![stronghold kingdoms europe 3 stronghold kingdoms europe 3](http://s1.thcdn.com/design-assets/products/10034405/pic1.jpg)
If this fails, however, he won't hesitate to use his macemen, supported by his catapults, to try and create a breach in the enemy walls. Attacking only if he has a sizable enough force, he moves his fire ballistae and crossbowmen up close as a distraction while his assassins try to capture the enemy gatehouse, then he sends his fast macemen in before the enemy can react. His method of besieging a castle is very strategic and perhaps the most effective of any AI lord apart from Saladin and Lionheart. He also brings slaves if the enemy has a moat (although his macemen can of course dig this up as well). In addition, assassins will show up in greater numbers. He doesn't attack that often, however, and usually makes sure there are plenty of troops left in his castle to defend it.
![stronghold kingdoms europe 3 stronghold kingdoms europe 3](https://assets.vg247.com/current/2014/03/shkingdoms-600x398.jpg)
If left undisturbed, the Sheriff tends to build up a lot of gold as the game goes on, enabling his armies to grow noticeably. When he attacks, he has his engineers build catapults and, uniquely for a European lord, fire ballistae, to aid in the offensive. From time to time, he will also employ a small number of assassins in his army. He does, however, send more crossbowmen in his attacks than the Pig. Much like The Pig, the bulk of The Sheriff's siege forces are made up of macemen and crossbowmen. When this happens, he cannot recruit more than a basic defensive force, will never have an army big enough to attack other players, and can only wait for someone to come and kill him. This, in turn, means he never has resources, forcing him to shut down his buildings, and crippling his economy. The Sheriff may build his castle, but he will constantly build, destroy, and rebuild his farms and mines over and over again, even if he has plenty of grassland and ore available. Like all AI lords, the Sheriff has a fixed set of castle layouts and behaviors that he can use in any given match, but in Stronghold Crusader HD, one of these is bugged. To counter the negative effect of these things on his popularity, the Sheriff will build chapels, churches, and inns in abundance to placate his peasants. Being a cruel lord, he will also place plenty of bad things in his castle, such as gallows, gibbets, and burning stakes, to "motivate" his people. He build numerous woodcutters, quarries, iron mines (more of these than any other AI lord) and pitch rigs, as well numerous apple farms, dairy farms and hops farms for his peasants. He has a crossbow and a sword which he likes to show off to the player when taunting them. However, he is a much more easygoing lord, never showing much concern when under siege, nor any fear of defeat or death. Also like the Snake, he speaks slowly and has the same mocking style when he taunts his enemies. Much like The Snake, The Sheriff is a master of deception and will use almost every dirty trick in the book to achieve victory. He will heavily tax his peasants and treat them with great cruelty. In Stronghold Crusader, The Sheriff emulates his legendary counterpart quite well. His nicknames, however, suggest he also represents in minor role Sheriffs of other cities in England. The character is based on the Sheriff of Nottingham in the Robin Hood lore.