Dear Developers

I would like to open this "discussion" by expressing my appreciation for the experience you have given me/us(customers). Especially in these times of the pandemic and the prohibition of any form of travelling, being able to walk in the shoes of Eivor and climb mountains and snowy peaks, traverse fields and experience virtual civilizations is and has been so far a breath of "freedom".
I also want to point out that in this world of conflicting interests, i almost fell victim to the formentioned "rival sponsored agents"- who have been flaming the game in forums/youtube videos etc.- i criticized the game (product) myself in those youtube videos (once - as seemingly being a copy cat of AC Odyssey - which is far from the truth) and almost got diverged from buying this game all together. I am happy i indugled myself.
There is this spreading base of demanding customers who are entitled to their trading rights(?)... I mean people actually feel that the 50 euro price tag they paid for a game like AC Valhalla, are enough to pay for thousands of hours of work done by : programmers, designers, engineers in all levels of production be it the visual department, the sound, the lore and story, the combat system - i mean the list can go on and on... I am not suggesting here that customers should be served trash and say thank you, i am saying that this game is a jewel of creation and the fruit of hard labor and to call it trash and demand your payment rights is a bit nonsesical. I guess for all those people the EULA is the answer. Ultimately what i want to point out is this : "It's easy to criticize creation as a consumer until you become a creator yourself".
As consumers it is wise to keep in mind that every company sells their games (products) at a loss until the game reaches a certain amount of units sold where profits kick in. So as consumers, as units in this chain of trade we should be looking at the whole picture and not our 50euro-rights and how we as units support creators (anti piracy statement). As a sign of appretiation towards the developers and in accordance to the "put your money where your mouth is" saying, i bought the ultimate edition for 100 euros.
I hope my post doesn't instigate a series of flamming and irrational selfcentered responses since it's purpose is one of providing perspective and not ruling. I tried to keep it short yet dense.

Thank you Ubisoft and developers.

Sincerely Viem.

@mykey602
I am facing the same issues :

• Tatoo shop is unavailable after Sven's death.
• Lip sync is not working properly.

Re: [This Game Needs Level Scaling](/topic/86397/this-game-needs-level-scaling)

Everyone has been talking about how game-breaking enemy level scaling feels to them and here are some of their points :

1. Affects their notion of progression.
2. Makes leveling up feel useless.
3. Simply want to overpower everything in their way.

These are some of the opinions regarding lelve scaling. Let me point out that level scaling should ALWAYS be optional, but i wanted to point out a different perspective.
People who oppose level scaling approach the game as if the world around us should never evolve. As if all the enemies, all the bosses, all activites regarding combat are set and should not be changed. As if enemies in a specific area (usually starting areas) stay dumb and weak.
Level scaling makes the world evolve with you.
Again level scaling should always be optional but to "demand" the world (enemies) to "stand still" while only the player progresses is ambiguous.

So can we get some official information regarding the addition of optional level scaling?

Jotuheim: Simply incredible.
 
I am pacing myself through Jotunheim and
i am utterly shocked by the creative imagination of the Art team and the
developers that rendered all this beauty to the game.
The scenery is truly fascinating: the
caves, the water, the colors and lighting along with the ambient sounds and the
long cello strings make it an immersive experience.
 
Would the developers please consider
returning us there (Jotunheim) - in the forthcoming expansion (if a plot twist
allows it)?
I would love to experience more of this beauty.
 
Sincerely
Viem.

@gladi8ordude
Same issue, it appears to be random, however i did go through the whole Vinland arc without any lip sync.

@asgardian02

I second your opinion regarding difficulty in general. I believe even in the hardest available mode the opponents are way too easy and as you grow stronger they literally become trivial.
A new super hard mode (lets name it "Valkyrie" for example) would be very appreciated, giving enemies more hp and armor as well as the good old optional Level Scaling for enemies.

Dear Developers

Inventory Management suffers a bit, so i would like to suggest a quick fix to it.
From the main menu, under the tab "Inventory" a player can see the character, manage his gear and enter the Bag.
Once a user opens the "Bag", everything in there is laid out, in a single category and under a rather long scroll, making it hard to navigate through the different items in it, to keep track of collectibles etc.
What i am suggesting is :

• Instant access to the "Bag" from the Inventory Menu by pressing Right Trigger (RT), for Xbox controller (same could go for PS and Xbox consoles). If RT is planned to be used for transmog in the future, switch the command to LS+RS to instantly open "Bag". "Bag" may be closed instantly by pressing LT+RT or by pressing "B".
• Once into "Bag" create seperate tabs for Exotix Resources, Runes, Trade Goods, Collectibles, Quest Items and Hoard Maps, which a player can access by cycling through them via RB and LB. The tabs should be situated at the same spot they are now, but instead of scrolling all the way down - player can access them through a LB<->RB cycle.
• Keep the Resources, Crafting Materials and Consumables tabs unchanged and where they are.

This will make Inventory more accesible, less confusing and easy to use.

@mayc_
I agree with you. This is a steady step towards a new direction that is both promising and fullfilling.
Keep it up devs.

I am pretty sure repeatable quests (Contracts) will be added soon, in the same fashion they did in Odyssey (Contracts from the Statues or the ship's log). Hopefully*

@asgardian02 Agreed!

@asgardian02 The Body throw has happened many times during my fights, but the AI is simply not good.
The combat in general is a great experience though.

@kreutzgang exactly!

In the end the developers promised us a Viking Saga in an Assasin's world.
So the questions to be answered are :

1. Did they game make you feel like a brutal, powerfull Viking (inspired by the success of the TV series)? Yes/No?
2. Did they game make you feel like an assasin, a member of a clan hidden in shadows? Yes/No?

@asgardian02 I am teasing you mate - i choose always the hardest option Drengr (still game is too easy).

@asgardian02 You've been lazy : 50% completion, 130 hours, 6675 kills

@kreutzgang @Asgardian02
Assasin Creed revolves around a heavy story telling narrative of secrecy and mystery. The game has taken leaps forward open combat but has completely lost it's identity regarding secrecy.
A law system, immersive NPCs+advanced AI will boost both aspects. @Asgardian02 effectively asks for an AC Odyssey 2 or AC Odyssey (reskin Valhalla).
The upcoming raids will probably fullfill his hunger for killing.... Will they fullfill the secrecy and mystery that goes with the AC? We'll see....

@kreutzgang @Asgardian02

That's why I mentioned "opportunities of give me things to kill" should a player choose to follow a different approach. But to embrace @Asgardian02 's idea of evolution of AC to a hack n' slash game, well I'd say maybe this game is not for him...

I mean @Asgardian02 would find the game perfect if they removed finishings moves and add more enemies to kill, so he can go on a mindless killing rampage = different game...

@asgardian02
Mate i understand from all your posts that you focus too much in "Give me things to kill" but this is not a hack n' slash game. The aim is to embrace the world of secrecy (Hidden Ones), adding opportunities of "give me things to kill" when player neglects "Hidden Ones" mechanisms (hood, secrecy etc.).
You must stay on track with the world of AC. What you are asking is a different game completely…

Examples of immersive world, relevant to ACs secretive nature combined with a bounty system and natural NPC behavior.

Player enters a NPC house during night. NPC spots player and start shouting "Get out"/"You should not be here" etc.
Player stays in house. NPCs leaves house to find guards to report (bounty).
Player chooses to :

1. Let NPC go, steals valuables > guards will come looking for him > hood and escape but medium bounty (guards aware of player - hood necessary).
2. Kill NPC :

• Witness YES - bounty. Witness runs to guards > high bounty > mercenary* if mercenaries are not relevant it could be high level mercenary-like guards (Like Phylakes) > hood does not work on Phylakes.
• Witness NO - suspicious behavior - minor bounty.

3. Player leaves house > minor bounty > suspicious behavior.
Too many suspicious behaviors will trigger high bounty > Phylakes.

It is worth to mention here that houses should have high value items (but not weapons etc) for stealing/selling later on, or an ammount of money worth the trouble.

Re: [Idea - Mercenaries in Valhalla](/topic/81049/idea-mercenaries-in-valhalla)

From Phylakes, to Mercenaries, to Zealots it all points to one : Combination of all the features.
I understand that each game wants to boast its own unique features but, if a feature is good why remove it?

In AC Odyssey we saw the introduction of a law system (overstealing would have consequences, killing civilians would have consequences etc.)
In Valhalla, that basic yet vital feature (law and consequence) is completely removed. And not only that but disiycronization looms over civilian casualties.
I mentioned vital becasue replayability increases with the introduction of a Law system.

So i would also like to introduce the adition of :

1. Suspicious behavior : Every uncommon action such as climbing structures, peoples homes and in general anything out of the ordinary should add wanted level.
2. Minor crimes : Any action of EVEN entering NPCs homes, stores in addition to thievery should add medium wanted level.
3. Murder : The act of killing civilians or major story NPCs should grant the highest wanted level possible.

From this point on the law/bounty system should work as in Odyssey. Player will be hunted constantly by high level, challenging Phylakes/Mercenaries/Zealots.
I mentioned in (1) Suspicious behavior, how certain actions should create bounty level. It is becoming increasingly unrealistic, the fact that a character in the world of AC games (player) is jumping up and down, moving through structures etc. unlike anyone else in the world, BUT the rest of the world seems to not bother with it (a few verbal comments is far from bothering with it). The addition of a small bounty (due to suspicion of unlawful action) would add to the interactivity. In (2) Minor crimes, such as entering houses should have consequences, let alone stealing, and these has so far been ignored by in Valhalla. Well (3) Murder needs no explaining.

So instead of removing features, it would be best to combine them for a greater experience.

And finally, for the love of Asgard, PLEASE (!) add Day/Night functions and activities for the NPCs. Its unacceptable to move through a field during night and watch NPCs work or people in cities act the same way wether it is day or night. With the addition of the bounty system (NPCs going to their houses during night, player breaking into houses, stealing or killing angry NPCs) the interactivity will be truly immersive. Not only that but it will make the cloaking system and the secretive nature of an Assasin more relevant. Yes i know the Code of the Assasins : "Harm no innocents" but a "man's got to eat, don't he"..?

I do not know if Covid is to blame for this, but the technology is there to make those changes. And if it is too late for Valhalla it will not be for the next.
Personally, i will expect such changes to be implemented to an extent in the near future of AC.