User blog:Kabutsu/Assassin's Creed IV Setting Ideas

Since the release of Assassin's Creed III, there have been many ideas put forward by the community as to which historical events and locations they would like to see in future Assassin's Creed games. In this blog I will put forward my favourite ideas, as well as linking to some of the best ideas I have seen on this wiki.

By the way, the layout of my ideas is inspired by LancelotLoire's post (first link in 'Community Pages'). And I'll also be updating this blog as I research new information to make it easier for myself.

And finally, post any ideas you think would work in the comments below.

My Ideas

Europe 1911-193919th Century ChinaRevolutionary FranceTudor England/France

Europe 1911-1939=

Locations

Berlin - The capital of Germany, as well as a location which had many interesting events (I'll get on to those later) during this period. Munich - Again, Munich was home to a lot of events during this time. Versailles - Versailles could be visited in a cutscene during the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, in the same way that Philadelphia is visited to witness the Declaration of Independence in Assassin's Creed III. Alsace & Lorraine - Germany and France fought over this location before this time period, but its political context is important. The Rhineland - Towns and cities such as Geldern, Moers, Eupen and Malmedy, as well as the area of the Saar, could be included in a large 'Rhineland' map, similar to how Lexington and Concord were in the 'Frontier' map. Vienna - The capital city of Austria would be an interesting place to visit, especially in political context as it became German after the Anschluss of 1938. London - The capital city of Great Britain, this is home to the Houses of Parliment, the Tower of London, Big Ben and Tower Bridge. Our Assassin could visit this city to see Winston Churchill, David Lloyd-George or Neville Chamberlain. Paris - In the capital of France, players could visit the Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame, among other landmarks. In Paris, we could meet important French figures such as Georges Clemenceau. Seville, Valladolid, Madrid and Barcelona - At the start of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), Seville and Valladolid supported the rebel uprising, whereas Madrid and Barcelona did not. Players could visit one or more of these cities during the war, and perhaps a 'Catalonia' countryside area.

Historical Events

The Second Moroccan Crisis of 1911 - After a brief video, explaining the political tensions of the time, a crisis such as the Second Moroccan Crisis would be a great way to set the scene as well as increase tensions. In an uprising in 1911, France, who was in charge of the Moroccan police force, sent troops to calm it down. This led to a tense stand-off between Germany, who wanted Morocco and thought France was trying to claim it; France, who was voicing innocence; and Britain, France's ally, who wanted to protect the nearby colony of Gibraltar. Placing an Assassin in the middle of this would be a great, tense, opening to the game. The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand - Widely considered to be the trigger cause of WWI, we could either be sent to assassinate Franz, or sent to prevent the Templars from assassinating him. The Battle of the Somme - One of the worst battles in modern history, this would be a great set piece, with our Assassin moving through the trenches to deliver orders or assassinate a general. Ubisoft would have to be careful however to make sure it did not seem like a 3rd person shooter. The Signing of the Treaty of Versailles - The horrendously unfair Treaty of Versailles was something that infuriated the Germans, and is a long-term cause of WWII. Being present at its signing would allow players to meet important historical figures such as Woodrow Wilson or Georges Clemenceau, and it would also help them understand the significance of the treaty. The Hyper-Inflation of the early 20s in Germany - This would not only serve to create a chilling atmosphere, with people starving on the streets, it would also allow for a great gameplay feature (see below). The Wall Street Crash of 1929 would also create a similar effect. Several Uprisings in Berlin and Munich - Uprisings against the unpopular democratic government in 1920s Germany, such as the Spartacist Uprising, the Munich Putsch and the Kapp Putsch, would serve as exciting historical set-pieces. Hitler's Rise to Power and its aftermath - Players could witness the change in atmosphere as the Nazis gained support throughout Germany, and also witness several key events leading up to Hitler's dictatorship in 1933, as well as events in the aftermath of this. For example, we could witness, through newspapers or conversations, the way that Hindenburg was strictly opposed to making Hitler the Chancellor, instead appointing Franz von Papen and then Kurt von Schleicher the Chancellor. Eventually, Hindenburg had to make Hitler the Chancellor of Germany due to the amount of support for him (the Nazis became the largest political party in July 1932). The Reichstag Fire - On the night of the 27th February 1933, shortly after Hitler had become Chancellor, the Reichstag was set on fire in an act of arson. A Dutch Communist, Marinus van der Lubbe, was arrested at the scene; however, historians are still not certain that he was responsible, or at least wholly responsible, for the attack. Perhaps in a game the writers could shed some light on 'the truth'? Crises caused by Hitler's Foreign Policy - Crises such as the re-militarisation of the Rhineland, the failed and the succeeded Anschluss with Austria, and the Sudeten Crisis are but a few of the many crises caused by Hitler's expansion of Germany. The Spanish Civil War - The Spanish Civil War lasted from 1936-1939, and was between the Nationalists, a right-wing group led by General Franco, and the Republicans, the existing government, who were currently under the leadership of Manuel Azana. Germany's Invasion of Poland - The news of Hitler's invasion of Poland in 1939 could be a dramatic conclusion to the assassin's story. It may also unlock a video honouring those killed in WWI and WWII.

Assassins
Ernst Rohm - The leader of Hitler's SA, his story could be that he was trying to get close to Hitler so he could assassinate him. However, this failed, as he was killed by the Nazis in 1934. General von Ludendorf - Erich von Ludendorf was a German general in WWI. He was also a close ally of Hitler, but grew to dislike him in the 20s.

Templars

Adolf Hitler - The man most people blame for starting WWII. According to AC lore, whilst not strictly a Templar, he was a Templar puppet. His appearances would have to be handled with care, though. Josef Stalin - Again, this man is not strictly a Templar, but a Templar puppet. He could be present during the signing of the Nazi-Soviet pact in 1938, but his character would have to be handled with care. Winston Churchill - Churchill served as the First Lord of the Admiralty during WWI, before becoming an army commander. He went into politics after the war, and despite not becoming Prime Minister until 1940, we could still meet him. He was also a Templar puppet. Francisco Franco - The leader of the Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War, Franco could be portrayed as another Templar puppet, as he received support from Adolf Hitler's Germany. General José Sanjurjo - José Sanjurjo was a General in the Spanish Army who was one of the chief conspirators in the military uprising that led to the Spanish Civil War. Benito Mussolini - The dictator of Italy from 1922 until 1943. As he was an ally of Hitler, he could be the Templar directing Hitler, Franco, Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt. Georges Clemenceau - Georges represented France at the Treaty of Versailles, and his aims were the harshest of all on the Germans. Fitting in with the AC story, this could be a ploy to plant the seeds of WWII, a war which was a Templar plot. Englebert Dolfuss - The Chancellor of Austria, Englebert was murdered during the failed Anschluss with Austria in 1934.

Other Notable Figures

Tsar Nicholas II - The leader of Russia from 1881 until his death. After the Russian Revolution of 1917, he sought asylum in Britain; our Assassin could advise King George V against allowing the Tsar in, due to his ties to his Templar father. Woodrow Wilson - The President of the U.S.A. during the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, Woodrow Wilson also pioneered the League of Nations. David Lloyd-George - David Lloyd-George was the Prime Minister of Great Britain when he signed the Treaty of Versailles. Neville Chamberlain - The Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1937 until 1940, Neville Chamberlain's 'Appeasement' policy allowed Hitler to conquer vast swathes of Europe. Manuel Azana - The current President of Spain when the Civil War broke out. He died in exile in 1940, shortly after losing the war in 1939.

Gameplay Features

Inflation - During the hyper-inflation in Germany after WWI, prices rose rapidly. This could be reflected by having a pistol cost, e.g. 5000 Marks after a certain memory. After the next memory, it could cost 10000 Marks; after the next one, 20000 Marks, and so on. To balance this, the player would receive more money after missions, in the same way that people's salaries rose. The changing of the currency to Reichmarks would prevent the player from exploiting this amount of money after the inflation has ended. The Shard of Eden - This is unlocked after completing all Captain Kidd missions in ACIII, and it decreases the accuracy of enemy guns. This could be incorporated in battles such as the Somme, or uprisings, to allow the player to more easily achieve his/her objective. Improved Melee Combat - Due to the lack of sword fighting in this era, our Assassin would have to be proficient at fist fighting in order to disarm opponents who would use guns. He/she could also use a short-blade in combat.

19th Century China=

This is my only idea that I do not know much about, so I have used Wikipedia extensively to research this time period. If I have missed anything, or put in inaccurate facts, please tell me in the comments below so I can amend these mistakes.

Locations

Beijing - The capital of China, Beijing became occupied by Anglo-French forces during the Second Opium War, who looted the city and burned down the Old Summer Palace in 1860. Under the Convention of Peking ending that war, Western powers for the first time secured the right to establish permanent diplomatic presences within the city. In 1900, the attempt by the "Boxers" to eradicate this presence, as well as Chinese Christian converts, led to Beijing's reoccupation by foreign powers. Beijing would be a welcome return to the magnificent architecture of previous Assassin's Creed games after the lacklustre cities in ACIII; it would also be interesting to witness the political changes of the city, and China as a whole, throughout the period. Hong Kong - Hong Kong is situated on China's south coast, enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea. Hong Kong became a colony of the British Empire after the First Opium War (1839–42). Originally confined to Hong Kong Island, the colony's boundaries were extended in stages to the Kowloon Peninsula in 1860 and then the New Territories in 1898. In 1894 the deadly Third Pandemic of bubonic plague spread from China to Hong Kong, causing 50,000–100,000 deaths. Shanghai - Located in the Yangtze River Delta in eastern China, Shanghai sits at the mouth of the Yangtze River in the middle portion of the Chinese coast. The municipality borders Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces to the west, and is bounded to the east by the East China Sea. For centuries a major administrative, shipping, and trading town, Shanghai grew in importance in the 19th century due to European recognition of its favorable port location and economic potential. The city was one of several opened to foreign trade following the British victory over China in the First Opium War and the subsequent 1842 Treaty of Nanking which allowed the establishment of the Shanghai International Settlement. Nanjing - The capital of Jiangsu province in eastern China, Nanjing has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions, such as during the Taiping Rebellion. It was also invaded by British troops during the First Opium War.

Historical Events

The First Opium War - The First Anglo-Chinese War (1839–42), known popularly as the First Opium War or simply the Opium War, was fought between the United Kingdom and the Qing Dynasty of China over their conflicting viewpoints on diplomatic relations, trade, and the administration of justice. Chinese officials wished to control the spread of opium, and confiscated supplies of opium from British traders. The British government, although not officially denying China's right to control imports, objected to this seizure and used its military power to violently enforce redress. In 1842, the Treaty of Nanking—the first of what the Chinese later called the unequal treaties—granted an indemnity to Britain, the opening of five treaty ports, and the cession of Hong Kong Island, thereby ending the trade monopoly of the Canton System. The failure of the treaty to satisfy British goals of improved trade and diplomatic relations led to the Second Opium War. The Second Opium War - The Second Opium War was a war pitting the British Empire and the Second French Empire against the Qing Dynasty of China, lasting from 1856 to 1860. It was fought over similar issues as the First Opium War. The Taiping Rebellion - The Taiping Rebellion was a widespread civil war in southern China from 1850 to 1864, against the ruling Manchu-led Qing Dynasty. It was led by Christian convert Hong Xiuquan. About 20 million people died, mainly civilians, in one of the deadliest military conflicts in history. Players could witness battles of the rebellion, including: The Second rout of the Jiangnan Army - In 1860, the Qing government's Green Standard Army was deployed to crush the Taiping Rebellion. The Green Standard Army twice attempted to besiege the Taiping rebels' capital Nanjing, once in March and again in June, but was defeated both times by the rebel force's military strategies and tactics. The Battle of Shanghai - The Battle of Shanghai was a major engagement of the Taiping Rebellion that occurred from June 1861 to July 1862. British and French troops used modern artillery on a large scale for the first time in China. Cannon-fire inflicted heavy casualties on the Taiping forces, whose commander Li Xiucheng was wounded in the left leg by a shot fired from a cannon. The Third Battle of Nanking - The last major engagement of the Taiping Rebellion, the Third Battle of Nanking took place in 1864 after the death of the king of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, Hong Xiuquan. There were probably more than a million troops in the battle and the Taiping army sustained 100,000 dead (and many more wounded) in the three day clash. Punti–Hakka Clan Wars - Between 1855 and 1867, there was conflict between the Hakka and Punti in Guangdong, China. The wars were particularly fierce in around the Pearl River Delta, especially in Taishan of the Sze Yup counties. The wars resulted in roughly a million dead with many more fleeing for their lives. The Nien Rebellion - The Nien Rebellion was an armed uprising that took place in northern China from 1851 to 1868, simultaneously with Taiping Rebellion (1851–1864) in South China. The rebellion failed to topple the Qing dynasty, but caused immense economic devastation and loss of life that became one of the major long-term factors in the collapse of the Qing regime in the early 20th century. The Dungan Revolt - The Dungan Revolt was a mainly ethnic war with a few religious factors in 19th-century China. Members of the Muslim Hui and other Muslim ethnic groups in China's Shaanxi, Gansu and Ningxia provinces, as well as in Xinjiang, were involved in the conflict that lasted between 1862 and 1877. The uprising was chaotic and often involved warring factions of bands and military leaders with no common cause or single specific goal or purpose. When that rebellion failed, mass emigration of the Dungan people into Imperial Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan ensued. The Self-Strengthening Movement - The Self-Strengthening Movement, 1861–1895, was a period of institutional reforms initiated during the late Qing Dynasty following a series of military defeats and concessions to foreign powers. The Sino-Japanese War - The First Sino-Japanese War (1 August 1894 – 17 April 1895) was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over control of Korea. After more than six months of continuous successes by the Japanese army and naval forces, as well as the loss of the Chinese port of Weihai, the Qing leadership sued for peace in February 1895, losing Korea. The Boxer Rebellion - Despite going into the 20th Century, the Boxer Rebellion was such a huge event in China's history that it would have to be included if Assassin's Creed IV was to take place in late-19th Century China. The rebellion was a proto-nationalist movement by the Righteous Harmony Society in China between 1898 and 1901, opposing foreign imperialism and Christianity. The uprising took place in response to foreign "spheres of influence" in China, with grievances ranging from opium traders, political invasion, economic manipulation, to missionary evangelism. In China, popular sentiment remained resistant to foreign influences, and anger rose over the "unequal treaties", which the weak Qing state could not resist. Concerns grew that missionaries and Chinese Christians could use this decline to their advantage, appropriating lands and property of unwilling Chinese peasants to give to the church. This sentiment resulted in violent revolts against foreign interests. There is much more information than this, and so many events that Ubisoft could possibly make a full game (or at least a long DLC) on the event, and I would strongly advise at least skimming through the Wikipedia article.

Assassins

Yaqub Bek - Muhammad Yaqub Bek was a Tajik adventurer who became head of the kingdom of Kashgaria. He fought against Chinese forces during the Dungan Revolt. Kim Ok-gyun - Kim Ok-gyun was a reformist activist during the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He served under the national civil service under King Gojong, and actively participated to advance Western ideas and sciences in Korea. The goal of the reform movement was to develop Korea in government, technology, and military by using Japanese resources, so that Korea would become stable enough in time to withstand increasing Japanese Imperialism. Kim was assassinated in Shanghai (by the Templars?) in 1894.

Templars

Hong Xiuquan - Hong Xiuquan was a Hakka Chinese who led the Taiping Rebellion against the Qing Dynasty, establishing the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom over varying portions of southern China, with himself as the "Heavenly King" and self-proclaimed brother of Jesus Christ. Some sources say Hong committed suicide by taking poison on 1 June 1864 at the age of 52, whereas others place say his cause of death was illness. Zuo Zongtang - Zuo Zongtang was a Chinese statesman and military leader in the late Qing Dynasty. He quelled the Dungan Revolt. Yasumasa Fukushima - Yasumasa Fukushima was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army. He served during the Sino-Japanese War and the Boxer Rebellion.

Other Notable Figures

Ma Fulu - A Chinese general during the Boxer Revolution, Ma Fulu and four cousins of his were killed in action during the battle against the foreigners in the legations, in 1900 during the Battle of Peking. Nie Shicheng - Nie Shicheng was a Chinese general who served the Imperial government during the Boxer Rebellion. Rising from obscure origins from Hefei, Anhui Province, in the early 1850s, Nie Shicheng he managed to pass the county examinations for bureaucratic positions, but due to the Taiping rebellion he was forced to abandon bureaucratic career and become a soldier. He was killed in action during the Boxer Rebellion. Nikolai Linevich - Nikolai Petrovich Linevich was a career military officer, General of Infantry and Adjutant general in the Imperial Russian Army. During the Boxer Rebellion, Linevich was commander of the 1st Siberian Army Corps. He participated in the Battle of Peking in 1901. Ding Ruchang - Ding Ruchang was a career military officer in the late Qing dynasty military of China. He joined the Taiping Rebellion in 1854, but he later surrendered with Cheng Xuechi in the Battle of Anqing in 1861, and defected to the imperial cause. He joined Li Hongzhang’s Huai Army as a cavalryman to help suppress the Taiping Rebellion, serving with Liu Mingchuan. Afterwards, he was active in helping suppress the Nien Rebellion. He died in the Sino-Japanese war.

Revolutionary France=

Locations
Paris - Many of the most important events of the Revolution took place in Paris, and the atmosphere would be very interesting. We could also see various French landmarks such as Notre Dame. (Sorry, no Eiffel Tower. :( It hadn't been built yet.) Versailles - One of the first riots against the King, the March on Versailles, took place here.

Historical Events

The Réveillon Riot - The Réveillon Riot occurred on 28 April 1789 in the St. Antoine district of Paris where a factory which produced luxury wallpaper was owned by Jean-Baptiste Réveillon. The factory employed around 300 people. The Réveillon Riot was one of the first instances of violence during the French Revolution. The riot occurred when rumors spread that the owner had made a speech stating that workers, many of whom were highly-skilled, were to be paid lower wages and, as a result, there would be lower prices. The Tennis Court Oath - The Tennis Court Oath was a pivotal event during the first days of the French Revolution. The Oath was a pledge signed by 576 of the 577 members from the Third Estate who agreed "not to separate, and to reassemble wherever circumstances require, until the constitution of the kingdom is established", on 20 June 1789. The Storming of the Bastille - The Storming of the Bastille occurred in Paris, France on the morning of 14 July 1789. The medieval fortress and prison in Paris known as the Bastille represented royal authority in the center of Paris. While the prison only contained seven inmates at the time of its storming, its fall was the flashpoint of the French Revolution. The Signing of the The Declaration of the Rights of Man - The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen is a fundamental document of the French Revolution and in the history of human rights, defining the individual and collective rights of all the estates of the realm as universal. The last article of the Declaration was adopted on 26 August 1789, by the National Constituent Assembly, during the period of the French Revolution, as the first step toward writing a constitution for France. As with the signing of the Declaration of Independence in ACIII, players could be present at the signing of the Declaration. The March on Versailles - The March on Versailles was one of the earliest and most significant events of the French Revolution. On the morning of 5 October 1789, the women of Versailles were near rioting over the high price of bread. This quickly became intertwined with the activities of revolutionaries. The market women and their various allies grew into a mob of thousands, and they ransacked the city armory for weapons and marched to the Palace of Versailles. The crowd besieged the palace and in a dramatic and violent confrontation they successfully pressed their demands upon King Louis XVI. The next day, the crowd compelled the king, his family, and most of the French Assembly to return with them to Paris. These events effectively ended the independent authority of the king. The Revolution of 10 August - On 10 August 1792, during the French Revolution, revolutionary Fédéré militias — with the backing of a new municipal government of Paris that came to be known as the "insurrectionary" Paris Commune and ultimately supported by the National Guard — besieged the Tuileries palace. King Louis XVI and the royal family took shelter with the Legislative Assembly. This proved to be the effective end of the French Bourbon Monarchy. The Execution of King Louis XVI - Louis was officially arrested on 13 August 1792, and sent to the Temple, an ancient fortress in Paris that was used as a prison. On 21 September, the National Assembly declared France to be a Republic and abolished the Monarchy. On 11 December, the deposed King was brought from the Temple to stand before the Convention and hear his indictment, an accusation of high treason and crimes against the State. On 15 January 1793, the Convention, composed of 721 deputies, voted on the verdict, and 693 deputies voted guilty. On Monday, 21 January 1793, Louis was beheaded by guillotine on the Place de la Révolution. Players could be present at many, or all, of these events. The Terror - The Terror was a period of violence that occurred after the onset of the French Revolution, incited by conflict between rival political factions, the Girondins and the Jacobins, and marked by mass executions of "enemies of the revolution". The death toll ranged in the tens of thousands, with 16,594 executed by guillotine (2,639 in Paris), and another 25,000 in summary executions across France. Through the Revolutionary Tribunal, the Terror's leaders instigated mass executions and political purges. The repression accelerated in June and July 1794, a period called la Grande Terreur (the Great Terror), and ended in the coup of 9 Thermidor Year II (27 July 1794), leading to the Thermidorian Reaction, in which several protagonists of the Reign of Terror were executed, including Saint-Just and Robespierre. The Ascension of Napoleon - The Constitution of the Year VIII was a national constitution of France, adopted December 24, 1799 (during the Year VIII of the French Revolutionary Calendar), which established the form of government known as the Consulate. The coup of 18 Brumaire (November 9, 1799) effectively gave all power to Napoleon Bonaparte, and in the eyes of some, ended the French Revolution. For a more in-depth look at the history of the French Revolution, I would advise reading Wikipedia's timeline, or alternatively their full article. Although not part of the French Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars could be included to increase the length of the game.

Assassins
Lavoisier - Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisier, the "father of modern chemistry," was a French nobleman prominent in the histories of chemistry and biology. He was killed in 1794 as part of The Terror.

Templars

Robespierre - Maximilien François Marie Isidore de Robespierre was a French lawyer, politician, and one of the best-known and most influential figures of the French Revolution. He was very influential in orchestrating The Terror, which ended a few months after his arrest and execution in July 1794. Perhaps he could be portrayed as a paranoid Templar, trying to remove all enemies, who is executed by the Assassins? Saint-Just - Louis Antoine Léon de Saint-Just, usually known as Saint-Just,a was a military and political leader during the French Revolution. In his relatively brief time on the historical stage, he became the enduring public face of the Reign of Terror, full of dark zeal and energy. Dubbed the "Angel of Death", Saint-Just organized the arrests and prosecutions of many of the most famous figures of the Revolution. Napoleon Bonaparte - Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader who was the Emperor of France from 1804 to 1815. He was regarded as one of the greatest military commanders in human history and his success in the military campaigns he led, according to Assassin's Creed, was the result of the Apple of Eden that had come into his possession. Joseph Martin-Dauch - A French politician who represented Castelnaudary as a member of the Third Estate in the Estates-General of 1789, Joseph is remembered as the only member not to vote in favor of the Tennis Court Oath on the grounds that he could not faithfully execute any decisions that were not sanctioned by the king. He was thrown in prison during the Reign of Terror, but was afterwards released, and he survived at least one assassination attempt.

Other Notable Figures

King Louis XVI - Louis XVI, later Louis Capet, was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre until 1791, and then as King of the French from 1791 to 1792, before being deposed and executed in 1793. Lafayette - We have already met Lafayette during the American Revolution in ACIII, but he also played a part during the French Revolution, attempting to maintain order—to the point of ordering the Garde nationale to fire on demonstrators at the Champ de Mars in July 1791—an action for which he ultimately was persecuted by the Jacobins. In August 1792, as the radical factions in the Revolution grew in power, Lafayette tried to flee to the United States through the Dutch Republic, but was ultimately captured by Austrians. Lafayette returned to France after Napoleon Bonaparte secured his release from prison in 1797. He refused to participate in Napoleon's government, but was elected to the Chamber of Deputies under the Charter of 1815, during the Hundred Days. With the Bourbon Restoration, Lafayette became a liberal member of the Chamber of Deputies in 1815, a position he held until his death. François Mignet - François Auguste Marie Mignet was a French journalist and historian.

Tudor England/France=

As the Tudor Period represented 118 years of English history, there is no way that one Assassin could live through it all. So in this section, I have just described the most important and exciting people and events of this period.

Locations

London - As the capital of England, as well as the heart of most of the political goings-on at this time, we would spend most time in this city. Bosworth, Leicester - This is where the Battle of Bosworth was fought in August 1985. Visiting here would be a dramatic, one-time set piece. Calais - An area of France that was under English control until 1558, this is also where the Field of the Cloth of Gold took place. The Countryside - We could visit countryside areas around London, such as Cambridge, Oxford, Northampton or Hastings, to witness life in the more rural areas of England at the time. Plymouth, Flanders and the English Channel - Parts of the battle between the Spanish Armada and the English Navy occurred off the coast of Plymouth, as well as Flanders

Historical Events

The Battle of Bosworth Field - The Battle of Bosworth Field was the last significant battle of the Wars of the Roses, the civil war between the House of Lancaster and the House of York that raged across England in the latter half of the 15th century. It resulted in Henry Tudor becoming the first English monarch of the Tudor dynasty. The Field of the Cloth of Gold - The Field of the Cloth of Gold is the name given to a place in Balinghem, between Guînes and Ardres, in France, near Calais. It was the site of a meeting that took place from 7 June to 24 June 1520, between King Henry VIII of England and King Francis I of France, which was arranged to increase the bond of friendship between the two kings following the Anglo-French treaty of 1514. Henry VIII becoming the head of the Church of England - Henry VIII's conversion to Protestant Christianity led to many ensuing power struggles between the Protestants and the Catholics. The power struggles between the Protestants and the Catholics - Many during the Tudor Period were persecuted for their beliefs in either Catholicism or Protestantism; in one year alone, Queen Mary I had at least 300 people burned at the stake for their views. The Spanish Armada - The Spanish Armada was the Spanish fleet that sailed against England under the command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia in 1588, with the intention of overthrowing Elizabeth I of England and putting an end to her involvement in the Spanish Netherlands. The Armada reached Gravelines, near Flanders, but it was driven out by an English fire ship attack. In the ensuing battle, the Spanish fleet was forced to abandon its rendezvous. The Armada managed to regroup and withdraw north, with the English fleet harrying it for some distance up the east coast of England. It was then decided that the fleet should return to Spain and the fleet sailed around Scotland and Ireland, but severe storms disrupted it. Of the fleet's initial 130 ships, about fifty never returned to Spain.

Assassins

Elizabeth I - Elizabeth I was the Queen regnant of England and Ireland, reigning from 17 November 1558 until her death. According to AC lore, she came into the possession of an Apple of Eden, which she kept hidden as the globus cruciger. John Dee - John Dee was an English mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, occultist, navigator, imperialist and consultant to Queen Elizabeth I. He devoted much of his life to the study of alchemy, divination and Hermetic philosophy. According to AC lore, he came into possession of an Apple of Eden. Mary Queen of Scots - The queen regnant of Scotland from 14 December 1542 to 24 July 1567, Mary fled southwards seeking the protection of her first cousin once removed, Queen Elizabeth I of England after being forced to abdicate the throne. However, she was imprisoned, and later executed (possibly by order of the Templars?). John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland - John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, was an English general, admiral, and politician, who led the government of the young King Edward VI from 1550 until 1553. He unsuccessfully tried to install Lady Jane Grey on the English throne after the King's death. Lady Jane Grey - Lady Jane Grey was an English noblewoman and de facto monarch of England from 10 July until 19 July 1553. She was subsequently executed by Mary Tudor, but became a martyr for Protestants. Thomas Cranmer - Thomas Cranmer was a leader of the English Reformation and Archbishop of Canterbury during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and, for a short time, Mary I. After the accession of the Roman Catholic Mary I, Cranmer was put on trial for treason and heresy, and was executed on 21 March 1556.

Templars

Mary I - Mary I was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 19 July 1553 until her death in 1558. She was the eldest daughter of Henry VIII and the only surviving child of Catherine of Aragon. According to AC lore, she was killed by the Assassins, who believed she was either closely allied with the Templars, or was one herself. Catherine of Aragon - Catharine of Aragon was the Spanish Queen consort of England as the first wife of King Henry VIII of England and Princess of Wales as the wife to Arthur, Prince of Wales. Anne Boleyn - Anne Boleyn was Queen of England from 1533 to 1536 as the second wife of Henry VIII of England. Henry's marriage to Anne, and her subsequent execution, made her a key figure in the political and religious upheaval that was the start of the English Reformation. Edward Seymor, 1st Duke of Somerset - Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset, was Lord Protector of England during the minority of his nephew King Edward VI (1547–1553), after death of Henry VIII in 1547. He was killed in 1549.

Other Notable Figures

Henry VII - Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland after he seized the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor. According to AC lore, the Templars tried to overthrow him, but failed. Henry VIII - Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. Henry was the second monarch of the House of Tudor, succeeding his father, Henry VII. Besides his six marriages, Henry VIII is known for his role in the separation of the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church. Henry's struggles with Rome led to the separation of the Church of England from papal authority, the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and establishing himself as the Supreme Head of the Church of England. King Philip II of Spain - Philip II of Spain was King of Spain and Portugal. During his marriage to Queen Mary I, he was King of England and Ireland. He was King during the failed Spanish Armada attack on England. William Shakespeare - William Shakespeare was an English playwright and poet, who has written many famous plays, including Macbeth, Romeo & Juliet, and Hamlet. Sir Francis Drake - Sir Francis Drake was an English sea captain, privateer, navigator, slaver, and politician of the Elizabethan era. He was second-in-command of the English fleet against the Spanish Armada in 1588. He also carried out the second circumnavigation of the world, from 1577 to 1580. Galileo Galilei - Whilst players may not actually visit Galileo in England, we may still hear of his works in conversations with other characters. Galileo is responsible for improving the telescope, and proving that the planets revolved around the Sun rather than the Earth. Edward Kelley - Edward Kelley was an Englishman involved in both science and alchemy. He was the stepfather of Elizabeth Jane Weston. According to AC lore, he came into contact with an Apple of Eden.

Gameplay Features
Improved Naval Warfare - If players could take part in the Spanish Armada invasion, the naval sections of the game would have to be improved to accommodate for many more ships on screen.

Industrial Revolution EuropeEnglish Civil WarRussian Revolution

Industrial Revolution Europe=

Locations

London - Inside the capital of London, players could see the Houses of Parliment and the Tower of London, or could climb Big Ben's Clock Tower, or possibly Tower Bridge if the game spans until the very end of the 19th Century. We could also see the formation of slum-like conditions as more and more people poured from the countryside into London for work. Manchester - One of the main trading hubs of Britain during the Industrial Revolution, and in fact beyond, Manchester would have been a very important city at the time which players would have to visit. Liverpool - Situated on the river Mersey, Liverpool was another booming trading hub in Great Britain. Paris - The capital of Paris, this city saw a huge amount of action during the French Revolution. Players could also see famous landmarks such as Notre Dame and, if the game spans until the end of the 19th Century, the Eiffel Tower. Berlin - The Industrial Revolution transformed Berlin during the 19th century; the city's economy and population expanded dramatically, and it became the main rail hub and economic center of Germany. It would be incredibly interesting to re-visit Berlin and Germany multiple times to witness this huge change. Vienna - In 1804, during the Napoleonic wars, Vienna became the capital of the Austrian Empire and continued to play a major role in European and world politics. The city was a centre of classical music. During the latter half of the 19th century, Vienna developed what had previously been the bastions and glacis into the Ringstraße, a new boulevard surrounding the historical town and a major prestige project. Former suburbs were incorporated, and the city of Vienna grew dramatically. The Crimea - The Crimean peninsula is a major land mass at Black Sea that is almost completely surrounded with water; it may work as a Frontier style map. The Crimea was the centre of a conflict between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia during the end of the Industrial Revolution.

Historical Events

The French Revolution - The French Revolution was such a huge event that it deserves a full game in itself (see above), but it also transformed France. For that reason, the French Revolution should at least merit reference, especially if the game takes place towards the start of the Industrial Revolution, in a late 18th and early 19th Century game. The Napoleonic Wars - Again, the Napoleonic wars have enough events to make a full game, or at least a fully-fledged DLC, but would have to feature in an Industrial Revolution game. This is especially true if the game took place in early 19th Century Britain, with the player possibly taking part in the Battle of Waterloo. The Haitian Revolution - Although not part of Europe, the Haitian Revolution would have to be mentioned in conversation with other characters for the part it played in the abolition of slavery, which followed in the British Empire 42 years afterwards. The Abolition of Slavery - In 1834, slavery was officially abolished in the British Empire, although slaves had to stay with their masters for 4 more years. Even after 1838, many countries (such as the USA) still allowed for slavery. However, in the British Empire at least, players could witness a huge social change during these dates. The Rise of the Chartists in Britain - Chartism was a Victorian era working class movement for political reform in Britain between 1838 and 1848. It began among skilled artisans in small shops, such as shoemakers, printers, and tailors. It began as a petition movement which tried to mobilize "moral force", but soon attracted men who advocated strikes, General strikes and physical violence, such as Feargus O'Connor. One faction issued the "People's Charter" in 1838 and it was widely adopted by the movement. The People's Charter called for six basic reforms to make the political system more democratic. The Luddite movement in Britain - The Luddites were 19th-century English textile artisans who violently protested against the machinery introduced during the Industrial Revolution that made it possible to replace them with less-skilled, low-wage labourers, leaving them without work. Measures taken by the British government to suppress the movement included a mass trial at York in January 1813 that resulted in many executions and transportations. The Crimean War - The Crimean War took place mainly on the Crimean peninsular between the Russian Empire and the French Empire, British Empire, Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Sardinia. It is sometimes considered to be one of the first "modern" wars as it "introduced technical changes which affected the future course of warfare", including the first tactical use of railways and the electric telegraph, inventions pioneered during the Industrial Revolution. The Crimean War lasted from October 1853 to February 1856. The Creation of the Steam Train - The steam engine radically affected transport, vastly improving the speed of transportation with inventions such as the Steam Locomotive and the Steam Ship. As the development of steam engines progressed through the 18th century, various attempts were made to apply them to road and railway use. The first full-scale working railway steam locomotive was built by Richard Trevithick in the United Kingdom and, on 21 February 1804, the world's first railway journey took place as Trevithick's unnamed steam locomotive hauled a train along the tramway from the Pen-y-darren ironworks, near Merthyr Tydfil to Abercynon in south Wales. (Yay! We can now fast travel with steam trains!) For more information on the Industrial Revolution, see the Wikipedia page.

Assassins

Karl Marx - Karl Marx is commonly believed to have played a significant role in the establishment of the social sciences and the development of the socialist movement. He published numerous books during his lifetime, the most notable being The Communist Manifesto (1848) and Capital (1867–1894). In The Fall, the Assassins are shown to support Communism, and the writers at Ubisoft could tell us that this is because communism and socialism are assassin ideas. However, The Fall also seems to show that Communism is supported because it is what the people want. Florence Nightingale - Florence Nightingale was a celebrated English social reformer and statistician, and the founder of modern nursing. She came to prominence while serving as a nurse during the Crimean War, where she tended to wounded soldiers. Ned Ludd - Ned Ludd is the person from whom the Luddites took their name. In 1779, Ludd is supposed to have broken two stocking frames in a fit of rage. After this incident, attacks on the frames were jokingly blamed on Ludd. When the "Luddites" emerged in the 1810s, his identity was appropriated to become the folkloric character of Captain Ludd, also known as King Ludd or General Ludd, the Luddites' alleged leader and founder; this could have been Assassin propaganda to raise the profile of the Luddites. The Assassins could have supported the Luddites as they may have opposed industrialisation, which spawned capitalism, a system which the Templars used to control the masses.

Templars

Napoleon Bonaparte - Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader who was the Emperor of France from 1804 to 1815. He was regarded as one of the greatest military commanders in human history and his success in the military campaigns he led, according to Assassin's Creed, was the result of the Apple of Eden that had come into his possession. The Krupp Family, or a fictional equivalent - The Krupp family, a prominent 400-year-old German dynasty from Essen, have become famous for their steel production and for their manufacture of ammunition and armaments. The family business, known as Friedrich Krupp AG, was the largest company in Europe at the beginning of the 20th century (possibly a precursor to Abstergo?). Sir Joseph Whitworth - Sir Joseph Whitworth was an English engineer, entrepreneur, inventor and philanthropist. He created the Whitworth rifle, often called the 'sharpshooter' because of its accuracy and is considered one of the earliest examples of a sniper rifle. Upon his death in 1887, he bequeathed much of his fortune for the people of Manchester, with the Whitworth Art Gallery and Christie Hospital partly funded by Whitworth's money. Whitworth Street and Whitworth Hall in Manchester are named in his honour. Whitworth was created a baronet on 7 October 1869. Due to this, he could be used as an example of a 'good' Templar, to try to show the moral greyness of the Assassin-Templar conflict.

Other Notable Figures

Queen Victoria -Queen Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India. Her reign is known as the Victorian era, and was a period of industrial, cultural, political, scientific, and military change within the United Kingdom, together with a great expansion of the British Empire. Isambard Kingdom Brunel - Isambard Kingdom Brunel was an English mechanical and civil engineer who built bridges and dockyards, the Great Western Railway, a series of steamships including the first propeller-driven transatlantic steamship and numerous important bridges and tunnels. His designs revolutionised public transport and modern engineering. Sir Richard Arkwright - Sir Richard Arkwright was an Englishman who is often credited with inventing the water frame. He also patented a carding engine that could convert raw cotton into yarn. A self-made man, he was a leading entrepreneur of the Industrial Revolution. Arkwright's achievement was to combine power, machinery, semi-skilled labour and a new raw material (cotton) to create, more than a century before Ford, mass produced yarn. His skills of organization made him, more than anyone else, the creator of the modern factory system, especially in his mill at Cromford. James Watt -James Watt was a Scottish inventor and mechanical engineer whose improvements to the Newcomen steam engine were fundamental to the changes brought by the Industrial Revolution in both his native Great Britain and the rest of the world. William Wordsworth - William Wordsworth was a major English Romantic poet who, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped to launch the Romantic Age in English literature with the 1798 joint publication Lyrical Ballads.

English Civil War=

In order to wholly understand the background and effects of the English Civil War, I believe that the game should last from 1625-1653, whilst the actual conflict (in three parts) lasted from 1642–1651.

Locations
There are many locations that players could visit during the game, mostly during battle scenes. However, free-roam areas must be available, so important cities such as London, Edinburgh and Glasgow must be included. A Frontier-style 'Countryside' map could also be included.

Assassins
Jenny Geddes - Jenny Geddes was a Scottish market-trader in Edinburgh, who is alleged to have started a riot that eventually led to the Bishops' War. She was protesting against the Church of England's power in Scotland.

Templars

Charles I of England - Whilst not strictly being a Templar, I think that Charles I should be a Templar puppet. He could have been manipulated into starting Personal Rule, which gave him absolute power, and then manipulated to pass laws that served Templar needs. When the citizens resisted this, the Templars could easily have turned to support them, now installing Oliver Cromwell as ruler of Great Britain. Oliver Cromwell - Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader and later Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland. He entered the English Civil War on the side of the "Roundheads" or Parliamentarians. He was quickly promoted from leading a single cavalry troop to become one of the principal commanders of the New Model Army, playing an important role in the defeat of the royalist forces. He may have been supported by the Templars, or a Templar himself, so that the Templars still had a foothold in government, even after the Civil War. Thomas Fairfax - Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron (17 January 1612 – 12 November 1671) was a general and parliamentary commander-in-chief during the English Civil Wars. He took part in quelling the Revolt of Kent during the Second English Civil War. Thomas Wentworth - Thomas Wentworth was an English statesman and a major figure in the period leading up to the English Civil War. He served in Parliament and was a supporter of King Charles I. From 1632 to 1639 he instituted a harsh rule as Lord Deputy of Ireland. Recalled to England, he became a leading advisor to the king, attempting to strengthen the royal position against Parliament. When Parliament condemned him to death, Charles signed the death warrant and Wentworth was executed. This could have been an attempt by the Assassins to make Wentworth look like a traitor to the Templars, making them manipulate Charles I into executing him.

Other Notable Figures

Charles II of England - Charles II could be presented as confused about the truth about his father. This would be interesting as, though Charles I would be a Templar puppet, Charles II would have been abandoned by the Templars, who supported Cromwell instead. He escaped to France after the Third English Civil War, and after Cromwell's death in 1658, he was appointed King. This would make for an intriguing tale of changing alliances and enemies. John Pym - John Pym was an English parliamentarian, leader of the Long Parliament and a prominent critic of James I and then Charles I.

Historical Events

The Thirty Years War - The Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) was a series of wars principally fought in Central Europe, involving most of the countries of Europe. It was one of the longest and most destructive conflicts in European history, and one of the longest continuous wars in modern history. In 1625, Charles I wanted to intervene on the Protestant side of the war, but foreign wars necessitated heavy expenditures, and the Crown could raise taxes only through Parliamentary consent. Charles I's marriage to Henrietta Maria - One event to raise concerns over Charles's reign was his marriage to a Roman Catholic, French princess Henrietta Maria, in 1625, directly after ascending the throne. Charles's marriage raised the possibility that his children, including an heir to the throne, might grow up Catholic, an alarming prospect for officially Protestant England. The Removal of Parliament - Charles's insistence on having his unpopular royal favourite George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham assume command of an English expeditionary force undermined public support. Unfortunately for Charles and Buckingham, the relief expedition proved a fiasco, and Parliament, already hostile to Buckingham for his monopoly on royal patronage, opened impeachment proceedings against him. Charles responded by dissolving Parliament. Unfortunately, this reinforced the impression that Charles wanted to avoid Parliamentary scrutiny of his ministers. The Bishops' Wars - The Bishops' Wars were conflicts, both political and military, which occurred in 1639 and 1640 centred around Charles I trying to introduce a uniform Church throughout Britain. In the spring of 1639, King Charles I accompanied his forces to the Scottish border to end rebellion against this change. After a a poor military campaign, he accepted the offered Scottish truce. The truce proved temporary and a second war followed in summer of 1640. This time, a Scots army defeated Charles' forces in the north. Charles eventually agreed not to interfere with Scotland's religion. The Formation of the Long Parliament - Charles had insufficient funds to quell the Bishops' Wars in Scotland, so formed a new parliament in 1640, with John Pym and John Hampden at its head. The new Parliament proved even more hostile to Charles than its predecessor. It immediately began to discuss grievances against Charles and his Government, and took the opportunity presented by the King's troubles to force various reforming measures upon him. The legislators passed a law which stated that a new Parliament should convene at least once every three years. Other laws passed by the Parliament made it illegal for the king to impose taxes without Parliamentary consent, and later, gave Parliament control over the king's ministers. Finally, the Parliament passed a law forbidding the King to dissolve it without its consent, even if the three years were up. The Wars of the Three Kingdoms - The Wars of the Three Kingdoms formed an intertwined series of conflicts that took place in England, Ireland, and Scotland between 1639 and 1651 after these three countries had come under the "Personal Rule" of King Charles I of England. These conflicts included the Irish Confederate Wars, the Scottish Civil War, and the three English Civil Wars. The Irish Rebellion and Confederate Wars - The Irish Rebellion of 1641 began as an attempted coup d'état by Irish Catholic gentry, who tried to seize control of the English administration in Ireland to force concessions for the Catholics living under English rule. However, the coup failed and the rebellion developed into an ethnic conflict between native Irish Catholics on one side, and English and Scottish Protestant settlers on the other. This developed into the Irish Confederate Wars– fought over who would govern Ireland, whether it would be governed from England, which ethnic and religious group would own most of the land and which religion would predominate in the country–that ended in 1653. The Scottish Civil War - In Scotland itself, from 1644–45 a Scottish civil war was fought between Scottish Royalists under James Graham, and the Covenanters, who had controlled Scotland since 1639 and allied with the English Parliament. The Scottish Royalists, aided by Irish troops, had a rapid series of victories in 1644–45, but were eventually defeated by the Covenanters. However, the Covenanters then found themselves at odds with the English Parliament and backed the claims of Charles II to the thrones of England and Scotland. This led to the Third English Civil War, when Scotland was invaded and occupied by the Parliamentarian New Model Army under Oliver Cromwell. The First English Civil War The first of three wars collectively titled the English Civil War, the First English Civil War was fought from 1642–1646 between the Royalist 'Cavaliers' of Charles I of England and the Parliamentarian 'Roundheads' of Oliver Cromwell. Charles was eventually handed over to the English Parliament by the Scots and was imprisoned, marking the end of the First English Civil War in May 1646. Players could be present at some of the many battles of the First English Civil War, such as: The Battle of Powick Bridge - Fought on 23 September 1642, this was the first major cavalry engagement of the English Civil War. It was a Royalist victory. The "battle" was closer to a skirmish, but nonetheless important. It started almost farcically, the two opposing cavalry units having set up camp in almost adjacent fields. Casualties were minimal on both sides. The result of the fight was the immediate overthrow of the Parliamentary cavalry, and this gave the Royalist troopers a confidence in themselves and in their brilliant leader, which was not shaken until they met Oliver Cromwell's Ironsides. The Battle of Edgehill - The Battle of Edgehill was the first pitched battle of the First English Civil War. It was fought near Edge Hill and Kineton in southern Warwickshire on Sunday, 23 October 1642. All attempts at constitutional compromise between King Charles and Parliament broke down early in 1642. Both King and Parliament raised large armies to gain their way by force of arms. Late on 22 October, both armies unexpectedly found the enemy to be close by. The next day, the Royalist army descended from Edge Hill to force battle. After the Parliamentary artillery opened a cannonade, the Royalists attacked. Many men from both sides fled or fell out to loot enemy baggage, and neither army was able to gain a decisive advantage. The Battle of Gainsborough - In 1643, Oliver Cromwell formed his troop of "Ironsides", a disciplined unit that demonstrated his military leadership ability. With their assistance, he won the first Roundhead victory at the Battle of Gainsborough in July. The Battle of Langport - The Battle of Langport was a Parliamentarian victory late in the English Civil War which destroyed the last Royalist field army and gave Parliament control of the West of England, which had hitherto been a major source of manpower, raw materials and imports for the Royalists. The battle took place on 10 July 1645 near the small town of Langport, which lies south of Bristol. The Second English Civil War The Second English Civil War (1648–1649) was the second of the three English Civil Wars. The end of the First Civil War, in 1646, left a partial power vacuum in which any combination of the three English factions, Royalists, Independents of Cromwell's Army, and Presbyterians of the English Parliament, as well as the Scottish Parliament allied with the Scottish Presbyterians (the Kirk), could prove strong enough to dominate the rest. From 1646 to 1648 the breach between Army and Parliament widened day by day until finally the Presbyterian party, combined with the Scots and the remaining Royalists, felt itself strong enough to begin a Second Civil War. Players could be present at many events during the Second English Civil War, such as: The Revolt in Wales - In February 1648 Colonel John Poyer, the Parliamentary Governor of Pembroke Castle, refused to hand over his command to one of Fairfax's officers, and he was soon joined by some hundreds of officers and men, who mutinied. At the end of March, encouraged by minor successes, Poyer openly declared for the King. Disbanded soldiers continued to join him in April, all South Wales revolted, and eventually he was joined by Major-General Rowland Laugharne, his district commander, and Colonel Rice Powell. In April also news came that the Scots were arming and that Berwick and Carlisle had been seized by the English Royalists. Oliver Cromwell was at once sent off at the head of a strong detachment to deal with Laugharne and Poyer. But before he arrived Laugharne had been severely defeated at the Battle of St. Fagans. The Revolt in Kent - A precursor to Kent's Second Civil War had come on Wednesday, 22 December 1647, when Canterbury's town crier had proclaimed the county committee's order for the suppression of Christmas Day and its treatment as any other working day. However, a large crowd gathered 3 days later to demand a church service. This crowd then descended into violence and riot, with the city under the rioters' control for several weeks until forced to surrender in early January. On 21 May 1648, Kent rose in revolt in the King's name, and a few days later a most serious blow to the Independents was struck by the defection of the Navy as being a Presbyterian. Thomas Fairfax moved quickly into Kent, storming Maidstone by open force, before retaking Walmer and moving on to Deal and Sandown castles. On 28 July, Royalist warships arrived, landing 800 soldiers and sailors under cover of darkness. A Royalist deserter alerted the besiegers in time to defeat the Royalists, with less than a hundred of them managing to get back to the ships. Another attempt at landing soon afterwards also failed and most Royalist hope was lost. 2 days later Deal's garrison surrendered, followed by Sandown on 5 September. This finally ended the Kentish rebellion. The Campaign of Preston - The Battle of Preston (17 August – 19 August 1648), fought largely at Walton-le-Dale near Preston in Lancashire, resulted in a victory by the New Model Army under the command of Oliver Cromwell over the Royalists and Scots commanded by the Duke of Hamilton. The Parliamentarian victory presaged the end of the Second English Civil War. The Execution of King Charles I - Charles Stuart was beheaded on Tuesday, 30 January 1649. It was reported that before the execution he wore warmer clothing to prevent the cold weather causing any noticeable shivers that the crowd could have mistaken for fear or weakness. The execution took place at Whitehall on a scaffold in front of the Banqueting House. Charles put his head on the block after saying a prayer and signalled the executioner when he was ready; he was then beheaded with one clean stroke. His last words were, "I shall go from a corruptible to an incorruptible Crown, where no disturbance can be." The Third English Civil War Taking place from 1649-1651, the Third English Civil War was the last of the English Civil Wars. It revolved around Charles II, in exile after his father's execution, trying to regain his place on the throne. Players could be present at such events as: The English Invasion of Scotland - Towards the end of May 1850, under many conditions, Scottish Royalists, who called themselves the Covenanters, proclaimed Charles Stuart II as King of Great Britain, France and Ireland. This led to Oliver Cromwell and his 'New Model Army' invading Scotland to quell the Covenanters and ensure that Great Britain was a republic. The Third Scottish Invasion of England - In August 1651, Charles II planned a surprise march on the north of England. However, Cromwell was expecting this, moving to battle over contested lands. This resulted in the Battle of Worcester, which led to the end of the English Civil Wars. The Battle of Worcester - On 3rd September 1651, Parliamentarian forces surrounded Worcester. This forced the defeat of Royalist forces, and signalled the end of the English Civil Wars. The Cromwellian Conquest of Ireland - The Cromwellian conquest of Ireland (1649–53) refers to the conquest of Ireland by the forces of the English Parliament, led by Oliver Cromwell, after the Second English Civil War. Since the Irish Rebellion of 1641, most of Ireland had been under the control of the Irish Catholic Confederation. In early 1649 the Confederates allied with the English Royalists, who had been defeated by the Parliamentarians in the English Civil War. By May 1652, Cromwell's Parliamentarian army had defeated the Confederate and Royalist coalition in Ireland and occupied the country—bringing to an end the Irish Confederate Wars.

Russian Revolution=

As the setting of the Russian Revolution has already been explored through The Fall, a game in this setting is unlikely. However, it is still a very interesting location and time period. As well as this, The Fall focused more on the cause of the whole revolution, rather than individual events. In a future AC game, players could be present at, or even cause, various events in the timeline of the game's story. We could also be present for slightly after the end of the revolution, and slightly before, to wholly understand what the change meant for Russia.

Locations

Moscow - Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, Moscow became the capital of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and of the Soviet Union less than five years later. Players could visit such landmarks as the Red Square and the Kremlin. St Petersburg - Later renamed Petrograd, then Leningrad, Saint Petersburg is a city of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. Players could visit such landmarks as Saint Isaac's Cathedral, Palace Square, and the Winter Palace. Brest-Litovsk - In the same way players are in Philadelphia during the signing of the Declaration of Independence, players could be in Brest-Litovsk for the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Countryside - A large 'Countryside' map, similar to the Frontier, could join together Moscow and St Petersburg. This would allow players to see the contrast between the poor farmland and the rich city areas.

Historical Events

The Revolution of 1905 - The Revolution of 1905 was a wave of mass political and social unrest that spread through vast areas of the Russian Empire. Some of it was directed against the government, while some was undirected. It included worker strikes, peasant unrest, and military mutinies. It led to the establishment of limited constitutional monarchy, the State Duma of the Russian Empire, the multi-party system, and the Russian Constitution of 1906. The First World War - Obviously this should not be a World War One game. But due to the importance of the First World War in helping cause the Russian Revolution, namely that the huge amounts of defeats helped to grow unpopularity towards the commanding upper classes and especially the Tsar. Perhaps the game could start with the outbreak of war, and players could be present at battles such as: The Battle of Tannenberg - Taking part in the first days of WWI (August 26 - 30 1914), the Battle of Tannenberg was one of the first major defeats to the Russian army. The battle is notable particularly for a number of rapid movements of complete German corps by train, allowing a single German army to concentrate forces against each Russian army in turn. The Battles of the Masurian Lakes - The Battles of the Masurian Lakes were two offensives undertaken by the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and their allies) in September 1914 and February 1915. Both attacks devastated the Russian army. The February/March Revolution - The February Revolution (March in the modern Gregorian calendar) was the first of two Revolutions in 1917 which dismantled the Tsarist autocracy and led to the creation of the Russian SFSR (Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, which later became part of the USSR). The revolution, confined to the capital and its vicinity and lasting less than a week, involved mass demonstrations and armed clashes with police and gendarmes, the last loyal forces of the Russian monarchy. In the last days mutinous Russian Army forces sided with the revolutionaries. It led to the abdication of the Tsar and the installation of a provisional government under Prince Georgy Lvov. This revolution appeared to break out spontaneously, without any real leadership or formal planning. Russia had been suffering from a number of economic and social problems, which were compounded by the impact of World War I. Bread rioters and industrial strikers were joined on the streets by disaffected soldiers from the city's garrison. As more and more troops deserted, and with loyal troops away at the Front, the city fell into a state of chaos, leading to the overthrow of the Tsar. The Abdication and Assassination of the Romanovs - During the February Revolution, Tsar Nicholas II was urged to return to Petrograd to quell the protests by Mikhail Rodzianko. When he attempted to do so, on 2 March (15 March Gregorian), his train was blocked and he was forced to abdicate. He tried to arrange asylum for his family in Great Britain, but was denied as King George V feared this could cause uprising in England. In Spring 1918, he was transferred to Yekaterinburg, where he was imprisoned. In the summer, his family was told to go into the basement, where they were shot. Could this possibly have been a Templar or Assassin plot? The October/November Revolution - The October Revolution (November in the modern Gregorian calendar), also known as the Bolshevik Uprising, was an armed uprising in Petrograd which replaced the provisional government with a permanent, Bolshevik Communist one. As the revolution was not universally recognized outside of Petrograd there followed the struggles of the Russian Civil War (1917–1923) and the creation of the Soviet Union in 1922. The revolution was led by the Bolsheviks, who used their influence in the Petrograd Soviet to organize the armed forces. Bolshevik Red Guards forces under the Military Revolutionary Committee began the takeover of government buildings on 24 October 1917 (6 November Gregorian). The following day, the Winter Palace (the seat of the Provisional government located in Petrograd, then capital of Russia), was captured. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk - On March 3, 1918, Russia signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk at what is now Brest, Belarus. It was a peace treaty with the Central Powers that marked Russia's exit from World War One. While the treaty was practically obsolete before the end of the year, it did provide some relief to the Bolsheviks, who were tied up in fighting the Russian Civil War. The Russian Civil War - After the Bolshevik Uprising's use of the Red Guard, a strong anti-Bolshevik movement spread through Russia. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk helped act as a catalyst for this movement, causing the formation of anti-Bolshevik groups both inside and outside Russia, pushing them into action against the new regime. After the Bolshevik Uprising, the Red Guard was instructed to begin the armed takeover of cities and villages throughout the former Russian Empire. This was resisted by a coalition force of 'Whites' led by Anton Denikin, Nikolai Yudenich and Alexander Kolchak. In the north-west, Yudinich threatened Petrograd, but was driven back in 1920. In the south-west, Denikin advanced towards Moscow, but was also stopped by the Red Armies. Kolchak was defeated in the east in 1919. This all ensured Bolshevik victory in 1923. The Introduction of New Economic Policy - After the Civil War, Vladimir Lenin realised that change was necessary to win support of peasants and industrial workers. Therefore, in March 1921, the New Economic Policy was introduced, taking a step back from traditional Communist ideals. This involved allowing peasants to sell their crops for profit and allowing most small industry be run privately. The Death of Vladimir Lenin - In 1922, Lenin suffered a stroke, and also survived an assassination attempt (Templars, anyone?). This lead to his death in January 1924. After his death, a cult of Lenin developed, with his image being spread throughout Russia, especially Petrograd (which was renamed Leningrad) and Moscow.

Assassins

Leon Trotsky - Trotsky was a Marxist Revolutionary and founder of the Red Army. Trotsky was initially a supporter of the Menshevik Internationalists faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party. He joined the Bolsheviks immediately prior to the 1917 October Revolution, and eventually became a leader within the Party. According to AC lore, Lenin was supported by the Assassins, especially Nikolai Orelov and Aleksandr Ulyanov. Could Leon Trotsky be another Assassin in support of Communism? Prince Felix Yusopov - Felix Yusopov was best known for taking part in the murder of Grigori Rasputin.

Templars

Josef Stalin - Joseph Stalin (18 December 1878 – 5 March 1953), was the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee from 1922 until his death in 1953, when, according to AC lore, he was killed by the Assassins. Assassin's Creed also says he deliberately caused WWII. Grigori Rasputin - Grigori Raputin was a Russian peasant who claimed to be a mystic healer. He was taken in by the Tsar's family to help cure Nicholas II's son who had haemophilia. The Fall revealed Rasputin to be a covert Templar agent, assigned to infiltrate the Russian Royal House and become close to Tsar Nicholas II and his family. Mikhail Rodzianko - Mikhail Rodzianko was a Russian politician who worked in the State Duma until the February Revolution. He emigrated to Serbia in 1920, where he died in great poverty in 1924, and he was the uncle to Aleksandr Rodzyanko, a corps-commander of the White Army during the Russian Civil War. Anton Denikin - Anton Denikin was Lieutenant General of the Imperial Russian Army (1916) and one of the foremost generals of the White movement in the Russian Civil War. He died in 1947. Nikolai Yudenich - Nikolai Yudenich was a commander of the Russian Imperial Army during World War I. He was a leader of the anti-communist White movement in Northwestern Russia during the Civil War. He died in 1933. Alexander Kolchak - Alexander Kolchak was an Imperial Russian Navy commander, polar explorer and later - the Supreme ruler of the counter-revolutionary anti-communist White forces during the Russian Civil War. He was captured by Bolshevik forces during the war, and was executed in 1920.

Other Notable Figures

Tsar Nicholas II - Nicholas II was the last Tsar of Russia, Grand Prince of Finland, and titular King of Poland. His disastrous handling of World War One helped cause the February Revolution, which led to his abdication and later execution. Vladimir Lenin - Vladimir Lenin was a Russian Marxist revolutionary and communist politician who led the October Revolution of 1917. As leader of the Bolsheviks, he headed the Soviet Union during its initial years (1917 – 1924), as it fought to establish control over Russia in the Russian Civil War and worked to create a socialist economic system. The AC wiki says that "Though not an Assassin himself, Lenin was affiliated with the Russian Assassins. His brother, Aleksandr Ulyanov was an Assassin, as was their close friend Nikolai Orelov. During the October Revolution, Lenin sent a letter to Nikolai urging him to kill Tsar Nicholas II, even if the Order itself no longer saw him as a threat." Yakov Yurovsky - Yakov Yurovsky was an Old Bolshevik best known as the chief executioner of Emperor Nicholas II of Russia, his family, and four retainers on the night of 16/17 July 1918.

Community Pages

• LancelotLoire's Ideas (Really good, must read)
• Community Ideas vol.1
• Community Ideas vol.2 (Be warned of spoilers)