Guard Towers

Guard Towers are special viewpoints in Assassin's Creed and can be found at least once in every district. Their presence is scaled down in Assassin's Creed II, but a variant (Borgia Towers) reappears in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood.

Use
In Assassin's Creed, Guard towers are used in every sequence. In order to gain full Synchronization with Altair, you must climb each viewpoint and sychronize with it, among other things.

Guard Towers are basically the centre of Guard activity in the district. they are guarded by several high-ranking guardsmen with more patrolling the area. There is even an archer on the roof.

During an Assassination memory of one of the Nine, if your cover is blown and your target sees you, they may turn and flee from you. Their destination is their district's guard tower. This is so they can call reinforcements to help them fight you. It is generally advised to not let them get to the Guard Tower, and kill them during the chase.

Trivia

 * There are only four targets that flee to the guard tower. The rest turn and fight you. The four that run are Abu'l Naqoud, Talal, Sibrand and Jubair al Hakim.
 * Guard Towers feature in Assassin's Creed II, but only at specific points. for instance, in Sequence one, Ezio must climb the Palazzo della Signoria, which is heavily fortified. It is also a Viewpoint.
 * Borgia Towers in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood are a variant of Guard Towers. They are heavily fortified and have a Borgia Captain who will either flee or fight you on sight.