The Almohads WOW

[Seneca the Elder]

Well hello,
I'm here to talk about the Hashishen, that little unit with only 16 archers. Well there more than that, there a powerhouse unit if used right. See i've been using the Almohads alot lately because i've been having alot of success with them. So I started getting curious about the Hashishen and let me tell you what I've learned.
1st tested battle,
3 units of Hashishen vs 2 spearmen 2 peasnts my men had 2 valor each. enemy had 1 valor each
Pelted them with arrows for awhile till they where to close didnt do much damage thought i would lose for sure but when I engaged in melee I sloughtered 201 men and killed the general only losing 16 men of my own and they gained 2-3 valor pts fighting. O.K no big deal
Now I tested against 3 units of Byz inf. all 1 valor against my 3 units of Hashishen of 4 valor each. I lost the battle but only after inflicting serious damage to the enemy 183 dead Byz. All in melee.
Finally I wanted to test these guys in real action so I took them to multi plyer in a 3vs3. Well first off they can hide anywhere in the open so I deployed them far away from my main force where I thought someone would try to flank me and sure enough they did. 1 unit of Alan calv came to hit my Albs so I fired on them with my Hashishen. When he saw me do this he quickly charged them so I charged back. My 36 Hashishen at a 2 valor with 2 weapon upgrade killed all but 1 Alan calv with only 3 lost on my side, opponent couldnt believe it he sent me a message laughing at the fact. Later in the battle his allie attacked with Lancers 2 units and my Hashishen where back in hiding so I quickly flanked the Lancers who where engaged with my Almohad urban militia and charged them into the rear of the Lancers. Results 34 dead lancers and they routed only 7 more Hashishen dead. My team did lose the whole battle but the Hashishen where my 2 best performing units on the field for me. Final stats where 98 killed and all my Hashishen died they fought to the bitter end.
Finally played a guy 1vs1 today he was the italians and the defender. I dployed the same way with them hiding in the open far off my right flank. We swapped arrows for awhile then he charged everthing at me and I counter charged all my urban militia,Ghulam calv,Saharan calv except my general. He was winning as units of mine started routing. Then he flanked to my rifgt side with 3 units of Chiv footknights I had nothing left to attack with but my general so I charged him into all 3 units knowing Ghulam calv wouldnt stand a chance for long I brought in the Hashishen and stabbed them into the rear of the engagement. WOW destroyed 1 whole unit on there own then routed the other 2 changed the whole course of the battle and I won. Final stats where over a hundred killed for the Hashishen with only a few losses to themselves. Oh my Hashishen were at a 2 valor and 2 weapon upgrade.
SO let me know what you think of these superior Almohad units if you've used them before and if not deffinetly try them out.
Thanks
Seneca the Elder http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[DemonArchangel]

you my friend, have just stated something most people here know. Welcome to the org/.

[Shahed]

Hashis rok Napthas too. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Snaproll]

Well I for one didn't know anything about these units Can all the muslum factions build them, or just the almohads? What are the buildings necessary to construct them in SP? (I guess I could look that one up&#33http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

Also, you say they can hide in any terrain? Will the AI see them if they get close enough?

[Alrowan]

ahh.. hasishin are grand indeed, but my new love is napthas. after some practice here and there ive managed to win every game of late when i bring these babies in

[pdoan8]

Hashishin is Muslim's specialty. Their skirmish capability is not that good but their melee capability is outstanding.

I like them much better with javellins or AP ninja stars (a resemble of the good old battlefield ninja)

[wordsmith]

I have never been able to effectivly use hashishin or naptha throwers, but desert warfare, expecially w/turkish units is my specialty. I just dont find naptha throwers have enough range and the hashishin are awsome except there numbers are so small that it is very difficult to give them the upper hand in an engagement.
I definantltly could use some tips on how to deploy and utilise these units.

[A.Saturnus]

Naphtas have to be set out of their skirmish-mode. Then bring them to the flank of a unit with dense formation. The AI usually doesn`t bother, so you can get very close. Throw the bombs. Often the enemy unit routs. If not, you can try a second volley. Don`t commit them to melee deliberately, but if they are attacked after the volley, it isn`t so bad, cause they can stand in melee for a short while. The AI also often holds units close to your lines. That`s the perfect moment for Naphtas. Another possebility is this: hold a expansive enemy unit with a own unit that`s expandable, but holds out for a while in melee. Spearmen or sgts come to mind. Bring your naphtas around the enemy and throw into their rear.
Hashishin: don`t let them shoot at will and turn skirmish off. Place them where you expect the enemy to come through. When the enemy is one unit size away, charge them. Preferable units that aren`t too great in melee, but you can inflict damage to almost any unit (defeated late royal knights once). As with Naphtas, the AI usually doesn`t care for so small units. So you can easily bring them in the rear of some spearmen units.

[Shahed]

Nice Tips

[wordsmith]

hmm thank you, given new life to naptha throwers for me. Although I had already been using my hashishin like that i just had never liked it b/c I dont like my elite units takeing heavy losses let those ghazi units do all the dieing and the elites can force the rout
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wacko.gif