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Post by turianlannister on Dec 1, 2020 2:35:08 GMT
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Post by dgcatanisiri on Dec 1, 2020 3:54:47 GMT
Has the combat improved since the previous game, or is it basically the same as before? Combat plays roughly the same, but the abilities map is completely changed into this weird constellation thing where you don't get to see everything until you've progressed towards each constellation. It's a hassle, but honestly, given that you'll likely end up with enough points to actually be able to unlock everything... There are worse things. Especially since you can respec at any time.
And I'm serious about the "unlock everything." The highest leveled area in the game calls for a "Power level" of 360, and in my game, I'm presently at about 260, have only finished out to a late game segment, not the endgame, and I've been ignoring a lot of the sidequests, and I've unfogged the whole constellation map with points in just about everything.
Again, a hassle, but a manageable one.
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izut
The Beastmaster
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Post by izut on Dec 1, 2020 5:45:50 GMT
Has the combat improved since the previous game, or is it basically the same as before? Combat plays roughly the same, but the abilities map is completely changed into this weird constellation thing where you don't get to see everything until you've progressed towards each constellation. It's a hassle, but honestly, given that you'll likely end up with enough points to actually be able to unlock everything... There are worse things. Especially since you can respec at any time.
And I'm serious about the "unlock everything." The highest leveled area in the game calls for a "Power level" of 360, and in my game, I'm presently at about 260, have only finished out to a late game segment, not the endgame, and I've been ignoring a lot of the sidequests, and I've unfogged the whole constellation map with points in just about everything.
Again, a hassle, but a manageable one.
I think after patch 1.0.4 you see the main skills from the tree because 4 of previously hidden ones showed up on my tree after they patched the game. Combat is, imo, easier now. Stealth can be tricky but imo in an interesting and good way. A hood actually has a reason to exist now. Bows are like a combination between Origin and Odyssey. I'm using 2 of them and I really need a way to be able to quickly switch between them. I guess if someone liked Odyssey they'll also like Valhalla. The more I play the more I love Eivor, her stories and abilities. I can't say which one I like more - Kassandra or Eivor, Odyssey or Valhalla anymore. I love them both. EDIT: had to log in from work because tapatalk is somehow messed up and won't let me finish... So, as for the power I'm rushing up with the story ever since Fulke took Sigurd . I already saved him, did 2 other regions, I'm working for king Alfred right now and yet, I'm nearly 300th level of power so getting that kind of level isn't really hard. I've completely cleared only Norway and the majority of two first regions without getting most of the rewards from world events because those were buggy as hell on me. I'm also rushing up only on this play through because I want to be full loyal just once and don't want to do that ever again. Eivor is a very well written character and some of those choices are not the choices she would ever make. Examples: She'd definitely punch at least Sigurd. As for Basim - there's a chance she'd do that too. No one is her master. A Jarl, yes. But she's not a slave so what Basim says is wrong. He doesn't know her at all and putting Sigurd on such pedestal is wrong no matter what. Especially when we know Eivor was enslaved for a lil bit.
She'd also stand against Sigurd's unfair judgement because she always puts other people above herself. Especially kids and simple civilians. Considering how she's always rushing up to help others, save others etc, it's impossible she'd just stand like this when her brother is making such a stupid judgement that even those who came to the Jarl with this problem are like "wtf man, stop". I'm not going to touch any side stuff like 2 other maps or any other side quests on this play through. I'm leaving those for the next one which will be long and hopefully not bugged. I still have so many issues. Things that bugged on me at the beginning are still bugged which means the only way to fix it is start a new game anyway. |
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Post by Lee on Dec 1, 2020 8:43:33 GMT
Thanks for the information izut and dgcatanisiri. I am still on course to get this game sometime soonTM. Here's hoping I can dodge roll the *fuckery* and enjoy it.  |
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izut
The Beastmaster
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Likes: 1,451
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Post by izut on Dec 1, 2020 13:18:56 GMT
Thanks for the information izut and dgcatanisiri. I am still on course to get this game sometime soonTM. Here's hoping I can dodge roll the *fuckery* and enjoy it. I pre-ordered Gold Edition. My 2nd AC game pre-ordered. 1st one was Odyssey. Bugs or not, it was worth it 🥰 I hope you'll love it too, once you get it. |
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Post by mediocreogre on Dec 1, 2020 22:26:11 GMT
Eivor's body is found during the modern segments in the New England area, and there's a memory sequence that features Eivor travelling to "Vinland," encountering I believe Iroquois Native Americans, an area that is implied to be connected to the Temple that featured in AC3. Ty also you daveliam Dunno if the Iroquois Confederacy existed quite yet back then but maybe one of the member nations.
Interesting. In the US in public schools they used the Vikings coming to North America as a story of “see, Europeans can be peaceful!” Despite the genocidal history of Vikings toward the indigenous peoples of Scandinavia, their brutalizations of indigenous Irish, and the Anglo/Saxon/friesan being used by Romano-English to slaughter the indigenous celts.
And then you never learn about the many contacts natives in western North America had with Chinese/Japanese that were far more peaceful.
Anyways. I guess I better start strengthening my resolve. Especially since modern day “Vinland” is currently the site of anti indigenous violence. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2020 13:38:44 GMT
Eivor's body is found during the modern segments in the New England area, and there's a memory sequence that features Eivor travelling to "Vinland," encountering I believe Iroquois Native Americans, an area that is implied to be connected to the Temple that featured in AC3. Ty also you daveliam Dunno if the Iroquois Confederacy existed quite yet back then but maybe one of the member nations.
Interesting. In the US in public schools they used the Vikings coming to North America as a story of “see, Europeans can be peaceful!” Despite the genocidal history of Vikings toward the indigenous peoples of Scandinavia, their brutalizations of indigenous Irish, and the Anglo/Saxon/friesan being used by Romano-English to slaughter the indigenous celts.
And then you never learn about the many contacts natives in western North America had with Chinese/Japanese that were far more peaceful.
Anyways. I guess I better start strengthening my resolve. Especially since modern day “Vinland” is currently the site of anti indigenous violence. Fun fact: In high school (way back in the day because I'm so old and decrepit now), we had to write a thesis paper to graduate. Almost everyone in my class did historical biographies of celebrities (or weirdly, serial killers, for some reason), a few people did synthesis papers for authors, and then I decided to write my thesis paper on the history of the Iroquois Confederacy. Still can't remember why I made that choice, but I still have the paper (the actual physically typed out paper because I'm so old and decrepit now) today. Anyway, it's unlikely that the Iroquois existed in 800 BC, when Eivor would have visited Vinland. The confederacy more likely formed in the late 14th or early 15th centuries, pre-colonial settlements. Despite this, it's also unlikely that the Iroquois would have been the people who Eivor (or historically, Leif Erikson) would have met in Newfoundland anyway, since the Confederacy didn't expand that northeast. Instead, it likely would have been the Beothuk people, who were probably Algonquin, but that's speculation.
I've held off doing that questline because it seems anachronistic that Eivor would leave England due to the other plot points. But the further that I go in the story, the more likely it seems that there actually isn't a good time for that trip, so I might do it soon just for a change of pace. The past few days, I've been on an assassin hunt and have taken out all but 2 of the zealots and all of the Order members (sans one) that isn't locked behind main quests. And stupid Gorm and his stupid Gorm face is still staring at me on that screen, so I think it's about time for a little journey.......
Regarding your points about indigenous violence, totally agreed for many reasons. There's always been a whitewashing of American history. The only positive that I can see with highlighting the Norse immigration to Vinland is that, even for Eurocentrists, it takes away the accomplishment from that shit-stain Columbus who absolutely did nothing of note but has somehow wormed his way into cultural relevancy here in the US. That being said, I fully support the movement to celebrate Indigenous People's Day instead of Columbus Day. because fuck Columbus. |
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Post by mediocreogre on Dec 2, 2020 20:27:49 GMT
Ty also you daveliam Dunno if the Iroquois Confederacy existed quite yet back then but maybe one of the member nations.
Interesting. In the US in public schools they used the Vikings coming to North America as a story of “see, Europeans can be peaceful!” Despite the genocidal history of Vikings toward the indigenous peoples of Scandinavia, their brutalizations of indigenous Irish, and the Anglo/Saxon/friesan being used by Romano-English to slaughter the indigenous celts.
And then you never learn about the many contacts natives in western North America had with Chinese/Japanese that were far more peaceful.
Anyways. I guess I better start strengthening my resolve. Especially since modern day “Vinland” is currently the site of anti indigenous violence. Fun fact: In high school (way back in the day because I'm so old and decrepit now), we had to write a thesis paper to graduate. Almost everyone in my class did historical biographies of celebrities (or weirdly, serial killers, for some reason), a few people did synthesis papers for authors, and then I decided to write my thesis paper on the history of the Iroquois Confederacy. Still can't remember why I made that choice, but I still have the paper (the actual physically typed out paper because I'm so old and decrepit now) today. Anyway, it's unlikely that the Iroquois existed in 800 BC, when Eivor would have visited Vinland. The confederacy more likely formed in the late 14th or early 15th centuries, pre-colonial settlements. Despite this, it's also unlikely that the Iroquois would have been the people who Eivor (or historically, Leif Erikson) would have met in Newfoundland anyway, since the Confederacy didn't expand that northeast. Instead, it likely would have been the Beothuk people, who were probably Algonquin, but that's speculation.
I've held off doing that questline because it seems anachronistic that Eivor would leave England due to the other plot points. But the further that I go in the story, the more likely it seems that there actually isn't a good time for that trip, so I might do it soon just for a change of pace. The past few days, I've been on an assassin hunt and have taken out all but 2 of the zealots and all of the Order members (sans one) that isn't locked behind main quests. And stupid Gorm and his stupid Gorm face is still staring at me on that screen, so I think it's about time for a little journey.......
Regarding your points about indigenous violence, totally agreed for many reasons. There's always been a whitewashing of American history. The only positive that I can see with highlighting the Norse immigration to Vinland is that, even for Eurocentrists, it takes away the accomplishment from that shit-stain Columbus who absolutely did nothing of note but has somehow wormed his way into cultural relevancy here in the US. That being said, I fully support the movement to celebrate Indigenous People's Day instead of Columbus Day. because fuck Columbus. As that’s cute. I wish more people in the US would learn anything about us. Like how we had numerous settlements larger in population than contemporaneous European cities, how we had well established trade routes stretching from Alaska to Peru, and how we had fundamentally different ideas about the importance of the rights of the individual that influenced the US (and y’all still fuck up). |
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izut
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Post by izut on Dec 2, 2020 23:14:48 GMT
I forgot to say that Valhalla puts an exploration in the game on a whole new level Lee There're plenty of things the game won't tell you how to do so the player needs to move their head a bit which is great. It kind of reminds me of Zelda BOTW a bit. |
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Post by dgcatanisiri on Dec 3, 2020 14:10:52 GMT
Yeah, that's the thing that bugs with all the world events - the market doesn't change locations, even as you advance the quest, so you'll have to fumble around to get through them. Some are pretty localized, but a couple involve a lot of map roving, and that's really a pain.
So I've FINALLY wrapped up the main story - dealt with the Odin matter (which was very counter-intuitive and I had to look up online how I was supposed to handle that boss fight...), got all the alliances... I haven't dealt with the remaining Order members, and given that I kinda feel burnt out on the game at this point, I don't even expect I will in the near future, but otherwise, I'm wrapped up for the time being.
And... good LORD, did it really have to end with another attempt at trying to get the player to accept a Randvi hookup? Like, I honestly get shades of my issues surrounding Liara on this, because... I mean, obviously, I am not the target audience for her, but I just found her a very flat character, doing nothing to really present herself as Eivor claims in that conversation, even in the shut down, of her being their best friend and trusted right hand - she handled the alliance map, sure, but aside from the "get out of the longhouse" quest, there's no real sign of any deep friendship between them. Hell, on a personal note, I soured on her as a character for her failing to speak up and say she asked Eivor to step in at a Jarl judgment when Sigurd got pissed for Eivor 'presuming to lead for him' or whatever, letting them take all the heat for that.
I honestly just feel like she's there as the sexy lamp, the romantic prize for (specifically male) Eivor, rather than as a character in her own right.
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Post by Lee on Dec 3, 2020 15:03:06 GMT
I don't get why gaming companies think it's okay to have female romances pushed on you-when they know damn well if it was the male romance shoved on the pc the world would burn around them. So why torture straight women and gay men? Romances can still be effective and powerful optionally. It's not that complicated.
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izut
The Beastmaster
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Post by izut on Dec 3, 2020 20:57:34 GMT
And... good LORD, did it really have to end with another attempt at trying to get the player to accept a Randvi hookup? I guess you faced a bug because if you told her you want to stay friends there souldn't be this option at the end at all. But this part is extremely bugged from what I've heard. I told her I want to wait because I want that ending to be sweet and earned but I'm afraid it'll bug on me and there will be no option at all (it happens quite often!). This game seems to be the most glitched AC ever made. But since the protagonist is lovable and the plot is quite nice they're getting lots of praise. Because it IS a good game. Just messed up by all the glitches, even to the point they can ruin a gameplay completely. I know 2 people who had to start a new game because a part of the main quest bugged on them so much it was impossible to continue even after plenty of reloading. I wouldn't call her sexy tbh. But I see her romance as well written compared to all others and especially to Odyssey. She must be older than Sigurd which makes her over 30 years old and you can see it on her face which isn't a picture of beauty at all. But she's nice, honest and spicy. I guess guys are into Villi, if I'm not mistaken? He's also nicely written IMO. I'm still rushing through. I want another playthrough asap with the choices I want to make  |
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Post by dgcatanisiri on Dec 4, 2020 0:11:14 GMT
No kidding about being buggy - I’ve had more crashes with this game than any other - at least once per play session of several hours. At least.
When I say “sexy lamp,” it’s a trope term, that you can replace this character in the plot with a lamp shaped like something attractive (the original “sexy lamp” was an actual lamp shaped like a woman’s leg in nylon stockings), and there is no real change. Randvi has no discernible personality for me, her purpose in the plot is to man the alliance map, which could have been filled by any character or a box of text, and, because she did this “two chances for romance” thing, it felt like the game pushing her as a reward for completing the plot, literally making her Eivor’s reward.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2020 21:02:39 GMT
A question and I'm not sure if it's a bug: During the siege of Portcestre, where all of your allies show up to help you, Vili is one of the people fighting their way through the siege beside Eivor. However, I didn't leave him as Jarl, I made Trygve Jarl. The dialogue sounds like Vili is leading his people, but those people should be Trygve's. Is this a bug? Or is Vili meant to be beside you regardless of his status as Jarl or not? He's currently in my raiding party, so it could make sense either way, but I wasn't sure since the others (Soma, Ubba, Ljufvina, Stowe, Erke, Hunwald, & Birstan) were all the leaders you left in power with vows of support. Vili is the only non-leader in the group. But he's also your best friend from childhood. So it could make sense either way, I suppose.
Regardless, I loved that he had random dialogue during the battle where he was shouting at Ubba to see if Ubba had eyes on Eivor. There was genuine concern in his voice. A nice little touch if you also did his quasi-romance arc.
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izut
The Beastmaster
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Post by izut on Dec 5, 2020 22:13:04 GMT
A question and I'm not sure if it's a bug: During the siege of Portcestre, where all of your allies show up to help you, Vili is one of the people fighting their way through the siege beside Eivor. However, I didn't leave him as Jarl, I made Trygve Jarl. The dialogue sounds like Vili is leading his people, but those people should be Trygve's. Is this a bug? Or is Vili meant to be beside you regardless of his status as Jarl or not? He's currently in my raiding party, so it could make sense either way, but I wasn't sure since the others (Soma, Ubba, Ljufvina, Stowe, Erke, Hunwald, & Birstan) were all the leaders you left in power with vows of support. Vili is the only non-leader in the group. But he's also your best friend from childhood. So it could make sense either way, I suppose.
Regardless, I loved that he had random dialogue during the battle where he was shouting at Ubba to see if Ubba had eyes on Eivor. There was genuine concern in his voice. A nice little touch if you also did his quasi-romance arc.
I have no idea because Vili joined Eivor's clan so he has every right to be there too, right?
I just got the point where I had to tell him my Eivor never thought about him in a romantic way. OMG, it was hard even for me. Yes, he's definitely well written too. When I say “sexy lamp,” it’s a trope term, that you can replace this character in the plot with a lamp shaped like something attractive (the original “sexy lamp” was an actual lamp shaped like a woman’s leg in nylon stockings), and there is no real change. Wow, I've never heard about such trope. But she's nothing like that IMO. I think once you learn about her and how she's treated, when you read her scribble, you can see where this comes from. And she's not someone "just standing behind the table" or whatever. She's the one that keeps the settlement whole. She's the one that's truly a ruler out there even tho she's not the Jarl. She keeps it all together for both Eivor and Sigurd to come back to. And it's clear it's wise not to mess with her. She'd smash some skulls with her hammers. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2020 12:56:36 GMT
Okay, so I just finished the main storyline and I had some thoughts on the concerns about male Eivor/female Eivor: So to start, I'm very new to AC lore and might have gotten this wrong. The only other AC games I played were the first one (which I don't think I even finished) and the third one (which I mostly played the multiplayer). All that to say that it was pretty hard to follow once Eivor and Sigurd found Yggdrasil. But this is what I think was happening.
Apparently the animus, the machine that allows people in the present to experience the past, doesn't just allow them to see what actually happened, it's a simulator where they can play out different scenarios. It's why Layla stays behind the end, to sort through the billions of other ways that humanity's fate can play out.
If that's true, then it's not that male Eivor is a skin over female Eivor. It's that male Eivor is a one alternate version of Eivor. It's not the historical Eivor; we know that historically Eivor was a woman. But it's also not that he's just a skin in the animus over the real Eivor. For example, it was said that the romances "see" Eivor as a female since that's what she really was. But I don't think that's the case at all. In my playthrough, Eivor was a male in the simulation so the characters saw him as a male. Layla wasn't seeing what actually happened in the past; she was seeing an alternate way that history could have happened should Eivor had been a man and made the decisions that I made. The other AC games didn't have a gender choice and it's explained by saying that Eivor (the historic viking woman) had DNA from Odin (something about Isu that I didn't understand) which allowed the animus to generate simulations of both male and female.
tl;dr Male Eivor isn't real, but none of the playthroughs are real because they are all just simulated "what if" scenarios. Male Eivor isn't just a skin over a female; he's a male in that simulation.
I hope this made sense. And if I'm off on the lore, let me know. But I don't think that Ubisoft did us dirty at all.
My takeaway on the game in general? Super fun. Male Eivor was kind of adorkable at times, which really endeared him to me. The "romance" feature wasn't all that. Tarben is the only guy who can be a long term relationship and other than the typical "kiss him/take him to bed" dialogue option (that leads to the same recycled animation just like in DA:O), there's really nothing to his "romance" after the few short personal quests. Even so, it was sweet despite him not really even showing up as a background character in most of the cut scenes. And there were a decent amount of other m/m flirts/hook ups. My Eivor hooked up and/or flirted with at least 5 other guys. Don't get the game if you are looking for meaningful romance content. But if you are looking for a fun RPG with some light m/m action, it's worth picking up. |
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Post by Rouccoco on Dec 10, 2020 14:18:25 GMT
Without spoiling too much about the animus - but still gonna use the tags: Odyssey had a gender choice, which was 100% respected. The canon is Kassandra, but if you choose Alexios it is confirmed without a doubt in your playthrough that Alexios was the misthios and that what you and Layla see is exactly how it happened. The only part of the game, where it is said that it's just a simulation is Atlantis, but that doesn't influence the protagonist choice.
Before Origins the Animus basically read genetic memories of the ancestor of a modern day protagonist. Origins changed it to "any dna sample" allowing to see memories of unrelated people, even if they didn't have kids. So ACV does change things. Moving the choice from a game mechanic to a story mechanic does say "your canon is not real" in the game itself, while in Odyssey it was stated only online or in the book.
Like with the marriage in Fallout 4, or the DLC in Odyssey, it depends on how much you're willing to ignore and how much you enjoy the game overall. |
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Post by Lee on Dec 23, 2020 18:54:37 GMT
I just bought this (digitially) on xbox one x. I figured it was the only game left that's newish that I wanted for xmas. Plus, it's on sale-got it for 49 (with taxes). Which is a pretty good deal I guess.  I'll start it soon, not sure when. |
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Post by Lee on Dec 25, 2020 18:28:06 GMT
So I started playing. I'm getting my ass kicked...a lot. I hope the game will get easier as I progress my character. I'm doing "okay" in combat, but something always happens-(like a platform collapsing and I take a lot of fall damage), or someone sets me on fire, ugh that one sucks! Also as per usual with these games. I find the constant treasure/collectables to be anxiety fuel. I know I don't have to collect them all, but it burns to see them there and me not try to get most of them at least.  |
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Post by Lee on Dec 28, 2020 6:23:57 GMT
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I'll start it soon, not sure when. 
