..sounded like a really great game. Unfortunately, it crashed to the desktop upon starting the tuturial. So I did the logical thing, download the patch. And guess what, it no longer crashes upon starting the tuturial, it crashes right after the credits...
Advice would be much appriciated.

Try asking around on one of the WK forums, if they're not dead already. I know what you mean though, i was well on my way in the game. I made the escape to an island, beat one of the local warlords, and was now doing some quest where i have to enter a mountain fortress, dressed as a monk, to help escape a prisoner. At the moment the prisoner steps out of his cell, the game freezes, and nothing happens anymore. I've been asking around on some forums, but didn't get much helpful tips. Too bad, cause i too thought this game had a lot of potential.

The only forums/sites left focus on the sequel. Warrior Kings: Battles. So not much help from that corner :(

Yeah i know, but wouldn't you say that every member on such a board has played the original game before the sequel ? Questions regarding the original game are not that strange to ask on such a place. Besides, where else could you go ?