The Caliph
by Apuya24
Cruel and vindictive, the Caliph is skilled at bringing misery to both his own people and to yours. If he can get his tyrannical act together, his underhand methods of fighting will prove a constant thorn in your side.
Nicknames: The Scorpion, The Jackal, The Camel, The Vulture, The Crab, The Hyena, The Bad One, The Desert Rat
Difficulty: Medium
Missile troops built: Arabian Bows, Fire Throwers, Horse Archers
Melee troops built: Arabian Swordsmen
Siege equipment built: Fire Ballistae, Catapults
Other weapons built: Boiling Oil, Pitch Ditches
Castle Rating: ***
Even though the Caliph has thin walls with only lookout towers, his extensive use of fire makes up for it. Try to demolish all the lookout towers you can and have an overload of your melee troops. Fire throwers, pitch, and oil must be avoided as much as possible. If some pitch is triggered, get your troops out, then move in once the fire’s gone.
Defense Strategy: Several archers (~10) guarding quarries and/or farms will do in the beginning, because the Caliph will send slaves to torch your quarries or farms, depending if you have quarries or not. When he attacks, think smaller-scale Saladin; horse archers, Arabian swordsmen, slaves, fire ballistae and catapults, so have mounted ballistae and archers or crossbowmen. Add in some supporting fire ballistae at the front wall of your castle, this’ll help a lot.
Attack Strategy: Like below, archers and trebuchets are key, as they should kill or take out enemy missile units and lookout towers, respectively. And like mentioned below, bring extra swordsmen always, in case of fire.
Rat : Snake : Pig : Wolf : Saladin : Caliph : Sultan : Lionheart
Frederick : Phillip : Sheriff : Wazir : Emir : Nizar : Marshal : Abbot