AlongsideAssassin’s Creed Valhalla’s cinematic reveal trailer came little tidbits of info on what to expect from the game. While many series staples like the hidden blade and conquest battles are returning, there’s some interesting new aspects confirmed for the next entry. One of which is a new base-building settlement system that serves as the players' community throughout the Viking adventure.
In the pastAssassin’s Creedhas experimented with crafting a headquarters for the player before, like the den defense systems inRevelationsor the homestead inAssassin’s Creed 3. Now inAssassin’s Creed Valhalla, settlements will serve as the safe haven for players' between raids and other missions. Players will be able to upgrade and customize their settlements to better accommodate their community, as well as boost their abilities and equipment. There’s a few miniscule details fans known about settlements thus far, but assuming the game takes inspiration from past efforts in the franchise, settlements could be something much more than just a rest stop for Eivor.
Home Base
As of right now, all that’s known about settlements is that these shifting communities will serve as the player’s home throughoutAssassin’s Creed Valhalla. Settlements consist of structures players can build and upgrade throughout the game for a variety of benefits. Examples of structures given on the game’s official website note that players can build barracks for their warriors, a blacksmith shop for creating/upgrading weapons, and even a tattoo parlorfor the player’s customizable protagonist. Upgradeable structures likely translates to things like adding additional capacity in the barracks for recruitable raiders, or unlocking new weapons at the blacksmith’s workshop. Other than that, it’s left to imagination what other settlement structures can be built and used.
Another interesting tidbit states thatsettlements are designed to mold and evolvebased on the player’s actions, even more so than just building additional structures. Decisions in-game will reflect consequences, both good and bad, that affect players' settlements directly. Questlines will be designed with settlements in mind, often guiding players back to one or more settlements multiple times. Alliances or grudges between rival Viking clans will directly impact the lives of those living in players' settlements. Players will be encouraged to return to various settlements across Northern Europe throughout the game.
Fans can presume from these details that settlements intend to be a very significant portion of the gameplay loop inAssassin’s Creed Valhalla.Past entries in theAssassin’s Creedfranchisehave had similar headquarters-style systems before, but seemingly never to the extent of whichValhallawill introduce.
Defending Settlements
Assassin’s Creed Revelationsexpanded on the gameplay loopthatBrotherhoodintroduced with Assassins' Dens, which were essentially landmarks that served as hubs for each region in Istanbul. Players would liberate these regions by taking over said dens from the Byzantines to establish an Assassin cell in that area. But unlikeBrotherhood, these liberated regions could also be assaulted again by enemies if the Assassins' notoriety level reaches its max. Ezio could return to that den to begin the Den Defense, which involved players commanding Assassins to fight back against the Byzantines in a tower defense mini-game.
Considering the nature of settlements and warring clans inValhalla, it’d be interesting if the nextAssassin’s Creedgame implemented similar defense mechanics for settlements as well. Viking raids will likely function similar to the conquest battles established inAssassin’s Creed Odyssey, so it’d be interesting to see how that concept could be flipped for defending settlements. Utilizing tactics like arrow storms or barricades/traps around the perimeter of the settlement could add an additional layer of depth beyond conquest battles that players need to manage. Players would likely still be fighting on the front lines with their clan, but incorporating similar defensive elements from Den Defense would enhancesettlement defense beyond Eivor’s own combat abilities.
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Raider Contracts
Settlements will also likely implement tasks for fellow Viking warriors to carry out in between raids. Several pastAssassin’s Creedgames have had passive mission systems like contracts for recruited Assassins to complete. It’ll likely be no different forValhalla, considering the game will have recruitment functionality similar to that ofAssassin’s CreedBrotherhood. Incorporating something like Kenway’s FleetfromAssassin’s Creed 4: Black Flagwould allow raiders to level up and collect supplies for the settlement in between liberating different regions. Raiders could be assigned tasks all around northern Europe to pillage other colonies and collect supplies for the settlement.
Alliances that are established inValhallacould also factor into managing settlements. Negotiating with allies in the region could yield supply rewards that are exclusive to another clan’s region. Similar to howAssassin’s Creed 3has regional and naval trading, players could send community members out to allied regions to organize trade deals for settlement supplies. Alternatively, since players can choose to rival other clans as well,players could also raid and establish a new settlementin that area to gain access to those regional supplies. Yet another reason to emphasize player optimization so that they get the most out of their settlements.
More Than Just a Homestead
Considering settlements will be a pivotal slice of theAssassin’s Creed Valhallaexperience, players will likely need to take these factors into account during their playthrough. Den Defense mechanics as well as secondary assignments like contracts could serve to emphasize the importance of settlements to the player as part of their character’s progression.As Eivor explores and conquers northern Europe, protecting and improving settlements may be just as important as overtaking new regions.
