What do they do? Does anyone know? Interestingly this forum seems the only source of info about the game now. All the old websites are long gone.

I'm not positive, and someone else can verify, but I THINK that controlling the Ancient Ruins allows you to recruit Crusaders at your churches (maybe only level 4 churches). Crusaders are just like Leaders and get recruited the same way, but they start with higher stats and more experience points to spend.

I don't remember if Crusaders cost more gold to recruit than Leaders or about the same. I remember them being worth it, though--I only recruited Crusaders from then on in that game.

Blimey, you are right about those crusaders, thanks for the tip! I had never even spotted that — since 1999. In addition, it is my impression that colonies now and again receive "ghostly" gold, goods, crops, etc.

What are crusaders?

According to manual their effects may wary.
(no effects are actually described)

I never give attention to them back then when I played a lot, now I only get it only once (by now), and it give me 3 strength 4 native helpers in any battle...

Had no idea you may recruit anything from churches, thanks for that, will be on lookout.

In my experience playing, there have been several bonuses...

1. you get four level four natives to assist you in battles. so if your explorer is caught in a hostile tribes land and he is attacked, he gets allies. Whether they have connection to your war college I can't say, but they have won against medium size tribes in my games. And i have had it stacked in games with more than 3 ancient ruins, so 8 units.

2. you get mining bonuses, and when connected with a Lost Dutchman's mine will bring in the bling.

3. i have not heard of the crusader unit... I look forward to trying it out.

also...

4. you receive resources trickled down to your colonies for free each turn. it shows up in your crates window when you go to trade.

How do you get so many unique features? When I make a map I only get one fountain of youth OR a ancient ruin, OR a temple, never saw the mine. Even on abundant resources.

I wish there was a hot key to add the structures. You have to restart custom games countless times to get ruins, dutchman, fountain. I have had a game with two mines five ruins and 3 youths. It's so random. I wish you could mod/edit the game.

I think the stuff about crusaders is BS until someone posts screenshots.

That said, the random crates and native warriors are fun!

No BS, they're for real. I get them a lot as the natives or Spanish. yes even the natives get a crusader. It appears on the level two church, because they can't upgrade to level 4 on the gog version. When you couple the unit with the "leader" cheat you make an unstoppable general.

Here is the image you requested. Cheers

Cool! Thanks!

I'm flabbergasted... I've played this game for 25 years and only now I went to research what the ancient ruins do as I got one, I knew what the other buildings do, and now crusaders? :O wow , this is awesome, this game is one of the greatest games of all time! I also noticed the allied help from the natives when I had an explorer caught by a hostile party of a village nearby, so I retreated at the beginning of the battle, the allied natives survived and in the game my explorer is alive still!!! This game is always giving so many good things throughout the years, this is bloody awesome! Thank you guys!