Stronghold-crusader-2-installment-tutorial Now

High popularity (the green face in your UI) attracts peasants, who are the lifeblood of your castle.

Before jumping into Skirmish mode, it is highly recommended to complete the in-game tutorials. Firefly Studios Support notes that the game includes a small tutorial campaign and three learning campaigns designed to familiarise players with different factions and mechanics. stronghold-crusader-2-installment-tutorial

Stone is widely considered the primary source of income. Once your walls are built, leave stone quarries in full production and sell the excess. High popularity (the green face in your UI)

Place your stockpile near grass and stone patches. Build a granary quickly, but you can actually delay food production for the first ~10 minutes if you focus on popularity elsewhere. stronghold-crusader-2-installment-tutorial