Farlander1991
10-02-2014, 03:34 PM
AC games is a series that I want to mod so much, but there are no publicly released tools to do so. Which is a shame. So I would like to ask everybody who wants to endulge themselves into the fantasy of what they'd mod in AC games had there been modding.
Please keep in mind that there are a bunch of things that would be out of budgetary proportions for a lot of modders (or for technical reasons), like changing the plotline (VA plus motion capture for cutscenes? Don't think so), or adding mechanics that did not exist in the game at all.
Here's my general list for each game:
-----ASSASSIN'S CREED 1-----
-Core Mechanics-
Combat: Remove counter-attack. Make enemies more aggressive. That's about it. Combat without direct counters in AC requires you to use all of your defensive capabilities, but you also have to actually go into offensive to kill people. Counter-attack removes this dynamic (and there's still sort of a counter mechanism in the way of dodge/attack).
-Missions-
Investigations: In the PC version, two of the four mission types that were added don't go with the hudless design philosophy: rooftop race challenge and market stand destruction, as hud is required to actually know what to do there. I would revert those missions back to their original state on consoles. Also I would add variation to the investigation missions. For example, for pickpocketing, not all people would act the same. Some would be VERY suspicious, some would have bodyguards, some would run a lot. If it would be possible to create new investigation mission types that would make sense with dialogues that are available in the game, I would do so to.
Templar Assassinations: Instead of having Templars standing around like collectables, they would be a variation on Assassination contracts. Each Templar would be in a designed guarded and forbidden for the Assassin area, so each Templar would essentially become a mission.
-Other-
Flags: Remove them and burn with fire.
Events: I would like to add more events happening in the city. From two brutes fighting each other, to guards chasing a thief. But most of all, I would like to add more Assassin activity. Have some Assassins run on rooftops. Have a figure be assassinated infront of our eyes by somebody. Have Assassins go in and out of the bureau. If possible, would maybe somehow tie Assassin activity to the Templars. Like, each Templar you kill in Kingdom or city would be replaced by an Assassin figure that would help us in chases and combat, so there would be some advantage to killing the Templars.
-----ASSASSIN'S CREED 2-----
-Core Mechanics-
Combat: Once again, remove counter-attack and make enemies more aggressive. I'm not sure about disarm. I think I would make it so you'd have to use taunt before you can disarm somebody.
Weapons: Make it so weapons have more differentiation and feel differently, rebalance weapons and enemies so stats on weapons would matter more.
Social Stealth: Change how notoriety works (I don't think it would be possible to remove it completely and make it work like in AC1). Make it leveled like in AC3, so situation in cities changes. Make so that each main assassination missions maxes out notoriety, while contract missions increase it considerably. Removing notoriety would be more tricky as well.
-Missions-
Main missions: Remove don't get detected restrictions wherever it would make sense. Redesign the Carnevale assassination: place it in a location with only one single entrance, far from water (and under some roof), and have all people wear masks there. Redesign the Arsenale sequence to make missions less scripted and linear. In fact, remove linearity in missions where it's not necessary.
Side missions: Add more assassination contracts, especially in cities like San Gimignano and Forli where there's not a lot of content.
-Other-
Economy: Rebalance the economy so it would be more action-based. The bulk of our income would be from completing missions and side-missions rather than passively waiting for ****tons of money to come in.
Chests: Don't have chests count for 100% completion.
Feathers: Decrease the number of feathers and have them only on landmarks.
Events: Like in AC1, add a bunch of events in the city to make it feel more alive.
-----ASSASSIN'S CREED: BROTHERHOOD-----
-Core Mechanics-
Combat: Remove counter-attack AND kill streak. Honestly, there's so many moves in ACB and the archetypes are designed in a way that you'd have to use all of them, and counters with kill streaks break that totally.
Weapons: Remove crossbow and poison darts. They're too OP (crossbow combines the advantages of both hidden gun and throwing knives with none of the disadvantages, and poison darts make poison blade absolutely obsolete and remove any of the strategic value). Like in AC2, rebalance weapons and enemies in a way so weapons would feel different and make more sense.
Social Stealth: Redesign notoriety like in the AC2 mod.
Brotherhood: Make it so brotherhood meter recharges slower to make it less OP and more of a 'strategic strike' rather than a solution to all problems.
-Missions-
Main missions: Wherever possible, make less linear and remove arbitrary constraints. Make some missions longer by having a bit more things to do (concerns some of the late-game stuff especially... really, a mission where there's just one skirmish and that's it, it's complete?).
Optional objectives: Kill them with fire. Though, if there would be enough ideas to make optional objectives that actually make sense (i.e., not constraints, but additional objectives, ones that would preferably change the mission situation), then try to do that.
-Other-
Economy: Make it so Borgia towers simply unlock all the stores from the get go. And, as with AC2, rebalance the economy so it would be more action-based and less passive.
Chests: Don't have them count to 100% completion.
Flags: Make less of them.
Events: Once again, add more events happening in the city.
-----ASSASSIN'S CREED: REVELATIONS-----
-Core Mechanics-
Combat: See Brotherhood.
Weapons: See Brotherhood.
Bombs: Remove some elements and rebalance some others so there would be less redundancies in bomb crafting, everything would have its purpose.
Social Stealth: Adapt the AC2/ACB mod notoriety scheme to the battle for Dens.
Brotherhood: See Brotherhood.
Den Defense: Make Den Defense events/battles in the core gameplay rather than a separate mode.
-Missions-
Main missions: Where needed make less linear with no stupid desynch constraints. Make the final chase less ridiculous and remove the air fight.
Optional objectives: See brotherhood.
Side missions: Add a bunch of assassination contracts. Races. Some mercenary battles. Basically, make it so side-content would be more on the level of ACB.
-Other-
Economy: See Brotherhood.
Chests: See Brotherhood.
Animus Fragments: Make less of them and place only on landmarks.
Events: Add more events happening in the city to make it feel more alive.
-----ASSASSIN'S CREED III-----
-Core Mechanics-
Combat: I'm not sure what to do EXACTLY... but try to make it so correct actions for archetypes aren't the only thing we need to do in combat. And make AI more aggressive.
Weapons: Once again, make it so weapons feel different and each has advantages and disadvantages.
Social Stealth: Fix the psychic AI.
-Missions-
Main missions: Overhaul pretty much everything to make missions closer to the traditional AC formula rather than linear as they are. Add design-wise more possibilities to use Brotherhood and tools at our disposal.
Optional objectives: As per usual, see Brotherhood.
Side missions: Make normal assassination contracts, add more of them. At least that. Overhaul other side content that's possible.
-Other-
Economy: Make economy hunting-based rather than trade-based. Remove trading.
Crafting: Homestead exists for crafting personal equipment for Connor only, rather than a bunch of other useless stuff like barrels and chairs.
Events: I like events happening in the cities, ok? :D
-----ASSASSIN'S CREED IV-----
-Core Mechanics-
Combat: Whatever I'd do to AC3, do it here as well.
-Missions-
Optional objective: As per usual.
Side missions: add more contracts in the cities to extend our gameplay there.
-Other-
Animus fragments: Remove them.
Chests: Don't make them count for 100% completion.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In general, that's about it, might have missed quite a few things in detail, though.
What about you?
Please keep in mind that there are a bunch of things that would be out of budgetary proportions for a lot of modders (or for technical reasons), like changing the plotline (VA plus motion capture for cutscenes? Don't think so), or adding mechanics that did not exist in the game at all.
Here's my general list for each game:
-----ASSASSIN'S CREED 1-----
-Core Mechanics-
Combat: Remove counter-attack. Make enemies more aggressive. That's about it. Combat without direct counters in AC requires you to use all of your defensive capabilities, but you also have to actually go into offensive to kill people. Counter-attack removes this dynamic (and there's still sort of a counter mechanism in the way of dodge/attack).
-Missions-
Investigations: In the PC version, two of the four mission types that were added don't go with the hudless design philosophy: rooftop race challenge and market stand destruction, as hud is required to actually know what to do there. I would revert those missions back to their original state on consoles. Also I would add variation to the investigation missions. For example, for pickpocketing, not all people would act the same. Some would be VERY suspicious, some would have bodyguards, some would run a lot. If it would be possible to create new investigation mission types that would make sense with dialogues that are available in the game, I would do so to.
Templar Assassinations: Instead of having Templars standing around like collectables, they would be a variation on Assassination contracts. Each Templar would be in a designed guarded and forbidden for the Assassin area, so each Templar would essentially become a mission.
-Other-
Flags: Remove them and burn with fire.
Events: I would like to add more events happening in the city. From two brutes fighting each other, to guards chasing a thief. But most of all, I would like to add more Assassin activity. Have some Assassins run on rooftops. Have a figure be assassinated infront of our eyes by somebody. Have Assassins go in and out of the bureau. If possible, would maybe somehow tie Assassin activity to the Templars. Like, each Templar you kill in Kingdom or city would be replaced by an Assassin figure that would help us in chases and combat, so there would be some advantage to killing the Templars.
-----ASSASSIN'S CREED 2-----
-Core Mechanics-
Combat: Once again, remove counter-attack and make enemies more aggressive. I'm not sure about disarm. I think I would make it so you'd have to use taunt before you can disarm somebody.
Weapons: Make it so weapons have more differentiation and feel differently, rebalance weapons and enemies so stats on weapons would matter more.
Social Stealth: Change how notoriety works (I don't think it would be possible to remove it completely and make it work like in AC1). Make it leveled like in AC3, so situation in cities changes. Make so that each main assassination missions maxes out notoriety, while contract missions increase it considerably. Removing notoriety would be more tricky as well.
-Missions-
Main missions: Remove don't get detected restrictions wherever it would make sense. Redesign the Carnevale assassination: place it in a location with only one single entrance, far from water (and under some roof), and have all people wear masks there. Redesign the Arsenale sequence to make missions less scripted and linear. In fact, remove linearity in missions where it's not necessary.
Side missions: Add more assassination contracts, especially in cities like San Gimignano and Forli where there's not a lot of content.
-Other-
Economy: Rebalance the economy so it would be more action-based. The bulk of our income would be from completing missions and side-missions rather than passively waiting for ****tons of money to come in.
Chests: Don't have chests count for 100% completion.
Feathers: Decrease the number of feathers and have them only on landmarks.
Events: Like in AC1, add a bunch of events in the city to make it feel more alive.
-----ASSASSIN'S CREED: BROTHERHOOD-----
-Core Mechanics-
Combat: Remove counter-attack AND kill streak. Honestly, there's so many moves in ACB and the archetypes are designed in a way that you'd have to use all of them, and counters with kill streaks break that totally.
Weapons: Remove crossbow and poison darts. They're too OP (crossbow combines the advantages of both hidden gun and throwing knives with none of the disadvantages, and poison darts make poison blade absolutely obsolete and remove any of the strategic value). Like in AC2, rebalance weapons and enemies in a way so weapons would feel different and make more sense.
Social Stealth: Redesign notoriety like in the AC2 mod.
Brotherhood: Make it so brotherhood meter recharges slower to make it less OP and more of a 'strategic strike' rather than a solution to all problems.
-Missions-
Main missions: Wherever possible, make less linear and remove arbitrary constraints. Make some missions longer by having a bit more things to do (concerns some of the late-game stuff especially... really, a mission where there's just one skirmish and that's it, it's complete?).
Optional objectives: Kill them with fire. Though, if there would be enough ideas to make optional objectives that actually make sense (i.e., not constraints, but additional objectives, ones that would preferably change the mission situation), then try to do that.
-Other-
Economy: Make it so Borgia towers simply unlock all the stores from the get go. And, as with AC2, rebalance the economy so it would be more action-based and less passive.
Chests: Don't have them count to 100% completion.
Flags: Make less of them.
Events: Once again, add more events happening in the city.
-----ASSASSIN'S CREED: REVELATIONS-----
-Core Mechanics-
Combat: See Brotherhood.
Weapons: See Brotherhood.
Bombs: Remove some elements and rebalance some others so there would be less redundancies in bomb crafting, everything would have its purpose.
Social Stealth: Adapt the AC2/ACB mod notoriety scheme to the battle for Dens.
Brotherhood: See Brotherhood.
Den Defense: Make Den Defense events/battles in the core gameplay rather than a separate mode.
-Missions-
Main missions: Where needed make less linear with no stupid desynch constraints. Make the final chase less ridiculous and remove the air fight.
Optional objectives: See brotherhood.
Side missions: Add a bunch of assassination contracts. Races. Some mercenary battles. Basically, make it so side-content would be more on the level of ACB.
-Other-
Economy: See Brotherhood.
Chests: See Brotherhood.
Animus Fragments: Make less of them and place only on landmarks.
Events: Add more events happening in the city to make it feel more alive.
-----ASSASSIN'S CREED III-----
-Core Mechanics-
Combat: I'm not sure what to do EXACTLY... but try to make it so correct actions for archetypes aren't the only thing we need to do in combat. And make AI more aggressive.
Weapons: Once again, make it so weapons feel different and each has advantages and disadvantages.
Social Stealth: Fix the psychic AI.
-Missions-
Main missions: Overhaul pretty much everything to make missions closer to the traditional AC formula rather than linear as they are. Add design-wise more possibilities to use Brotherhood and tools at our disposal.
Optional objectives: As per usual, see Brotherhood.
Side missions: Make normal assassination contracts, add more of them. At least that. Overhaul other side content that's possible.
-Other-
Economy: Make economy hunting-based rather than trade-based. Remove trading.
Crafting: Homestead exists for crafting personal equipment for Connor only, rather than a bunch of other useless stuff like barrels and chairs.
Events: I like events happening in the cities, ok? :D
-----ASSASSIN'S CREED IV-----
-Core Mechanics-
Combat: Whatever I'd do to AC3, do it here as well.
-Missions-
Optional objective: As per usual.
Side missions: add more contracts in the cities to extend our gameplay there.
-Other-
Animus fragments: Remove them.
Chests: Don't make them count for 100% completion.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In general, that's about it, might have missed quite a few things in detail, though.
What about you?