I use Dryads of the earlier ages (who have H2) as semi-thugs, leading sacred sneakers.
Any sort of cheap armour and vine-shield, frost or fire brand, horror helmet, AMA (if you have access to astral) and a ring of regen (and my favourite, flying boots, but that really requires special things to get the air access). Script Bless, Holy Avenger, attack rear (while the sacred centaurs have attack closest). Works wonders against any non-undead targets or non-barbarians, simply because nobody has the guts to attack her, and if they do half the time they don't get past the AMA, and if they do the armour should help enough to let the ring of regen heal the wounds. By far not the cheapest thug, but so incredibly useful together with berserking sacred centaurs.
If anybody wants to see a markata scout thug in action, I suppose you have seen my video on Aracana the markata scout thug?

Not cheap, not most likely very useful against a human player, but oh yeah does it feel good when a markata scout chops up Niefel giants left and right
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu6X3ko-5Ho
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQwerXKXFrQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbTSeJu7QaA