Masyaf Fortress
The Elite assassins who guard the Masyaf Fortress and also those who guard and patrol around the training area and also the ones located around Al Mualims desk, all have one curious thing in common. Each of there swords (which in addition is Altair's personal sword) are all half drawn. Are they expecting another Templar attack/seige?
They are extremely vigilant, and dedicated to their cause. But I can't think why there weapons are half drawn?
I welcome your responses and thoughts.
Lbtc 
Interesting observation. As to why it is, I have no idea 
I appreciate your response, this is indeed a challenging puzzle. This is a longshot, but could it be some easter egg or something like that. I need to correct my original post that may confuse people, the elite assassins are not literally guarding his desk but are someway below on the ground floor 
hmm never noticed
Yeah I know which Assassins you mean. They're always very jumpy as well if you leap down suddenly from above, although of course they'll never attack. Maybe it's just because they're within a fortress so are always on guard or something?
Well, there are some things I've noticed with the walking group of guards in the fortress (they patrol the area from the front of Al Mualims building to the fight training area).
1. If you do a socially unacceptable action by them they will put their hand on there sword but won't attack of course.
2. Sometimes when you end a fight in training you will hear a phrase like "I will have your head" or "I will end your life" (when that group of guards walk by?).
3. One time when I was running around they crowded around me and one of them said "why is he running?"
Yeah, I have noticed that aswell Aurllcooljay. Strange, when you exit the fight tutorial as you mentioned there is a voice of a Saracen which says something that points towards Altiar being exposed??? That's just the weirdest glitch inside the fortress...and I can't work it out.
They seem almost paranoid, because there weapons are half drawn when there are no threats in the immediate area. But on the other hand they are guardians of the fortress, so they have to stay on there tows.
A final thought if I may. If you attack an assassin guard within Masyaf (out of the fotress, but not into the kingdom) they react as if they were a guard in Damascus or Jerusulum?
hmmm...
Well if some person in a white robe and hood swung a sword at me, or fell from the sky, I'd be a bit jumpy to. Regardless if he was my friend or not
True, but surely the guards at Masyaf would recorgnise Altiar and therefore not be suprised?
It may just be because the devs used a suspicious guard character model for all the Assassin guards, but somehow disabled their ability to fight...?
Yeah, that sounds like a logical explanation PatrickDPS3
I always assumed the 'I will have your head' comes from the people sparring in the training ring, or something like that.
Agree with TLS. Ive always thought that. Even in old times, i suppose people liked to have a laugh. In this case, telling ur sparring partner ur going to rip his head off
Many thanks gents
oh they can fight just attack one of them youll see
oh they can fight just attack one of them youll see
oh they can fight just attack one of them youll see
Only if you're outside of the fortress. Once you're in the village, they're just like every other guard in the game.
Exactly, which feels a bit weird since Altair and the guards are supposed to be joined together by one cause. They adopt a character skin/template similar to those in Jerusulum.
plus in eagle vision they are marked as allies they are a lot more tolerant than any other guard in the game
Nice observation, although that has made me a bit more confused. So if you perform socially acceptable actions by them there ok with it, yet when you attack they go crazy and adopt another persona.
I pushed one of them out of the fortress in MB1, so I can attack it. It didn't react, but I lost some synchronization when I hurt it, and when I killed it, the game said that I shouldn't kill civilians.
That's interesting yet confusing at the same time, so guards at Masyaf protect the fotress, train the novice assassins, attack Altiar if provoked and are still classed as civilians. Many thaks for the infomation, al-Assas.
I'M BACK!!!!! 
As you may have realised I have had a huge break from Assassins Creed, and when I first saw the AC: Revelations Trailer again...I just thought about when I used to play it, and then remembered how epic it was. Altiar battling the crusaders etc. I thought I could find a game that was better than AC but really in my opinion there is not! And it is also my birthday in a weeks time, so I'll be 18 It's just weird today, changing in an instant back to AC. Tried alot of games out, Batman AA, prince of persia, Splinter cell. But really I think Alitar+Ezio and the Assassins Order is the best place to be. I feel like such a fool because a few months back I was raving about splinter cell, and have consequently ordered it for my b-day XD To be honest with everyone, I am a little unsure between splinter cell chaos theory and AC. But I thought it would be a good idea to come back here and say hi to everyone again.
I'll be revising some AC strategies and tactics via stabguy's channel now....
Hello again, LBTC9! There's nothing wrong with taking a break and trying other games - AC is certainly not the be-all and end-all of gaming - but ultimately it seems we can't keep oursleves away from it! There are many similar games (Batman: AA and PoP, as you mentioned) but AC seems to be the best of the bunch, IMO.
And you're right, Revelations certainly has a classic, nostalgic feel to it. I just hope the final game delivers, unlike Brotherhood.
Oh, and Happy Birthday for next week! I went to a friend's surprise 18th birthday party this week (I'm only just 17 myself) and it was brilliant. He'd been at the pub all day and walked in to find about 40 people standing in his kitchen. Then, to add to the surprise, his parents had booked a stripper! 
NB: Massively off-topic but w/e.
G-whizz!!! yes, a little of topic. I think I'll concentrate my efforts towards the hidden blade challenge. I will have to decide between Splinter Cell and Assassins Creed, or just get both XD
Could someone advise me on the best game in the series to get?? I remember the story well..but am not to sure which game to choose.
Thanks for the warm welcome back.
Oh, his parents booked you? Off topic, never mind. 
Oh haha, how witty
But yes it was slightly disturbing and hilarious, as well as off-topic
A common formula for guards, I guess?
I figure less work for the developers, rather than to program an entirely new type of guard.
Would have been nice if they did though. In the first parts of the game during the siege I sprinted to the tower (where Altair was to leap-of-faith with Rauf) only to overhear a guard saying "Is there a reason for this nonsense?" >_<
Perhaps some obstacle course with some assassin trainees practicing free-running would have been a nice addition too. (seeing as only Altair practiced free-running in Masyaf)
Before the siege though, some guards greet him with "It is an honor".
Before the siege though, some guards greet him with "It is an honor".
That actually makes a LOT of sense! Like you said, before the siege they greet you with the utmost respect. Maybe after they have all realized that Altair was the cause of the death of many of the Order's Assassins, and after Altair being stripped of his rank completely, they don't respect him as much anymore. They even go so far as to be SUSPICIOUS of him.
AC1 created that feeling of a "lone-wolf" and "nobody can help you but you" atmosphere, and we usually think it's because of the way the guards and enemies in the game react, the dark environments. But rarely do we take into consideration that it's the Assassin Brotherhood as well. They've lost respect for you, and you're even detached from the ONLY people that you could consider your allies. That's crazy man..
Hi again,
I feel so bad for taking yet another short break, to play Arkham City. Never have I felt more inclined to stick like superglue to this fantastic website, I will never look beyond the Assassins Creed franchise Saw Altiar in the AC Revelations gameplay videos on youtube and thought, I want AC1 immediatly. So I shall order it soon. Thanks everybody for your responses and comments, I really appreciate them. I will setup my own youtube channel soon to showcase huge battles in the kingdom, and sharing my general tips. I need more practise first XD
Kind regards,
Livebythecreed9.
Nice to hear you're back, Livebythecreed! We love you, brother!
Good luck with AC1 and your (definitely) awesome YouTube videos!
Can't wait to see them hahah ^_^
Well I am never going to give up Assassins Creed.
Even though I am trying 100% to find myself a job, I was falling asleep one night and looked on the back of the Rainbow Six Vegas 2 manual to see Altiar...and that was my turning point. I have been trying to find a game I really like but in actual fact the best one is the one I first had: Assassins Creed 1. It's magical, evocative and truly gripping. I have not got much money so I need to get that sorted first, but my youtube channel (Livebythecreed9) will be active soon.
I will always live by the Assassins Creed.
Thanks to everyone.