Yeah it is my all time favorite series by RA. I was also a teen in the 90s reading it and loving it so very much. I remember doing book reports over some of the entries before I even started them lol. I still through out a Drood from them to time.

You can do away with the crusade management if you want. There is a setting that makes it automatic. It’s really easy once you know the tricks though. Focus on one big general, save before each fight and reload if you suffer anything other than very minimal losses, and eventually any losses at all. Stack the good archers, forget their names but they have a fancy pointy hat on. They will kill most any unit in a single attack.