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Has anyone successfully integrated hasishin into their single player armies? I've used them a few times to no good effect. I wonder is the problem me, or is it simply a good unit idea that was poorly executed. The whole stealth thing would tell me that they are to be used for flanking manouevres with the aim of suprising and taking out specific enemy units that are causing your trouble. The only issue I see is is that as soon as you start to close with the enemy, they get swarmed as they are always separated from the main force and easy pickings.
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They can be useful under certain circumstances, but are almost never more useful than a full unit of Futuwwas for example (not to mention alot more expensive).
I consider them a nice gimmick, more for entertainment value than actual combat value.
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Trick to use hashishin:
1. Always put them OFF 'Fire at will'. Press 'A' when select the unit and see that the Fire-at-will icon is toggled off. The idea behind is that you will keep the hashishin undetected. Else, as soon as the enemy is close, the hashishin will start firing dart and of course, they are killed immeidately.
2. Don't use them as general.
3. Always operate them within coverage of your other troops. Other troops may act as screening (so that your hashishins could bunnyhop from one place to another) or distract a unit that is too close to the hashishin.
4. hashishin is best in forest where it is protected from the arrows and open cav charge.
5. better use them when you have reinforcements available. They are good to "keep your battle alive" until more reinforcement arrives (otherwise your main troops rout and the province is lost).
In MP, I found hashishin very hard to play with because they are not strong enough to take care of themself, they are expensive and they take a precious slot (no reinforcement allowed).
The same amount of money is better invested in the naphta throwers.
Annie
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Does a hashashin coming out of cloak into a charge bring the morale penalty for being ambushed on? If so, that may be a big use for them. Hide them off to the flank of the expected approach of the enemy, engage normally, then use the ambush morale penalty to cause an enemy unit to fold, hopefully causing a chain reaction.
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Lady An covered it pretty well. I think they do get the ambush bonus, and using them on the flank or rear as Phatose stated is pretty effective - especially when they are used to nail the enemy Gen. They are, of course, better at high valor.
One other point - make sure they are set to Hold Formation or Engage-at-will, not skirmish. On Skirmish they will run when approached (same goes for Welsh Bandits) and reveal themselves.
ichi
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Well i havent used hashishins effectively but i used a unit similar to them quite effectively. I am talking about Welsh Bandits here. They have all the same properties of hashishin + armorpiercing arrows + 60 men in a unit.
The way I used the bandits was to position them on the flanks and draw off heavily armored and menacing enemy units from the main battle line. Since bandits are fast, nothing except cavalry will catch them. The trick with bandits is that they work best when supported by cavalry IMHO. Draw off units away and use 1 or (preferrably) 2 units of cavalry and the bandits themselves to destroy the said unit. Essentially in my Welsh campaign I am using them as Horse archers who can hide http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg.../gc-jester.gif
I think similar tactics could apply to hashishins, although it is sort of a moot point as muslims have enough horse archers already. Just as welsh bandits, hashishins are very useful at killing enemy generals and perhpas should be used mainly for this purpose . Wait untill the enemy line engages you, then spring theambush and kill the general hopefully causing a mass rout.
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Lol... 60 in a unit? 60 Hashishin would be a whole different ballgame. Unfortunately with only 16 in a unit they don't pack enough punch to make the micromanagement worthwhile.
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Target practice
.....Orda
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I agree with LadyAnn as well. You have to pick your spots with hashishin. They are much better in defense. Make sure you also take them off skirmish, as they will also start moving when the bad guys come near...
I once hid 2 units of hash in a forest and had the rest of my lines well back from there. The English sent their whole 16 units army through the forest (granted, mostly hobilars, urban militia, spearmen & mtd sergeants) and the two units of hashishin annihilated the English and sent their whole army routing. Granted, the English rallied and I had to retreat my hashishin back to the group... but, both units got over 100 kills each and both lost only about half their men.
