Get ready for the Shogunate DLC for Silk Road! This update introduces the majestic Kamakura Shogunate biome (replacing the flower forest), complete with sprawling Japanese castles , towering sakura trees , and serene wisteria vines —transporting you straight into the heart of feudal Japan.

This DLC also brings a wealth of new features, including:

• Dozens of new Japanese units to recruit, from skilled samurai to agile archers
• Iconic weapons like katanas, throwing stars, and more to master
• Stunning Japanese fauna, from giant sakura blossoms to towering cedar trees
• A variety of new furniture blocks to decorate your spaces
• Bustling Japanese market areas to explore
• Elegant geishas adding charm and culture to your world

Thank you for supporting the Silk Road journey, and stay tuned for more epic additions! Install this add-on and play it with the latest version of the Silk Road.

 Step into one of the most pivotal conflicts in history with the Crusades DLC for Silk Road! Choose your allegiance and immerse yourself in the clash of civilizations:

Join the Crusaders or Muslim Factions – Align with the European Crusaders, the Ayyubids, or forge your own path as you fight for glory and territory.

Build Your Own Navy – Command fleets to dominate the seas, transport armies, and bombard enemy ports.

Produce Artillery – Construct siege artillery and other war machines to crush your enemies and conquer fortified strongholds.

The Levant and the city of Jerusalem stand at the crossroads. Sala-al-Din’s forces and the Christian Crusaders clash in a violent struggle for control of the Holy Land.

The Church of Rome, rallying Christendom, has declared a Crusade, summoning knights, kings, and commoners to take up the cross and reclaim the Promised Land. Across Europe, banners bearing the red cross rise as armies march eastward, driven by glory, faith, and the promise of salvation.

In response, Sala-al-Din’s call to arms echoes across Egypt, Syria, and beyond, uniting Muslims to defend their sacred lands and wage war against the infidels who desecrate what is holy.

The battles are brutal, as armies collide amidst the rolling hills, deserts, and fortified cities of the Levant. Villages are razed, crops trampled, and trade routes severed, leaving the land scarred by the shadow of war.

The city of peace, Jerusalem, has once again become a city of blood.

Factions

French Crusaders

The French Crusaders, clad in shining mail and bearing banners of lilies, march with unshakable zeal. Driven by faith and the promise of glory, they bring disciplined ranks, fierce knights, and the weight of Europe’s might to the battle for the Holy Land.

Angevin Crusaders

The Angevin Crusaders, fierce and unrelenting, are led by the ambitious Richard the Lionheart. Known for their cunning and brutal tactics, they march south with a relentless drive to claim the Holy Land, driven by both religious fervor and a desire for power and territory.

Holy Roman Empire Crusaders

The Holy Roman Empire Crusaders, driven by the authority of the Emperor and the call to defend Christendom, march as a formidable and diverse force. Comprising knights, soldiers, and mercenaries from across the vast territories of Germany, Italy, and beyond, they bring discipline, heavy cavalry, and a deep devotion to the Church. With their banners emblazoned with the Imperial eagle, they seek to reclaim the Holy Land and assert the might of the Empire on foreign soil.

Crusader States

The Crusader States are the rugged, war-torn remnants of Christian conquests in the Holy Land. Composed of bold knights, opportunistic nobles, and a mix of local settlers, these fortified kingdoms—JAntioch, Edessa, and Tripoli—stand as a fragile bulwark against both Muslim forces and internal strife. With their towering castles and ever-present tensions, the Crusader States fight not only for survival but to carve out a lasting Christian presence in the heart of the Levant.

Christian Military Orders

The Military Orders are elite, disciplined forces forged in the fires of faith and war. The Knights Templar, sworn to protect pilgrims and safeguard holy sites, are renowned for their wealth, discipline, and formidable military prowess. The Knights Hospitaller, dedicated to caring for the sick and wounded, also stand as fierce warriors, guarding Christian territories with unyielding resolve. The Teutonic Knights, initially focused on spreading Christianity in the Baltic, now fight in the Holy Land, their iron will and unwavering loyalty to the Church making them a force to be reckoned with. Each order, bound by their sacred vows, is both a protector of the faith and an instrument of war.

Genoese

The Genoese are skilled sailors and formidable mercenaries, renowned for their mastery of trade and naval warfare. With their powerful fleet, they control the Mediterranean trade routes, supplying both Crusader forces and local merchants.

Ayyubids

The Ayyubids, led by the legendary Saladin, are a dynasty of fierce warriors and astute rulers dedicated to defending the Muslim world. Rising from the turmoil of the Crusades, they unite Egypt, Syria, and the Levant under a banner of Islam.

Gameplay

Joining Factions

In the Silk Road addon, joining a faction is a pivotal decision that shapes your journey across the Holy Land. To pledge your allegiance, head to a grand Ayyubid mosque or a Christian church in the Levant, where you’ll find key NPCs who represent each faction.

Crusader Church

Ayyubid Mosque

Approach the NPC and engage in conversation, where you’ll be presented with the option to join their faction.

Shipbuilding

In the Silk Road addon, shipbuilding is a process that allows you to craft and customize your own vessels to navigate the vast seas. To begin, gather the materials needed to craft the individual parts of your ship at the crafting table. The most important item in this process is the astrolabe which can be obtained from Arab traders.

Once you’ve crafted the various components combine them at the crafting table to create a ship item. This item can then be traded at a shipyard, a specialized structure located on beaches, where you can exchange it for a specific ship design: a Chinese Junk, a Crusader Ship, or an Arab Dhow.

A shipyard

To use the ship, place down a block in water, place the ship on top, and break the block.

To enter the ship, simply right-click on the door located on the side of the ship.

The ship`s door

You can also load troops and artillery onto your ship, preparing for sea-based missions. To do this bring your ranged soldiers, archers, or siege weapons to the door to load them onto the ship.

With a ship fully equipped with troops and artillery, you gain a powerful mobile firing platform that can support your efforts in amphibious landings.

Artillery

In the Silk Road addon, blueprints for powerful siege weapons like catapults and cannons are crucial for gaining an edge in both defense and offense. To craft a blueprint, you’ll need to gather specific materials, including astrolabes, and then use the crafting table to create the design for your artillery pieces. These blueprints represent the plans needed to construct and operate your weapons of war.

Once you’ve crafted a blueprint, you can take it to the Ayyubid mosque or Crusader church and trade it with the NPCs there. In exchange, they will give you the actual catapult or cannon—a fully functional artillery piece that can be deployed in battle. These weapons can be loaded onto your ships or placed on land, ready to unleash devastating firepower against enemy fortifications, troops, and even siege walls.

You can kill the artillery piece, which will make it drop the recruitment item, making it so you can easily transfer it anywhere.