User:IlMualim/sandbox IV

View Points were structures high enough for an observer positioned on its tallest point to view the surrounding terrain. They ranged from church towers and roof beams on the city's landmarks, to watchtowers and guard posts. They were essential in allowing an individual to better understand their surroundings.

High Middle Ages
View Points could be found in the cities of Damascus, Jerusalem, Acre and also in the Kingdom, but not in Masyaf. Each city contained 10 to 12 view points located on the highest buildings, such as a cross on top of a Catholic cathedral, the top of a lighthouse in the port-city of Acre, or a palace guard tower in the city of Damascus. View Points could be located by watching the skies for the eagles that nested nearby, and climbing atop one of these structures allowed Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad to synchronize with the View Point, allowing him to gaze over a vast area.

Because of this, View Points enabled Altaïr to observe the layout of the terrain and rooftops around him, along with watching the movement of its people. After the first View Point in a map was "activated," it revealed the location of the remaining View Points and objectives within a certain radius.

Some View Points had archers defending the position, or guards set around and below it, who could either fire arrows or throw rocks to prevent anyone climbing from reaching the top. At the very bottom of the View Point, carts or piles of hay were conveniently positioned, providing safe locations for the performance of a Leap of Faith.

15th century
During the 15th century, View Points functioned much the same as during the Third Crusade, and some were located on famous landmarks of Italy. Ezio Auditore da Firenze would not only be able to dive into carts and stacks of hay, but also into those of flower petals, leaves, spices, and bodies of water. There were 73 View Points (66 excluding downloadable content) divided among the cities.

16th century
During the 16th century, View Points functioned in the same way as before, with 24 of them scattered throughout Rome. Half of these View Points were Borgia Towers, and some of them were located on famous monuments, such as the Colosseum and Pantheon.

Constantinople
View Points served the same function in Constantinople and Cappadocia during Ezio's travels to the Ottoman Empire, with 22 of them scattered around Constantinople, as well as one in Cappadocia. Much like the Borgia towers, seven of these View Points were Assassin Dens, and once again, some of them were located on famous monuments, such as the Hagia Sophia and Topkapı Palace.

Trivia

 * In Assassin's Creed, the "Fearless" achievement refers to View Points as "Reach High Points". However, in other areas of the game, they are referred to as "Eagle Points".
 * Also in Assassin's Creed, Altaïr may activate Eagle Vision once he has synchronized with the View Point. However, in Assassin's Creed II and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, attempting to do so will simply have Ezio "interact" with the View Point, observing his surroundings again.
 * In each game, the highest point was either inaccessible or not a View Point: in Assassin's Creed, it was located in fortress of Masyaf; in Assassin's Creed II, it was the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore; in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, it was the Castel Sant'Angelo and in Assassin's Creed Revelations it was the Galata Tower, or one of the Hagia Sophia's minarets.
 * Throughout the Assassin's Creed series, an Assassin could be on the View Point at the same time the eagle was, causing the eagle to clip through them.
 * The achievement "I Like the View" could be obtained by synchronizing with ten View Points in Assassin's Creed II.
 * The achievement "High Dive" for Assassin's Creed II could also be obtained, when Ezio performed a Leap of Faith from the top of the Campanile di Giotto in Florence.
 * Once all Borgia Towers had been burned down, the achievement titled "Tower Offense" in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood was awarded.
 * In Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines, View Points were referred to as "High Points".