The Templars have come to the desert, it seems. Firefly Studios have catapulted Stronghold Crusader 2: The Templar & The Duke onto Steam, and are currently offering it at a 33% discount (that's $4.01 / £2.67 / €3.34). The expansion includes seven unique story missions, new castle types and more challenging AI adversaries shaped by player feedback. Check out the trailer below.
Here are the descriptions of the Templar and the Duke:
The Templar
Once a rank and file soldier in King Richard’s army, The Templar has risen to power as a senior military commander in the Third Crusade. A zealot in the truest sense, The Templar was promoted after demonstrating his brutal pursuit of the holy crusade and ability to indoctrinate fellow soldiers. As a former foot soldier serving for years in the Crusades, The Templar now sees himself as a harbinger of justice from God. The Templar personifies the unwavering conviction that the Crusader Lords had in their mission and the lengths they will go to achieve it.
The Duke
Travelling from France to 'fight the good fight' The Duke hopes to share in the glory of the holy crusade. Ever the opportunist, The Duke is always prepared to retreat and claim no part in the Crusades. For the moment however he is prepared to lend his vast wealth and political standing to King Richard’s campaign. A foppish and arrogant leader, The Duke gained his lordly air from a pampered upbringing in the French Royal Court. Despite this meticulous outward appearance, The Duke lacks the cutthroat political savvy to make him an effective ruler. The end result is a man who appears confident but is unsure of himself, joining the Third Crusade in a reckless attempt to prove himself.
And they're throwing in a free map pack to boot!:
Stronghold Crusader 2 has also been updated on Steam with three new maps, each playable in online multiplayer or offline skirmish mode against the AI. In ‘Tight Corner’ plenty of close-quarters standoffs take place in confined areas. With these conflicts likely to boil over and expand the field of battle, players will often find themselves drawn into skirmishes between their enemies. ‘Outposts’ features bands of AI outlaws in addition to player Lords, roaming the map and controlling areas until they are wiped out. As the name suggests ‘Mountain Climb’ is distinguished by a fortified central position that, once secured, makes defeating the elevated player a literal uphill battle.
