Stronghold Crusader food guide: bread, apples, cheese and oasis farms
Compare food chains and the support needed to keep a desert castle supplied.
Edition covered
The original 2002 Crusader economy and combat, also present in HD. Pictures are publisher HD scenes; the cover also advertises the bundled Extreme edition. Extreme tactical powers, Crusader II and later Definitive Edition changes are outside these guides.
Plan around the oasis
Farms need fertile grassland. Place the granary and production buildings with travel time in mind, then defend the route if workers must leave the castle to reach the fields.
| Food | Production | Concern |
|---|---|---|
| Apples | Apple farm | Fertile land and travel |
| Cheese | Dairy farm | Cattle may also supply leather |
| Bread | Wheat farm, mill and bakery | Every stage must keep up |
| Meat | Hunter and wildlife | Nearby animal supply |
Complete the bread chain
Wheat does not directly feed the population. Mills turn it into flour and bakeries produce bread. Read stocks at each stage before adding more of only one building.
| Symptom | Check | Response |
|---|---|---|
| Wheat accumulates | Mill capacity | Improve milling |
| Flour accumulates | Staffed bakeries | Add baking capacity |
| Stone stays at quarry | Ox tethers and route | Improve transport |
| Buildings are idle | Available peasants | Check housing and popularity |
| Wood runs out | Woodcutters and trees | Restore supply before expanding |
Support industry with transport
Construction consumes wood quickly. Quarries also need ox tethers to carry stone to the stockpile, so a working quarry does not guarantee that useful stone arrives fast enough.
Expand housing with supplies
More peasants can staff buildings but also consume food. Add housing when food production and popularity can support the larger population.
More peasants can staff buildings but also consume food. Add housing when food production and popularity can support the larger population.
References
| Reference | Website |
|---|---|
| Stronghold Crusader publisher listing | store.steampowered.com |
| Crusader HD manual | store.steampowered.com |
| Firefly Studios game page | fireflyworlds.com |