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Rally The Creed Episode #3 w/ Kyle Marvell - Hosted by Gargudon Podcast Share 6 Nov 2022 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Back To Database comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Gustav / Gargudon is an active community member, who started out in podcast hosting in 2016, but today mostly specialises in video creation, interviews & composing. By joining The Ones Who Came Before in 2019, originally reviving 'The Memory Corridor' podcast, which had been offline for nearly a year, he has had the opportunity to expand his audience and further develop his skills. 

His unique skill set made him the perfect candidate for our team. Among other things, he is known in the community for the Sounds Of History project - an original Assassin’s Creed inspired instrumental music project, featuring five tracks inspired by as many different games - other original fan themes plus covers of iconic AC tracks, as well as video interviews with a number of high profile names in the world of AC, from Roger Craig Smith, Jesper Kyd and more. Fun fact, among his growing colourful tattoo collection, Gustav is the only member of our team to have the TOWCB logo inked. Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon)

Rally the Creed Episode 6 Released Podcasts Share 5 Apr 2024 Written By: Edited By: TOWCB Team Colum Blackett Back To Database The Rally the Creed podcast is back at last, hosted by Gargudon , with guests UbiCypher from our social media team and Arshak from fan community AC Landmarks . Covering everything from an evaluation of AC Mirage, with the game having been out for a while now, hopes and expectations for AC Codename Red with more in between. Enjoy listening! Edited by FrameHoldPhotography . Listen to this episode on Spotify: comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author A collection of articles from The Ones Who Came Before team. TOWCB Team

Remembering Russell Lees (1957 – 2022) In Memoriam Share 18 Jan 2022 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Today we remember the life of Russell Lees, who recently sadly passed away at the age of 64. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends during this difficult time. Russell worked on various AAA Ubisoft titles as a script writer, most recently as Lead Writer for Assassin's Creed Valhalla Wrath of the Druids and ACV's Sciropscire & Oxenefordscire arcs. He is credited as the author of The Tyranny of King Washington DLC for Assassin's Creed III, alongside contributions to the Assassin's Creed Unity Murder Mysteries/ Nostradamus Enigmas, Far Cry New Dawn and Assassin's Creed Origins. About: James Russell Lees was born in Salt Lake City on May 8, 1957. His father, Jay, was a theater director and college professor. He left Salt Lake City as a teenager to study computer engineering at Boston University, then got his master’s in computer engineering from Stanford University and, back at BU, his master’s in playwriting. Lees also co-founded the TheatreWorks/West production company in Salt Lake City, where he wrote and directed for the stage, and served as director of French-language plays at the University of Utah. Survivors include his his wife, Lisa; daughters Charlotte and Madeleine; siblings Mindy, Becky and Jay; brother-in-law Stan; and sister-in-law Julie. (Via The Hollywood Reporter) During his Ubisoft career spanning 13-years, Russell made many friends who remember him as a kind, passionate man who will be sorely missed. Below we have collected memories and tributes from those who knew him best. Rest in Peace Russell. " We lost a dear friend and brilliant colleague this week. Writer and Narrative Designer Russell Lees was a part of the Assassin's Creed and Far Cry families for over a decade. All who worked with him will attest to his patience, his generosity, his passion, & his bright spirit. He will be missed, and remembered always as the most ideal artist in this busy, hectic industry -- devoted, collaborative, patient, and kind beyond measure. from Montreal to wherever you are now, Russ. Rock on. " -Darby McDevitt (Valhalla Narrative Director) Today, I learned that I had lost a great friend. Russell was the Lead Writer on Wrath of the Druids. We walked hand in hand to make this story that I consider to be a turning point of my life. I can say that his presence, his passion and his kindness kept me going every day. When we parted ways, we were sure that our paths would cross again. Now, I can only look back at the time we spent working together. All my thoughts go to his family in these difficult times. Russell will be missed. - Hugo Sahuquet (Narrative Director for Assassin's Creed Valhalla's Wrath of the Druids DLC) I am just devastated about the news. I worked with him on AC3, AC Unity, and AC Syndicate. He was endlessly patient and kind, the level-headed writer who quietly got it done, even when the deadlines were short and we were all stressed and tired. He wrote the Dreadful Crimes on AC Syndicate, among other things. I still use those as reference today when I'm talking about writing for investigative gameplay. The past days I've had a flood of messages from Ubi and ex-Ubi writers who worked with him, everyone with fond memories. He worked with so many people, over so many years. We're all stricken and saddened by his loss. And a late addition - if you ever hear a character in a game say the words "dead as a mackerel", that was Russell. I found it amongst our guard patrol lines on Unity, and then Syndicate. He told me he tried to work it into every project. - Ceri Young (Former Senior Scriptwriter at Ubisoft Montreal) Still gutted by this. Russell was a great writer, friend and human. Contributed endlessly to AC and beyond as a playwright. Just a wonderful soul and will never be forgotten. - Alain Mercieca (Formerly lead on Assassins Creed Origins, Valhalla) Russell was a part of our dream team of writers on AC Syndicate. He helped make the impossible possible. He’s going to be missed. -Jeff Skalski (Assassin's Creed Syndicate Senior Producer) Photos of the AC Syndicate Writing Team Russell had a way of listening deeply, like he was seeing inside you, and a calm assuredness. He always knew what to do, on top of being an excellent writer and person. This is a tragedy and he will be dearly missed. - Jeffrey Yohalem (Former Lead Scriptwriter on AC Brotherhood & Syndicate) I didn't get to know Russell well, but as a newcomer, professionally, to Assassin's Creed, Ubisoft, its tools and processes, he was always patient, kind and happy to explain things to me. No question was too small, too unimportant. He was Good People. GNU Russell Lees. - Giles Armstrong (Senior Scriptwriter on ACV: Dawn of Ragnarok DLC) Russell was immensely kind. He was talented and humble. He was always there to support me, sometimes early in the morning when I needed to talk. He was one of the best person I ever met. I already miss him and his smile so much. - Sarah Beaulieu (Directing narration on an upcoming Assassin's Creed game) He was such an absolute pleasure to work with briefly on AC Unity. Even working between two cities, we had a great time working on the mysteries and he was always so kind, generous, and an incredibly sharp writer. Can’t believe he’s gone. - Navid Khavari (Additional Narrative design on AC Unity) Russ was the kind of guy who could teach you about life with just a silence. He had a wicked laugh, an open ear, and the best femme fatale table read voice in the biz. He was generous with his experience and a novel voice in the industry. Play his stories so he may live on. - Betty Robertson (Scriptwriter on AC Valhalla and Odyssey) My friend, you meant so much to so many people and I'm deeply grateful that I find myself among them. You were such a mentor to me. Such a shining light in this industry. You were the best of us. I'll miss you forever. - Christopher Grilli (Lead Writer at UbisoftMTL. Writer on Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Origins) Rest in Peace Russell (1957 – 2022) comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 10th to 16th July Community Share 18 Jul 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week I will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. This week’s theme: Assassin’s Creed Randvi Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ JPGphotogame “I feel somewhat trapped. In this room, in this settlement, in this life.” The Norse glue that held the Raven Clan together. Randvi is the chief advisor of Ravensthorpe and the wife of Sigurd. Her part in this tale is critical but also very limited. I wish we had seen more of her throughout the story. This portrait of Randvi beautifully captures her unique style against the luscious backdrop of the English countryside. Excellent use of the depth of field function to highlight Randvi and showcase those soft eyes and elegant hair. Link to set: Druid Eivor Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ VirtuallyShots “I know what it is to be blood-bound, lord. It burns so bright it can blind to all else” This capture brings me back to the Wrath of the Druids expansion and the journey through Ireland. The ancient druidic cult that haunted that place was so interesting and acted as such a contrast to the dazzling landscapes that surround you. Eivor in this shot has clearly embodied the druid ways, for this capture exudes menacing vibes that are bringing out the dark side of our Viking hero. The face tattoo is really amplifying the whites of his eye, and the bones on his head are increasing the spiritual feel. I really like the addition of the logo at the bottom as it makes it look like a movie poster. Sekhmet Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ Its__Gurly “Like the orb of Siwa. How much more bloodshed and madness will this bring” The Goddess of war and the destroyer of enemies, this bloodthirsty deity serves as a trail of the Gods in Assassin’s Creed Origins. These weekly events were super fun and the birth of what was to come in Odyssey and Valhalla. This particular shot is from an epic set showcasing Bayek and Sekhmet deep in battle. I picked this shot as it looks impressive and very blockbuster movie in its style. Bayek looks visually stunning here with details popping all over the place. I also adore the stance with the shield up and sword drawn. The background tops it off with a real sandstorm ambiance. Link to set: Hobbits Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ NoviKaiba23 “I feel that as long as the Shire lies behind, safe and comfortable, I shall find wandering more bearable” Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is one of the larger gaming worlds out there and it is mind blowing what Ubisoft managed to produce in terms of world building. The environments are all breath-taking and the choice to split them into seasons was genius. Novi has once again produced a set of landscape shots that beautifully showcase what Valhalla has to offer. I picked this shot because it reminds me of The Lord of the Rings and specifically the Shire. The saturation is on point as the greenery in this capture is so gorgeous. I am very impressed with the smaller details such as the shrine, villagers and fisherman. It is very extraordinary how much is going on here despite the beautiful simplicity of the shot. Link to set: The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ TheHiddenValar ''As a huge Lord of the Rings fan, I gotta choose 'The Hobbit' That area reminds me of The Shire.'' The Queen Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ dpruttz_vp “I loved it all. The power, the challenge, everything. But above all, I loved Egypt. Believed in it. And still do” Origins has definitely seen a renaissance in recent weeks, most likely due to Mirage’s marketing. It’s been great to see people jump back into the game and capture some superb shots. The amazing introduction of discovery mode allowed us to explore without combat but ultimately play as different characters. This shot is part of a phenomenal set that sees Cleopatra wandering the desert. For me this is the best one from the set, as the pale toned down colours are just so warming. I love how it has an old western vibe, especially with the barren desert all around her. It is a majestic shot that is fit for a Queen. Link to set: And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

Roger Craig Smith Interview: The Life of an Assassin Interview Share 1 Mar 2020 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Buckley Back To Database Our community admin Colum Blackett had the opportunity to interview legendary voice actor and former stand-up comic Roger Craig Smith, best known as the voice behind Ezio Auditore and Sonic the Hedgehog. He is currently credited with nearly 600 different voice acting roles , most recently for performing the voice of Batman in the upcoming animated DC movie: Superman: Red Son. About: Raised in SoCal and voted “Class Clown” in 8th grade, Roger focused his creativity toward training in musical theater. He spoke at both his 8th and 12th grade graduations, was elected freshman class president in high school, and hosted a live local TV talk show while earning his B.A. in Screenwriting from Chapman University...all while pursuing a career in stand-up comedy. After working as a comic for 5 years, he left stand-up to pursue voice acting full-time in 2005. Knowing he’s got fans of all ages on social media, Roger keeps his posts apolitical and family-friendly. An avid supporter of CHOC (Chidlren’s Hospital Orange County), he frequently visits the hospital to meet with patients. He’s currently studying ASL (American Sign Language) and enjoys getting outdoors as often as possible to pursue his passion for nature, hiking/mountain biking, and nightscape/astrophotography, which he shares regularly with his followers on Twitter and Instagram Col: Hi Roger, thank you for joining us today! I'm sure most of our fans already know, but please could you tell us a little bit about yourself, and your time working on the Assassin's Creed series. Roger: Many thanks for having me! I’m a voice actor based in LA, and I work on commercials, cartoons, and video games. Been at it since about 2003 and, in 2009, had the incredible opportunity to be a part of the 2nd Assassin’s Creed game, Assassin’s Creed II. Life hasn’t been the same since! Working on ACII was such an awesome experience. I was so honored to be a part of something that was so dear to so many who worked on the game. Their passion was evident from the onset. It was challenging, to be working with a wonderful dialect coach (Ida Darvish-Gadd) and learning how to very quickly speak lines in Italian, finesse an “ItaliaSpanglish” (the blended accent for the character of Ezio) accent, and to wrap my brain around the enormity of what this character was going though---but it was so rewarding. That first foray into the world of AC for me will always be my favorite project. Col: When the team first pitched Assassin's Creed II to you, what were your thoughts? Roger: I truly didn’t know what to think. I was familiar with the first game and very familiar with friends who’d played it and had their opinions, so I wasn’t sure what was in store for the 2nd game. I just went into it trying to provide the best work I could on a daily basis and to deliver for the folks who were nice enough to have given me the shot. That’s usualy all I can do to approach ANY project---just deliver as best I can what the client is asking for. If I think about the enormity of the project or how many eyeballs/ears might be on my performance, then I’d likely be too distracted to simply do the job that’s before me. So, I tend to show up ready to take whatever the client may throw at me and hopefully do the best I can. Col: Before voicing Ezio, had you ever had to speak Italian for a role? Roger: Ha! Nope! Being Scotch-Irish, it’s not something most folks toss my way. I was so stoked to have been introduced to Ida and work with her on the project, though. The whole crew became a family on that game. We still keep in touch to this day. Col: Have you kept in touch with any of the other voice actors from the Ezio games, and have you worked with any of them on other projects since? Roger: The voice acting community isn’t that large in general, thankfully. So yes, many of the actors that worked on that game, and even other AC games of which I wasn’t even a part, still keep in touch. It’s a neat thing that can happen when you’re part of an iconic franchise---bonds are formed. Col: How did you find the dialect training? Were there any phrases/ words you struggled to pronounce at all? Roger: It was definitely one of the more challenging aspects of the project, but I loved the process and the reward of getting something that got the thumbs up from the crew. I wanna say that nailing ‘Savonarola’ in some sentences proved to be a stumbling point for me. There were so many phrases that were challenging, though. I’m sure it’s all a blur now.” Col: What would you say is the first step to getting into voice acting work, and how can people prepare for it? Roger Ahhhhh…the golden question… Truly, I don’t know where to tell people to start. I came into the business when it was smaller than it is today. Technology has made it so that anyone with a USB mic and a good internet connection can instantly deem themselves a voice actor and work from home. Social media influencers have been given opportunities to be a part of games as voice actors when many of them have no business doing so. The industry is getting saturated by a lot of folks who have often had little to no training as actors, let alone voice actors. So, to find a way to set yourself apart from those short-lived, flash in the pan “actors” and make yourself known to the industry as someone with the skillset, training, talent, experience and professionalism of a serious voice actor…well, that takes time, effort, and investment in yourself. Training. Doing. Practicing. Running your own business. Taking the WORK seriously, not just the attention from likes and retweets online. As far as how you’re going to be the one to make that happen---there’s nothing I can tell you that will work for you. What I did worked for me, and everyone in the business has a different story on how they got started. It’s up to you to figure that out. You’ll never have my career…and I’ll never have yours. I do wish you the best on your own journey, if voice acting’s where you want to be. Col: Other than Ezio, who else would you have liked to have voiced in the games? Roger: Uncle Mario. Just for the line that Fred Tattasciore got to say, ‘It’s ah me…Mario!’ Col: Why do you think Ezio remains such a popular character after all these years? Roger: That’s all the writing and the world Ubisoft created to place him within. The story they gave that character is so deep, complicated and moving. He’s also one of the only characters to have been given so much time to have the story fleshed out. We see him from birth, and, in ‘Embers’, we see him through the end of his journey. We were given the unique chance as players to live an entire life through one character’s eyes and that can leave an impact on gamers. I think that’s why he still resonates. To say nothing of what the entire team at Ubisoft did in making ACII such an awesome experience for players. It’s as much how that game in its entirety was so incredible, as it was the character of Ezio. Col: If you could meet Ezio in real life, what would you ask him? Roger: Seriously bro, you can tell me…the hay bales hurt when you hit ‘em, right?” Col: Have you ever cosplayed as Ezio? If not, would you consider doing it at a future event? Roger: I’ve never FULLY cosplayed as Ezio. There are some photos on my website of me wearing a mix of costumes from many of my more notable roles, but I’ve never cosplayed as any of my characters, really. I’d consider doing it, but it’d have to be one helluvah remake of that outfit for me to want to do it. I wouldn’t want to ruin the image of Ezio with my goofy human vessel if the costume wasn’t at least spot-on. Col: Would you ever return to voice Ezio in another project if Ubisoft asked? Do you miss the role? Roger: Of course. Col: Which method do you prefer: Stealth of direct assault? Roger: Stealth. Gotta earn the reward. Col: Did you watch the Assassin's Creed Movie. If so, what were your initial thoughts? Roger: I’ve never seen it. After all…I LIVED IT. Ha! Col: Do you own Assassin's Creed Merchandise? If so, what is your favourite item? Roger: I own too much AC stuff. The LED glowing Apple of Eden is kinda cool. Col: Have you been following the more recent games, and where would you like to see the series to explore next? Roger: Man oh man. Where to go from here?! That’s the beauty of what this franchise has laid out---it can go almost ANYWHERE. I’ve truly got zero clue as to where they might go next…but I’m always watching. We would like to say a huge thank you to Roger for joining us for this interview. You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

Assassin's Creed I: Gilded Altaïr Fanart by Thea Marie Rivedal Art Share 13 Sept 2022 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Check out this brand new piece of fanart by our very own digital artist Thea Marie Rivedal from our AC Partnership Program! I love how these art pieces capture the essence of the Assassin's Creed 15 year anniversary celebrations, as Ubisoft have been reimaging Assassin's Creed character outfits by adding gold undertones to them throughout the campaign. One thing that stands out for me is the glitch effect operating in the background, which feels very much like Animus desyncronisation. The Ubisoft Forward Assassins' Creed Showcase event even kicked off with a beautiful video showing all of the Assassins immortalised as gold statues, a poignant trip down memory lane. Although the AC Showcase event brings Assassin's Creed I week to a close, we here at TOWCB will continue to release legacy content celebrating older games. Keep an eye on our website for a daily dose of nostalgia. Until then, check our what our other team members have been up to in the Community Hub! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

Quick-Fire Community Questions: Jordan van Andel (JorRaptor) Community Interview Share 9 Apr 2020 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Buckley Back To Database For this round of Quick-Fire Community Questions, we invited Youtuber and Assassin's Creed community member Jordan van Andel, better known as JorRaptor. Col: Hi there Jordan, thank you for joining us today! Please could you let us know a little bit about yourself and your connection to the Assassins Creed community. Jor: Hey Colum, thanks for having me! I would say that I am still relatively new to the Assassin’s Creed community, because I only really started to be more active since the launch of Assassin’s Creed Origins. That game really reignited my love for the series thanks to the new combat, RPG elements & setting. I am lucky enough to visit many gaming events where I met a few of the people that I spoke with online, that has been a blast. I am from the Netherlands myself, have a journalism degree & am now doing my YouTube-channel full time. Col: When did you first create your channel, and how does your content now differ to back then? Jor: The starting date you will find in my about section is November 2014. When I started I really covered everything: Nintendo, PlayStation, PC games; just all the gaming news. I worked at IGN Benelux (the Dutch version of IGN) for quite some time & am just passionate about the whole gaming industry. I learned that that is not the best approach for a YouTube channel though. You can better focus on doing a few things really well, instead of trying to cover everything. With the launch of Horizon Zero Dawn I discovered my love for making tips and tricks & covering games post launch. This also seemed to work, because I came the place to be for Horizon Zero Dawn. I now try to use the same tactic for other games I am really passionate about like Assassin’s Creed. Col: You recently hit 400,000 subscribers which is a huge achievement. How would you describe your journey so far? Jor: I think that after the launch of Horizon Zero Dawn & Assassin’s Creed Origins I really found my groove & I have been trying to improve that style of content since. One big part was bringing freelancers in to help me out. I now have 3 editors who edit one video per week and Dennis who is focused on the comments under my video, Reddit for the current game we cover & helps me with recording footage. The channel has become way more than a one man show & I really couldn’t provide the same quality I am doing now without their help. I also like how apart from the update & tips videos, I am still able to make prediction videos & share my reaction on the recent news. This was mostly the content I did before extensively covering games & it’s cool to see that people still tune in to watch that side of the channel too. Col: How long does a video generally take to put together, and is much research required? Jor: It really depends on the video of course, but to make it simple: I think there are 2 types of videos for me. News videos that have to be quick because they are about news that just broke. Recently the PlayStation 5 controller was revealed and that video took me a little more than 2 hours to make. It of course varies per news item, but usually you want to have them up as fast as possible while still preserving the quality. The other types of videos are scheduled ahead of time like tips for a new game or a roundup of recent rumors about the new Assassin’s Creed. These videos can easily take 7+ hours. I use twitter a lot and when I see an interesting news story I save it in a doc that I can go back to later. Then I write the script, look up extra information & then it’s time to record the audio. After that is done I either edit it myself or send all the info to an editor so he or she can work on it. Col: Do you set yourself targets, and how many videos do you aim to release a week? Jor: My aim has been from the start to make one video per day, so 7 per week. Although right now YouTube really rewards quality and interesting topics, so if a video is not done on time & could use more time then I delay it. The extra time can really make the difference. This was a journey though, I first felt bad if I didn’t upload a day or would quickly put something together just to have a video that day. Luckily I am over that and the value of a quality video over 2 bad ones is super noticeable. Col: Have you had many opportunities such as event invitations / early access from video game companies due to your channel? Jor: Yes for sure & I am really happy about that. It helps that the Dutch gaming industry is relatively small & I already knew a lot of them thanks to my work at IGN Benelux & the Radio Station 538. When my channel grew bigger companies started to notice that too, although I got to give a shoutout to Ubisoft NL for letting me play Assassin’s Creed Origins at Gamescom when I still had around the 30.000 subscribers. Col: What do your family and friends think of your channel, and who is your biggest supporter? Jor: For some of my family members it’s all very foreign: “so how do you make money?” But they are curious about it, even though the content on the channel will not be for them hehe. My grandpa is always very supportive and sometimes leaves comments on social media platforms that many other people of his age don’t even know about. No but overall my girlfriend must be the biggest supporter & actually gives some great advice for someone who is not into games at all (apart from The Sims though) Col: What advice do you have for people who want to start a channel on YouTube? Jor: First of all just start, that is one of the hardest parts: get yourself out there and not care about what other people might think. You will be bad for sure, but that is with everything and you only get better by practicing. Apart from that I would say: make the content you want to make and are passionate about, but also content that other people want to see. Make sure that there is a big enough audience & that you can provide something that people are looking for. Col: What does a typical day for yourself consist of? Jor: I usually start with a nice cup of tea and do some small things like answering emails or checking social media. After that I try to focus on the video for that day. I will check twitter now and then (probably a little too much) and try to get the video done for an editor or that I can edit it myself. The afternoon is always different, there might be big news that I want to cover, I remember going to the gym before they were all closed, on monday & thursday there is a stream on Twitch.tv/jorraptor (shameless plug), sometimes I cook & in the evening I either do some extra work, play a game or watch a tv show with my girlfriend. Col: Other than the AC series, which games do you cover on your channel? Jor: Very similar games actually, so big single player or sometimes co-op adventures that are mostly in an open world and have some sort of RPG element: God of War, Spider-Man, Horizon Zero Dawn, Far Cry, Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order, Sekiro, Borderlands & more that I am likely forgetting hehe. Col: Which Assassin's Creed game did you play first, and is it your favourite? Jor: The first Assassin’s Creed back in 2007. I actually bought a PlayStation 3 to play that game and Ratchet & Clank Tools of Destruction. While repetitive at times, I did enjoy it & really hope Ubisoft gives it a proper remake treatment. Not Assassin’s Creed 3 style, but more like what Square Enix & Capcom have been doing with their franchises. I can totally see a future where we get a brand new RPG AC every 2-3 years and then in between that a big remake of an older game. So all AC fans have something to look forward to. Assassin’s Creed 1 is btw not my favorite, Assassin’s Creed Origins is, followed closely by Odyssey. Col: Do you have much Assassin's Creed merchandise? If so, what is your favourite item? Jor: Yes, but Ubisoft send me some of it to be honest. I have that massive way too expensive Spartan statue that is scaring everyone who passes by my house & other statues from the recent games. I also still have an Assassin’s Creed Odyssey helmet they gave away at E3. And recently got Assassin’s Creed displate posters that add a lot to my studio. Col: Where would be your dream setting for an AC game? Jor: Asia, especially now with the RPG elements. Imagine the weapons and armor pieces we would be able to collect. I totally think they will do it at some point, maybe after this viking game. Luckily we got Ghost of Tsushima in the meantime though that already highlights how a cool an Assassin’s Creed game in this setting would be. Col: Are there any cut features from the series you would like to see return in the next installment? Jor: Maybe not really a cut feature, but I liked how cinematic the Assassin’s Creed games were. Now though, especially with Odyssey, we didn’t get a lot of these cutscenes that help tell the story and showcase the setting in an awesome way. Most of the dialogue was done with regular conversations that sometimes didn’t have the same impact. If you want to make the games bigger Ubisoft, then please also add more cutscenes and not only at the beginning and the end of the game. I also want to see multiplayer return, especially because of the new combat system I think both PVP and infiltrating forts together could be a ton of fun. It’s going to happen one day, but I think we will have to wait a few more years. Col: Where do you personally think the series is heading to next, and are you excited for the future of Assassin's Creed? Jor: It’s 99.9% going to be Vikings & after watching the tv show with the same name I am actually really hyped for that setting. It really has these unique characteristics in the way they dress and live, and also a big focus on Mythology that I think helped the previous two games a lot too. And of course knowing that it will be made by the Assassin’s Creed Origins and Black Flag team is already enough reason to be excited. We would like to say a huge thank you to Jordan for joining us for another round of Quick-Fire Community Questions! You can find him on: Youtube Twitter Twitch comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

The Future of Assassin’s Creed at UbiForward 2023 Part 3 - Assassin's Creed Mirage Story Trailer Breakdown Share 17 Jun 2023 Written By: Edited By: Michael Smith Colum Blackett Back To Database Banner by Thea Marie Rivedal (Moonchildgecko) from TOWCB Art Team. Welcome to the third part in a new series breaking down all of the Assassin's Creed content presented at Ubisoft Forward 2023. In part three, we take a look at Assassin's Creed Mirage Story Trailer reveal! Related articles The Future of Assassin’s Creed at UbiForward 2023 Part 1 - Pre-Show & Assassin's Creed Nexus The Future of Assassin’s Creed at UbiForward 2023 Part 2 - Assassin's Creed Codename Jade The Future of Assassin’s Creed at UbiForward 2023 Part 4 - Assassin's Creed Mirage Gameplay Trailer Mirage is the game that many fans tuned in to learn more about at UbiForward this year. It has been pitched as a return to roots when it releases on October 12th 2023. The story trailer opens on a skyline of 9th Century Baghdad where a young thief named Basim is cornered by two Caliphate guards. As one of the guards raises his sword, Mentor Assassin, Roshan attacks him from behind by stabbing through the soldier with her sword. She dispatches the second guard and helps Basim off the ground while directing him to “Move.” A look at Roshan and the signature Assassin’s hood. Roshan takes out a guard by the stairs, climbs and dodges two more before pivoting off the wall to stab one guard and kick the second off of the landing. Roshan and Basim climb a tower and when the young thief sees the Assassin on the edge of the building, he asks “What are you doing?!” to be met with a calm “Don’t think.” before Roshan performs a Leap of Faith. Basim attempts to follow suit but is chased onto the synchronization point beam where he dodges the guard’s blade, only to fall backwards into the water below. The trailer song “How Villains Are Made” by Madalen Duke plays its first line “Time to put my medal on” a nod to Basim putting on the robes of The Hidden Ones? It is here that we see what many have determined to be the djinn that haunts Basim’s mind. Could this be a reference to the Sage’s connection to Loki from Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, or is this a horrific way of depicting the evil of the men Basim kills in a Confession Room? The trailer continues at a later point where Basim is seen sitting around a fire with four other people. From the matching markings on their clothing, they appear to be members of the Assassin’s Brotherhood. Prominent are Basim, Fuladh, and a female character on the right. The two in the foreground are not as visible. The female character speaks to Fuladh, “Tell Basim the story of the feather.” He turns to Basim, “Our tradition of the feather comes from Egypt. The feathers of the heron were dipped in the blood of the targets.” Basim kneels over a member of The Order of the Ancients, the man’s identifying golden mask (much like the Cult of Kosmos masks) can be seen in the lower right corner of the dark scene. For this character, their mask has a large golden crescent mustache. Could this be representative to the “Mask of Agamemnon” from Greek mythology, the original nation of the Order, or is it part of the history of Baghdad and the Middle East that we will learn more about in the game? Similar to this, Assassin’s Creed Origins had masks for some of the Order’s members, based on animals from the region. Basim looks at the feather as Fuladh continues the story about the feathers, seeming to contemplate what it means and symbolizes before marking it with the blood of the mustache mask Ancient. Based on the simple clothing of the man and the way that Basim took pause before finishing his time in this Confession Room, I would assume that this is his first assassination as a member of the Hidden Ones and said target is some form of street level authority, similar to Tamir from Assassin’s Creed (2007). A transitional fight scene with Basim and members of the city guard moves us to a landscape shot of Alamut and Basim’s Aquila Heliaca eagle, Enkidu (based on the myth of Gilgamesh). In this Epic, Enkidu was created by the goddess, Aruru to match the power of the tyrannical ruling Gilgamesh and after fighting him, the two found an equal in the other and became friends. It is later in the Epic that Enkidu dies and so causes Gilgamesh to mourn the loss of his friend, ceasing his rule over the city of Uruk and bringing an understanding to him that he is not immortal. Seeing that Basim no longer travels with Enkidu, is there a similar fate for the feathered companion that helps Basim come to terms with the loss of believing himself to be “a god”? Could Enkidu bring forth the connection to Loki? “The feathers forge our paths. Remind us of who we are. Who we can be.” Fuladh continues as Enkidu flys over a combat circle where Basim (now an Initiate, with no colored sash) fights Roshan with his dual blades. She parries his attack and kicks him away from her. The surrounding area has banners with the Assassin’s logo, showing that Alamut is the headquarters (or will be) for the brotherhood. Four Order of the Ancient masks are shown, including the recurring mask with the mustache, leading me to believe even more that they will be the first target in the game. With the length of the game stated to be around 30 hours playtime, I could easily see room for eight targets with a scattering of smaller targets that players may have to eliminate to get information, similar to the hierarchy trees from the RPG games. Roshan explains to Basim as she gives him a feather, “The Order has held dominion over men and their empires for centuries. Strike quickly and end this.” This is an assignment she has provided to what appears to be a higher ranked Basim as he now has his blue sash, and matches his outfit from when he assassinated the mustached Ancient earlier in the trailer. Could this be his first assignment? We can also see from his outfit that he has the brooch that is being replicated in physical form for the game’s collector’s edition. Could this be a gift from a friend in his past, or a trophy that he wears in defiance of the city’s government? Basim and Enkidu stand above the city looking out towards the sunset as Basim’s friend, Nehal asks, “Swallow your questions. Serve without complaint. Who is she to tell you when to strike?” From the rebellious nature of the character and being a street kid like Basim, it is assumed that she is questioning his joining The Hidden Ones and how he is taking orders from the outsider to their world, Roshan. “Everything you do serves The Hidden Ones.” Ali ibn Muhammad (an historical figure) says to Basim as a scene showing a sneak assassination is played. Ali is the leader of the Zanj Rebellion, the key historical point in the story of Assassin’s Creed Mirage. According to his character snippet on the site, he works alongside The Hidden Ones, but doesn’t respect their creed as he doesn’t believe that there should be restrictions to obtaining freedom. Basim performs a confident Leap of Faith as the outer environments of Baghdad are shown, with Basim traveling with two companions across the desert on camelback. The developers have stated in previous interviews that there would be a small map to explore outside of the city of Baghdad. A sandstorm is moving towards them which will most likely play into at least one Sequence of the game’s story. This could be a similar experience to when Bayek of Siwa fought The Hyena in Giza during the events of AC Origins. I would assume that this is a venture that Basim is taking to return to Alamut from Baghdad. The song “How Villains Are Made” continues playing as the desert scene closes. “ Whose neck to cut? | I don't know | Whose side I'm on?” This is a very heavy indication that Basim will face the struggle of supporting his people against the Caliphate and his new place within The Hidden Ones. “You are not the first to walk the shadows broken. Pour your pain into the Brotherhood.” Roshan attempts to motivate Basim, most likely after a failure or conflict with his previous life. Another scene of Basim parkouring through the layered streets of Baghdad before performing another air assassination. The scaffolding and posts throughout are a good indication of the freedom players will have moving through the map. “We are messengers of justice, and not the final judges” Fuladh finishes his story on the heron feathers as Basim extends his hidden blade, ready to kill a man speaking to an audience within what appears to be the House of Wisdom (the Grand Library of Baghdad). Basim rushes a heavy guard and knocks him to the ground, a sprint assassination. Basim and Nehal ride out of the city. Basim is shown here not in his Assassin’s garb, so this could be prior to his initiation, but from the look on her face, this could be during a turning point in the story where Basim must choose who to protect as the Zanj Rebellion begins. A wealthy man backhands street-clothed Basim. The dark lighting in the scene is either a memory or a nightmare as the djinn appears before the main character. Is it trying to scare him, or trying to get the young protagonist to give into his anger? “He knows not what he is. Have you not wondered, that’s your nature?” Will Basim be an anti-hero for this story? Basim releases his Hidden Blade for the first time in a scene with Roshan in the background. This is most likely after his ceremony as his left ring finger has been removed. The trailer song continues as Basim stands in the shadows: “When the lines are blurred and faded” But the final lines of the verse don't play. The next lyrics are “No one ever starts that way | This is how villains are made”. If this isn’t an indication of Basim giving into his anger, his demons, or Loki, I don’t know what is. The trailer ends with the game logo, title card, release date, and marketing to pre-order the Deluxe Edition with the Prince of Persia costume add-on. The game will release on October 12, 2023 and has all of us at The Ones Who Came Before very excited. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Mike Smith is a collector of all things Assassin's Creed and a major supporter of transmedia who joined TOWCB as a writer from 2021 - 2024 With nearly a full library of Assassin's Creed media, his work explored the universe in order of Genetic Memory. Notably, his Assassin's Creed Timeline became an essential tool for fans of the franchise looking to complete their collection and consume AC media in a particular order. Michael Smith

Music Mash-up: The Amazing Spider-Man theme by James Horner & Ezio’s Family by Jesper Kyd Other Share 12 Feb 2022 Written By: Edited By: ActualSpider-Man Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Check out this original mash-up by our partner Actual Spider-Man, who has managed to combine 'The Amazing Spider-Man' theme by James Horner with the iconic 'Ezio’s Family' by Jesper Kyd. Although only a short extract, the piece captures the heart of both franchises, and kicks off our ambitions of releasing more original music later in the year, stemming from our AC Partnership Program. We hope that you enjoy this first piece! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Author of the all-encompassing timeline, Codex Temporis, and the Isu-to-English dictionary, Codex Transferendum, Your Friendly Neighborhood Mentor is here to help unweave the confusing web of AC! ActualSpider-Man

Searching for the Creed: Assassin's Creed Florence Landmarks Other Share 18 Feb 2024 Written By: Edited By: Yasmin Page Colum Blackett Back To Database Banner by Thea Marie Rivedal ( Moonchildgecko ) Florence. The 15th century. The cobbled streets are bustling with merchants selling their wares — wools and silks dyed in bright colours, cheeses and breads, carpentry and armour. Bankers and nobles dressed in the finest velvet pass shops displaying artworks painted in the studios of the masters. Doctors call out their cures, masked in white and smelling of herbs and spices. This world comes alive half a century later in Assassin’s Creed 2. As the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, Florence was a city of economic and cultural development, but hiding behind the mask of wealth and beauty was the political tension and violence of medieval Italy. Through Ezio, players get to interact with key figures (Leonardo da Vinci, Caterina Sforza, and Rodrigo Borgia, to name a few), experience historical events (such as the Pazzi Conspiracy, the Siege of Forlì, and the Bonfire of the Vanities), and explore Florence as it would have been in the 15th century. The Assassin’s Creed series has always done this well; weaving the war of the Assassins and Templars into the game’s chosen time period to create an exciting narrative. History is rich with stories — with intrigue and murder, betrayal and honour — and through the medium of gaming we are able to experience them. It is as close as you can get to time travel. Although some important locations in Assassin’s Creed II don’t exist, such as Leonardo’s Workshop, La Rosa Colta and Palazzo Auditore, many of the locations that players can visit exist in real life. Here are several of the real/modern day versions of those places! Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore/the Duomo The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, known as ‘The Duomo’, is the most famous landmark of Florence. It looms over the city, the gold tip of the dome peaking over rooftops and between buildings, a constant reminder of its presence. Construction on the cathedral was begun at the end of the 13th century. The next hundred years saw it pass between several architects, who enlarged it from the original design and began planning for the dome. There was a problem however: the technology hadn’t yet been invented to build and support a dome of that scale. The city’s leaders decided to hold a competition to find an architect willing to take on the challenge and it was won by Filippo Brunelleschi. Considered an unconventional choice, both in how he was primarily trained as a goldsmith and sculptor instead of an architect, and for his unique suggestions of how to go about the construction, Brunelleschi’s design was nevertheless successful and has since been considered one of the greatest feats of engineering. The dome was finally completed in 1436, 140 years after the cathedral was begun. In Assassin’s Creed II, just like in real life, the cathedral is a central part of Florence’s history and culture, and as such it’s fitting for there to be a story section set here. As Ezio, players have to try to stop the Templar plot to assassinate the Medici brothers. Lorenzo and Giuliano de’ Medici really were attacked during Mass by the Pazzi conspirators, Ezio’s Templar targets in game, who wanted to the Medici family out of power. The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore also holds one of the game’s six Assassin tombs. Ezio has to navigate the scaffolding inside the unfinished cathedral and climb high inside the dome to reach the tomb of Iltani. The Cathedral is free to enter, but visitors can also buy tickets to climb the bell tower, the dome, and visit the the museum and baptistry, starting at €15. Palazzo Vecchio/Piazza della Signoria For Ezio, this is where everything goes wrong. The tower prison cells that historically held people such as Cosimo de’ Medici and Girolamo Savonarola, now trap Giovanni, Federico and Petruccio. In the morning they are executed. It is here, standing in the Piazza della Signoria, that Ezio sees the darkness his city is capable of, and it is here, that he is set on his journey of revenge and justice. Originally called Palazzo della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio was where the governing body of renaissance Florence (the Signoria, or Priori) ruled from. The name was eventually changed to what it is today (“the Old Palace”) when the Medici family who were living there at the time moved their primary residence over the river to Palazzo Pitti. There are a several story points set here. The murder of Ezio’s father and brothers is the most poignant, but Palazzo Vecchio is also where Ezio assassinates Francesco de’ Pazzi, and where part of the ‘Bonfire of the Vanities’ DLC is set. In-game, Francesco de' Pazzi is the only one of the Pazzi conspirators Ezio assassinates in Florence, but historically several of the other conspirators were captured and executed at Palazzo Vecchio alongside him. The rest were hunted down and killed in the years that followed — some were hiding as far away as Constantinople. The old stone building has an imposing presence, towering high over the piazza in front of it. It’s easy to imagine it being a place of power all those centuries ago, a place that inspired fear in those who rose up against the city, and a place that gave hope for change to others. The Palazzo Vecchio museum is €17.50 to visit, plus an additional €12.50 to climb the tower and battlements. Ponte Vecchio Ponte Vecchio is easily another of Florence’s most famous landmarks. So much so that when the German army retreated from the city at the end of the Second World War, it was the only bridge that wasn’t destroyed. This is where players are first introduced to teenage Ezio, as he taunts, then fights, Vieri de’ Pazzi’s gang and gains his signature lip scar. During Ezio’s time Ponte Vecchio would have been lined with butchers and fishmongers, but nowadays the shops crossing the bridge sell jewellery. Another feature of the bridge is the Vasari Corridor, which the Medici family commissioned Giorgio Vasari to build in the mid 1500s. They wanted a way to travel safely between Palazzo Vecchio and Palazzo Pitti without having to ride through the city streets. The resulting passageway stretches one kilometre, crossing Ponte Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery on the way to its destination. Ponte Vecchio is free to visit. Palazzo Medici Riccardi Palazzo Medici was the primary residence of the Medici family in the 15th century until it was bought by the Riccardi family in 1659. The Medici were one of the prominent banking families of renaissance Florence. Their power grew through the success of their bank and their involvement in the city’s politics (after the time period of Assassin’s Creed 2 some of the family members were even elected as Pope, as well as marrying into royalty), until they were the rulers of Florence in all but name. As a result, there were many attempts through the decades to remove them from power. As well as being key figures in Florence’s leadership, the Medici family were passionate patrons of the arts, commissioning works by artists such as Sandro Botticelli, Michelangelo Buonarotti and Leonardo da Vinci. Their support of artists was one of the reasons that Florence flourished as the cultural centre of the Renaissance. There is a Templar side quest set in Palazzo Medici where Ezio has to save Lorenzo from the soldiers who have invaded his home. The quest gives players a glimpse into the interior of the building, including the courtyard, gardens, and several rooms. Nowadays the palace is a museum, displaying some of the many artworks owned by the Medici. Palazzo Medici Riccardi costs €11.50 to visit Basilica of Santa Maria Novella Built in the mid 13th century, the church of Santa Maria Novella is home to sculptures and frescos by some of the most renowned Renaissance artists (such as Sandro Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Filippo Brunelleschi and Giorgio Vasari.) In Assassin’s Creed II it hides one of the Assassin tombs (the tomb of Darius), and is also where Ezio overhears the Templars’ plan to assassinate the Medici in Sequence 4. Tickets cost €7.50. Basilica of Santa Croce Another of Florence’s churches, Santa Croce is the burial place of some of the most famous figures of the renaissance. Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli are all buried here. In the game, this is where Ezio kills his first target: Uberto Alberti, the Gonfaloniere of Florence, Templar, and the man responsible for the murder of his father and brothers. Tickets cost €8. Church of Santa Trinita The church of Santa Trinita is a far smaller church than the others on this list, but no less important. This was the church that featured the opening credits sequence of Assassin’s Creed II, when Federico challenges Ezio to race him up the bell tower. Looking out at the city in front of them, the world at their fingertips, anything feels possible. And for us as players, it is. Santa Trinita is free to visit The Uffizi Gallery Another place that may be of interest is the Uffizi Gallery. Originally it housed artworks from the Medici family’s private collection, including a wide selection of Roman sculptures, and it has since expanded to become one of the most famous art galleries in the world. Nowadays the gallery is home to more than 300,000 artworks, including several by Leonardo da Vinci such as the Annunciation (1472-1476) and Adoration of the Magi (1481). Leonardo’s Annunciation is one of the paintings players can buy for the Auditore Villa in Monteriggioni. Also, the gallery’s courtyard is lined with statues of key figures from the city’s history, several of which Assassin’s Creed fans will recognise — Leonardo da Vinci, Lorenzo de’ Medici, and Niccolò Machiavelli. While the Uffizi Gallery doesn’t feature in the game — it was built almost a century after when Assassin’s Creed 2 is set — it is definitely worth a visit. Tickets are €12, or €18 for combined access to the Boboli Gardens and Palazzo Pitti. Conclusion This is by no means a definitive list of all the Florentine landmarks that are featured in Assassin’s Creed, but these are the most important to Ezio’s story. Fans can walk the streets Ezio walked, steal through the narrow alleyways, climb the towers he scaled (albeit not throw themselves into a conveniently positioned hay bale) and enjoy the stunning views of Florence and the surrounding Tuscan landscape that Ezio scanned from his vantage points. Ubisoft has done a wonderful job of re-creating renaissance Florence, leaving fan’s eager to trace Ezio’s steps. Rich with history, culture and beauty, Florence should be at the top of the list of places to visit for every Assassin’s Creed fan. Sources: Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore: Vasari, Giorgio, and George Anthony Bull. The Lives of the Artists . Penguin, 1971. “ The Duomo. ” Encyclop edia Britannica , https://www.britannica.com/topic/the-Duomo “The Brunelleschi Dome.” Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, https://duomo.firenze.it/en/discover/dome Ponte Vecchio: “Ponte Vecchio.” Visit Florence, https://www.visitflorence.com/florence-monuments/ponte-vecchio.html “The Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) in Florence.” Flanigan, Theresa. Smart History, https://smarthistory.org/ponte-vecchio-florence/ Medici family and Palazzo Medici Riccardi: Hibbert, Christopher. The Rise and Fall of the House of Medici . Penguin, 1979. “ The Palace.” Palazzo Medici Riccardi, https://www.palazzomediciriccardi.it/en/the-palace/ Palazzo Vecchio: “The Palazzo Vecchio Museum and Tower.” Visit Florence, https://www.visitflorence.com/florence-monuments/palazzo-vecchio.html Santa Croce: “Tombs and Memorials.” Santa Croce Opera, https://www.santacroceopera.it/en/themed-tours/tombs-and-memorials/ “Santa Croce.” Encyclopedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Santa-Croce Santa Maria Novella: “Santa Maria Novella & Museum.” Visit Florence, https://www.visitflorence.com/florence-churches/santa-maria-novella.html Other articles in the series: Searching for the Creed: Assassin's Creed London Landmarks Banner by Thea Marie Rivedal ( Moonchildgecko ) comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Yasmin is a Digital Artist based in Melbourne, Australia who discovered the Assassin's Creed series in 2019. Since then she has fallen in love with the franchise and created beautiful realistic digital artworks of several of the main characters. By joining TOWCB, we hope to introduce Yasmin to the AC Community by collaborating on a number of exciting projects such as art releases and podcasts. Yasmin Page

2025 Assassin's Creed Community Fundraiser for Blood Cancer Launched Community Share 8 Jun 2025 Written By: Edited By: TOWCB Team Colum Blackett Back To Database Cancer. Everyone has a story. It affects us all. We are proud to announce that the 2025 Assassin's Creed Community Fundraiser will be raising funds for Blood Cancer Alliance and Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), a collection of charities around the world leading the fight in the battle against Blood Cancer. The Assassin's Creed Community are once again coming together to make a real-world impact for a cause connected to the franchise. Every Assassin's Creed fan knows that the series is deeply connected to DNA, exploring the memories of our ancestors using the Animus Device. Blood holds the key to every adventure. It's the holding cell for memories, and the life force of existence. There are around 240,000 people living with blood cancer in the UK. Together, blood cancers are the fifth most common type of adult cancer, the most common cancer amongst children and the third most fatal cancer. Your support will ensure that those fighting leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and all types of blood cancer are able to live longer, better lives. In particular, your financial support will fund lifesaving research that will be used to improve diagnosis, treatment and care. Beating Cancer is in our blood. We are Assassins. GoFundMe Our Partners AC United Kingdom All-Father Media AndyReloads Cadaea G Assassin HangryHiggs Ironside George Ropotopolous The Hidden One The Podyssey Podcast Team: ExileAC & WillisMakesMovies Ubisoft We would like to say a huge thank you to all of our partners for supporting the 2025 Assassin's Creed Community Fundraiser! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author A collection of articles from The Ones Who Came Before team. TOWCB Team

Rally The Creed Episode #3 Released Marketing for Assassin's Creed Mirage, Virtual Photography & AC Netflix Podcast Share 4 Jun 2023 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database We are pleased to release episode #3 of Rally the Creed podcast, covering Marketing for Assassin's Creed Mirage, Virtual Photography and Assassin's Creed Netflix. Note this episode is recorded before the recent announcement of AC Mirage's release date. In episode #3 , guest host Jack from ThePhotoMode E-Magazine joins TOWCB Team members Lisa Zaman (Portrait Artist) and Aaron Young (Writer) to discuss all things in AC. Note: This episode was recorded before the recent announcement of AC Mirage's release date. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

Assassin's Creed Shadows Year 1 Post-Launch Roadmap Full Breakdown News Share 30 Apr 2025 Written By: Edited By: Zephryss Colum Blackett Back To Database Ubisoft has finally unveiled an extensive post-launch roadmap for Assassin's Creed Shadows, aiming to enrich the player experience with lots of free content updates, gameplay enhancements, and a major expansion. Here's a full overview of what's on the horizon for the game: 1. Claws of Awaji Expansion The first DLC for Assassin's Creed Shadows is scheduled for release later in 2025, this expansion continues the journey of Naoe and Yasuke on the island of Awaji, a brand-new region for players to explore which continues Naoe and Yasuke's story right after the end of Shadows' epilogue. There will be new enemies, abilities, and the introduction of a new weapon called Bo staff for Naoe. Those who pre-ordered the game will receive this expansion at no additional cost. 2. Story Drops Ubisoft plans to roll out multiple free quests for Assassin's Creed Shadows named "Story Drops," which will delve deeper into character backstories and introduce new abilities, new allies and new world activities. The first quest titled “The Works of Luis Frois”, is set to launch in early May, offering players a deeper look at the titular historical Jesuit scholar who's work about the Sengoku period of Japan endures to this day. Images via Ubisoft 3. Parkour Enhancements Responding to community feedback, the game will receive updates to its parkour mechanics. In the first update coming later in May Ubisoft will add most requested height-gaining back-ejects, fully re-animated height-gaining side-ejects, and a brand-new parkour move called the Vertical Ledge Jump, allowing both characters to jump and grab onto awnings and lower overhangs. 4. Photo Mode Upgrades The Photo Mode will also be expanded with additional filters, stickers, character poses, facial expressions, and ambient music, allowing players to better capture and share their in-game moments in feudal Japan. 5. Community Feedback Community feedback has been a core focus of Ubisoft throughout development of Assassin's Creed Shadows and there are more to come. The second Community Feedback Update in June, which will allow players to toggle the headgear on during dialogues and cutscenes, as well as customize their immersion further. Players will be free to disable individual visual effects such as weapon glints during combat, black-and-white (and red) ability filters, target assassination celebration effects, and disabling stealth outlines when the character is vanished. The Alarm System will also be expanded and are bringing it to the Open-World to give players even more challenges! 6. Future Updates Ubisoft has also revealed that the future updates of Assassin's Creed Shadows will bring more free Animus Hub content, a pretty fleshed-out New Game + mode, which will also raise the level cap, and for those players looking for a challenge, developers are hard at work on an even tougher difficulty setting for both combat and stealth. We can't wait to see what's next for Assassin's Creed Shadows. Stay tuned here at The Ones Who Came Before for all things Assassin's Creed. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Zephryss is a passionate social media manager based in India who joined TOWCB's Social Media Team in Summer 2024 to help the team prepare for coverage of Assassin's Creed Shadows news and updates. Recently, he completed his Masters degree in Electrical Engineering and is now preparing to take on a PhD. He loves video games very much, and since childhood has enjoyed playing various types of games in different genres He also has 3 gaming channels (Zephryss, Assassin Zephryss & Spider Zephryss) where he uploads gameplay videos regularly. Zephryss

Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 19th to 13th June Share 25 Jun 2025 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Turið Torkilsdóttir Back To Database Welcome to the monthly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from the AC Partnership Program. Every four weeks we will be picking our top five favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. This theme has been run alongside @ itsphysicsjim a longstanding member of the virtual photography community. Sammie is a YouTuber and Twitcher but also likes to post VP, most recently from Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Sammie really enjoys Japanese culture and has produced great photography in Ghost of Tsushima. We are delighted she agreed to join us for this theme. Keep an eye on the site as more shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to #ACFirstCivVP for a chance to be featured. Theme: Weapons The Hidden Blade Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ cyriellevp.bsky.social The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Theme Judge: @ itsphysicsjim Sammie I love this particular shot by Cyrielle for several reasons. The black and white emphasises the sleek design of the hidden blade and the intricate details of the gauntlet. This gives it a timeless and artistic feel. The upward angle and minimalist background also draws all the attention to the subject. This makes the photo feel powerful, iconic and instantly recognisable. Aaron In the last few weeks, I have actually thought about Assassin’s Creed Mirage and how the game had much more of an impact on me than Shadows. The focused Assassin story probably played a huge part, and the fact you are largely based in a city. When looking at this beautiful capture from Cyrielle I was instantly transported back to the game. I adore the minimalist approach; it really pays off when attempting to highlight specific weapons in virtual photography. Capturing this moment in game is a stroke of genius and takes more effort than you might think. The white background and the position of the hand are so reminiscent of the original Assassin’s Creed. Fantastic photography Cyrielle, a worthy winner of the theme. Weapon of the Gods Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ wondernoob.bsky.social It’s got to be said that Assassin’s Creed Odyssey has some very cool looking weapons. None more so than the spear of Leonidas. The decision to use this as the ‘hidden blade’ of Kassandra’s story worked a treat. Here we can see the blade in all it glory, beautifully highlighted on Kassandra’s back. The ornate design makes it standout despite being attached to her quiver. Wondernoob has done an excellent job of showcasing this piece of weaponry through a smart use of the depth of field and some top-notch lighting. The black background really helps to elevate the image and further focus our attention on the subject. Ready to Duel Game: Assassin’s Creed Shadows VP Artist: @ G_Assassin90 I think most of the Assassin’s Creed fan base has waited a long time to finally explore the world of Japan. It’s probably beneficial that we finally get it during the RPG reign, where we can explore to our hearts content. One of the key features on the time period is beautifully designed weapons and armour. There is a stylish efficiency to the Japanese culture, and you can see that in this capture from G_Assassin. I thought it was very smart to capture this in the snowy season as the background helps to elevate the details. I think this photo wonderfully shows off the hard work the developers put into creating all the little details from the various markings on the katana to the flower designs on the armour. This shot really meets the theme and arguably shows why we love the Japanese setting so much. Perspective Game: Assassin’s Creed Shadows VP Artist: @ TakaSanGames Assassin’s Creed Shadows features quite a few new weapons to the franchise, and they all come with new takedown animations that can lend themselves to great captures. Couple that with the implementation of character poses and you have the receipt for some very intriguing captures. Taka is often known for creating stylish compositions and that once again become the case with this shot. It is such an eye catcher with the chain exquisitely framing Naoe’s head as she swings the kusarigama. As the viewer it really feels like the metal ball is about to hit me in the face. It’s the striking nature of this photo that really stands out to me and Taka has very kindly created a mini video showing us how to do it. Stay Your Blade Game: Assassin’s Creed Shadows VP Artist: @ framecapturevp.bsky.social The filters that were added to Assassin’s Creed Shadows really give the photographer additional opportunities to create unique and interesting captures. It has been refreshing to see Ubisoft add to the photo mode with quality-of-life upgrades. I think Mario has truly captured the essence of the Creed with this ink silhouette of Naoe’s hidden blade. The filter does the work of making this feel as if it has been drawn. The composition then adds to the photo by perfectly showcasing the released blade right after an assassination. I do love the splash of colour from the blood falling from the blade. The silhouette nicely highlights the intricate details of the hidden blade culminating in a classic piece of virtual photography. And that sums it up for this Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out the photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next time keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

Community Member Eric Allen joins TOWCB Social Media Team News Share 9 Feb 2024 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Colum Blackett Back To Database We are thrilled to announce that community member Eric Allen (@ Milz_VP ) is joining TOWCB // @ Isu_Network Social Media Team! Professionally, Eric has managed social media platforms in a number of fields such as fashion, trucking and more, working alongside 300+ brands. In 2024, Eric will help TOWCB establish a clear identity for @ Isu_Network , and create consistent social media content that is both engaging and memorable. Eric is also well known for his Virtual Photography shots, so you can be sure that showcasing community captures and projects will be a key focus going forward. Behind the scenes, planning has already begun, and a ton of ideas for 2024 content have already been generated. We are confident that this latest addition will strengthen our content and take our coordination methods and planning to the next level. Look out for Eric's content on our social media channels! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

Assassin's Creed Mirage Roshan Cosplay Project by Rick Boer's Fantasy Productions Community Share 22 Jun 2023 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Here are some photos from the Roshan Cosplay Project currently being created by the team over at RBF-productions-NL ( Rick Boer's Fantasy Productions), a company dedicated to delivering high-quality custom-made props and costumes. Although Assassin's Creed Mirage has not yet been released, we can't wait to learn more about the former-slave turned Hidden One we first met in Assassin's Creed Valhalla. The Assassin's Creed Mirage reveal trailer made it clear that Basim's Mentor, voiced by the wonderful Shohreh Aghdashloo would be a hit within the community, and it's been great to see this project come to life through regular social media posts. Back in September, we rounded up images for the Basim Ibn Ishaq cosplay project, which you can find here. We will be updating this page as the team over at RBF-productions-NL release more images. Links to their social media channels can be found below. Original release: 8th May 2023 Updated with new photos 22nd June 2023. Website | Instagram | DeviantArt comments debug Comments (1) Write a comment Write a comment Sort by: Newest Guest Oct 15, 2023 Merci Colum, from France Like Reply About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 5th to 11th June Community Share 15 Jun 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week I will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. This week’s theme: Vikings Set Sail Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Cll3ar “I joke about many things, son of Ragnar, but never about shipbuilding” A fitting quote for a spectacular shot of Eivor’s longship cutting through the waves. I applaud the use of the longship in Valhalla as it lets you feel part of something rather than working solo. The details here on the shields are impeccable and the reflection on the water delightful. What I love the most are the splashes of water, which are a nice touch to make you feel at one with the waves. Blodwulf Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ NIKOOO_WOLF “Men do not relish the shield wall. They do not rush to deaths embrace” I was so disappointed not to be in a proper shield wall in Valhalla. That being said, the shields were great fun to use. I really like this particular one as it’s given to you by Soma. This capture epitomises the theme and Eivor’s stance and facial expression make him look ready for battle. The colours here are on point, with Eivor’s outfit really standing out. The fog in the background adds that ominous feel. I would not want to be a Saxon. The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week: Judge: @ TuridTorkil ''This is exactly what comes to my mind when I hear the phrase Vikings. A light haired warrior with an axe and shield, ready to fight. I like the foggy background, the silhouettes of the trees and the longship, not to mention Eivor’s grim expression. A true Drengr emerging from the water to face whatever challenges await him.'' Valkyrie Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Majdulf47 “Valkyries! Odin must’ve sent them!” Eivor riding Alsvinder absolutely oozes Valkyrie vibes. Especially when jumping mid-air with the wings spread out. I really like how the background makes you feel like this is a flying shot. Excellent use of light too as it highlights Eivor’s tattoos, adding a real Norse feel. Who would dare stand in her way? Varin’s Axe Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ artschoolglases “Blow the horns! Beat the drums and have courage, for there will be no turning back. Only victory! Or death! Whenever Eivor is dressed as a berserker she means business. This is one mightily fierce shot of her as she prepares for battle. How can you not like that eye catching bear draped across her head, along with that ferocious look on her face? I adore the lighting of this capture and how it highlights certain details to perfection. The shadow work also adds some powerful vibes, making it seem like Eivor has appeared from the darkness. The star of the shot though is Varin’s axe and how the details just pop, excellent virtual photography. The All Father Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ GamingPhotos15 “You are the Wolf Kissed one, who lingered at the edge of death, yet fought back.” This is a phenomenal capture that really encapsulates the essence of Odin. Havi wears his name sake outfit with such grace. Once again the darkness has been used to great effect, allowing Havi to appear from nowhere. I love how the light bounces off the metal amplifying the details. This shot instantly takes me back to the great scenes between Eivor and The High One. And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

Assassin's Creed Hideouts Across the Franchise & How it Led to Shadows' New Construction System. Analysis Share 2 Feb 2025 Written By: Edited By: UbiCypher (Joe) Colum Blackett Back To Database Shadows "just being an improvement" on previous Assassin's Creed settlements would be a huge understatement. Assassin's Creed promotional image featuring all protagonists across the franchise. Previous games offered different types of settlement and trade systems refined in each iteration. Some might have forgotten about it, but Assassin's Creed giving us a hideout you have to take care of, or a city to renovate with the income from shops you rebuild is no stranger to the franchise. In fact, Assassin's Creed 1, Origins and Mirage are the only games in the whole franchise that did not include a base for the player to customize and upgrade from which you can see the evolution of your actions impacting directly on the world and NPC's or a city to renovate in order to thwart enemy influence. Assassin's Creed II marked the start of the trend with Monteriggioni following the same formula for the entirety of the Ezio Trilogy swapping a villa for cities and shops that end up turning you into a medieval real estate magnate. Assassin's Creed III took it to the next level introducing a trading system that, albeit half-baked and really confusing with tons of different menus and unnecessary stuff on-screen, you had access to the Homestead in the American colonial wilderness, so, hideout management with NPC's tied to the story and offering diverse skills aiding in the expansion of your trade influence and an all-new trading system never seen before. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag stripped the hideout from its fixed anchor point; Land , moving it on board of your ship, The Jackdaw , essentially becoming your moving hideout, highly customizable and with tons of upgrades, an access to an improved trade system in which you earn money by completing contracts sending your ships through the Kenway Fleet obtaining rewards and resources along the way. Assassin's Creed III: Liberation readapted the Kenway Fleet structure and turned it into a plain out trading simulator as it was originally designed for the PSPVita lacking the classic naval system iconic to the American Saga even after it had a proper console port. Assassin's Creed: Rogue morphed the Kenway Fleet concept into Shay Cormac's fleet aboard The Morrigan. Assassin's Creed: Unity introduced us to the Café-Théâtre and while anachronistic in nature, it is home not only to Arno Dorian and his Assassin peers but also very fond memories we all developed in those fancy halls while taking in the view from the balcony, again, being able to upgrade and renovate it for ourselves. Assassin's Creed: Syndicate changed the concept yet again, now giving us a repurposed train nicknamed Bertha , constantly on the move around London serving as our moving headquarters and on-the-move fast travel point. Assassin's Creed: Odyssey reused the concept of having a ship set as our moving headquarters, The Adrestia , since the world was mainly composed of huge bodies of water, logically due to the Greek setting, however it wasn't much of a settlement per se and it was drastically toned down in comparison to the ships steered by other protagonists in the past, but it was put in there nonetheless. Assassin's Creed: Valhalla came in hot with an interesting settlement system inspired in the Viking occupation, now allowing us to use resources not only to upgrade but to build structures with direct impact on our gameplay providing buffs and boosters for Eivor to use while in the field. However, albeit a fun concept on paper, Ravensthorpe felt a bit soulless, sure you get to familiarize with the NPC's, then there's Sigurd endlessly walking around in circles and going to bed, but that's pretty much it. Assassin's Creed: Shadows completely overhauled how you can build your base. So, after a brief recapitulation, we can see that Assassin's Creed is not alien to the concept of having our own base, but what Shadows is bringing on the table is something completely different and, should I say, unexpected! I never thought I'll get to use my Minecraft skills in Assassin's Creed but hey, I am not going to complain. Let's dive right in! BUILDINGS: Building Asset Similarly to Valhalla, the new hideout will come with several buildings granting us different stats and passive augmentations for our characters; The Hiroma; Essentially your operations center where most decisions are made, rooms to be built are reviewed and goods storage is accounted for. Hiroma Icon The Dojo; The training grounds of your recruits from your League, allowing them to rank up becoming stronger for future incursions in which you might need to call for help. Dojo Icon Study; The place where your League will gather all the information about the local activities and topography, upgrading this building will increment our number of Scouts and expand their network across the Kansai Region. Study Icon Forge; As the name implies, the place where Naoe and Yasuke will upgrade or dismantle their gear, unlocking new variations of their weapons and outfits as well as to apply engravings to further enhance the power of their gear. Forge Icon Horse Stables; Different breeds of equestrian transport can be unlocked throughout Japan, here you'll see them taken care of and trained ready to take out for a ride after choosing your favorite mount. Horse Stables Icon Scout Barracks; The gathering hall of your network of spies composing the League, upgrading it will further enhance their efficiency on the field. Scout Barracks (League) Icon RESOURCES: Resource Upgrade Cost Resources are fundamental for the development of your Hideout, compared to Valhalla and Odyssey it seems that upgrades and building costs are less inflated or easier to get a hold on. A stockpile of various resources used for crafting The resources required for the betterment of your community are the following: Wara (Rice Straw) or Shuro (Palm Tree Fibers); Used mainly for Insulation and reinforcement of roofing and thatching. For the most rural areas and poorer demographics, used to build walls if mixed with mud or lime in a water mixture. Genbukan (Basalt) or Shizen-Seki (Fieldstones); Basalt mainly used as paving stones, bridge foundations and castle fortifications, could also be applied to smaller villas or mansions with decorated exteriors and large gardens meant for privacy. While the fieldstones composed most of housing foundations , walls, pathways between houses and villages it also was compressed and crushed into gravel for decorations and landscaping. Sugi (Japanese Cedar), Matsu (Japanese Pine), Keyaki (Japanese Elm), Take (Bamboo) and Hinoki (Japanese Cypress); Depending on the type of wood, Keyaki and Hinoki being the most expensive woods due to their higher quality and veteran craftmanship involved in its manipulation, the majority of the houses and layouts were made mostly out of cheap wood , often combining different types of wood in a single house depending on where you look, furniture, roofing, walls, etc. Matsu, Sugi and Take being most commonly used among the populace and farmers, especially Bamboo due to its rapid growth and multi-purpose applications. A stockpile of resources used for crafting Golden and Copper Coins as currency; Ōban (Gold unit) used across the country in the higher spheres though rare among commoners, that instead used copper coins (Eiraku Tsūhō) inspired by the Ming Dynasty Chinese Coins that have been massively exported to Japan between the 13th and 16th Century via the Chinese and Portuguese, prompting local Daimyos and Lords to print their own currencies in copper for daily purchases using the same model of an easily transported coin with a hole in the center, in which a small rope or lace could be tied or fastened onto a belt or pouch. Silver ingots were also used among merchants for bulk payments, often cut in smaller pieces if needed. This would leave us with three payment methods during 16th Century Japan: Gold for large trade (Elite). Silver for regional trade (Merchants). Copper for everyday purchases (Common folk). In-game currency DISPLACEMENT GRID: Display grid in effect This is where Shadows breaks the mold, honestly, I wasn't expecting this feature to turn into a building simulator, the complexity and effort put into it is deeply appreciated. The Grid will basically be our guide aiming for a precise placement of our structures and decorations, ranging from statues, altars, small shrines and Temples. This way, each Hideout will be totally different for each player, having total freedom in how and what to place inside the buildings and its surroundings. Really ambitious for an Assassin's Creed game. When you click on a building you just placed you're immediately greeted with a menu that allows you to choose between three options ; Upgrade Building. Move Building. Customize Building. Building Options Menu pop-up The Customization option is what matters to us in this case as it really offers a wide variety of things to meddle with; Roofs. Roofs Customisation Walls. Walls Customization Apply Skins from Packs. Building Asset Stations (Armor Stands, Shelves, Weapon Racks etc). Stations Customization Station Sets as in your saved stations to be replicated elsewhere. Shelf Customisation Place animals ranging from dogs and cats to cattle including deer and pigs. Different types of animal Gallery: Builder Mode Overview Decoration Garden Overview Pavement Customisation Naoe's Outfit on Armor Stand Station Yasuke's Outfit on Armor Stand Station All in all, this is one of the features that has me intrigued about its potential for cool base building competitions, specially amongst the VP community which surely will have a blast with this and the whole game as a whole, playing with the new mechanics that allow Naoe to adopt much more dramatic postures in terms of scene composition for Virtual Photography. Article also available on X via Isu_Network comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author UbiCypher (Joe) is an Assassin's Creed Transmedia expert who worked as the Lead Admin for the Isu_Network social media team, providing consistent social media content in the form of Assassin's Creed lore trivia, puzzles and news coverage, spending countless hours researching the series and real history. In 2025, he stepped back from his social media duties to pursue other opportunities. UbiCypher (Joe)

Wales Comic Con Homecoming (2022) Photo Gallery Events Share 7 Sept 2022 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Here are our photos from the Wales Comic Con Homecoming event which took place in Wrexham on the 21st August 2022. We met up with Kim and Mikey from Assassin's Creed United Kingdom, ate Haribos with Matt Ryan (Edward Kenway), and talked everything Assassin's Creed with Insomnia 2022 panel judge Tabitha Lyons! The event was a ton of fun, and we look forward to attending more smaller events like this in the future. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

Children of Danu: A History Breakdown Share 14 Apr 2021 Written By: Edited By: Lauren Harris Ashlea Buckley Back To Database We are moving ever closer to the release of Assassin Creed Valhalla’s first story expansion DLC, Wrath of the Druids, which is due to release on the 13th May. The new content will see Eivor travel to Ireland where she will forge alliances with Gaelic Kings and battle a druidic cult known as the Children of Danu. But who were the Children of Danu and how might they factor into this new piece of the Valhalla story? Wrath of the Druids is the first downloadable content expansion for Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and is set to launch May 13th 2021. Danu is a goddess in Irish mythology – though she is a bit different to what we may assume when we think of mythological gods. Danu is a hypothetical god and functions as a mother goddess of the Tuatha Dé Danann, which translates roughly as “the people of the goddess Danu”. We can assume that the Tuatha Dé Danann are the cult Eivor will be fighting, or at the very least it will be worshippers of the Tuatha. Interestingly, there are no surviving myths or legends associated with Danu in the medieval Irish texts, though Danu is sometimes assumed to be an alternative name for Anu who is another Irish goddess. It is possible that Danu was inspired by Dôn from Welsh mythology, who was a mother goddess in the Mabinogion. It is also possible that Danu is actually Danand, daughter of Delbáeth and mother of Brian, Iuchar, and Iucharba, though this is disputed. According to some interpretations of the myth, Danu had a relationship with a sacred oak tree which grew two giant acorns. The acorns fell to the ground and out came The Dagda and Brigid, who would later become important figures within the Tuatha Dé Danann. Another interpretation is that Danu is actually the Greek goddess of the sea, Eurynome. Eurynome was once known as Danae or Dana, which could suggest a connection between her and Danu. Eurynome is usually represented as a mermaid with bright red lips, piercing blue eyes, pale skin, and long blonde hair. It is also theorised that Danu may represent the Danube River, further connecting her to water. The Tuatha Dé Danann were a pantheon who have appeared throughout Celtic mythology in various forms. They were a supernatural race rather than a cult in Irish mythology, which could suggest that Eivor will meet human followers of the race rather than the race themselves due to Assassin’s Creed generally not including supernatural phenomena. According to legend, the Tuatha Dé Danann live in the realm of the deities known in Celtic mythology as the Otherworld. In other legends, it has been known as Annwn, Avalon, and Tír na nÓg. Despite living in the Otherworld, the Tuath Dé often visit the human world and interact with humans. Their rivals were the Fomorians, who the Tuath Dé defeated in the legendary Battle of Mag Tuired. Over the years, the legend surrounding the Tuath Dé has evolved and been altered by those who have interpreted it. The pantheon have been regarded as ancient kings and queens with supernatural abilities, as fallen angels, or even as gods themselves. Eventually, the Tuatha Dé Danann came to be known as the aes sídhe in Irish and Scottish mythology. The Tuath Dé are generally associated with nature and each member is connected to one aspect of life or nature. Some of the more well known members of the Tuatha Dé Danann pantheon include The Dagda, god of fertility, agriculture, strength, magic, Druidry and wisdom; The Morrigan, a crow who was associated with war, fa te, death and doom; Manannán, god of the sea; and Brigid, goddess of wisdom, healing, protection and animals. Concept art for Ireland coming from the Assassin's Creed Valhalla Season Pass Trailer. Legend tells that the Tuatha Dé Danann hailed from four cities in Ireland’s north: Falias, Gorias, Murias. and Finias. The Tuath Dé taught their skills in sciences, the arts, architecture, magic and necromancy to the humans in Ireland. According to Lebor Gabála Érenn, the Tuath Dé arrives in Ireland “in dark clouds” and “brought a darkness over the sun for three days and three nights” before burning the ships they sailed in on. According to the Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland, the Tuatha Dé Danann arrived in the country in 1897 BC. They almost immediately became caught up in a battle with the previous settlers, the Fir Bolg. The Tuath Dé overthrew the Fir Bolg but their king, Nuada, lost his arm in the battle and could not continue to rule. He was replaced by Bres who was a tyrant. Dian Cecht managed to replace Nuada’s arm with a prosthetic. Dian Cecht’s son Miach used a spell to force flesh to cover the prosthetic and essentially give Nuada his arm back, but Dian Cecht was furious at being upstaged and murdered his son. Nuada became king again, but this enraged Bres who ended up bring the Fomorians to battle the Tuath Dé. In the Second Battle of Magh Tuireadh, Nuada was killed and Lugh took over as king. It is said that a third battle occurred, this time between the Tuath Dé and the Milesians. The Milesians met three Tuatha Dé Danann goddesses Ériu, Banba and Fodla, and their husbands Mac Cuill, Mac Cecht and Mac Gréine. The three husbands were kings at the time and called a truce between the two groups – however the Tuath Dé broke the peace by creating a magical storm. In the end, the Milesian Amergin was called on to split the land between the two peoples. He gave the land above ground to the Milesians and sent the Tuatha Dé Danann to live underground in the Sidhe mounds, thus ending their reign in Ireland. One of the most interesting pieces of the Tuatha Dé Danann legend is the Four Treasures. According to the myth, the Tuatha Dé Danann brought four magical treasures to Ireland, one from each of their home cities. These treasures were a cauldron, a spear, a stone, and a sword. Is it possible that we will see these treasures in Wrath of the Druids? After all, each treasure sounds like the perfect basis for a Piece of Eden. The treasure from the city of Falias was the Stone of Fal. The stone itself is real and still stands in Ireland today. It is now known as the Lia Fáil, meaning Stone of Destiny, or as the Speaking Stone. It can be found on the Hill of Tara in County Meath. The Lia Fáil was said to have supernatural powers. Legend states that the stone would “roar” when the rightful High King of Ireland put his feet on it. It was also said to have the power to rejuvenate the king and bless him with a long reign. According to Lebor Gabála Érenn, the stone can no longer do this due to being split by Cú Chulainn, the Irish demigod and Lugh’s son. The stone also provides the origin of the name Inis Fáil, an ancient name for Ireland. Journey to Ireland and unravel the mysteries of an ancient druidic cult. Fight your way through haunted forests and dazzling landscapes while gaining influence among Gaelic kings. The second treasure was the Spear of Lugh from the city of Gorias. The story of the spear has been told several ways, but generally it involves Lugh demanding the spear which belonged to the King of Persia. The spear was said to be impossible to overcome and would answer to spells. One of these spells was “Ibar” which caused the spear to always hit its mark, and another was “Athibar” which caused the spear to return to its owner. Some writers have also suggested that the spear was alive and thirsted for blood and only a pile of fresh poppy leaves could prevent it from killing everyone around. It also may have been able to shoot flames or even lightning. It is starting to sound like a Piece of Eden we have seen before. The treasure from Findias was the Sword of Light and it belonged to Nuada, the king. Much like the Holy Grail in Arthurian legend, the Sword of Light frequently appears as a quest object in Irish and Scottish mythology. It is thought that the Sword of Light and Cú Chulainn’s sword Cruaidín Catutchenn may be one and the same. The sword is also described as a “fiery and bright lightning weapon” which could emit sparks. The final treasure is the Cauldron of the Dagda which came from the city of Muirias. The Dagda could control life and death, the weather and crops, as well as time and the seasons. He was skilled in magic and Druidry which may explain his connection to the cauldron. The cauldron was known as the coire ansic and was said to be bottomless and left no man unsatisfied. It was also said to have a ladle so big that two people could fit in it. According to the Annals, at least ten members of the Tuatha Dé Danann were High Kings of Ireland at one point. These were Nuada, Bres, Lugh, Eochaid Ollathair, Delbáeth, Fiacha, Mac Cuill, Mac Cecht and Mac Gréine. However, as all of these kings reigned before the Common Era, it is unlikely we will see them in Wrath of the Druids. All that said, what can we expect to see in Wrath of the Druids? As many scholars of Irish mythology have pointed out, Danu is essentially a blank slate. With no concrete myth or legend surrounding her, any writer is free to do what they wish with the goddess. As such, the writers of the DLC really do have the freedom to interpret Danu and her influence on Ireland however they like. As for the cult itself, that is harder to anticipate. It is unlikely that the cult will be the Tuatha Dé Danann themselves. Instead, it will probably be a cult who either believe themselves to be the Tuath Dé or who worship them. What kind of fight will they put up? They are druids who follow a supernatural race, so it is likely they will be using potions and mysticism in their battles. What is perhaps most interesting is whether the Four Treasures will appear? Considering how important Pieces of Eden are to the Assassin’s Creed mythos, and how many fantastic weapons appeared in the main story of Valhalla, it would be very disappointing to not see at least some of the treasures in the DLC. Who wouldn’t love to fight using the Sword of Light or the Spear of Lugh? Or to visit the Stone of Destiny or drink from Dadga’s bottomless cauldron? In any case, focussing the DLC on the Children of Danu seems like the perfect move after a game full of cursed objects, hallucinogenic mushrooms, and potions which take you to Asgard. If you enjoyed the more mystical elements of Valhalla, it seems like Wrath of the Druids will be right up your street. Could the DLC introduce Pieces to Eden to Assassin's Creed Valhalla? comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Lauren is a online article writer who joined the program in 2019, which allowed for her work to be viewed by a larger audience. She is especially interested in Assassin's Creed lore, and wrote a number of thought provoking articles which you can find here in the Community HUB. Lauren left the program in 2021 shortly after the 'Assassin's Creed Infinity' announcement, which understandably left many fans feeling uneasy. We wish her the best of luck with her future projects. Lauren Harris