Social stealth

A major theme in this game is social stealth. Other games have worked with the idea of stealth play while out in the open, notably the disguises in the Hitman series, but few if any have included the crowd dynamics found in Assassin's Creed.

The social stealth system keeps track of how much attention is being paid to Altaïr and his actions. Citizens and guards will react anyway you treat and interact with them. While walking around the city and kingdom, you can either force people out of the way and to the ground or you can gently push past them. The first will attract a lot of attention in your direction (risking the breaking of the second "Creed" tenet) but get you through the crowd more quickly, and the person you knocked to the ground may get up and push you back risking exposure if close to a assassination target. Gently pushing past or moving past people will attract no attention but will take more time. Any socially unacceptable behavior will also increase the attention that people pay you. If you quickly climb the front of a building then you will attract a lot of attention, as will jumping from a rooftop and landing in a crowd. Slowly climbing a ladder or dropping quietly into the street will attract much less attention when moving about. Remaining anonymous, completely avoiding all arousing suspicion, publicly expressing only socially acceptable behavior will allow for safe travel through city streets. For the true assassin Saladin realizes that going about his missions remaining within societies law parameters, remaining unexposed is the safest way to move about without catching the city guards attention. Socially acceptable behavior is Altaïr's strongest ability use the environment to your advantage. For a true master assassin knows that the people can unknowingly cover your approach when preparing to invisibly STRIKE.

Avoiding attention at all times is key to a Hashashin's survival during an assassination mission, also a City Alert escape, remaining anonymous is top priority at all times and it is required within the Assassins Order, since your investigation missions and City Official Assassinations require you to be anonymous for success. Remaining anonymous will also refill your sync bar. If you attract too much attention, the omnipresent guards will recognize you as an assassin and try to kill you, ruining your anonymity, and forcing you to hide. The guards are implacable and to a large degree always scanning the crowd for your presence another reason to remain one with the crowd, if easily dispatched, foes who will follow you over rooftops and chase you through streets, often while gathering reinforcements. A very important (slow paced) but guaranteed way to assure anonymity is to Blend. Dressed as a religious scholar Altaïr's mannerisms mimic theirs, an example folding the hands and being in the prayer stance ensures very slow yet extremely safe passage. This advanced socially acceptable technique is utilized by the most serious of Hashashin. Remaining anonymous is of the uttermost importance because number one it is strongly tied in with the second tenet of the "The Creed" and it assists you in not being exposed as a true Assassin while tracking. Understand the crowd and know extensively how use that element to your advantage during your endeavours. Let the crowd mask your approach during assassinations and reveal yourself only when absolutely certain it's safe to do so ensuring your survival is key. Danger lurks everywhere at all times. The crowd is your greatest tool, when Altaïr wants to strike from the crowd without disturbing the environment the Hidden Blade becomes the immediate choice. But what greatly aides the weapon in stealth is Altaïr's ability to move through the crowd as just another citizen. In most cases Altaïr is viewed as a monk or peasant. To strike while ever exposed is to commit suicide, that is how one must view exposure, Assassins rely deeply on the surrounding social class and their daily routines. Because Altaïr commonly strikes from the crowd when performing public assassinations social stealth mastery and reliance are key. If mastering the kill is your priority, mastering the approach through the crowd should be to.

With the social stealth system you won't find any shadows to hide in if you are being chased by guards. Instead you have to escape their sight and then blend in with the surrounding crowd, like joining a group of scholars or ducking into a rooftop garden, you may also find a hay cart for assistance. The scholars have the added benefit of being a mobile source of social camouflage. Other places to hide after losing the guards are bales of hay, and even benches (while sitting between two people). The public is your greatest ally when used properly