How does one use "hide anywhere" units effectively?

[Taiwan Legion]

Do you just put them on the possible pass of advance for the enemy? Or do you put them to the side to surprise the enemy with a rear or flank charge? And how are hide anywhere units detected in the first place?

How would I use hide anywhere units to maximize their element of surprise and fear?

[Zim]

I normally put them to the side in the hopes of ambushing the enemy. Putting them in the front can help, too though. The enemy gets some kind of negative modifier for being surprised when they get close enough see you rhidden guys. Then you can have the guys charge.

The only way they can be detected is supposed to be if they move, or enemy units get close enough to "see" them. The AI possesses an uncanny ability to know where they are at times, though. I suspect it cheats.

[imnothere]

depends.

for sherwood achers, i place them where it is hard for enemy unit to get to, yet where i can still shoot with impunity and withdraw quickly if need be. so its mostly somewhere close to my battleline.

for assassins. i use them where they can bully some some artillery units or archers. so usually far away from my battleline.

despite the description, assassins are still infantry. and infantry without spears are at a disadvantage compare to cavalry. so i avoid (combat) mounted units unless i have flanked them.

not sure if AI cheated. but as i said, i usually place them OUT of the way so that i can pick my fight. so AI units normally ignores me.

[WhiskeyGhost]

If a hidden unit is spotted for even a split second, and you have archers in range, they appear to volley them at least once before stopping even if they hide again. I use em for flanking/archer distractions mostly. Oh, and NEVER move them from their starting position unless they are moving to attack. The AI keeps note of where they last were seen, and sends units at them (like they do to your front lines) but apparently, being hidden doesn't trick them. It would be nice if they could move while hidden but at a much slower rate, so they could actually be useful (without tons of luck).

[Ramses II CP]

My experience has been that, except for Sherwood Archers, they are best used for shock value. Hide them in position to flank the enemy's infantry line and reveal them immediately after their infantry engages your own. The most important factor is keeping cavalry away from them, but if you don't have cavalry superiority you're either trying to give yourself a challenge or you haven't been playing long. :laugh4:

Even Sherwood Archers can rack up some melee kills from a flank or rear attack, but they're so deadly at range it feels like a waste. Turn off fire at will if you want them to maintain concealment, and for extra morale pain turn on fire arrows before you let them launch their first volley (Then turn it off for better accuracy on further volleys).

:egypt:

P.S. Now I feel silly, do SA even have fire arrows? I can't remember and can't check ATM.

[doorknobdeity]

They sure do. Oh, God, do they ever.

[ReiseReise]

to answer the last part of your question, they hide anywhere just like they are in a forest - the enemy sees them when they get close to them. I haven't used any of them much but the few times I did I found them hard to use. The enemy usually has cav leading the charge or going around the flanks so you never know where to put them, and your ambushers are spotted, outnumbered, and lacking spears before they can spring the trap on the enemy infantry line.
The enemy doesn't know how to hold back a reserve force, they just throw their entire force at you, so what I ended up doing was putting them FAR FAR out to the flanks where they won't be seen even by any flanking cav, and then once most of the enemy is locked in melee they come out of hiding and run behind the enemy line to take out archers and scare the main line.