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especially if you pick Douglas...those extra archers really help, but even without him, you still have some ranged units and dungeon has the scouts which cant be called ranged

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math shows that they can win in theory, but in practice, they never can. Don't ask me why ^_^

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Facts about Assassins vs Conscripts (it's pure math, nothing else):

Assassin
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Attack: 4
Defense: 3
Damage: 2-4 (50% range so 1-2)
Initiative: 12
Movement: 5
Hit Points: 14
Shots: 5

Conscript
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Attack: 1
Defense: 1
Damage: 1-2
Initiative: 8
Movement: 4
Hit Points: 6

Here's how it would go down in battle with 7 assassins vs 22 conscripts (this is COMPLETELY ignoring attack and defense, which is FOR the assassins, NOT conscripts):

Assassin goes 1st because of 12 initiative.

1) Assassins shoot conscripts inflicting 7 to 14 damage (range penalty).  This kills 1 to 2 conscripts. (7 assassins vs 20-21 conscripts)
2) Conscripts take 7 damage from poison, kills 1 to 2 conscripts based on the previous damage delt.  Conscripts walk with movement of 4 toward assassins. (7 assassins vs 19-20 conscripts)
3) Assassins shoot conscripts inflicting 7 to 14 damage killing 1 or 2 more conscripts.  (7 assassins vs 17-19 conscripts)
4) Conscripts take 7 damage from poison, kills 1 to 2 conscripts based on the previous damage delt.  Conscripts walk with movement of 4 toward assassins (STILL don't reach).  (7 assassins vs 15-18 conscripts).
5) Assassins move up and attack with melee attack.  This time, 14-28 damage.  This kills 2-5 conscripts based on previous damage.  (7 assassins vs 10-16 conscripts).
6) Conscripts retaliate and do 10 to 32 damage (based on number left and min vs max damage).  (5-7 assassins vs 10-16 conscripts).
7) Assassins get another attack because of initiative.  This time, 10-28 damage.  This kills 1-5 conscripts based on previous damage.  (7 assassins vs 5-15 conscripts).  (no retaliation from conscripts this turn).
7) Conscripts take 7 damage from poison, kills 1 to 2 conscripts based on the previous damage delt.  Conscripts attack assassins doing 4 to 28 damage based on number left and min vs max damage.  Kills 0 to 2 assassins based on previous damage.  (3-6 assassins vs 4-14 conscripts).
8) Assassins melee attack.  6-24 damage killing 1 to 4 conscripts based on previous damage.  (3-6 assassins vs 0-13 conscripts).

*** At this point, the fight can be over, but let's assume the worst, 13 conscripts left.

9) Conscripts take 7 damage from poison, kills 1 to 2 conscripts based on the previous damage delt.  Conscripts attack assassins doing 11 to 24 damage based on number left and min vs max damage.  Kills 0 to 2 assassins based on previous damage.  (1-5 assassins vs 11-12 conscripts).
10) Assassins retaliate.  2 to 20 damage.  Kills 0 to 3 conscripts.  (1-5 assassins vs 9-12 conscripts).
11) Assassins melee attack.  2-20 damage killing 0 to 2 conscripts based on previous damage.  (1-5 assassins vs 9-12 conscripts).
12) Conscripts take 5-7 damage from poison (since it lasts 3 turns, number may have been less since 3rd turn now).  Kills 0 to 1 conscript.  Conscripts attack doing 8 to 22 damage.  Kills 0 to 2 assassins based on previous damage.  (0-4 assasins vs 7-11 conscripts).

*** At this point, fight may be over from conscripts winning.

So we've crossed into the realm of both winners here.  But if you look at the data, the assassins COULD have wiped out the conscripts first, so that increases the chances of them being the winners.  Also, as mentioned, attack and defense wasn't calculated in, giving an even BIGGER advantage to the assassins.

These are all just rough numbers, but pretty close since I used ranges.

So the bottom line is this, the 7 assassins have a higher chance of winning vs conscripts but it IS possible for the conscripts to win.

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you don't need lvl5. Lvl2 and storm/ice mastery is enough in earlygame. Perfect for rush, not only dealing good damage, but also disabling the unit.

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If we consider a several month game I cannot but agree.As for an early game rush all that is required is a combination of the following: destructive magic->dark ritual->secrets of destruction(prime prerequisite),luck->soldier's luck->warlock's luck,attack->tactics,logistics->scouting->teleport assault,enlightenment->intelligence or sorcery->arcane training.I usually go for secrets of destruction,then tactics(for furies).As for sorcery or enlightenment it depends.In a long game I'd consider substituting attack with leadrship.

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As I said before , in a real battle , the knight will probably have Battle Frenzy and Vitality , making the Conscripts much more powerfull than those assassins, and if the warlock has Battle Frenzy and Vitality, it won't count that much for the assassins.

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I would never take vitality, or even defense skill, for a warlock. The growth rates of your creatures are way too low to make them much of a difference. Attack is a bit better, though mainly for the tactics skill which makes your blood furies even better.

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nice analysys , but i think they do 3.5 - 7 dmg , when the conscripts are out of range ! They have the 50% penalty for shooting at far targets and another 50% from thier "speciality" range penalty!
Anyway you should make your analisys supposing they are one , next to the other, if you want to have a duel... what king of fight is this ?! Thinking like this you might also say that the furies would defeat the Iron Golems cause they can run all over the map and the Golems will never catch them.

That will never happen in a real battle. As I said before , in a real battle , the knight will probably have Battle Frenzy and Vitality , making the Conscripts much more powerfull than those assassins, and if the warlock has Battle Frenzy and Vitality, it won't count that much for the assassins.

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Hmmmmmmm, not sure about that "special" range disadvantage.  I think you are mistaken there.  What that disadvantage means is no matter HOW close you are to the enemy, you only get 50%.  If you were 2 squares away, 50%.  8 squares, 50%.  That's my understanding at least.  Anyone officially check that out?

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The assasins range penalty means that their damage is halved at range, if they are also in the broken arrow range, then it is halved again. That is why scouts are completely useless, as they do same damage as gremlins but are far less numerous, the poison damage of assasins is their only saving grace as it usually does more damage than the actual attack from the assasin.

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Observe their damage in the game and you notice how pathetic damage they do at long range.

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