The road to salvation is long, and not every challenge can be solved with a sword.
While battles are at the heart of Band of Crusaders, much of your Crusade will be shaped by the decisions you make outside of combat. Today, we'd like to introduce another important system that helps create these stories: Events.
Events
Events are dynamic encounters that can occur throughout your campaign. They represent the countless situations your Order may face while travelling across the land, from disputes among your Crusaders and encounters with strangers, to opportunities, moral dilemmas, and discoveries hidden off the beaten path.
While you can plan exactly when to undertake quests, Events are dynamic and react to the state of your campaign. The Crusaders in your company, your resources, your reputation, the terrain you're travelling through, the time of day, and even previous Events can all influence which situations may arise.
As a result, each playthrough will have various modifiers resulting in more diverse and unpredictable gameplay.
The Right Men at the Right Time
The composition of your Order plays a major role in determining which Events become available and how they can be resolved.
A former Hunter may notice signs of activity deep within a forest. A Road Warden might recognize an ambush before it unfolds. A Zealot—hinting at our upcoming Faith mechanic— may push for a harsher solution when dealing with suspected heretics, while a less faithful Crusader could argue for mercy.
In some cases, simply having a particular Crusader in your company can unlock entirely new opportunities. In others, their skills, injuries, experience, or personal traits may change the choices available to you.
The men travelling with your Order are not merely soldiers. They are often the reason an Event occurs in the first place.
Choices and Consequences
Every Event presents several choices, and while some options are always available, others may only appear when specific conditions are met.
For example, while escorting a group of merchants, one of your Crusaders may notice that they are transporting valuable cargo. Believing nobody would ever discover the truth, he suggests taking some of it for himself.
You could allow the attempt, forbid it entirely, or punish him for proposing it. Depending on the Crusader involved, the situation may end in profit, embarrassment, injury, or a costly dispute with the merchants.
The consequences of an Event can extend far beyond a single reward or penalty. Resources may be gained or lost, Crusaders can develop new traits, suffer injuries, strengthen their faith, or begin questioning their place within the Order. Your actions may improve relations with a faction, damage your reputation, or create opportunities that only become apparent much later.
More Than Isolated Encounters
Not every Event is a self-contained story.
Some can unlock future Events, while others may generate entirely new quests. A suspicious rumour heard around a campfire could eventually reveal a hidden enemy stronghold. A chance encounter on the road might lead to a valuable recruit joining your ranks weeks later.
These connections allow Events to become part of a larger narrative shaped by your decisions throughout the campaign.
Variety Between Campaigns
Events are designed to make each Crusade feel different from the last.
To avoid repetition, Events use various cooldown systems and selection rules. Some may appear multiple times throughout a campaign, while others are rare occurrences that can only happen once.
Events help create the unexpected moments that often become the most memorable stories of a campaign. After all, a Crusade is remembered not only for the battles won, but also for the decisions made along the road.