Come join us! https://discord.gg/ZTmDbuA

Come join us! https://discord.gg/ZTmDbuA

Also check out the first 2 tricks from this video, they work in original Stronghold as well! Should save a lot of time in certain missions if used properly!

I've played the game for years but don't have the time myself to do runs, so I'll just share my ideas for consideration when planning strategies. Many also apply to Stronghold Crusader.

• Use hotkeys.
• Consider moving pre-placed buildings (granary, armory, even the stockpile) to more desirable locations, spending or selling the resources first to not lose them.
• Every little bit of building placement optimization counts in the long run - make sure workers have the shortest paths possible.
• In missions with multiple goals optimize build order to reach them all around the same time.
• When placing buildings use spaces closest to stockpile first.
• Delete pre-placed walls and buildings that are in the way of optimal worker paths or that you simply don't need for resources to use or sell.
• Micromanage taxes and rations to keep popularity high when in need of additional workers or troops and around 50 otherwise.
• The lord is useful to take out annoying wolves, bears and small packs of invaders on his own without need of troops.
• In 'Time until last battle' missions move all of your troops to the entrance signpost (if there's only one) at the end to clear out the last invaders as soon as they enter.
• Take note of the exact times that scripted events happen in missions and plan around them.
• To avoid workers taking detours to visit 'good things', build walls around them.
• Build and spread out single decoy walls to cheaply attract enemy catapult fire.
• Place non-producing buildings away from the stockpile and paths of workers.

I'll add more when I remember more ;)

I think there should be categories for the Historical Campaigns. I did some IL speedruns some time ago:

Anyway, I don't think any% should be the Crusader Trail. There's absolutely no way anyone would do those in a single segment. I think Historical Campaigns actually seem closest to being the 'story/campaign' of the game and the trails are more like random skirmishes.