Hashishin: the dirty dozen

**Tony Furze** · 07-24-2006, 05:03

Just about to get these guys with a fortress in Granada, so thanks for the tips.

I used them before once but they just strolled around the battle field looking like they owned it while everyone else did the work.

Now with a bit more savvy, I ll be able to get them into the thick of battle.

**caravel** · 07-24-2006, 10:28

Nasty little devils they are. Providing you understand they they're an undersize unit, and thus easily flanked and destroyed. Deployed as skirmishers and flank atttackers they are highly effective. Personally I don't use them as they're not really worth the effort, I prefer larger numbers of average units to smaller super units. Also if all muslim factions can train hashishin they should all be able to train nizaris, as they are in fact one and the same (the hashishin were the "cult of assassins", followers of nizari islam).

**Scurvy** · 07-24-2006, 12:14

i like using them in groups of 2

**Tony Furze** · 07-24-2006, 12:32

Well, I tried them against the French.

They did pretty much what they did last time.They start at the back of the army, go strolling round the woods and let loose a few arrows. Admittedly they were targetting the French general...

**Vladimir** · 07-24-2006, 12:32

Crazy Muslim berserkers huh? One thing I learned from VI is that the small unit size and good speed allow them to gut a unit's flank without being flanked themselves. I imagine they're excellent ambush troops.

**MuseRulez** · 07-24-2006, 16:29

Originally Posted by Vladimir

I imagine they're excellent ambush troops.

Indeed! Just take them off fire at will and they can hide in the open. (as long as they are not the general unit off course) Especially in defensive battles, just place them at the flanks, wait till the enemy general passes by and BAM! Dead general. After that they can help the rest of your army by charging into the rear of the enemy.

@Caravel: It's true that relying on Hashishin instead of normal units is the more difficult option. However, MTW is a game. Games are for fun. It is very much fun to use just a few men to kill hundreds.

**Geezer57** · 07-26-2006, 15:31

Hashishin can be very useful when defending sieges. Your outer rings of defenses quit firing at the enemy when your men abandon that ring and withdraw into an inner ring (or Keep). By hiding a Hashishin (or other small stealth unit) in the outer ring, best placed away from the gates or wall breaches, you'll keep those towers, etc., shooting away at the bad guys. That one small unit can make your defenses much, much, tougher!

**Vladimir** · 07-26-2006, 16:18

Very sneaky, and very nice.

**Ironside** · 07-27-2006, 08:45

Originally Posted by Geezer57

Hashishin can be very useful when defending sieges. Your outer rings of defenses quit firing at the enemy when your men abandon that ring and withdraw into an inner ring (or Keep). By hiding a Hashishin (or other small stealth unit) in the outer ring, best placed away from the gates or wall breaches, you'll keep those towers, etc., shooting away at the bad guys. That one small unit can make your defenses much, much, tougher!

It's usually enough doing this with a regular unit, as long a it's placed next to the wall on the opposite side of the gate.
You can even win most sieges by letting the time running out this way. If it's fair play or not is up to you to decide though, it's cheap.