blocks cannot start a new battle with (Franks win ties). a muster move, but can muster at (or pass ❒ Fickle Philip through) a town they are besieging. 4.11 Move Cards If James of Flanders is eliminated, Philip is also Move Cards allow one, two, or three NOTE: Blocks that muster to an existing eliminated. He returns to France to press his moves according to their value. siege may Storm in the Battle Phase. claim to Flanders. 4.12 Event Cards 5.4 ROAD LIMITS NOTE: we recommend that both optional rules Event cards give a player a special There are two classes of road: Major action as noted on the card. Events are be applied together since one is favorable to the (thick) and Minor (thin). A maximum of Frank, and the other is not. executed before Moves. If both players eight (8) blocks can move along a Major play Event cards, the Frank card is Road, and four (4) along a Minor road per executed first, except play of a Mud card Movement Phase. Road limits are applied cancels the turn. separately to each player. Road Limits NOTE: Unlike Hammer of the Scots, Road Limits are halved (50%) when Road limits are applied separately to each the play of two Event cards does NOT end attacking; four (4) along a Major road and player. Once a road maximum is met, it is closed to movement by THAT player this Game Turn. the year. two (2) along a Minor road.

5.5 FORCED MARCHES 6.0 BATTLES The Assassins The Assassins were extremist members of Blocks can increase their move +1 by Battles are fought one by one after Shiite Ismaili sect dedicated to the destruction force-marching. Place a die on each block all movement is completed. Each battle force-marching. After all normal movement of Saracen and Sunni power in the Middle East. must be completed before fighting the next The term “Assassin” derived from the Arabic is done, roll one die for each block: battle. Player 1 determines which battle is word Hashishyun. The Hashishi (users of 1-3: lose one step fought first before examining any enemy hashish) were drug-crazed fanatics who served 4-6: no effect blocks. After that battle is completed, as an early form of suicide killer. By the middle of the 12th Century, the Assassins claimed Unless eliminated, the force-marching return all blocks to upright mode, and Player 1 then selects the next battle but 40,000 followers living in secure mountain block always completes the extra move. strongholds. need not commit to any specific sequence of battles in advance. Rashid al-Din Sinan, the fabled “Old Man of the 5.6 TOWN CONTROL Mountain” during the 3rd Crusade, was perhaps Towns are either FRIENDLY or ENEMY Blocks are not revealed until a battle is the greatest leader of this bloody sect. Sinan, controlled: fought. Reveal blocks in battles by tipping like his predecessors, hated the Franks and Friendly: vacant towns of your color, or them forward to maintain current strength. the heretical Ayyubid Empire and played both towns occupied by your blocks. against the other. Enemy: vacant towns of the enemy color, or 6.1 COMBAT ROUNDS In 1175, the leaders of Aleppo paid Sinan to towns occupied by enemy blocks.. Battles are fought for a maximum of assassinate Saladin, a feat which would surely During a Siege one player holds the four (4) combat rounds. The attacker have succeeded save for the heroics of Yazkuj in Saladin’s defense. In 1177, the Zangi Vizier of castle, the other holds the field. A town must retreat during the fourth round if there are any defenders in the field. That Aleppo caught the Assassins’ knife, as did the (and port) is friendly to the besieging plaplayeryer Vizier of Baghdad the following year. In 1192, is, attacking blocks cannot fire in Round 4, for all movement purposes. The besieged the Assassins murdered Conrad of Montferrat player holding the castle retains control of but defending blocks fire normally. before his coronation as King of Jerusalem. the town for victory determination. EXCEPTION: See Besieging 7.2. Losses from the ASSASSIN card represent the Changes to town control are always NOTE: Because both playplayersers movmovee befbeforeore disorder and demoralization caused by an effective immediately. combat, in some battles the Frank player Assassin attack. can be the Defender, while in others, the 5.7 PINNING Saracen player can be the Defender. All attacking blocks (including Reserves) prevent an equal number 6.2 COMBAT TURNS of defending blocks from moving. The Each block has one Combat Turn per Town Control Defender chooses which blocks are pinned. Combat Round to FIRE, RETREAT, OR PASS. Crusader Rex has no Neutral towns. If one The "unpinned" blocks may move/attack of your towns is enemy-occupied, it reverts EXCEPTION: The Attacker must retreat normally, but cannot depart along a road immediately to your control if vacated. during Round 4. used by the Attacker to start the battle. The sequence of Combat Turns EXAMPLE: 2 blocks attack a town up one depends on combat ratings. All “A” blocks Combat Reserves road, while another 2 blocks attack that go before all “B” blocks, which go before Main Attack blocks must start the turn in the same town up another road. If 5 blocks are same town and use the same road into battle. all “C” blocks. Defending “A” blocks go defending the town, 4 defenders are pinned, All other blocks are in Reserve. Main Attack before Attacking “A” blocks, and so on. but 1 (defender’s choice) may move and/or blocks cannot be voluntarily placed in the attack another town, but not along any After all blocks have taken one Reserve. road used by the Attacker. Combat Turn, Round 1 has been fought. Repeat the sequence for Combat Rounds 2 5.8 SEA MOVEMENT and 3 as necessary. Either player may conduct Sea EXAMPLE: Conrad (B3) and Turcopole Movement between two friendly porports.ts. (A2) attack Zangi (B2) and a Kurd (C2). Each Sea Move costs one (1) Move per The sequence for each combat round is: block; a Move 2 card Sea Moves 2 blocks. Turcopole, Zangi, Conrad, and Kurd. Blocks can never attack (or reinforce a battle) or retreat by Sea Movement. 6.3 COMBAT RESERVES A player may attack via different 5.9 ASSASSINATIONS roads and/or attack with two or three The assassin block acts under the Group Moves. One group moving up the command of the player who plays the same road is declared the Main Attack. All ASSASSIN Event Card. The block can other friendly blocks in the battle are attack any designated enemy block (sight placed in Reserve. unseen), fire once, and then return back to EXAMPLE: The Saracen has 4 blocks Masyaf with no enemy return fire. in HEBRON and 2 in AMMAN. Both groups Masyaf cannot be entered by any attack JERUSALEM. The AttacAttackerker decdeclareslares Frank or Saracen block. the HEBRON ggrouproup his Main AttacAttack.k.

Reserve blocks may not fire, retreat, Turcopoles also have this Harrying option. Fragile Alliances or take hits in Combat Round 1. They are Blocks with A1, B1, or C1 firepower cannot Both the Franks and the Saracens had to revealed at the beginning of Round 2, use this tactic. contend with internal tensions that threatened even if all other friendly blocks have been to rip their forces apart. eliminated. Thereafter they take normal 6.5 RETREATS Saladin’s hold on power was tenuous. He faced Combat Turns. Each block may retreat (instead of external threats from emirs in Turkey, Armenia, firing) on its normal Combat Turn. and Baghdad. Egypt and Iraq smoldered with IMPORTANT: Battlefield Control cchangeshanges sedition and vanquished Zangi loyalists had to if the Attacker wins in Round 1 before • Per combat round, a maximum of four be watched carefully. Defending reserves arrive. The Attacker is (4) blocks may retreat along a major Outremer was a seething cauldron of intrigue now the Defender for further combat. road, and two (2) blocks along a minor and tension. King Guy was bitterly opposed by road. the Hospitallers, Count Raymond of Tripoli, 6.31 Battle Reinforcements • Attacking blocks must retreat to and Baldwin’s widow Maria Comnena, a Blocks moved by Player 2 to reinforce adjacent towns, via road(s) used to start princess of the Byzantium Empire – all of whom a battle created by Player 1 are always thought the new king a weak interloper. After the battle. Defending blocks may retreat placed in Reserve. the disaster at Hattin, for which King Guy was via any other roads. Blocks that cannot responsible, internecine conflict continued with EXAMPLE: The Saracen attacks retreat must win or be eliminated. Conrad of Montferrat – who wanted the crown Jerusalem from Hebron with 4 blocks. The • Blocks may never retreat to a town for himself. Frank has 2 blocks defending Jerusalem, where there is an unfought battle, but The Crusaders were also at each other’s throat. and now moves 3 blocks from Jaffa to can retreat to a town besieged byby friendlyfriendly Richard’s last-minute rejection of Philip’s sister Jerusalem. The first round of combat blocks. as his bride (because she had been the mistress involves the 4 Hebron and 2 original of his father, Henry II) so soured relations that Jerusalem blocks. The Jaffa blocks are WARNING: When both players enter a the French King spent only four months in placed in Reserve until Combat Round 2. battle along the same roads, only Player 2 Palestine before sailing home to plot the seizure may retreat via these roads. of Richard's extensive holdings in Normandy, 6.4 COMBAT RESOLUTION Anjou, and Aquitaine. Three times thereafter Each block in its Combat Turn rolls as 6.6 REGROUPS the French army under the Duke of Burgundy many dice as its current Strength. A hit is When a battle or siege ends, the Victor abandoned the field and twice the French refused to fight – once in September 1191 when scored for each die roll equal to or lower may REGROUP any/all of the victorious Richard proposed invasion of Egypt and again blocks to any adjacent and friendly than the block’s Combat Rating. in June 1192 when Richard proposed a final EXAMPLE: Saladin at strstrengthength 4 rolls 4 town(s). Normal road limits (8/4) apply for march on Jerusalem. dice. He has A3 combat, meaning all rolls Regroups. Blocks that Regroup to a town of 1, 2, & 3 are hits. Rolls of 4, 5, & 6 are that their side is besieging are placed in misses. If the dice rolled are 1, 2, 4, & 5, Reserve and may participate in combat BATTLE EXAMPLE Saladin scores two hits and two misses. like any other Reserve blocks. The Saracen player attacks JERUSALEM from HEBRON with 4 blocks (main attack) and from 6.41 Combat Hits 6.7 ELIMINATED BLOCKS JERICHO with 2 blocks. The Frank (Player 2) has Enemy blocks cannot be targeted When blocks are eliminated they are 2 blocks defending JERUSALEM, and now moves 3 blocks from JAFFA to help defend JERUSALEM. individually. Each hit is applied to the generally placed in a player's Draw Pool strongest enemy block. When two or more and can be redrawn and returned to the Battle Declaration: Player 2 decides to blocks share the highest Strength, the game later. However, some blocks suffer withdraw 2 blocks into the castle. Player 1 permanent elimination. decides to storm with his 4 blocks. Blocks from owner chooses which to reduce. Jaffa and Jericho are held in the Reserve. For the Frank player, all CRUSADERS NOTE: Combat is not simultaneoussimultaneous.. All Combat Round 1: Player 1 blocks (4) and hits are applied immediately. and MILITARY ORDERS are permanently Player 2 blocks (2) fire in their respective eliminated. For the Saracen player, SALADIN 6.42 Knights' Charges Combat Turns. Defender has Double Defense. and his four other family blocks are Combat Round 2: Player 2 Reserve blocks (3) Frank and Crusader blocks bearing a permanently eliminated. These blocks are shield (all blocks except the four Pilgrims, now cause a field battle against Player 1 blocks never returned to the Draw Pool; they are (6). Player 1 cannot Storm, but is on defense one Crossbow, and two Turcopoles) have placed face-up off map. in the field. Player 2 elects to SALLY with his 2 the tactical option to Knights’ Charge. WARNING: Permanentermanent elimination castle blocks, firing on offense. All 5 Player 2 Each block does this on its normal turn blocks do a knights' charge. to fire, but must declare the intent before applies in all casescases,, includingincluding WWinterinter Attrition, Assassination, Siege Attrition, etc. Combat Round 3: The field battle continues. rolling. The effect is to increase firepower Player 2 loses two blocks, but Retreats one unit by one (B2=B3), but to take one hit for to Ramla, and withdraws the sallying blocks each “6” rolled to reflect disorganization, back into the castle. Player 1 cannot storm the blown horses, etc. Saracen blocks cannot castle this round, so the battle ends with him knights’ charge. remaining on siege. No siege attrition this turn. Summary: Jerusalem is saved, but is under 6.43 Harrying siege. Player 2 might have done better by All Saracen blocks have the tactical staying in the field, thus fighting the entire battle option to fire at –1 firepower (B2=B1), on defense, and perhaps forcing the Saracen to then immediately Retreat (6.5). The two retreat after three combat rounds.

7.0 SIEGES the battle with a SALLY. Richard the Lionheart • If neither player wishes to fight, proceed Richard Plantagenet, the King of England, Duke For each new battle created, the of Normandy, and Earl of Anjou, was arguably to Siege Attrition. Defender has the option to withdraw the greatest military leader in medieval history some/all blocks to the castle before 7.31 Storming and the deadliest knight of the Middle Ages. The name “Lionheart” was well earned and widely combat, or Retreat there in a normal Storming is resolved just like a Combat Turn. If either option is taken, known even before his adventure in the Holy normal battle except the castle Defender Land, but his campaigns in Outremer were the the Attacker may then choose to STORM or has Double Defense (see 7.11) and the zenith of his career. An emir from Aleppo wrote BESIEGE. Storming blocks cannot exceed twice to Saladin that “Never have we seen his like or the Town Rating. That is, in Tripoli, a met his peer. He is ever foremost of the enemy 7.1 CASTLE DEFENSE maximum of 2 blocks can defend the at each outset; he is first as befits the pick and The Town Rating denotes the castle, but up to 4 blocks can Storm. flower of knighthood. It is he who maims our maximum number of blocks that can defend folk. No one can resist him or rescue a captive a castle. Additional defending blocks must EXCEPTION: Tyre, a fortified city on from his hands.” remain in the field (defending outside the an island, connected to the mainland by a While Richard far outshone Saladin as a warrior, castle). narrow causeway, was especially difficult Saladin was a far better student of men. The to attack. Only 2 blocks can storm Tyre. English King made enemies of many powerful 7.11 Double Defense Storming cannot occur until a field allies such as King Philip, Conrad of Montferrat, Blocks defending a castle have Double battle is resolved. When this occurs, and Leopold of Austria. Defense (D2). This means that two hits Storming may begin starting with a new are required to lose one step. Each hit is combat round. That is, if the field battle Barbarossa’s Crusade treated as a half-hit and the next hit must ends during Combat Round 2, Storming The 67 year-old Frederick Barbarossa had ruled be taken on the same block. may begin on Combat Round 3. the Holy Roman Empire for almost four decades Half-hits carry forward from one and was one of the most powerful and respected Combat Round to the next, but not to the 7.32 Relief Forces monarchs of his day. Despite the Emperor’s age next Game Turn. That is, a defending block A besieged player may attempt to and past disputes with the pope, Barbarossa recovers a half-hit after Combat Round 3. relieve a siege simply by attacking into reacted to the debacle at Hattin by rallying the town with external forces. A normal 15,000 men and 3,000 knights – the flower of the German nobility – for war in Outremer. 7.2 BESIEGING field battle is fought with the besieger on The Attacker has the option to Besiege defense, and the relief force on offense. The The German army was forced to cut its way through armies fielded by the Byzantine Empire if there are no blocks defending the field, relief force must retreat (not to the castle) if it fails to defeat the besieger. and the Sultanate of Rum, and it did so with or Retreat as normal. fearful effect. Saladin was so alarmed that he Any number of blocks may Besiege, 7.33 Sallying called-off his campaign against Tyre and Tripoli although there is a limit to how many can If not being stormed, besieged blocks and dismantled castles and city walls as far Storm (see: 7.31). Besieging blocks are may sallsallyy to trytry and break the siegesiege,, or south as Ascalon to deny Barbarossa’s army any comfort or supply. In an amazing twist of fate, placed face-up until the siege is over which assist a relief force. Sallying blocks take however, Barbarossa drowned while crossing could take several Game Turns. their normal Combat Turn to fire at a river near Tarsus on June 10, 1190. Internal besieging blocks, but forfeit their double 7.22 Siege Control dissension quickly broke out, and when the defense. Sallying blocks may Knight's army finally managed to stagger into Antioch, In a siege, the Defender holds the Charge or Harry. an epidemic swept the city – a final blow that castle and the Attacker holds the field. convinced all but a few thousand Germans to Blocks must fire on the turn they Sally, That gives the Defender the advantage return back from whence they came. By October of defense when Stormed. However, the but can Retreat on a subsequent Combat 1190, the remaining Germans led by Leopold Attacker has the advantage of defense in Turn, either back to the castle or to an of Austria reached Acre and provided King Guy any field battle that occurs in that town. adjacent friendly town. with meager reinforcements for his depleted The Attacker also controls the town (and army. port) for all movement purposes. 7.4 SIEGE ATTRITION Saladin had been spared from fighting a Besieged blocks are subject to a Siege formidable foe. In Crusader Rex, he may not be The Attacker can terminate a siege by Attrition roll at the end of each Game Turn so lucky. retreat or normal movement. except the first Game TTurnurn besieged. Roll one die for each block: 7.3 SIEGE COMBAT Leopold's Flag Siege combat is optional and need not 1-3: Lose 1 step The Austrian flag is said to date from the Third take place. Each Game Turn, all existing 4-6: No effect Crusade. After a fierce battle, Leopold's white sieges are potential battles that can be Blocks eliminated by Siege Attrition surcoat was stained blood red, except for a activated by either Player. follow the normal elimination rules. stripe under his belt. • Besieging player chooses whether to STORM or continue the SIEGE. • If STORM, the battle is activated for up to three (3) rounds of Siege Combat. • If SIEGE, the besieged plaplayeryer mamayy activateactivate

8.0 DRAWS FRANK COMMANDERS SARACEN EMIRS BALIAN – Balian of Ibelin, Lord of Nablus. Neither player Draws in the first year AL-ADIL – Saladin’s younger brother and Lord Negotiated favorable terms for citizens of of Egypt. Also known as “Safadin”. (1187) of the game. Starting in 1188, Jerusalem after capture by Saladin in 1187. players draw ONE block per Draw Phase, AL-AFDAL – Saladin’s eldest son and Lord of BARBAROSSA (Redbeard) – Frederick I, the Damascus. except the Winter Turn. 67 year-old Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. AL-AZIZ – Saladin’s second son and Sultan of He drowned in 1190 before reaching the Holy 8.1 DRAW POOLS Egypt. He ruled Egypt after the death of Saladin Land and most of his army returned home. in 1193 and took the name Uthman. Each player has a Draw Pool, namely BOHEMOND – Bohemond III, Prince of AL-MASHTUB – a Mosul Kurd and Grand an off-map area where blocks are kept Antioch. face-down. Certain blocks start the game Emir, longtime ally of Saladin. Captured by the CONRAD – Conrad of Montferrat, feared Franks when Acre surrendered in 1191. located in a player's Draw Pool, and blocks warrior and claimant to the throne of the eliminated (with some exceptions) during AL-ZAHIR – SaladinSaladin’s’s thirdthird son and LordLord of Kingdom of Jerusalem. Murdered by the Aleppo. play are also placed in these pools. Assassins in 1192. BAHRAM – Lord of Baalbek. FREDERICK – FFrederickrederick of SwSwabia,abia, son of 8.2 FRANK DRAWS Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. JURDIK – Mameluke, and longtime ally of Saladin. 8.21 Crusaders KING GUY – Guy of Lusignan who married German, French, and English blocks Sibylla, sister to King Baldwin IV. He KEUKBURI – Lord of Sumaiset, al-Ruha, and outmaneuvered Raymond for the throne in Harran. Commanded the Saracen Left Wing at are first placed in a staging box on the the Battle of Hattin. west edge of the mapboard. They may 1186 after the premature death of Baldwin from leprosy. Captured and ransomed by Saladin after QAIMAZ – Ayyubid commander in Banyas. enter play only after ALL three of their Hattin. King Guy never regained his throne, sub-group have been drawn. QARA-QUSH – the Turkish word for being shunted off to be Lord of Cyprus, where "Eagle", a slave who became an talented his descendants ruled long after Christian military commander in Egypt and the Sudan. 8.22 English & French Outremer perished. ENGLISH and FRENCH blocks must Commanded at Acre and surrendered to King move from their staging area with a Sea HUGH – Duke of Burgundy and commander of Philip in 1191. French forces after the departure of King Philip. Move (one Move per block) to any friendly SALADIN – Salah al-Din Yusuf Ibn-Ayyub, port(s). Not all need Sea Move at the same JAMES – Count of Flanders, a tough Alsatian founder of the Ayyubid Empire. who took the green cross as his badge of time, and they may move to different SANJAR – LorLordd of JJazirat,azirat, a rich emirate crusade. friendly ports. northeast of Aleppo. LEOPOLD – Leopold of Austria. Commanded SHIRKUH – 16 year-old son of Nasir al-Din 8.23 Germans German forces at Siege of Acre. Insulted Muhammad (Saladin’s Uncle) and Lord of by Richard, Leopold returned the favor by GERMAN blocks enter the map at Homs. imprisoning and holding the English king for ANTIOCH (also one Move per block). ransom when he returned home through Austria. SULAIMAN – Lord of Artah. If Antioch is occupied by Saracens, TAQI AL-DIN – Saladin’s nephew and greatest or besieged by either player, German PHILIP – King Philip Augustus Capet of France, a brother-in-law yet deadly rival of the English general. Commanded the Saracen Right Wing at entry triggers a normal battle or siege. king. Conspired to seize Plantagenet lands while the Battle of Hattin. Remember that German blocks, like all Richard remained in the Holy Land. TUMAN – Emir of Homs, a former ally of Crusaders, are permanently eliminated if RAYMOND – Raymond III, Count of Tripoli, Zangi. they retreat off-map. and Lord of Galilee (though marriage), former YAZKUJ – Lord of Ashtera, a former Mameluke 8.24 Pilgrims regent of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and of Saladin’s Uncle Shirkuh. opponent of King Guy. Raymond was a friend of YUZPAH – Ayyubid military commander in Pilgrims are immediately deployed into Saladin and many suspected him of treason. a friendly porport.t. If nonenone,, returreturnn the block to Egypt. REYNALD – Reynald of Châtillon, former Prince the Draw Pool and forfeit the Draw. ZANGI – Prince of Sinjar, and onetime Atabeg of Antioch (through marriage) and present Lord of Aleppo and Mosul. A rival of Saladin for 8.25 Outremers of Oultrejordain. This bloodthirsty and ferocious power in Syria. warrior, a close ally of King Guy, was personally Eliminated Outremers are placed in executed by Saladin after Hattin. the Frank Draw Pool. Blocks redrawn are deployed at full strength in their own (or REYNALD – Reynald Garnier, Lord of Sidon. alternate) Seats if friendly, or at strength 1 RICHARD – Richard I, the Plantagenet King of in any friendly town. England known as “The Lionheart”. His military prowess and personal bravery were remarkable, but his political acumen was faulty. 8.3 SARACEN DRAWS Starting in 1188, the Saracen player ROBERT – Robert of Normandy, Richard’s most loyal supporter. also draws ONE block in the Draw Phase of each Game Turn. Blocks drawn are WALTER – WWalteralter Grenier,Grenier, LorLordd of Caesarea. deployed at full strength at their own (or alternate) Seats if friendly, or at strength 1 in any friendly town.

9.0 WINTER CREDITS INDEX The sixth and final card played in each Game Design: Jerry Taylor Assassins 2.4 year represents a Winter Turn. It is an Tom Dalgliesh Assassinations 5.9 Event card played normally, except that: Art/Graphics: Martin Scott (Cards) Battles 6.0 1. Blocks have a movement rate of –1, Tom Dalgliesh (Map) Blocks 2.0 and may not force-march. Cards 4.0 Developer: Grant Dalgliesh Move Cards 4.11 2. Moving blocks may NOT attack (start Event Cards 4.12 Contributors: Forrest Atterberry a new battle) but may occupy vacant Castles 1.2 Leonard Coufal enemy towns/cities. Castle Defense 7.1 Tony Ferrari 3. There is no Battle Phase. Sieges Combat Resolution 6.4 Wray Ferrell cannot continue through the winter. Combat Hits 6.41 John Jones Besieging blocks must move to winter Combat Ratings 2.12 Tom Kassel quarters, using only the move card Combat Reserves 6.3 Martin Scott played, or suffer elimination. Combat Rounds 6.1 Douglas Silfen Combat Turns 6.2 4. There is no Draw Phase. Cal Stengel Harrying 6.43 Rick Westerman 9.1 WINTER CAMPAIGN Knights' Charges 6.42 Rick Young If the sixth card played is the WINTER Crusaders 2.24, 8.21 CAMPAIGN card, exceptions 2 and 3 above Deployment 3.0 are allowed. That is, the one move can Draws 8.0 be used to create a new battle(s), and Draw Pools 8.1 any/all existing sieges may be activated Franks 2.2 for a maximum of two (2) combat rounds. Deployment 3.1 Exceptions 1 and 4 above are remain in COVER Draws 8.2 force. The Winter Campaign card cannot Richard the Lionheart Military Orders 2.22 be played earlier in the year. © Chris Collingwood, Cranston Fine Arts Eliminations 6.7 Movement 5.0 9.2 WINTER QUARTERS Groups 5.2 After the sixth card is played, and Force-Marches 5.5 any moves are completed, all blocks that Musters 5.3 exceed Town Ratings are eliminated. That Pinning 5.7 is, if there are three (3) Saracen blocks Pilgrims 2.25, 8.24 still located in Jaffa, two (2) of them are Ports 1.3 eliminated. Regroups 6.6 IMPORTANT: Besieging fforcesorces cannot Retreats 6.5 stay on siege through winter. They suffer Roads 5.4 elimination if they do not move to winter Saracens 2.3 quarters. Deployment 3.2 9.3 WINTER REPLACEMENTS Draws 8.3 Sea Movement 5.8 Each town provides replacement steps Seats 1.4 equal to its value. That is, Ascalon provides Sieges 7.0 two (2) steps of replacements. The steps Relief Forces 7.32 must be added only to garrisoning blocks Sallying 7.33 and can never be transferred to another Siege Attrition 7.4 location. Siege Combat 7.3 9.4 YEAR END Siege Control 7.22 Advance the year track by one year. Towns 1.1 Reshuffle all of the cards back into the Town Control 5.6 deck and start the next year by dealing out Victory Cities 1.5 COLUMBIA GAMES, INC six (6) cards to each player. Wintering 9.0 POB 3457, BLAINE Winter Campaign 9.1 WA 98231 USA Winter Quarters 9.2 360/366-2228 Winter Replacements 9.3 800/636-3631 (toll free)

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