by JR Cook - 10 years ago     show comments

As Josh Mosquiera and the development team stated when Reaper of Souls was first unveiled that fateful day at Gamescom, the Crusader is the star of the hour in this expansion. Many fans were speculating (and perhaps expecting) there to be two offerings in the way of new classes to choose from. Not this time; the Crusader is man/woman enough to fill the expanse all on its own. The hype train continues to chug along, with Reaper of Souls a tad bit over two weeks away. Community Manager Nevalistis, in her never ending quest to prepare us for what’s to come, has laid down a beautiful blog post, rich with everything you could ever want to know or even fathom to ask regarding the history and lore of the Crusader. For those of you looking to fully embrace the light come March 25th – and for those of you who don’t know your Paladin from your Templar from your Crusader – venture forth into this hallowed text and take up your flail and shield. Death waits for no one.

Excerpt:

Unlike the Paladins, the Crusaders are an elite and insular group that has seen very little change since their founding, maintaining beliefs and practices most close to the original teachings of Akarat. Though Crusaders may exhibit similar ability to wield and bend the Light to their will as their Paladin counterparts, their fervor comes from a much more pure sense of righteousness. This is in part by design. During their formation, Akkhan made certain to only recruit those with the strongest conviction and battle potential. He also actively avoided bringing in anyone with Paladin training, fearful of any existing defilement or corruption carrying over into his crusade.

As a result of this focused purpose and very guarded lifestyle, the order itself is actually quite small. In total, only 427 Crusaders were sent east, and over time, their numbers have dwindled to the 341 known today. In practice, the Crusaders remain a loosely organized group, often traveling alone or with, at most, a single apprentice—a partnership which will persist until the Crusader’s death. When it comes time for the Crusader to lay down their weapon, generally by falling in battle, their apprentice will not only take up their shield and armor, but their name as well, continuing a legacy set in motion so many generations ago.

For the full blog post, click here.