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  • Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 6th to 17th January | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 6th to 17th January Community Share 30 Jan 2025 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Renzo Back To Database Welcome to the biweekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from the AC Partnership Program. Every two weeks we 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. This theme has been run alongside @ saskiaemmischVP the winner of our VP competition in 2024. Saskia has been around for some time now and has such a distinctive photography style. You can often find her beautiful minimal or moody shots throughout various games on social media. Saskia has recently joined @ ArtistofSociety where she will be supporting virtual photographers and building a community. You can feel the passion Saskia has for VP and we are delighted she has joined 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. Banner by Turið Torkilsdóttir Theme: Assassin’s Creed Moody Cold Desert Nights Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ wingsforsmiles The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: Saskia Saskia I love the dark and moody atmosphere in this shot. Combined with the fog it envelops the silhouettes of the rider and the trees. I also find the shot to have minimalist inspiration, which is a very nice addition. This adds to the overall clarity of the picture. Aaron Moody isn’t really something that springs to mind when capturing Assassin’s Creed Mirage. The sun-drenched, golden city of Baghdad is full of corruption but remains one of the most beautiful locations we have visited in the series. I have to applaud wingsforsmiles for producing a shot that effortlessly fits the theme. This exquisite silhouette of Basim atop his camel is situated so smartly amongst the trees. I love the use of deep blacks and lighter blues, coupled with the fog to give that mysterious feel. There is such a seriousness to this shot, and Basim remaining in the shadows suits his story arc perfectly. The Golden Archer Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ Defalt368 It's nice to see some Assassin’s Creed Origins return to these articles. Once again, it’s not the first game I would think of for a moody shot, but Bayek epitomises the moody hero. Josh has nailed the framing in this capture. The sun encased elegantly between the arrow, string and riser, but also surrounded by the clouds in the sky. I like how Bayek is a silhouette and having him pose with a bow fits with his skills as an archer. It would have been easy to make this a black and white photo but keeping the strong orange glow reminds the viewer that we are in the hot deserts of Egypt. Wandering Viking Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ BetweenDPixels The essence of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is two siblings wanting to step out from their father’s shadow and forge their own path in England. Although at times this can be lost in the pure scale of the game, it’s humble beginnings always live on throughout the story. This shot instantly wows you with that sun lighting up the clouds providing the photo with a tantalising glow. There is a balance of colours here that match the English countryside, and despite the dull moody tone they serve to add some warmth to the shot. For me this capture symbolises the journey Eivor has experienced. I really like how she is strolling off into the unknown with new horizons in front of her. The Wheat Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ cyriellevp.bsky.social Assassin’s Creed Odyssey often has some really unique moods that are linked to the varying landscapes the game has to offer. This is a real treat for us virtual photographers. You can see in the shot above that Cyrielle has managed to capture the beauty Odyssey has to offer. There is a nice moody ambiance to this photo with the ominous sign of birds flying away. The dark cloud entering from the left adds a dull tone and there is that nice haze in the sky. I like how the camera is situated giving height to the shot. Being amongst the reeds obviously brings the Gladiator feel and that sad mood that you experience at that point of the film. The Odyssey Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ wondernoob.bsky.social Just before the launch of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Ubisoft released promotional shots of the game showcasing the jaw dropping scenery and Kassandra exploring the Greek world. This capture reminds me of them but instead of bright colourful landscapes, here we have the moody and shadowy version. It's nice to see this darker side to Odyssey, the game actually has quite a few harrowing moments. I am enjoying the lower textures and how they amplify the fog to shroud the photo in mystery. The tree looks so realistic, and I like how Kassandra is walking towards the forest evidently in search of her next victim. 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

  • Darby McDevitt announces return to Ubisoft

    Ubisoft have just released the World Premiere trailer for Assassin's Creed marking the dawn of a new era of the series Community The Assassin's Creed Community are raising money for Ocean Conservancy. Donate today Analysis Cracking the Isu Code: Part 3 Save 10% on officially licensed Assassin's Creed Origins merchandise with the code "TOWCB" Top Stories 16/12/21 By Preston Carbonaro Edited by Ashlea Blackett Share Assassin's Creed fans are working hard to crack messages written in the secret language of the highly advanced precursor race known as the Isu, and in the process, decode multiple hidden messages We here at TOWCB have joined the community efforts to try our hands at decoding these messages which are scattered around throughout the game; in Standing Stone puzzles, on Layla’s laptop, and even promotional content. We sincerely hope that none of you experience the Bleeding Effect during the decoding process … Interview with Magnus Bruun - Eivor Assassins' Creed Valhalla Merchandise Guide Q&A with Abubakar Salim - Bayek of Siwa TOWCB Plans for 2021 Netflix announce upcoming live-action Assassin's Creed series Female Vikings: The Real History Building an Assassin's Creed Community: Getting Started Mentors Guild Announcement Interview with Benoit Richer: Valhalla Co-Dev Game Director Interview with Eric Baptizat: AC Valhalla Game Director Interview with Jordan Van Andel (JorRaptor) Colours in Assassin's Creed: A Short Review 6 ways to stay entertained in the Assassin's Creed Community during isolation Interview with Carlos Ferro - Da Vinci 5 ways you can support TOWCB Interview with Jesper Kyd Col is the Community Admin for The Ones Who Came Before, and one of the Community Builders for The Mentors Guild. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player, and has spent the last 7 years working within the Assassin's Creed community on countless projects. Twitter About the Author Preston Carbonaro Article contains ads that support TOWCB. Top Stories Decoding Brendan of Clonfert’s passage on the Isle of Skye (AC Valhalla)

  • The Future of Assassin's Creed: Ubisoft Forward 2022 News Recap | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    The Future of Assassin's Creed: Ubisoft Forward 2022 News Recap News Share 11 Sept 2022 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Welcome to our Ubisoft Forward Assassin's Creed Showcase news recap, breaking down all of the key moments from the event. This article was assembled using The Ones Who Came Before social media coverage and notes from the early access press event which we attended earlier in the week, and will be continuously updated as more information becomes available. Introduction The Assassin's Creed showcase kicked off with a beautiful trip down memory lane. Immediately, fans were treated to a nostalgia filled recreation showing all of the Assassins in gold, immortalised as statues. This poignant coming together of the brand is exciting to see, as it technically breaks timelines, but shows that the Creed connects people throughout history. As suggested by our good friend Dave Woodward, this gold introduction should feature before all upcoming Assassin's Creed projects, just as Marvel have a special introduction before their projects. The Leap into History trailer also brings all the characters together, honing in on the idea that history is our playground, and through Assassin's Creed, we can journey to all corners of the earth. It was nice to see the return of Roger Craig Smith, who voiced an Ezio line for the trailer. I really enjoyed the introductions as they celebrate the past and future of the brand, but most importantly, the community. The panel was h osted by Danny Wallace and Alice Terrett from the Assassin's Creed team, who successfully generated excitement about the future of the franchise. https://video.wixstatic.com/video/06e6c8_4cbfe27b781d45bbaff9e56606ee5a04/720p/mp4/file.mp4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_Zbfr6GXvE Assassin's Creed Mirage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhCYK72t6Xc Experience the story of Basim, a cunning street thief seeking answers and justice as he navigates the bustling streets of ninth–century Baghdad. Discover a narrative-driven action-adventure experience that follows the transformation of a defiant young man into a refined Master Assassin with a conflicted destiny. Meet an inspiring cast of characters who will shape Basim’s destiny and may be more than what they seem… Become the most versatile Assassin in franchise history. Parkour seamlessly through the city and leverage the largest assortment of tools to date. Get contracts at the Assassin’s bureaus, collect vital clues, and stealthily take down targets with more visceral assassinations than ever before. Ubisoft Forward gave us a healthy dose of the next title in the series, Assassin's Creed Mirage, releasing 2023! A shorter, more narrative-driven game than recent entries in the series We begin with a CGI trailer, chock-full of Assassin's Creed callbacks and easter eggs! Overall it is a very memorable and iconic Assassin's Creed trailer, exploring Basim's journey from a common street thief to a Master Assassin. He begins as a poor orphan wandering the streets, looking for something to eat. Things look bleak after he is caught stealing from a bustling marketplace, running away from the guards. After a failed attempt at parkour, he falls to the ground, surrounded by guards. He is then saved by the Hidden Ones, who go on to train him up. Basim's Mentor, Roshan is voiced by Emmy award-winning actress Shohreh Aghdashloo. She has an unmistakable voice, and fans were immediately excited to hear of her involvement. Roshan is a 50 year old Persian warrior who fights for justice for The Hidden Ones, so Shohreh was immediately interested when Ubisoft approached her about the role as it resonated with her own background. She is loyal and honest, hiding her past behind a shroud of mystery. In keyart released for the character (below), we can see that Roshan wears white robes featuring a lot of red and brown, with an Assassin insignia taking priority on her belt. She holds a huge sword and dagger, and has a hidden blade on her left wrist. After escaping a life of oppression, Roshan became a master assassin at the Hidden Ones’ stronghold, Alamut. Now, she takes Basim under her wing as her first true apprentice. Basim is now voiced by Lee Majdoub, (Agent Stone from the Sonic the Hedgehog movie franchise), as the game is set 20 years prior to Assassin's Creed Valhalla in Baghdad, beginning in 861 BCE. One thing that stands our in the trailer is Basim's progression, as his robes change as he progresses through the ranks. Originally born in Samarra, Basim lost his mother at a young age and grew up on his own in the streets of Baghdad. Basim admires the Hidden Ones, and dreams of joining them. One standout moment was the inclusion of Alamut castle, which later become the home of the real-life Assassin brotherhood, led by Hassan-i Sabbāh. In AC lore, it becomes a Levantine Assassin fortress that sits above a First Civilization Temple, housing the memory seals that Altair uses in Assassin's Creed Revelations. Another great moment is where Basim is initiated into the Hidden Ones, sacrificing his finger as is tradition. Basim returns to the mark where his journey began, this time in the traditional white robes of the Hidden Ones. Once again, he flees the scene, this time after assassinating several targets. His parkour abilities have now improved, and he uses red smoke bombs along with what looks like a poison trap, triggering once stood on. Notice that Basim now wears a vambrace very similar to the one worn by Altair in Assassin's Creed I. The trailer ends with Basim assassinating a target, who drops a mask very familiar to fans of the series. It is a mask of the the Order of Ancients, calling back to Assassin's Creed Origins. The new eagle companion spends the trailer circling Basim, showing the deep connection once again between a bird and Assassin. At the end of the trailer, we see Basim entering the memory corridor with his target, but a creature lurks in the shadows. It has been speculated that the creature could in fact be a djin, a demon from pre-Islamic Arabian religions. It could even be the bitter memories of Loki emerging from his subconscious. From the early access press event, we learned that Basim suffers traumatic nightmares throughout the game connected to Loki trying to take control of his mind. There really is a lot to be excited about from this trailer, and for some, it will be a blessing, as the game seems to take the series back to its roots. After the trailer we return to the panel, who are joined by Narrative Director Sarah Beaulieu from Ubisoft Bordeaux. She confirms that Mirage will take Assassin's Creed back to the action-adventure game genre that focusses on narrative. Three key focusses for this game are stealth, parkour and assassinations, something which is extremely reassuring for fans. She reveals that Baghdad is a beautiful, dense city full of interesting people, including historical figures such as political leaders Uncover the secrets of four unique districts, from the industrial Karkh to the lush gardens of the Round City. Discover surprising world events and interact with historical figures that shaped the Golden Age of Baghdad. x3 editions of Assassin's Creed Mirage are now available for pre-order: (Photos below) Standard Edition Deluxe Edition Collectors Case Built as an homage to the first Assassin's Creed games, Mirage pays tribute to the series' roots, as players join the proto-Assassin order known as the Hidden Ones and grow to become a master assassin. Baghdad in the ninth century was a bustling metropolis, and it serves as the perfect dense, urban hunting ground as Basim stalks his prey using the series' largest assortment of tools to date. While they haven't quite adopted the name "Assassins" at this point in history, make no mistake: The Hidden Ones are a powerful and established order, with resources and the all-important creed to guide them. As Basim explores Baghdad, he'll be able to get contracts and upgrades from a network of Hidden One bureaus throughout the city, collect clues on his targets, and take them down with swift assassinations. Assassin's Creed Documentary: Beyond the Creed We were thrilled to see the release of a beautiful yet short documentary that covers the Assassin's Creed community and its members! As the documentary explores, the Creed unifies us globally, and explores some of the highlights of the last 15 years, and how fans can connect with the series. It was nice to see recognisable community members like Claudio, Marco and JorRaptor participating in interviews, along with veteran Assassin's Creed developers Jean Guesdon and Darby McDevitt. We also noticed a brief cameo from Assassin's Creed United Kingdom admin Dave Woodward. If you use your eagle vision just before the seven minute mark, you might be able to spot him briefly. Congrats to all the community members who featured! You can watch Beyond the Creed now on Youtube! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkARru1ai9c Assassin's Creed Valhalla: The Last Chapter The showcases moves on to the future of Assassin's Creed Valhalla, with the final expansion coming later in the year. Gareth Glover, Game Director for Post-Launch content on the game introduces Assassin's Creed Valhalla: The Last Chapter, which will conclude Eivor's journey and tie up loose ends. In the trailer (below) Eivor feels close to Odin once more, but realises that the time has come to say goodbye, and set forth for distant shores. It's clear that this expansion is made possible by Basim using an Animus to explore Eivor's memories, as the unmistakable voice of Carlo Rota returns as the now-Modern Day Assassin. ''Where will this new conflict take you I wonder'' Basim ponders thoughtfully. He is fascinated by the connection between Eivor and Odin, as it differs greatly from his own connection to Loki. The teaser also shows Eivor's memories desynchronising, suggesting that her story is coming to an end. Although no release date is given for The Last Chapter, it is likely to launch at the end of 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4bcTZZJfII Assassin's Creed: Codename Jade Next up the panel brings on Marc-Alexis Côté, Former Creative Director on Assassin's Creed Syndicate and more recently Producer on Assassin's Creed Odyssey. His new role is Vice-Executive Producer for Assassin's Creed. When asked about the future of the series, he responds by saying the company are going to take Assassin's Creed to new territories. Their mission as a company is to enrich the lives of players, and make history everybody's playground. Going forward, the company are going to 'double down' on their passion for history, and explore the past with courage. For Côté and the rest of team, history is a great source of entertainment that can help players understand the world around them today. The reveal shows off an upcoming open world mobile game, titled 'Codename Jade', an Assassin's Creed mobile game set in Ancient China (215 BCE). It will feature all of the iconic Assassin's Creed gameplay, but is optimised for an experience that can be played using touch controls. The teaser features in-game footage, and shows an Assassin synchronising the Great Wall of China, whilst an oriental version of Ezio's family plays in the background. For the first time ever, you can create your own character in an Assassin's Creed game! An eagle flies above the Chinese architectural structures He wears white robes with a grey matted hood, but if you look carefully, you can see the red sash beneath his belt, the recognisable sign of a Master Assassin. This Assassin wear a traditional white outfit mixed with a grey hood and golden shoulder pad. It could that outfits are fully customisable in this game, as you can create your own character. The trailer ends with the Assassin performing the leap of faith, an eagle screech, and a look at the Assassin's Creed Jade logo, which of course, features an emerald green insignia and text. Codename Jade is shaping up to be a very interesting project, but some fans may be upset to see Ancient China being used for an open world mobile game rather than a main game. Either way, we're excited to learn more about this ambitious upcoming Assassin's Creed project! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvvdoqJTOWE Assassin's Creed Netflix Series & Mobile Game Unfortunately the event provided very little new information about the upcoming Assassin's Creed Netflix TV Show, but did confirm that the project is still in development, along with a new mobile game. Press Release via Ubisoft News ''Assassin’s Creed is coming to streaming devices and no, we’re not talking about xCloud or Luna. A brand-new, live-action Assassin’s Creed series is coming to Netflix. The deal includes multiple different series, the first of which will be a genre-bending live-action epic, while the others will be animated and anime adaptations. The live action series is currently searching for a showrunner. Ubisoft Film & Television’s Jason Altman and Danielle Kreinik will serve as executive producers. “For more than 10 years, millions of fans around the world have helped shape the Assassin’s Creed brand into an iconic franchise,” said Jason Altman, Head of Ubisoft Film & Television - Los Angeles. “We’re thrilled to create an Assassin’s Creed series with Netflix, and we look forward to developing the next saga in the Assassin’s Creed universe.'' It's good to hear that the Netflix TV series is still in development, as it was first announced back in October 2022, leading some to wonder if it had been scrapped. We still don't really know anything about the show, but the additional announcement of a new mobile game in development will only make the partnership between Netflix and Ubisoft even stronger. Assassin's Creed: Codename Red The next main game will be Feudal Japan! At long last, Assassin's Creed will cover one of the most highly requested settings! Codename Red is the next premium flagship title, and the future of the open world RPG Assassin's Creed games. It is being developed by Ubisoft Quebec, under the creative direction of Jonathan Dumont. Players will take charge of a very powerful Shinobi fantasy. The teaser is short, but shows an agile Assassin jumping onto a rooftop and activating a hidden blade. No release date was given for this project, but we can assume it will probably be 2024 or after if Mirage is set to launch in 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnfGJDM-mTE Assassin's Creed: Codename Hexe The tease for Assassin's Creed Hexe is extremely ominous, panning down through the treeline and towards an Assassin insignia made of twigs, reminding viewers of The Blair Witch project. T Immediately you think of the occult, something which may not traditionally be expected when thinking about the future of Assassin's Creed. It seems that Hexe will be a smaller title, perhaps similar in length to Mirage, and can be played through the Assassin's Creed Infinity game hub. Here is an extract from our Assassin's Creed Hexe breakdown by Preston Carbonaro, which will launch later today! “Codename Hexe” (pronounced hex-uh). ‘Hexe’ is the German word for ‘witch’. In English we use very similar words like ‘hex’ or ‘hexed’, which mean: to cast a spell on; to bewitch. So, taking into consideration all of these ideas and how closely related they are to each other, I am assuming that Codename Hexe will revolve around the witch trials which took place in 17th century Germany. Namely the Würzburg witch trials of 1625-1631.'' We can't wait to learn more about this darker Assassin's Creed title! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbMh3PFPCDM Assassin's Creed: Project Infinity The final reveal of the show was Assassin's Creed Infinity, which was first announced back in 2021. As we expected, Infinity is a not actually a game, but a hub for all things Assassin's Creed. It is to become the single entry point for players to access Assassin's Creed going forward. In the tease, you can see Hexe and Codename Red being accessible through the Infinity Infinity will connect players, and the teams at Ubisoft are now looking at ways to bring back standalone multiplayer experiences, all connected to the Infinity Hub. According to Axios, a new multiplayer Assassin’s Creed game called Invictus is also in development, being produced by Ubisoft developers who worked on multiplayer franchises Rainbow 6 Siege and For Honor. We hope that it becomes home to not only games and new content, but audiobooks like AC Gold, and transmedia too! A digital home to house your Assassin's Creed content! Just no NFTs please Ubisoft. The Future of Assassin's Creed: Valhalla: The Last Chapter (Late 2022) AC Mirage (2023) Project Red (Feudal Japan: 2023+) • Project Hexe (Witch hunt era Europe: 2023+) Project Jade (Open world mobile set in China 2023+) Live action Netflix series & mobile game ( 2023+) AC games not in development, despite rumors, Côté confirmed to Axios: A remake of the first Assassin’s Creed Series “crossover” set in Egypt. 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)

  • Vikings in Ireland: A History | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    Vikings in Ireland: A History Breakdown Share 19 Feb 2021 Written By: Edited By: Lauren Harris Ashlea Blackett Back To Database The first story DLC for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Wrath of the Druids, is due to release in the near future and it will see Eivor travelling to Ireland to battle a druidic cult known as the Children of Danu. As such, it is a great time to explore the history of the Vikings and their adventures in Ireland. The First Viking Age in Ireland is generally considered to be between 795 CE and 902 CE. The first recorded Viking raids on Irish soil happened in the year 795 CE on the islands of Rathlin and Lambay. It is likely that the invaders were from Norway, just like our good friend Eivor. For the next 40 years, towns, farms, and monasteries were frequently looted and destroyed by Viking warriors. As this was occurring, the Viking settlers were also integrating themselves into Irish society. The Norse warriors attacked the St. Columba monastery on Iona in 795 CE and burned St. Patrick’s Island to the ground in 798 CE. They returned to Iona in 802 and 806 CE, murdering 68 of the island’s residents and devastating the community. The Norse were not ones for large battle fleets. Instead, only a handful of ships – often less than three – would dock at the shores and offload a group of Vikings. Once the pillaging was complete, the warriors would return to their ship and depart, leaving nothing but destruction in their wake. Eye-witness accounts from the time refer to the Viking invaders as “faceless wraiths”, strangers who left as quickly as they arrived with the only evidence that they were ever there being the smouldering embers of the towns they passed through. Wrath of the Druids is the first downloadable content expansion for Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and is set to launch Spring 2021. The Irish did not take the attacks lying down, however. The Annals of Irish history mention that in 811 CE, the people of Uliad managed to kill a fleet of Viking invaders who arrived on their land. A year later in 812 CE, another fleet was killed in Umall, known today as County Mayo. It was clear to the Viking warriors that their small fleets of only a few longships were no longer working. For one, their men were being slaughtered by the Irish. More than that, though, was that there was only so much loot the Vikings could plunder and bring back to Scandinavia in such small ships. As a result, the invaders decided to upscale their operation in the 830s. The invaders travelled to Ireland with a fleet of between 50 to 100 ships and set up camp. This allowed the Vikings to raid the countryside and bring the loot back to their campsite. In 836 CE, they pillaged Uí Néill. In 837, they carried out river raids on the Boyne, Liffey and Shannon rivers. The Annals of Ulster recorded that sixty ships arrived on the Boyne, with another sixty on the Liffey. They approached Brega and Liffey and plundered everything in sight. In 840, the Vikings attacked Lough Neagh and the surrounding monasteries for most of a year. Their conquest grew in 841 when the warriors set up fortified camps at County Louth and Dublin. The Norse Vikings had a new problem to contend with in 849 CE when more invaders arrived on the shores of Ireland. These settlers were not Norsemen but Danes, and their arrival created a power struggle within Ireland’s Viking communities as the two groups began to fight each other. This distraction gave the Irish nobility time to plan how to deal with the invader armies. However, just as the Irish were building their defences and planning to strike, the Viking raids seemed to stop. 851 CE saw the last major attack of the time as the warriors crossed the sea to begin their invasion of Britain. With the warriors gone, the only Vikings left on Ireland were the settlers who were more concerned with building a life for themselves than attacking other communities. Some of the most prominent Norse populated towns in the late 800s were Dublin, then known as Dubhlinn, Cork, Youghal, and Waterford which became Ireland’s very first city. We know from the events in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla that the game takes place from 873-878 CE. As such, it should be relatively peaceful by the time Eivor arrives in Ireland. There will be a significant Norse population for Eivor to meet and interact with, but there should not be a lot of raiding and pillaging happening. This would allow for the Children of Danu to take centre stage within the narrative, as there will likely not be as much political intrigue happening on the isle at the time. The Children of Danu are inspired by the supernatural race in Irish mythology known as Tuatha Dé Danann which translates to “the folk of the goddess Danu”. Whether this cult will be supernatural in nature or just a group who worship the mythological race remains to seen. One interesting fact about the Tuatha Dé Danann is that they had four magical treasures that they brought to Ireland – a cauldron, a spear, a stone, and a sword. Is it possible these objects are connected to the Isu? Whilst Viking activity in Ireland was mostly peaceful for the latter half of the 800s, that calm was short lived. The Second Viking Age began in 914 CE when a large fleet of Viking ships docked in Waterford harbour to recapture their old settlement which had been reclaimed by the Irish. The raids and pillaging resumed with great force. The Vikings were determined to win back the land that they lad lost to the Irish, including the thriving town of Dubhlinn. That was the last straw for Niall Glúndub, King of Uí Néill, who wanted the Vikings out of Ireland. In 917, he led an army against the Viking warriors in Munster. They were ultimately unsuccessful and retreated having achieved little. The King tried again in 919 and the same thing happened – only this time Niall perished in the attack. With the only person truly willing to stand up to the Vikings now dead, the invaders were free to continue their conquest of Ireland. They established a new town called Weisfjord, now Wexford, in 921 and in 922 they created Limerick. Once again, however, the Viking raids calmed and the settlers focused on building their communities. The British kingdoms of Northumbria, East Anglia and Merica had been defeated and united under one Viking kingdom known as the Danelaw. Dubhlinn was also joined with the Danelaw, as it was one of the most significant Nordic cities of the time due to its high volume of trade and slavery. With such a powerful part of Ireland under their rule, the Vikings began taking control of other Irish towns. In 952, however, Dubhlinn split from the Danelaw due to its power and the Vikings established their own dynasty within the city. Concept art for Ireland coming from the Assassin's Creed Valhalla Season Pass Trailer. For the next 20 years, things in Ireland were fairly uneventful – at least where the Viking population were concerned. Amongst the Irish lords, a battle for power was occurring as men competed for the position of High King of their land. It was also during this time that the Norse and Dane population of Ireland began converting to Christianity. Most of the time, the Irish were willing to tolerate the presence of the Viking communities as they were usually peaceful and responsible for much of the country’s trading. However, political turmoil within Ireland’s nobility would soon change this. Mathgamain mac Cennétig, King of Munster from 970 CE was killed in 976 CE by the previous King of Munster, Máel Muad mac Brain. Mathgamain was succeeded by his younger brother Brian Bóruma. Brian wanted two things above all else: revenge for his brother’s death and power over Munster. In 977 CE, Brian attacked the Viking population in Limerick. King Imar and his sons hid in the monastery, believing that a Christian ruler would not desecrate a sanctuary of God. They were wrong. Brian broke into the building and murdered the Vikings inside. In 980, Brian declared himself King of Munster. Brian was not above working with the Vikings when it aided his quest for power. He formed an alliance with the Waterford Vikings so that he could take control of Leinster province. His goal was power and he would do what was necessary to get it. King Brian Boru’s fast-paced rise to power concerned the other Kingdoms in Ireland, particularly Uí Néill. King Máel Sechnaill II tried in vain to take power away from Brian. Realising this was unachievable, the Kings held a meeting and agreed to divide Ireland between them. This was not a move that everyone appreciated, however. Leinster and Dubhlinn were particularly outraged and revolted against the rule of their new leader. Brian was unfazed by this and led his armies into Leinster and Dubhlinn and destroyed them. From there, Brian continued to take control of Ireland’s regions and Kings Silkenbeard and Máel Sechnaill II both surrendered power to Brian. By 1006 CE, Brian Boru had almost claimed the entire country as his own. Brian’s dream of becoming High King of Ireland looked inevitable. No one could stop his conquest. That was until 1013 CE when the people of Ireland turned on their ruler. Brian tried to fight back against the revolts rising up around Ireland, but this time his enemies were stronger and he was forced to retreat. The rebels travelled to Scotland and the Isle of Man to recruit more warriors to their army, and when they returned they were stronger than ever. The foundations for battle were set. The Battle of Clontarf is one of the most famous battles in Irish history as it is seen as the exact moment the Viking rule in Ireland ended. The battle happed in 1014 and one was one of the bloodiest the country had seen. Thousands of men were killed on both sides, and the Vikings retreated to the Isle of Man when it became clear Brian’s army had won. However, Brian’s victory was short lived as he was killed, allegedly having been bludgeoned to death with an axe by a Viking. With the Vikings having left Ireland and regrouped on the Isle of Man, Viking rule in Ireland was over for good. The remaining Vikings were allowed to maintain control over Dublinn until 1074 CE, but in reality the line between Viking and Irishman was becoming blurred. Vikings were now part of the Irish communities they had once raided, and their own culture and heritage had been replaced by Christianity and Irish customs. Over time, there was nothing left of the fierce Norse conquest that had taken hold of the country in the early 800s. Despite the Viking Age ending in 1014 CE, the influence that the Vikings had in Ireland can still be seen today. The Vikings established the first ever Irish city, Waterford, and also created the first naval base within the city. The Vikings were also responsible for introducing Irish currency. Prior to 995, Ireland did not have its own official currency. It was the Viking King Sitric Silkenbeard who created the first Irish coins, which were silver and bore King Silkenbeard’s name. Another interesting fact is that, despite being well known for destroying Christian monasteries during their raiding years, the Vikings are actually responsible for the creation of Ireland’s most famous cathedral. King Silkenbeard was so devoted to his new religion of Christianity that he ordered the construction of Christ Church Cathedral within his city. It is still standing today and as gorgeous as it was in the 10th century. Indeed, even many of the surnames we associate with Ireland today are deviations of the Scandinavian names that the Vikings brought to Irish soil. Having Viking ancestry in Ireland is relatively common due to how the Vikings merged with Irish society and married native Irish people. The reign of Vikings in Ireland may have only lasted for 220 years, but it was a time that was anything but boring. Without those Viking invaders, who knows what Ireland would look like nowadays. One thing is for sure, it would not be the country we know today. That is the beauty of history. For better or worse, our world is defined by the ones who came before us – just like in our favourite video game. 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. 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

  • AC4 Merchandise Guide | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Merchandise Guide 10/3/18 Share To celebrate Edward Kenway's birthday, why not check out the huge range of Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Merchandise available! (Amazon + Ubisoft Store links used due to international shipping) We hope that you find this merchandise guide useful! Edward Kenway: Master of the Seas Figurine Amazon UK (Currently unavailable) Ubisoft Store (Out of stock) Assassin's Creed IV: Pistol Holder: Amazon UK Assassin's Creed IV: The Official Guide Amazon UK Assassins Creed IV Hoodie Amazon UK Edward Kenway Legacy Bust: by UbCollectibles. Amazon UK Ubisoft Store Edward Kenway: The Pirate Assassin Figurine Amazon UK Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed IV: Pistol Replica Amazon UK Assassin's Creed IV: Pistol Replica Ape Collection Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag: Blackbeard: The Captain's Log Amazon UK Edward Kenway Legacy Hoodie: Ubisoft Store Edward Kenway Vest Ubisoft Store Merchandise Amazon UK (Currently unavailable) Black Flag T-shirt Amazon UK Link Assassin's Creed IV Mug Amazon UK Assassin's Creed IV Wall Scroll: Amazon UK Assassin's Creed IV Baseball Cap: Amazon UK Assassins Creed IV Black Flag Official Mens Grey t-shirt Kenway Stencil Amazon UK : Currently unavailable Assassin's Creed IV Wall Scroll: Amazon UK Loot Gaming Crate Assassins Creed IV Black Flag Edward Kenway Figure Amazon UK Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag Play Arts Kai Edward Kenway Reduced on Amazon to £125 Amazon UK Ah Tabai Figure by McFarlane Toys Amazon UK AC IV Keychain Amazon UK Black Flag Mug by ABYStyle Amazon UK (Currently unavailable) AC IV Poster Amazon UK Ubisoft Assassins Creed Black Flag Multicoloured Coin & Card Bi-Fold Wallet Amazon UK

  • The Ones Who Came Before Spider-Man Logos | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    The Ones Who Came Before Spider-Man Logos Art Share 15 Dec 2022 Written By: Edited By: ActualSpider-Man Ashlea Blackett Back To Database The Ones Who Came Before has always aimed to make an impact on the web, but these new Spiderman inspired logos take it to a new level! Our new partner ActualSpider-Man has been getting creative with TOWCB logo, putting a unique spin on our classic silhouette hood insignia design. Let us know down below in the comments which one is your favourite! 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

  • Wales Comic Con Homecoming (2022) Photo Gallery | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    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)

  • This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: 19th -25th March 2022 | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: 19th -25th March 2022 Community Share 4 Apr 2022 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the new weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week, we 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 capture across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. 1) Dawn of Ragnarok Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla This week’s first capture comes from @coalabr14 over on Twitter. Our first Dawn of Ragnarok shot to be featured. I am yet to play the DLC myself, however this picture inspires me to give it a go. I love the statue of what looks like Thor in the centre, with the steaming cauldrons either side. I am definitely getting God of War vibes from this. 2) Havi Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Photo number two comes from @Toringtino over on Twitter. Again I think this capture comes from Ragnarok, especially with how Eivor looks. This is a great portrait of the main man himself. He is fully armoured up and ready for battle, with a stare like that I would not want to get in his way. I really like how this shot showcases that epic beard. 3) The Revolution Game: Assassin’s Creed Unity This week’s third shot comes from @Zorik323 over on Twitter. A stunning black and white portrait of Arno. I particularly like how he is stood in an archway with the blurry background. The detail on the building in front of him is excellent. I am loving the pose more than anything though, classic Assassin. 4) Twilight Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP number four comes from @dpruttz_vp over on Twitter. This shot is too good. I love it when a portrait of the lead character comes off like this. It feels like a painting more than a game capture. The Twilight armour really is on show here, and the sparks behind Eivor just amplify it. Really enjoying the turned head look, showing off the eye patch, nice little touch. 5) Stones Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla The final capture of the week comes from @PodToGo over on Twitter. An amazing bird’s eye view of Aveberie Megaliths Standing Stones. There are so many of these picturesque locations in the game. What I adore about this shot is the camera angle, it really plays tricks on your mind. The white 8 with the stones all around looks very mysterious. 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

  • This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 11th to 17th December | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 11th to 17th December Community Share 6 Jan 2024 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 we 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. This week’s guest judge is Steffi Syndrome a member of VGP Network and host of the wonderful #PhotoModeMonday – it is a real pleasure to have Steffi along for this week’s theme. 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: Wildlife Peeking Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ m_nt_13 The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Guest Judge: @ StefanieMcMaken ''I just love the perspective, with the artic fox peeking through the shrubs, there’s such life in it! In addition, the colours harmonize and give a beautiful winter vibe. I am also impressed that they don’t get lost, and the fox stays clearly visible. A truly remarkable shot, that is reminiscent of real photography. I am always amazed by @ m_nt_13 captures, and this is no exception. Incredible work.'' Aaron “Wilderness without wildlife is just scenery”. ''The various location in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla opens the door for a magnitude of wildlife. The snowy tundra sections in the north of England and Norway play host to the coolest and most lovable creatures. None more so than this wily fox peeking through the undergrowth. I am loving the winter tones and how the fox is camouflaged. It is a shot straight out of a documentary series, with the fox clearly hunting its prey. Timing is everything with these types of capture, and it is also very difficult to get anywhere near the wildlife. Kudos to m for producing such a superb shot.'' Howling Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ m_nt_13 “Wildlife is something which man cannon construct.” In the world of virtual photography, you must have an abundance of patience and a sprinkling of luck. Many shots you see on social media have had a lot of time and effort poured into them. This capture here is a moment to savour. I still can’t work out how this has been pulled off so brilliantly. The odds of capturing this exact moment must be so slim. The shot is perfection with the stag howling to the moon like a wolf. I really like how the clouds frame the capture and the moons glow adds a beauty to the shot. Epic timing and great composition make for a glorious winter shot. The Ocean Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ PhilGPT “Under the sea.” It is funny how Assassin’s Creed has evolved over the years. It started out a city game, but after the huge success of Black Flag the sea has become somewhat of a staple to the series. The wide-open oceans are limited in Origins and Valhalla but there was so much to explore in Odyssey. Once again, I must commend Phil for the timing of the shot. This insanely good capture must have taken some time to produce. The ambiance and colour scheme are beautiful, and having the fin sticking out of the water is a touch of magic. Hunting Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ G_Assassin90 “Sometimes I am the beast in the darkness.” Hands down one of the best wildlife games is Assassin’s Creed Origins. The ecosystem on show is exceptionally developed. Having predators hunt their prey in front of you as you stroll the desert is quite something. This capture of a crocodile weaving its way through the waters is both elegant and menacing. These beasts are arguably the deadliest in Origins and should be avoided at all costs. I love the green of the water and the ripple effect. The colours are balanced perfectly to mimic a real-life photo. The details on the crocodile are remarkable, just don’t get too close. Winters Coming Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ BetweenDPixels “Nothing burns like the cold.” Deer seem to be ever present in the wilds of Assassin’s Creed games. Often, they are hunted by other animals or by the player themselves. This gorgeous capture of a female deer walking through the thick snow gives off massive winter vibes. I could easily see this shot on a Christmas card. I adore the composition, with the forest slightly blurred in the background. There is such a cold feel to the shot, and the details of the snow along with those hoofprints look great. The deer looks startled, which means Eivor must be nearby. A beautiful capture that perfectly fits the theme. Check out this new video by Turið Torkilsdóttir showcasing other December 2023 Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography captures, taken as part of our Eivor and Wildlife themes! 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! Interested in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography? Join our Twitter VP Community for a chance to be featured in our weekly articles! 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

  • Fundraising | The Ones Who Came Before

    Assassin's Creed Community Fundraising Campaigns for Charity Fundraising We here at The Ones Who Came Before regularly dedicate ourselves to raising money for a charity / fundraising cause with links to the Assassins' Creed franchise. Assassins in Need is an annual event which brings the community together, with the aim of supporting various causes around the world. We are incredibly proud of our community fundraising efforts, and each year aims to be bigger and better than the last. £3478 raised 2025 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. GoFundMe 2025 Fundraising Total: £1022 2023 The Ones Who Came Before joined fellow content creators within the Assassin's Creed community to raise funds for Save The Children Foundation to raise funds for the devastating earthquakes affecting Türkiye (Turkey) and Syria. The collaborative effort, led by AC Landmarks raised a total of $25,660.00, the largest amount ever raised by the Assassin's Creed community. 2023 Fundraising Assisted to raise $25,660.00 2022 Assassins in Need: Heart of the Creed Community Fundraiser: On the 15th August, we launched our 2022 community fundraiser for British Heart Foundation and The American Heart Association, two incredible organisations providing critical cardiovascular medical research and education to facilities around the world. This lifesaving campaign launched by The Ones Who Came Before in association with various different companies and communities hopes to be our biggest yet, 2022 Fundraising £430 raised 2021 Assassins in Need Community Fundraiser: On the 1st July 2021, we launched this year's Assassin's Creed Community Fundraiser for World Federation for Mental Health in partnership with over 20 different content creators! Learn more We're teaming up with community member Gustav Poulsen to promote and support the launch of a new initiative called 'Forgotten Youth', a project that aims to shed a light on the long-lasting consequences of worldwide lockdowns. 2021 Fundraising £1380 raised 2020 The Ones Who Came Before are raising money for The Italian Red Cross (IFRC), who are doing everything possible to combat the Coronavirus. Learn more GoFundMe Art Sale 2020 Fundraising Campaign: £530 raised 2019 To celebrate World Oceans Day, we are proud to announce that this year's Assassin's Creed Community Fundraiser will be supporting Ocean Conservancy, a movement dedicated to protecting the ocean. Our partners for the campaign are Assassin's Creed United Kingdom and The Mentor's Guild. Learn more 2019 Fundraising Campaign: £264 raised 2018 We're pleased to announce a new collaborative fundraising project between Access the Animus and The Ones Who Came Before for Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation! £282 raised by the Assassin's Creed Community! 2018 Fundraising Campaign: £282 raised

  • This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 18th to 24th September | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 18th to 24th September Community Share 26 Sept 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 Enter the Light Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ maddog7794 “The holy women Fulke is close by.” Fulke is a member of the Order of the Ancients, and is also known as the Instrument. She is a devilish character who torments the Raven clan with her wicked ways. She inflicts a lot of pain on Sigurd and in turn makes herself an enemy of Eivor. This incredible capture of her tells the story of a troubled women seeking power. The lighting is exceptional, allowing Fulke to appear as a silhouette. I love how you can see the cross next to her head showing the faith she once had before turning to the dark side. Seeing her walk towards the light is a bit of a metaphor, after her failed attempts to destroy Eivor. The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge : Jack ( @ _Virtualtourism ) - TOWCB Virtual Photography Team ''Fulke's silhouette standing tall breaking through the orange light of the evening sun as it pours through the forest trees, makes for an excellent shot. I feel this image best represents how I imagine Fulke saw her task when she first met Eivor and Sigurd. Represented by the cross on her back, her faith has led her to this moment, she will now lead Eivor and Sigurd into the next (or past) chapters of their lives. Amazing shot, well done Zatoichi!'' Silhouette Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ AkillesDHero “Spartans! Prepare for glory!” Sparta, a small town in Greece is one of the most famous locations in history. Sparta had a reputation of being a production line for the most fearsome warriors. None more so than Kassandra, despite her conflicted upbringing you can definitely see the Spartan in her. This beautiful shot of her standing almost statue-like in front of that warming background is so delightful. The colour tones are captivating, and the silhouette of Kassandra is stunning. I adore how she has the Spartan helmet on but also has the trident on her back, this shot represents Odyssey perfectly. Link to Set: Shield Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ Lucascosta797 “I cannot shed my past like a snake sheds its skin” Despite the Medjay shield being extremely popular it is actually the Alexander shield that you see Bayek with on most promotional material. It is a rare shield in the game that obviously once belonged to Alexander the Great. The winged scarab design fits the Egyptian setting perfectly. This photo flawlessly captures the shield and its impeccable design. I am a fan of the composition here as it allows us to see the shield mounted on Bayek’s back with few arrows still in the quiver. The use of shadows helps the golden wings of the scarab to shine, and I find myself constantly drawn it. Link to Set: Desolate Land Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ ophierian_vp “The only thing that awaits you is oblivion” Assassin’s Creed Origins is full of remote deserts for us to explore. The sheer scale of them is so impressive. Venturing into these isolated places is a dangerous pastime. Many suffer from hallucinations due to the extreme heat, something Ubisoft brilliantly added to the game. This remarkable capture showcases the very secluded feel and the minimalism of the shot is quite something. I love how Senu is gliding above Bayek and the shadow of him on the horse is epic. A perfect composition that highlights this striking capture. Synchronisation Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ TuridTorkil “Not one of your prophecies do I understand” Eivor’s destiny is hers to weave and the constant torment of Odin is a chain she would love to break. Life is never easy for the Wolf-Kissed and her battle against the Order and herself take its toll. She will always be the hero of this saga though. This incredible capture of her crouched atop a longhouse feeds both the Viking and Assassin vibes. You could easily see her performing the leap of faith from this point. The black and white style perfectly suits the shot giving it a classic feel. I love the vines connecting to her as they symbolise the roots of the Yggdrasil and Eivor breaking free of them. She is now free to walk her own path, and forge her own destiny. 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

  • The Ones Who Came Before: Plans for 2021 | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    The Ones Who Came Before: Plans for 2021 News Share 29 Dec 2020 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Buckley Back To Database 2020 is nearly over, and it's been a crazy year for everyone. Although we were all limited due to restrictions, we here at TOWCB tried to make the most of it . The new year is almost here, so in this article we will be outlining some of our plans and goals for 2021. Huge thank you to everyone who has supported TOWCB this year, and especially to those who have been shopping via our Amazon links , helping to keep the site running and ad-free. Assassin's Creed Valhalla Review Look our for our review for Assassin's Creed Valhalla, which was delayed due to the sheer size of the game, and time required to complete. By pushing our review back, we have given our fans a window to explore the game for themselves, and make up their own minds. It also gave fans who received the game for Christmas a chance to play without spoiler-related discussions appearing online. Here's a sneak peak: "There's never a dull moment whilst exploring the world of Assassin's Creed Valhalla, as it continues to find ways to surprise the player at every turn. It's the first game in the series to properly fill the open world, making it feel dynamic and life-like" Anti-Spoiler Filter Removed We will also be removing our Anti-Spoiler filter in January, meaning we will finally be discussing plot points and other elements that we have not yet covered. It's a great opportunity to dive into some Isu lore and dig our teeth into the real history that inspired the game. With the help of our Partnership Program team, we will be covering fresh aspects of the game that we have not yet explored. More opportunities and giveaways We were recently invited to join The Mentors Guild, an official community program that bridges the gap between community members and developers. So far, Ubisoft has so far arranged two giveaways (Valhalla codes) along with constant social media support, creating numerous opportunities for members of the AC community. We are looking forward to working closely with Ubisoft in the new year on the program, and strive to make the most of our new position. Wedding Prep! Ash and Col from the admin team are getting married in November! As you might expect, the wedding may have one or two Assassin's Creed related elements! Keep an eye on our social media channels for updates, or check out the Rally The Creed podcast Reboot The AC Partnership Program In 2021, we are looking to do a soft reboot of our AC Partnership Program, a community initiative that provides a platform for content creators to shine. We are always looking out for the next wave of passionate AC fans who are creating content on a regular basis, and we hope to discover new talent in 2021 to join us. If you are interested, simply message our social media channels and send some of your projects our way. Fundraising projects 2020 was our biggest year so far for fundraising projects, and we would like to recognise the efforts of Ashlea Buckley and Lisa Zaman who helped raise over £500 for The Italian Red Cross! These efforts provided resources for Italy in it's time of need, and brought the entire community together. We will be doing even more fundraising in the new year, and Ashlea, who is now our Charity Project Coordinator, will be taking charge of these efforts. Keep an eye on our social media channels for updates. We hope that you enjoyed our last article of 2020! As you can see, we have a lot planned for 2021, and we can't wait to get started! See you all in the New Year! 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: November 1st - 8th | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: November 1st - 8th Community Share 9 Nov 2020 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Ashlea Buckley Back To Database Welcome back to a new weekly virtual photography initiative hosted by Gustav Poulsen from The AC Partnership Program. Each week, five Assassin's Creed shots will be showcased here on TOWCB website, in order to promote virtual photography and community contributions. Gustav is a seasoned pro when it comes to virtual photography, and has a keen eye for special shots. Look out for more Photo Logs over the coming weeks, some of which may include Assassin's Creed Valhalla! Great Pyramid This week’s first capture is from Assassin’s Creed Origins. It’s a shot of the Great Pyramid in Giza, taken by Instagram user @ gamingpharmofficial. Vibrant, full of beautiful lighting, palm trees, blue skies and of course a legendary landmark, this capture had to kick off this week’s recap list! Dark Skies: This week’s second capture is yet another one from AC Origins; this one taken by Instagram user @ anna.loves.pcgaming. Oddly enough, this one also features the pyramids of Giza… But Bayek looks at them from a distance, from some high ground down in Memphis. And of course, the most remarkable aspect of this shot, the dark skies and clouds appearing from above, that gives this shot a unique sinister vibe. Monteriggioni This Assassin’s Creed II screenshot is taken by Instagram user @ il.mentore.1459. In it we see Ezio fashionably dressed in the Armor of Altaïr on a rooftop, looking out over his new home village of Monteriggioni. In the distant background, we see the beautiful Tuscan highlands at night. This makes for a not necessarily sinister, but certainly mysterious at maybe even slightly ominous vibe that ACII is known for. You can almost just look at this picture, and here “Leonardo’s Inventions” start playing in the background. Palazzo Ducale For the fourth picture on this week’s list, we have another one from ACII… Also taken by @ il.mentore.1459 . This one however is of the massive, “impenetrable” Palazzo Ducale in Venice at night. Like the previous shot, this one also has that mysterious and slightly sinister vibe to it. The dark vibe that ACII as mentioned is so well known for. Scouting The Area We’ve only had (great) shots from ACII & Origins on this list so far, so isn’t it time for pictures from other games for some variety? Coming in at spot number five, we have an awesome screenshot from Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, taken by Instagram user @ char.lie.scott In it we see Jacob Frye in his preferred working class-esque attire, hanging from a ledge with ONE HAND on top of St. Paul’s Cathedral, observing the beautiful City of London. Bright, filled with warm colours and overall cool and cinematic looking, this capture was to good to not be featured! Paris Noir As mentioned, since this is the final recap before the release of AC Valhalla, we’re featuring double the amount of the usual five pictures. Therefore, kicking off the latter half we’ve got an Assassin’s Creed Unity screenshot taken by Instagram user @ shadow_warrior003 . This one is a classy black and white picture of the legendary Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris. The noir filter really gives this capture a certain classic French noir vibe, that in one way or another takes one back to Paris in the early 1900’s. Whether this was intentional or not, the photographer did an exceptional job with this photo! Loneliness And for the next capture, we’ve got an Assassin’s Creed Odyssey landscape shot taken by Instagram user @ baddestfemale__. This picture is stunningly beautiful to say the least! Perfectly capturing the golden hour as its reflection can be seen on the ocean, and with several small islands thrown into the frame for good measure, this might very well be one of the best AC Odyssey shots I, Gargudon, the photo recap writer have stumbled upon! Ghost Rider In this third AC Origins pics to make the list, we see Bayek wearing an Anubis mask, riding his mysterious, flammable and obviously extremely hot Abyssal Steed horse through the Egyptian deserts as the sun slowly disappears from the horizon. Not much to say to say about this picture, other than it’s well framed, cool looking and last but not least extremely vibrant and warm looking! Source: Spartan Gamer Goodbye Greece For the second last picture on this week’s list, we’ve got a heartfelt goodbye tribute shot dedicated to AC Odyssey, taken by Instagram user @ mentor.of.the.creed . This picture cleverly marks the end of one Assassin’s Creed era, before a new one starts with Valhalla tomorrow already. In it we see our protagonist walking down the beach, alongside the water. Let’s just say they’re reflecting on their many adventures throughout Greece. Not only is this capture extremely beautiful, but as hinted towards there are certain symbolic meanings attached to this. All of which are up for interpretation. Northern Lights he talented Assassin’s Creed Rogue photographer @ shaysredemption , whose shots have already made the list several times, gets the honour of having the last non-Valhalla shot on these lists for a while featured! In this one we see Shay’s ship the Morrigan, adrift in the middle of nowhere in the North Atlantic, surrounded by icebergs in the night. And most remarkably, sailing under the most beautiful and phenomenal northern lights! Thanks for checking our this weeks's photo log, and to all of the virtual photographers who contributed towards this article! 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 - hosting the discussion based show “The Memory Corridor” - but today mostly specialises in video creation, interviews and composing. He joined The Ones Who Came Before in 2019 for a merger, publishing new episodes - and reviving the show following nearly a year of inactivity - on our platforms, until phased out in 2023. Today, 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)

  • Assassin's Creed Shadows: Reddit AMA session highlights | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    Assassin's Creed Shadows: Reddit AMA session highlights Breakdown Share 14 Dec 2024 Written By: Edited By: UbiCypher (Joe) Zephryss Back To Database Refined Mechanics, New Modern Day plot, Retconned Lore and No Basim -"The delay has helped focus and allowed to be able to tweak the game". - Ubisoft Quebec's developer Jonathan Dumont states. Reddit's Official r/Assassin's Creed logo. This week's Reddit AMA session was a delight for the Assassin's Creed community. The developers Charles Benoit , Thierry Dansereau , Jonathan Dumont and Brooke Davies did a good job at answering the majority of the questions providing insightful information ahead of time albeit many spoilery questions that the community attempted to see through -myself included- clearly showing the love and dedication poured into the game, the delay having helped to "Focus on polish, debug and balancing" according to Jonathan, adding that they also had the time to address "stickyness in the parkour, accelerating responsiveness of inputs and fix rooftop behaviours" , which, is one of the main pillars of the upcoming Ubisoft game and seemingly pretending to be a strong rival to the community-praised parkour of Assassin's Creed: Unity. One of the most common complaints in the first two games of the latest RPG trilogy was the loot, which was random, Valhalla addressed this swapping the randomness by progession /exploration-based unlocks which is also returning in Shadows, the loot being more unique rather than acquiring the same bow infinite times since they are now tied to specific locations, special enemies and targets -which will drop the best loot- we'll have to eliminate through the story. The historical aspects of the game as well as its characters will be displayed in a "Codex-like Database" similarly to Assassin's Creed Mirage's fashion, somewhat bringing back that old feel of in-game historical information provided by Shaun Hastings in the earlier games. This is not the only feature borrowed from Bordeaux's game though as the "Target Board" is also returning. Talking about borrowing, Shadows takes from Valhalla's Settlement system as well -as seen in previous blogposts- however the devs mentioned that this time it will have a direct impact on gameplay and highly customizable features basically being its own sim-city like minigame allowing us to build rooms and specific buildings to further boost our stats or NPC relationships. The Photo Mode is also getting a long-craved revamp, so all the VP's out there will have a blast with photo-making throughout 2025 as it won't only be rebuilt entirely and available at launch, but it'll also be updated regularly adding more features as Shadow's life-cycle progressess or so it seems according to the devs, which is cool and also stunning that given games like Far Cry 6 as the latest example with a rich Photo Mode, it wasn't available in such a way in earlier games. Assassin's Creed Shadows' settlement Sim-like building system. Modern Day & The Animus Hub Alas, some information on Modern Day! It was expected that Basim's storyline wouldn't continue in Shadows, or at least, not at launch since the developer Jonathan openly stated that he won't "currently" be part of Shadow's story, meaning that it will possibly make an appearance later and I'd say not to think negatively as this statement aroused suspicious throughout the community, many thinking that he will get the "Juno treatment" which of course, I hope it won't be the case. Basim Ibn Ishaq as depicted in Assassin's Creed Valhalla. Assassin's Creed Shadows "Will have a limited Modern Day story introducing a broader narrative in the Animus Hub" clearly setting the grounds for our expectations on that part of the narrative for the future to come, confirming many rumors and fears of many and also the statements of Assassin's Creed's Executive Producer Marc-Alexis Côté at the BAFTA a few weeks ago regarding their shift of focus setting aside the Modern Day plot favoring the History Plot at the front of the experience. However, Jonathan, the Developer in question that revealed all this information to us also expressed that extra information on Modern Day and the Animus Hub for that matter will be shared soon. Another set of sad news but also to be expected -except for a stubborn egghead like me- Assassin's Creed Memories, a role-playing trading card game exclusive to iOS released back in 2014 that already established the lore concerning Japan and its role in the Assassin's Creed Universe back in the day prior to Shadows, is going to be retconned or at least, some elements, according to the devs who answered my questions, revealing that Hattori Hanzō will be in the game, however, the fate of characters like The Four Guardians of Tokugawa Ieyasu and Mochizuki Chiyome is unknown at this point. Ubisoft Quebec's Developer: Jonathan answering my question regarding AC: Memories retcon. For those invested in the canonicity of the story, fear not as this time Ubisoft is not scared to say what is what instead of discretely set the canon in a novel in oder to avoid backlash due to poor decision making; "Canon Mode" now being a thing. This mode will make several choices for you that you would otherwise make yourself in what is assumed to be the "Standard Mode" , making your playthrough canon from A to Z without any hiccups or inconsistencies due to your decisions. Which is great as this kind of integrations in the game again shows confidence in their project which others previously lacked. Project Infinity - Now Rebranded as Animus Hub. 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)

  • Best quotes in Assassin's Creed Unity | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    Best quotes in Assassin's Creed Unity Share Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) 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 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: One Week Later | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    Assassin's Creed Shadows: One Week Later News Share 30 Mar 2025 Written By: Edited By: Hayden Bird Colum Blackett Back To Database Assassin’s Creed Shadows has now been released worldwide for a week, and gamers across the globe finally have had their chances to experience this long awaited and heavily anticipated journey into Feudal Japan, a location that has been long requested for years, and now the gaming world finally gets the opportunity to experience Japan in the style of what any new Assassin’s Creed game offers. After two significant delays, first from its original release date in November of 2024, then to February this year, and delayed once more about a month later to March 20th, fans were more than ready to get to play Shadows and divulge themselves into a lengthy gaming experience, with countless hours of content put together in one game. Yasuke and Naoe in the Assassin's Creed Shadows TV Launch Trailer Shadows does a great job of showing the past life of Feudal Japan in its own unique way, the format gamers have known and loved for the last years, as Shadows has faced competition from a PlayStation made game from 2020 called Ghost of Tsushima , which focuses on a very similar time period, but it was created quite differently in terms of gameplay and similar in ways that were part of real Japan hundreds of years ago. The Samurai, Shinobi, and all the things that were common back then like wielding longswords known as Katana’s, which was the famed weapon of any Samurai. Shadows brought these historical elements into the game but added their own special touch that makes it a great Assassin’s Creed game overall. Shadows will also continue to face some steep competition after launch as PlayStation has recently announced that in some ways, Shadows ’ sole competitor, Ghost of Tsushima , will be getting a sequel called Ghost of Yotei , another journey to past Japan, which is due to release later this year in 2025, so Shadows eventual post-launch content needs to be a worthy rival of soon to be smash hit Ghost of Yotei if they are to both coexist while performing strong in their own respective categories. The new dual protagonist feature Ubisoft has implemented into Assassin’s Creed Shadows has proven to be a successful and smart move by the developers, as the ability to switch between characters at anytime during the game was a fan-favorite approach that was only briefly featured in 2015’s Assassin’s Creed Syndicate and was short lived, appearing in just the one game, but it remained a beloved feature, so bringing this option back to play between two characters instead of choosing a male or female protagonist at the beginning of the game was a good strategy from the developers at Ubisoft Quebec that has clearly worked out thus far. It is creatively unique that the main characters, Naoe and Yasuke, both have immensely different strengths, as Naoe is a great option for stealth and speed, where as Yasuke is a brute force combat expert, but Ubisoft has made it possible that given how different each character is, the mission can still be completed regardless of who you choose to play as for the designated objective. It seems like a tough task to have both protagonists with different skill sets, can both do missions equally as well, regardless of the choice you pick, but Ubisoft aced their approach in creating this new and improved dual-protagonist system. Promotional image for Assassin's Creed Shadows via Ubisoft Assassin’s Creed Shadows has also succeeded on the technical side of things. Through graphics comparisons, looking at each platform side by side, it is evident to see how each game was crafted for the different platforms, sometimes all with different levels of overall power. For example, on the base high end consoles, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, the game runs excellent and was perfectly optimized for both consoles that are likewise equal in internal power levels. You can notice a difference in the less powerful devices too, as for the Xbox Series S and lower end gaming PC’s, the game has had to make graphical sacrifices to perform well on these platforms that lack the pure horsepower that the higher end devices have. But Ubisoft has still managed to optimize and make Shadows run well even with lesser power platforms. Another difference is the very high end systems, such as the PS5 Pro, which is Sony’s high end PlayStation 5 console and also compares well to high end gaming PC’s, where there is a clear visible difference even standing beside the base new-gen gaming consoles, the PS5 Pro has easily visible graphical improvements to the base PS5, even considering the original PS5 is a very powerful console. Ubisoft took their time perfectly optimizing the game so that you get a great experience no matter where you play. The hype of Assassin’s Creed Shadows remains high, as the game is just entering its first full week after release. There is lots still to be explored in this game, both with upcoming post-launch content and future updates that the game may receive. It is evident the gaming community and all Assassin’s Creed fans can be glad with the so far very successful launch last week, and excitement further of what's to come. The new life of Assassin’s Creed Shadows has only just begun, and the fans clearly cannot wait to see how the next months into the games life cycle continues. Assassin's Creed Shadows is available now comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Hayden is a passionate Freelance Writer based in South Carolina who joined TOWCB's Writing Team in 2020 during the Covid-19 Pandemic, writing articles on all things Assassin's Creed Valhalla. He left the group to focus on studies, joining our Alumni program, but triumphantly returned with fresh ideas in 2024 to pick up where he left off, only this time covering Assassin's Creed Shadows. In 2025, Hayden took on the position of Team Leader for TOWCB's Writing Team, overseeing article releases, assisting with recruitment and providing assistance with internal operations. Hayden Bird

  • Jaime (aSassysCreed)

    Jaime is a Twitch Streamer / Artist who was selected to be a member of The Mentor's Guild in 2021, an Assassin's Creed community program hosted by Ubisoft. Jaime left our partnership program to focus on her studies, so we wish her the best of luck with all her future projects, Previous Next Video Content Jaime (aSassysCreed) Previous Partner Jaime is a Twitch Streamer / Artist who was selected to be a member of The Mentor's Guild in 2021, an Assassin's Creed community program hosted by Ubisoft. Jaime left our partnership program to focus on her studies, so we wish her the best of luck with all her future projects, Twitter | Twitch Work

  • Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Huntsman Gear Guide | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Huntsman Gear Guide Guide Share 26 Mar 2021 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Ashlea Buckley Back To Database After the relatively long intro in Norway, you will no doubt be eager to find a new armour set when you arrive in England. One of the easier sets to claim is the Huntsman, which can be found in the opening areas of England. All items can be found in-game without the need for DLC or micro-transactions. The Huntsman Set All gear sets in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will not only provide the player with an aesthetic look, but also stats and bonuses that increase Eivor’s strength. Further to this, your gear will also be aligned to one of the three branches of the skill tree. The Huntsman set follows the wolf skill line and therefore will benefit from any skill points you have placed here. It is also good to consider the set bonus perks that are different for each armour set. The Huntsman gear provides you with a nice Viking look and leans heavily into an archer playstyle. The two bonuses for equipping the Huntsman set are in the image below. It is good to remember that the more pieces of the set you wear, the bigger the bonus. It is not essential though, and you can mix gear for interesting perks. How to Get the Huntsman Gear Set Unfortunately you cannot obtain all of the set pieces in the same region. There are five gear items to collect, with three in Grantebridgescire and the other two in Ledecestrescire. The Power Levels of these regions should not pose too much of a problem, as when you arrive in England both Grantebridgescire and Ledecestrescire are early story destinations. That being said, all of the Huntsman armour is well guarded so you will need to either fight your way to it or use stealth. Grantebridgescire and Ledecestrescire are both Power Level 20, so following the story would be the best way of attaining this set. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla has four tiers for gear pieces: Grey (Fine) Red (Superior) Blue (Flawless) Gold (Mythical) When you fine each piece of the Huntsman set it will already be Superior. It is wise to use what resources you have to bring the gear to its highest level, and save your nickel ingots to upgrade the armour to flawless when you return to Gunnar at the Settlement. It is important to note that Ubisoft recently patched Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, implementing the transmogrification feature. This means you can upgrade your gear to the highest level but not have to worry about not liking the look. You can pay fifty coins to Gunnar and he will amend the aesthetic to one of the previous iterations but with the highest stats. The Huntsman Cape This seems like it could be more difficult than it actually is. Your best route is to take your Longship up river to Templebrough Fort in Ledecestrescire. The cloak can be found in a tower situated in the middle of the river. Just climb the tower and shoot the wood hanging to break the floor below. From here jump down and open the chest. There are a few guards so be careful not to been seen, but it is possible to avoid them altogether. The Huntsman Helm This one can be a little trickier. The helm can be found at Tonnastadir fort in Ledecestrescire. It is a heavily guarded area, which can be difficult early in the game. You will come here as part of the Ledecestrescire story arc, and I would suggest waiting until then to collect the helm. The helm is locked behind a gate, so you will first need to head to the longhouse. The key can be found on a table, but be careful as sometimes there will be guards in the room. Once you have the key, head to the metal gate where three guards will be waiting. There is some debris you can drop on them. Either way you will need to dispatch the guards before entering. The helm can be found at the end of the hallway in a chest. The Huntsman Armour The chest piece is probably the most difficult to obtain. It can be found in Ravensburg outpost, Grantebridgescire. This outpost is part of the story arc so waiting until then is a good option. You will find the chest containing the armour in the main hut at the centre of the enemy camp. Despite the camp being well guarded it is possible to get all the way to the hut unnoticed. You may wish to tactically remove some of the guards just so if you are caught you will not be overwhelmed. The Huntsman Vambraces The vambraces are hidden behind a waterfall in Grantebridgescire. The location is not too far from your settlement. Just head south of Ravensthorpe and you will see an area with two sections of water. The vambraces can be found in the first section of water, behind a waterfall. Once you enter the cave you will find another section of water. You will need to dive in and swim underwater until you reach the end. Straight after exiting the water you will see the chest in front of you. The Huntsman Breeches Your final piece to collect will be the breeches. They are situated in Soham hideout, which is on a patch of land not too far from Isle of Ely Monastery, Grantebridgescire. You will want to sneak into the camp and head towards the large stone building in the centre. Inside you will find a chest containing the breeches. You may also need to dispatch some of the guards. There are two sat at a table in the main building, making it difficult to sneak up on them, so be careful. Once you have all the gear items, you can return to Gunnar to upgrade them. Don’t forget to take a look at the transmogrification feature. It is also worth mentioning that you can pay travellers for information regarding the location of gear items (represented on the map by a question mark) Hopefully these tips will help you get started on your Viking adventure. Valhalla is a wonderful game full of intrigue and mystery with a story that sucks you in slowly. Be patient and take your time, you will not regret it. 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

  • Guides Hub | TheOnesWhoCameBefore

    Guides Database Assassin's Creed Valhalla Guides Assassin's Creed Origins Guides

  • Draft

    Michael Draft Article Community News Watch Dogs x Assassin's Creed Crossover Officially Announced 19/8/21 By Colum Blackett Edited by Ashlea Buckley Share Season Pass owners for Watch Dogs: Legion will soon be able to play as Darcy, a futuristic Modern Day Assassin operating in London. In an update launching August 25th, Darcy will be introduced as a playable character in the main game and online mode, alongside two new story missions that will be available for all players. Although the addition is purely f an service rather than a canonical crossover, fans are undoubtedly excited to Glimpse was revealed back in February Where this article comes to the opinion of myself, is in the latest three titles, an opinion made after seeing the Ubisoft team that works on the Assassin’s Creed series’ game plan for future DLC and the recent announcements of more transmedia stories. Stated simply, the story must be progressed with a shift in focus towards a third party, the Isu race. While AC Origins established the backbone to the creation of the Assassin Brotherhood via the Hidden Ones and their leader Amunet, it wasn’t until the post-game that a proto-Assassin group was introduced and their creed established. Gameplay moved to a more combat focused style with skill trees and gear sets, over the expected gameplay of gear and evasive movement and tools to work from the sidelines of battle. The next title, Assassin's Creed Odyssey , which took place nearly 360 years before Origins dove into the lore of the Isu by telling the Greek Epic of Kassandra of Sparta, a demi-god trying to discover the secrets of her heritage and stop a hidden organization known as the Cult of Kosmos. From this title came the “Fate of Atlantis” DLC which put the misthios (mercenary) in the pantheon of the Isu, the Gods of Greek Mythology. Following this was the age of the Vikings and the journey of Eivor (mentioned before) as she worked to establish a home for her people in England while on the side assisting the Hidden Ones from outside their order. With the inclusion of transmedia stories, the Assassins vs Templar had shifted to the budding seed of a bigger war, Man vs God. While the story of the Assassins was still present (Bayek & Amunet, Darius, and Basim & Hytham), the new characters (Kassandra, Eivor, & Geirmund of Geirmund’s Saga) were locked in wars of nations (The Peloponnesian War & the Norse Invasion of Europe). What links all of these warriors from the RPG titles is their belief in the Gods. Egyption, Greek, and Norse Gods that in the lore of Assassin’s Creed were known as the Isu. The Isu are a race of pre-human beings powered by divine abilities and tools known as the Pieces of Eden. Both the Assassin’s and the Templars fight over discovering and collecting these tools to overpower the other and either save or control the world from the destructive nature of the Isu’s creations. Focused now on exploring this outside party, the Isu’s humanity and corruption as a people and puppeteers of the Genetic Memories that were witnessed with the RPG protagonists is simply the next stepping stone in lore and world building. These are times where choice and belief in higher powers, victory in battle and the search for wealth were more culturally driven than the secret war of the previous 10 years of games. Whilst Ubisoft works on the next stage of the series with Assassin’s Creed Infinity, an entry that is seeming to move towards a live service, the Assassins we have come to love have been provided a new home in the various mediums of transmedia, showing that the series and its historical timeline is not always controlled in secret, but sometimes by the actions of warriors seeking a seat at the table of the gods. With future content being released across transmedia, which includes the games, Ubisoft should take what their fans are saying about the lack of Assassins in the main staple of the series (the games) but fans should also take into consideration the effort and world building that is put into transmedia as some of these stories would not translate well to a game or add-on. The other benefit of these tales is that you get to experience the world through the eyes and minds of multiple authors and artists while you learn more about the characters and location with descriptive detail and inner thoughts which give a more fulfilling experience. In time, I hope a balance of story and traditional mechanics, such as the return of the stealthy nature of the original games, can be reached to bring life back to the abandoned bureaus and the fans of the past back to the wonderful fold of the Assassin’s Creed series. With how great the community is and how supportive it is within itself, I have enjoyed my time with the world of AC and seeing how what started as a game in the shadows of the major AAA games has become a beacon for adventure in the annals of history. Mike Smith is a collector of all things Assassin's Creed and a major supporter of the transmedia platform for the series. With nearly a full library of Assassin's Creed media, he is exploring the universe in order of Genetic Memory, and waiting eagerly for the next story to be released. Mike joined the program in 2021 as an Online Article Writer, and has a section dedicated to his work in the Community Hub. About the Author

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