PREORDER The Third Crusade

History
This game is set during the Third Crusade. The fall of Jerusalem to the Ayyubid Sultan Saladin in 1187 sparked the Third Crusade, in which Frederick Barbarossa, Richard I, and Philip II attempted to reconquer the Holy Land. They succeeded in reclaiming most of Saladin's conquests but failed to take Jerusalem, the ultimate goal of the Crusade.

Overview
Game Objective
Third Crusade is a game featuring two opposing factions: the Muslim Alliance and the Crusader Alliance. Each Alliance has two Armies. An Alliance wins by gaining Glory through the conquest and control of Regions, completing missions, and defeating enemy Armies.
In a 2-player game: Each player represents one Army from one of the opposing alliances. The first alliance to reach at least 10 Glory during a Victory Check wins, and the game ends. If no alliance reaches 10 Glory within 4 rounds, the alliance with the most Glory wins.
In a 3-player game: Two players play together as the two armies of one Alliance. The same conditions apply (first to 10 Glory or most Glory after 4 rounds), but if the winning Alliance is the one with two players, the individual winner is the player with the most Faith (from missions and events), Merchant Cities (under their control), and points from Objective Cards.
In a 4-player game: Both Alliances consist of two players. The winner is the player from the winning Alliance who has the most Faith, Merchant Cities, and points from Objective Cards. In case of a tie, the player who controls Jerusalem wins. If neither player controls it, the player from the winning Alliance with the most Gold wins.
Game Sequence
A round consists of 5 phases:
Strategy Phase
A. Each player draws 4 Event cards and adds them to their hand.
B. Each player simultaneously places their Event cards face down under the Bidding Board.
C. Flip all Event cards under the Bidding Board face up.
D. Players take turns picking Event cards until everyone has chosen 2 cards.
Planning Phase
A. Players take turns placing Orders until everyone has passed.
Command Phase
A. Players take turns activating an Event card or an Order until everyone has passed.
B. Resolve all Battles immediately if and when they occur.
C. Check Victory Conditions.
Diplomacy Phase
A. Players bid to choose a reward from the Diplomacy card and to determine the order in which they advance on the Diplomacy Track.
B. Check Victory Conditions.
Reset Phase
A. Resolve all steps of the Maintenance Phase.
B. Check Victory Conditions.

• Read more information at BoardGameGeek website .
• Players: 1-4
• Playing time: 180 min.
• Language: English
• Language dependence: high
• Age: 12+