Economy
The economic system referred to the transactions and trade that the Assassins partook in. They could earn money to purchase weapons and equipment from merchants by fulfilling missions, pickpocketing, hiring thieves, looting treasure chests, or other more legitimate means.
Known currencies
- Florins (ƒ) in Renaissance Italy.[1][2]
- Akçe in the Ottoman Empire.[3]
- Pounds sterling (₤) in Colonial America. People also paid with Spanish, French, and Portuguese coins, wampum, or colony-specific bills, but it was simplified to just Pounds sterling in the Animus 3.0.[4]
- Écu in Colonial Louisiana.[5]
15th century
Banks were an essential part of everyday Renaissance life. Ezio Auditore da Firenze came from a family of bankers, and by investing in renovating Monteriggioni, he and his sister Claudia received a share of the profits. Ezio used the money to pay blacksmiths for weapons and armor, doctors for medicine and tailors to upgrade his pouches or dye his clothes. Ezio could also purchase paintings from art merchants - improving the value of the Villa Auditore - and maps to find treasure chests.
Ezio also hired mercenaries, courtesans, thieves and heralds to work with him. During his early years as an Assassin, Ezio paid the mercenaries for lessons on how to use long weapons, two-handed weapons and ranged weapons. He also paid for caravans. Thieves, such as the Cento Occhi, would attempt to rob Ezio. In the event that money had been stolen from him, Ezio could tackle or kill the thief to get it back.
16th century
During the liberation of Rome, Ezio generated income by lending money to reopen shops and faction buildings, repair aqueducts, restore sewer tunnels, and buy shares in landmarks. He could also find exotic items in chests around the city to trade for special upgrades from the stores in Tiber Island. Upon restoring the city of Rome completely, Ezio received the Auditore cape for his efforts.
When Ezio arrived in Constantinople, many shops had been closed after the Byzantines captured the Assassin Dens and the surrounding area. After recapturing a Den, Ezio could reopen the shops, banks and faction buildings, and they would remain open even if the Templars reoccupied a Den. However, should the Templars ever do so, there would be an additional 15% tax cost on all shop items that could be bought.
Ezio could then use the money earned by his share in Constantinople's shops to renovate other cities reclaimed from the Templars, increasing his daily payment of akçe. He could also increase his revenue by purchasing items from book shops, improving the value of the library in Galata headquarters. During his time in the city, he learned to use bombs and began paying black market dealers, as well as receiving ingredients from his apprentices in other cities.
18th century
The economy of the American colonies in the 18th century were based around the crafting and trading of goods. Connor could earn money by selling his hunting spoils to general stores. The value and quantity given for them depended on how the animal was killed, with those slain by a single strike of an arrow or the Hidden Blade earning him more than those that were slashed or shot by a weapon multiple times (firearms, trip mines, and rope darts all ruined the pelt). Unlike Renaissance Italy, general stores provided all the items Connor needed.
Connor also earned money by selling materials and items made by his friends on the Davenport Homestead or received by his apprentices via trade convoys. When Connor visited a General Stores in Boston, New York, or the Frontier, a trading partner was unlocked. Profits made through the convoy were determined by the partner he traded with.
Trading occurred via accounting books located at the Homestead and General Stores. Connor could choose what to trade and to whom. Liberating forts made the trade routes safer, and lowered the risk percentage as well as lowering taxes. In the event of the convoy being attacked while on the road, Connor would be notified that it was in danger, and had to defend it himself or send his recruits to do so, otherwise the profits would be lost. A total of three land convoys could be crafted, with a maximum capacity of eight items to trade per convoy.
In addition, Lance O'Donnell could craft up to three naval convoys with a maximum capacity of fifteen tradeable items. These convoys could be sent to various locations around the western Atlantic Ocean, and would provide greater profit than land convoys, due to shipping costs being greater. However, British privateers patrolled these trade routes. By completing privateer contracts with the Aquila, the risk of a naval convoy being attacked dropped from 80% to 5%. There were three privateer contracts per trade route, and each trade route began with 80% risk. The Aquila itself could be upgraded with purchases made from a harbormaster.
Trivia
- Ezio and Connor can throw money to attract a crowd of greedy civilians, distracting both guards and his targets alike, or to dismiss irritating civilians minstrels and orphans.
- In Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines, upgrades to Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad could be purchased by finding Templar coins.
References
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||