While Inspiring Cry isn't as impressive as a Jester or Houndmaster for stress removal it also has a tiny amount of healing (great for getting an ally of death's door in a desparate situation), or mitigating blight/bleed damage slightly, and it also raises the light level slightly which is a great help if you're running low on torches and a run's turning slightly sour. Holy Lance is good as noted previously however Inspiring Cry (combined with some of his camping skills) can make for some pretty serious stress removal. Then it would actually be aueful skill and see some play. Now if only his Bulwark skill still lasted 2 rounds (I don't know why they ever reduced that). He doesn't do too well in the back but then do you know what? The Arbalest doesn't do too well in the front (same goes for purely knife throwing specc'd Graverobbers). The Crusader, like the Leper, really wants to be in ranks 1&2 the whole time. Has good solid damage & health, better all 'round resistances than most other heroes and generally performs well in most dungeons (whereas some other heroes don't do so well in certain areas). In addition to the previous poster's message also look at his resistances.

Darkest dungeon crusader shield