Hi from a new recruit
Hi everyone, so I'm no stranger to the series, I've been around since just before AC3 came out. I own all of the main games and some of the non-main games, but I've only played up to partway through Black Flag, because I have a terrible PC that can barely run anything (I'm trying to save up to get a new one). I do know quite a bit about the newer games, though. Anyway, while I'm extremely familiar with the series and I know some of the games like the back of my hand, I know there's so much more I can learn and discover from all you AC veterans here!
I've recently been on an AC binge and played up to AC3 and then had to stop unfortunately because my PC can no longer run Black Flag. I went back to Brotherhood, and am currently playing AC2 and I'm having so much fun (except for that abysmal LoD and draw distance lol). I feel I have a lot I could contribute to this website, and I'm hoping I can get some advice on how to start playing the games in a more unique way. I have a little bit of an obsession with this series and it's nice to see other people that love the games as much as I do.
If there's anything any of you want to know about me, my playstyle, opinions on the series, etc. I'm an open book, and I apologize for the long introduction!!
Sidenote: I recently discovered Sweetfx and I've been working on a preset for AC2. I think I've done a pretty good job at improving the color, lighting, and overall prettiness of the game, so if anyone is interested in trying it out for themselves, I'm more than happy to put up my work on the Sweetfx database. (for those of you who don't know about Sweetfx, it's only for PC and it essentially injects extra graphical features into the game. you can adjust factors like bloom, saturation, sharpness, ambient occlusion, etc). There are so many graphical "mods" for these games and i highly recommend checking them out.
Welcome to the Brotherhood, Charlotte!
I hope you enjoy your time here. We've got a pretty varied mix of people with affinities for different aspects of the games, both in-game and out-of-game. Some people are awesome at finding crazy possibilities, others love talking about the story, others still discuss the design of the games, and how it could be more coherent. There's absolutely going to be stuff you can do in order to contribute and have a good time. There'll always be something or other to talk about, and we tend to enjoy answering any questions as well.
As SunBlade is also a recent new member, I recommend you drop into her Introduction thread, or her Brotherhood First Impressions thread, and say hello. I think it'd be a great idea for you two to get acquainted and continue your exploration of the site knowing that you've got someone else who's on "even footing" as it were.
If you wouldn't mind a few questions, since I'm curious and you opened yourself up to them:
How do you like to play Assassin's Creed, overall? Have you ever wanted to play Assassin's Creed in one way, but found that the games didn't quite support that? Conversely, have you ever wanted to play AC in some way or style, and found that the games totally DID let you? These are questions I've been mulling over in my head about myself and the people here in general lately. Feel free to think about them if they sound interesting to you.
Cheers!
- DAZ
Thanks! This community really seems tight-knit and I'm definitely going to explore around a bit more and contribute in any way I can. I'm always down to talk about assassin's creed!
I just introduced myself on SunBlade's brotherhood thread, thanks for the suggestion. Nice to know you guys continue to get new members in.
I try to vary my playstyle with each playthrough of each game. In my first or second playthrough, I'll usually just play in whatever way suits the mission best, but in subsequent playthroughs I usually try to play almost exclusively stealthy and use a lot of strategy when doing missions. Only in AC3 and AC1 have I done an entire playthrough as a "tank" character, which has actually been very fun and adds a different kind of challenge to what I'm used to.
As far as restrictive gameplay goes in the series, I really dislike insta-fail missions when you get detected and like everyone else, tailing missions are boring since they can only be played in one way. The insta fail missions only bother me because sometimes the AI will bug out and detect you as you're in the middle of killing them, which is really annoying. I also don't love some of the optional objectives in certain missions, since they also restrict your methods of doing the mission, and slap a big fat 'Full Sync Failed' on your screen when you try something different. it's the worst in naval missions and the 'don't lose any health' missions imo. Playing through AC2 is really refreshing, the lack of objectives is weird, but a little bit freeing.
The above complaints are fairly minor, I really feel AC gives you a lot of freedom to play how you want. My absolute favorite thing is in the secret locations when you have to go through a non-linear level and figure out where you need to go. I also really miss the glyphs in 2 and Brotherhood, they added a puzzle element to the game that was difficult and really was rewarding once you figured out the answer. My main point here is how well the series handles the open world aspects of the game, the exploration is one thing that is consistently done right in every AC, whether it's exploring a new area or city, underground tunnels, underwater, or the forest, there's always something new to see or some small detail that you never noticed before. This may seem like a negative point, but in a lot of parts in the games where stealth isn't necessary, it seems to almost be discouraged in favor of a more direct approach. However, I love the challenge it gives and I love having the option to go in guns blazing if I mess up.
Anyway, I'm sorry if I bored you with this painfully long reply!!
Anyway, I'm sorry if I bored you with this painfully long reply!!
Lol. New gal thinks this is a long reply. I wade through longer anecdotes in DAZ's and Calvar's replies... 
“Force has no place where there is need of skill." Herodotus
lol, well there's nothing i love more than reading (or writing) a good rant haha
Welcome. You're in good company.
Welcome to the Order~
Last month I recruited a female on YouTube to join The Hidden Blade. She's a total AC1 fan and was interested enough to confirm the URL with me. Since then we've had two females introduce themselves. I keep thinking, "Oh, here she is." Nope. Still waiting.
Anyway, it's always nice to have new members. Welcome to The Hidden Blade, charlotte!
Ahh man, more AC1 fans would always be amazing.
Thanks stabguy! Well she may never show up, but I'm honestly a mega fan of AC1 too, I'm going to play it again for like the 4th or 5th time soon and I'm finally going to collect all 300(?) flags. Maybe I'll try to play this time with just the hidden blade or fists just to switch things up a bit....
Anyway thanks for the warm welcome from you and everyone else!
Just hidden blade is a favorite of mine in AC1... because of the way combat is initiated, you have to manually select the blade every time you're in open conflict though. Just so you know. 
“Force has no place where there is need of skill." Herodotus
I did know, but thanks 
I can never time my hidden blade counters correctly in combat though so I may just do fists so I don't ragequit from dying too much lol
My second playthrough was hidden blade only and I also recommend it. The hardest part was the mandatory Save Citizen outside of Damascus because you don't have the Counter ability in Memory Block 2. I was stuck for a moment but then remembered Grab-Throw-Assassinate.
Fists only is possible but makes combat very demanding. Fly Like An Eagle documented his fists only playthrough Eagle's Bruise in diary format (no videos). He developed some fighting strategies but said sequences such as Arsuf took over an hour.
Aw, man! This talk about hidden blade-only or fists-only playthroughs gets me all exciting to come up with a new challenge for myself in AC1. I did minimal kills once, that was fun. I don't remember if I've ever tried to limit myself to just the hidden blade or fists. Maybe I'll try that sometime soon.
Hidden Blade only runs in AC1 are also awesome because they open up use of Dodge much more. Dodge is a cool action a player can input but if you're playing with sword or short blade, it tends to feel kind of redundant, since Counter already covers all of its uses and then some. The exception is Hidden Blade Counters. When you don't feel confident that you'll nail a Hidden Blade Counter, Dodge now has a strong use because it will avoid damage for you, while being easier to time than H.Blade Counters. This was something I thought was very very neat, saying, "Ohhhh, so it's here for when you don't feel safe attempting a Counter. Gotcha."
Still waiting on the 10th Anniversary AC1 remaster...
Also, hi!
Aw, man! This talk about hidden blade-only or fists-only playthroughs gets me all exciting to come up with a new challenge for myself in AC1. I did minimal kills once, that was fun. I don't remember if I've ever tried to limit myself to just the hidden blade or fists. Maybe I'll try that sometime soon.
A fun non-combat challenge I enjoy is where you can only take the rooftops (unless of course you're required to be on the ground) and you cannot kill any archers, so you have to run past them or hide before they see you. It really makes you feel like an assassin. It's especially challenging in Acre where every building has an archer
Hidden Blade only runs in AC1 are also awesome because they open up use of Dodge much more. Dodge is a cool action a player can input but if you're playing with sword or short blade, it tends to feel kind of redundant, since Counter already covers all of its uses and then some. The exception is Hidden Blade Counters. When you don't feel confident that you'll nail a Hidden Blade Counter, Dodge now has a strong use because it will avoid damage for you, while being easier to time than H.Blade Counters. This was something I thought was very very neat, saying, "Ohhhh, so it's here for when you don't feel safe attempting a Counter. Gotcha."
Dodge is so underused but so useful. I use it a lot against heavys but as far as I remember they don't really have those in the first AC. But isn't it unavailable until about halfway through the game? Unless that's AC2...
Thanks for that tip stabguy, I imagine I probably would've gotten really stuck on that part. I gave that link a look and I'm surprised that it seems more difficult than using the hidden blades, especially since you can actually fight with your fists. It does make sense though, they don't do a lot of damage and disarming is useless when you can't insta kill them with your sword.
Well, you and the others have convinced me to try doing only hidden blades! I don't know how long it will last but I'm hoping I have the dedication to make it to endgame. I'll have to practice my air assassinations too since they're a bit iffy on when they work and when they don't. The taunt penalty and the grab and throw trick will really come in handy this time I'll probably start sometime this week.
Still waiting on the 10th Anniversary AC1 remaster...Also, hi!
You and me both mate, fingers crossed they actually do it
And hi yourself!
My second playthrough was hidden blade only and I also recommend it. The hardest part was the mandatory Save Citizen outside of Damascus because you don't have the Counter ability in Memory Block 2. I was stuck for a moment but then remembered Grab-Throw-Assassinate.
Here is how to do it rapidly: Jump from horse while locking on, select hidden blade (you have to select it after locking on), low-profile assassinate the guard in front before Altaïr actually says anything, then step around the bubble towards the merchant stall on the right side, wait for the dude to come to you, grab and throw him to (not into) the merchant stall, let the second dude miss a swing, then throw him into the merchant stall. At no point should you be locked on other than the first milisecond to free up your weapons.
Demonstration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktT9sLl_IHg&t=23s