User blog comment:TheDarkKnightHasRisen/AC IV ideas/@comment-89.206.32.28-20121204021013

Few ideas (some already mentioned), from a fan of series... and a "pro" historian.

As a preface: what to do with AC "after Desmond"? In my opinion, the whole "present time" parts should be removed, or limited to minimum. As much as I love "historical" parts of AC, the whole "overstory" with Animus, First Civilization and Desmond I've found boring, and actually worsening immersion experience. In my opinion, Ubisoft should concetrate on AC as a pure historical games, playing as a hero in given time, not hero playing as hero... etc.

Now, ad rem. First of all, Ubisoft can't pick any period, because there are some precise limits:

1. Place: it has to be at least a little familiar to world public (so no strictly national, too "exotic" histories). Also, it should be a fresh one - unfortunately, Ubisoft "burned" Ancient Rome or Byzantine Constantinople using these cities in Brotherhood and Revelations, and Jerusalem in AC1 (so no "Jesus game"). Rome might be usable again, but only after at least few years...

2. Period: it must be a time of violence (war, bloody plots etc.), and some recognizable events. Also, it should not be a present time, because it'd rather break "historical charm" of AC series. I think, that WW2 is a most modern period, which could be used.

3. Personas: there have to be at least few characters (recognizable, at least some of them) who died during this period, and were connected to place, and their death could be shown as "assassination".

4. Hero: making a good one is a hard task. Ezio Auditore da Firenze was a great character, able to be used in three games. But Connor I've found rather dull, so I doubt if he'll be used again. However, if we have good choices for points 1-3, making a believable hero would be IMHO always possible.

So, let's move to precise proposals.

1. Paris during the Revolution and Napoleonic times (1789-1816): definitely the best choice. We have all: violence, deaths, great characters, interesting city. It's a material for major installment.

2. Saint-Petersburg (and may be also Moscow?) during the era of terrorism, WW I and Revolution (1880-1920). As higher, although it could be tricky to place sides (tsarate and different factions of terrorists). Bolsheviks would be a great enemy for final part of game, but there is one problem: they eventually won, and most of them died "not-assassinated".

3. Pirates! Naval battles in AC 3 were actually most fresh and enjoyable addition, and I think that Ubisoft could make a completely new game dedicated to this genre. Period: probably 1690-1720, so called "golden age" of piracy.

4. World War 2: in theory a great period for assassins... but in reality, it'd be hard to make a concrete AC game placed during this time. Special operations were scattered all along the continent - so it'd be a new 3D "Commandos", not a "open world" game, as AC series are. We would need a one city, with a number of such operations. Paris is not a good choice, first because in reality French resistance was rather "lazy", and second - it would be a close copy of "Saboteur" game. Prague had assassination of Heydrich, but it was it. There was no real resistance, and Reinhard was killed by commandos send from UK. Finally, we have Warsaw - there was a serious resistance (Home Army), some great assassinations (i.e. general Kutschera), and quite violent story (war of 1939, Jewish Ghetto uprising, later Warsaw Uprising of 1944). Unfortunately, it's an "unwinnable" scenario, and probably too exotic at all. However, if I'd have to choose location for WW2 AC game, I'd pick Warsaw.

5. London: a Victorian capital would be a splendid view, but... there was no genuine violence, which could be "implemented" into AC, in 19th century. So I would rather choose London two ages younger: English CIvil War, Cromwell, Great Fire... etc. More, it could be connected (same hero) with a game placed in Netherlands (Amsterdam). And we could easily put some naval missions there!

6. Japan during Sengoku period. A little exotic, but recognizable, with great climate, and a lot of possibilities.

7. Medieval Paris during the "Rois Maudits" period (13/14th c.). Also, there were (real) Templars there & then!

8. Ancient Rome - excellent period, but as city was used in Brotherhood, it shouldn't be recycled soon. May be somewhere circa AC VI, VII?

Finally, some minor ideas, probably too exotic, but IMHO possible to realise:

1. Prague during Hussite period. Violent and interesting time, great place, and some good characters.

2. Dublin 1916-1922 (Easter rising, Irish war of independence - especially Bloody Sunday!,  Irish civil war).

3. Mughal Delhi.

4. Shanghai 1912-1949. CIty of triads and spies.

5. Budapest 1848-49.

6. Al-Andalus (especially Cordoba). Little known period, but there were some good scenarios and mysterious deaths...

7. Early medieval Baghdad (era of Harun al-Rashid)

Last two would be rather similar to AC1 setting, so not good to pull off soon.

What do you think?