Assassin's Creed 4 Black Flag

[Daehawk]

I also dont have the diving bell. Id say I love the fishing though. Its not as good after you catch the great white whale though because I dont think anything is better.

Sometimes frustratingly "clingy" character... set up a good ambush, strike, run back to hide ... (tries to climb a tall post his shoulder clips) no, get off the post and run you bastard! (shoulder clip the post again) STOP CLIMBING THE POST! They're coming! (runs up the post again) STOP IT! Auuughhhag! (reload)

Oh God I HATE that SO much!!!

[Paingod]

Or the time spent on the Jackdaw - I run to the rail to man the Swivel Cannon, only to jump the rail and hang over the other side. Dammit... I run over to the rope to swing across to the enemy ship and apparently wasn't really holding Shift, so I leap into the water. I try to run up a railing and to the wheel, only to just keep leaping back and forth next to it. I had to very carefully, very deliberately get off the railings and walk calmly to the wheel.

It can be annoying, but is a very minor thing when held up to the game as a whole.

With maxed out graphics, I also find it very pretty everywhere I go. I took a screenshot and made it my desktop, and I don't generally do that with games.

[jztemple2]

I have no idea why I waited so long to play this, except that I may have thought it was "just a console port" and probably undeserving of my time. I was so very wrong and I love the game so far.

I used to say that AC2 was my favorite of the series, but I really think I liked Black Flag more. It's the only AC title that I played not only to the end, but did pretty much all of the side quests and collections as well. Some day I'm going to get around to playing it a second time, I just keep forgetting about it since I didn't get it on Steam so it's not in my library and I've uninstalled it from Uplay to save some SSD space. Maybe it will go on sale on Steam sometime?

[Paingod]

I used to say that AC2 was my favorite of the series, but I really think I liked Black Flag more. It's the only AC title that I played not only to the end, but did pretty much all of the side quests and collections as well. Some day I'm going to get around to playing it a second time, I just keep forgetting about it since I didn't get it on Steam so it's not in my library and I've uninstalled it from Uplay to save some SSD space. Maybe it will go on sale on Steam sometime?

AC4 is the only one I've played, so I'm not coming into this with much backstory - that might be making it all the more awesome since I really have no basis for comparison to anything else.

I did pick it up on sale through Steam, but have been sitting on it for ages. I did not, however, get any of the DLC since most of it was cosmetic and/or "time saving" - I might get the two that are actual content. I think I have enough to entertain me without DLC anyway.

[coopasonic]

I have played all of them (though I never finished the first oddly enough) and AC4 was the high point of the series. Syndicate was a pretty good challenge to that title, but I think AC4 still holds. I am just glad Syndicate brought the series back after Unity. ugh. I still haven't finished Unity either but that's because it kinda sucks. The funny thing is the "last gen" console release that came out alongside Unity (Rogue) kicks Unity's ass.

Upshot, don't make Unity your next AC game.

[Paingod]

Upshot, don't make Unity your next AC game.

I won't. I bought into Black Flag for the piracy aspect, not the stealthy assassin aspect. I wasn't sure what I'd get, but people seemed to like it. I know why. The parkour/combat game isn't something I'm dying to get lots of - however, I do get into strong "piracy" moods and I think this game scratches that itch nicely.

It's hard to find a game that has good old world naval combat. Pirates of the Burning Seas (MMO) did it a long time ago, but it was a mess the last time I tried to go back and the game was essentially dominated by a few longstanding groups and being an independent was hard because there wasn't anyone new to sell your 'low end' crafting results to and turn a profit.

[NickAragua]

I have played all of them (though I never finished the first oddly enough) and AC4 was the high point of the series.

I actually liked the first one the best, at least as an assassination game. For one, the little side tasks were all related to your assassinations. You gather extra info by listening in on guys running their mouth, or pickpocketing maps. You build up relations with local gangs so they slow down the guards when you run through a particular spot. Etc, etc. Very efficient, I don't ever recall asking "why in the hell is my ultra-badass assassin doing this?". Unfortunately, he couldn't swim, but eh, nobody's perfect.

Then we get to Ass Creed 2 where you become a real estate magnate for some reason and there's more pointless collection stuff, but Ezio's a cool guy and you get a lot of cool new toys and manuevers, so it balances out.

By the time we get to AC3, we got a bunch of extra, tacked-on bullshit, and the main character has the charisma of a wooden block. I mean, what the hell does an assassin need thirty skunk pelts for? Why is he running around the countryside, stockpiling wood and tearing down British flags? Why is he building a town that might as well have ASSASSIN HQ hung out on a sign out front? The main redeeming feature of AC3 was the naval combat, which was awesome. I also enjoyed Rogue for the same reason. I'm going to play Black Flag for sure if it goes on sale again at some point - 'cause the naval combat is just good, clean, ship-exploding fun. I think the Ubisoft guys forgot that their games are called Assassin's Creed, though.

[Moliere]

Black Flag is my 4th AC game. I always remember liking the games, but starting each one requires effort to overcome that it is essentially the same game in a different city/time. BF seems to offer some interesting side quests with the naval fighting and fishing. I'm about halfway through the main quest with about 15 hours in.

[Daehawk]

Well boys Im back at it. Ive reinstalled Syndicate and Black Flag. I cant play Syndicate right now as my wife's Plug'n Charge kit on the Xbox 360 controller has a short. The battery pack is old and wont hold a charge so she keeps it plugged in and it has a broken wire in the USB cord now. If I twist it around a bit it will intermittently light up as it is charging but it wont stay. So I gave her my wired 360 controller from the PC. So cant play Syndicate or anything else that really needs a controller.

So that leaves Black Flag. Somehow all my saved data is GONE. I can only start a new game. Which is sorta ok. I need to relearn how to play and restarting isn't a big deal really. It will allow me to ease back into it and have all that fun all over again since my memory sucks.

Like rereading this thread there's stuff I forgot. The trouble with 2560x1080 I had forgot. Fixing it causes other problems so going to start with 1920x1080 and stick with it. That way maybe Ill simply be used to any weirdness in the graphical look from the beginning and get past it .

Also going to try and max all graphics since Im using a GTX 950 now thanks to an OO bud. Thank you again. Of course Ill turn off stuff I don't like like blur and other such graphical effects I don't care for.

I can hardly wait. Lots of fun ahead I suspect.

[jztemple2]

So often I try to pick up a game after several months from where I left off and realize that I've forgotten so much of how the game plays I'm forced to restart it

[Freyland]

So often I try to pick up a game after several months from where I left off and realize that I've forgotten so much of how the game plays I'm forced to restart it

A big +1 to this.

Curse you, Pong!

[Daehawk]

Thats one reason I say thsi is not a big problem this time.

I still wish we could get something like Black Flag 2 without any future stuff. Just stick me in the past and forget me. I know Ive heard well its a Assassins Creed game. Ok but lets make the next one its own beast and forget that silly future stuff Running around an office looking for doors that unlock is not fun.

[Daehawk]

Oh wow! There is a LOT of stuff to get on that first tutorial island. I had no idea. Ive done that place twice and just swam out to the boat with the guy and started the game. This time I checked the map and looked around the entire place first. He wont leave you. Found a sea shanty and lots of chests and a treasure map with loot. Theres more too. To think I had passed this up each time before.

[Daehawk]

Played that minigame thats sorta like Othello but isn't. I lost and have no idea how.

[Rumpy]

Thats one reason I say thsi is not a big problem this time.

I still wish we could get something like Black Flag 2 without any future stuff.

Rogue was more or less a Black Flag sequel/prequel. Uses the same office complex but keeps the present-day stuff to a minimum. Uses the same sailing open-world sailing but set in the North Atlantic, but instead you play an Assassin turned Templar. And just to confuse things, it's both a sequel to Black Flag, but a prequel to III.

[Daehawk]

With the GTX 950 Ive been able to max all graphical settings out. But now when I fire off a round of my canons theres so much smoke I cant see past my own gun deck. It stays smoky for a few moments too. Cant see the enemy lol.

EDIT: And yet again it smacks me wrong.....why cant I fish?? Its a game on the ocean. Yes I can go harpoon stuff but why cant I sit on a dock or beach on an island and simply fish? I can do it in so many other games.....of course theres many I cant fish in that should have it..like this.

[Daehawk]

Ive encountered a game stopping bug I think. Im on the mission to get the big galleon for port defense and am on the island that you get as a home base later. Ive made my way through the jungle and killed everyone in ti and in the base where the ship is but its still simply telling me 'reach the jungles exit'...Ive done that. Ive left the jungle and cleared the port. Ive swam out to the end of the map Ive climbed the hill. Theres nothing left to do and no mark on the map for me to get to. Just 'reach the jungles exit'. So dont know what to do. This was a lot of work to get here.

Going to look online for help.

[Daehawk]

The bug seems to have sorted itself out. It crashed after I typed that out and tried to go back to the game. When I fired it up it had corrected itself and that was that.

[Daehawk]

AAAAAaaaaaaaarrrrrrrr! It be the white whale....Smackmeboat. Had my harpoons maxed in storage but only lvl 2 damage and a lvl 2 rowboat when I ran across the white whale. Even so I got him down to 1/8 health left. But me rowboat couldn't take the strain even with Scotty given're all she's got Captain. It destroyed my boat. SO close. I got lots of pics though. I know where that spot if and if it doesn't move Ill up grade and try again. In face Ill go down to the cabin and see if I can upgrade the rowboat now before I move to set fire to Tortuga.

Does anyone know the penalty for death? Ive died like 6 times now just goofing off around my home island. All I can see is it restarts me in a random close by spot. but am I losing wood or rum? I never know what I have when I start.

Also what is stuff I dont sell other than wood? Ive been selling rum and bones and anything except wood from my ship and any animal skins and hides from myself.

Heres a pretty pic

[Daehawk]

I think I made a big boo boo right before I logged off. I was sailing around doing nothing when I saw a Royale ship. Never seen one before. Still not sure what makes them special. But I attacked it. Destroyed its two escort but I was so nervous as to how strong the Royale itself was I just kept firing....and I sank her I now wonder if it was a rare that wont ever spawn again and if I had taken her as a prize how good she may have been.

[Daehawk]

I kinda lucked out. I spotted a man o war at anchor. Figured Id stop behind her and then swim over and take it. Turns out their sniper is a good aim. So respawn and just slide my ship in beside it real fast and let loose with heavy shot and aimed weak point shots. Easy. Took her for my fleet.

Not a mile away I run into 2 man o wars fighting..a Brit and a Spanish. Thought Id wait until one was really damaged but about the same time a storm rolled in they both made right for me still fighting. So I shot the shit out of one and boarded it and took it for my sleet also. Figured Id pop out of the boarding and take the other. But for some reason when it was over there were 3 new man o wars around me both British and Spanish with escorts. Soooo I just quietly sailed off. Shame.

[jztemple2]

Now I'm thinking I might have to reinstall AC4BF... I don't remember all those details, maybe because I hadn't played any AC games in awhile when I got Black Flag as a perk of getting a new video card. I hadn't played AC3, so I wasn't prepared for how much more interesting the series had become, and of course the setting was pretty cool too.

[Daehawk]

I dont know whats going on with forts this go. Last time I could take a fort easy but this time I cant take a single fort. So far Ive had the fort blast me to bits and the other two tries Ive had ships of the same nationality comes at me. I dont recall landing to do it by foot until I took the forts main guns out last game.

EDIT: Almost forgot..I did run into another royal ship and took her for my fleet. Not sure if she is any different that other frigates though...speed or gun wise.

[Rumpy]

Forts do have difficulty ratings. Sometimes you have to upgrade your ship before being able to take some of them on.

[Daehawk]

I think that must have been it. I was told to take one out and it had 1 dot about it and when I attacked it only had 2 gun towers. Took it pretty easy. I looked on the map and found another like it and took it too. So I must have been hitting the tougher forts.

[DD*]

Just finished a replay of this a couple months ago. Some interesting reading to go along with it - all info from the interwebs so don't ding me for accuracy (click to embiggen - each one is a separate img):

[Daehawk]

My pirate flag over my windows is like Bellamy's except mine has a eye patch on the left eye.

[jztemple2]

OO effect, I've reinstalled and will give it another go

I also have AC3 which I only did for a few hours and rage quit, I guess I can try that again. And I never did complete Unity....

[Daehawk]

I had put weeks into this game. I was further than ever before. Maybe nearing 50% or more. Its all gone. All I have is start new game. Steam games keep your progress. Uplay doesn't it seems. Im done. Ill never play it again. Without knowing but guessing only I guess Primal is the same way. So done with it also.

Ill now start Syndicate. It looks fun. And I can now get Far Cry 5 someday if its super cheap. So not total losses...in some ways.

[Isgrimnur]

Support

The Uplay PC Cloud Save Synchronization for Assassin's Creed 4 has been disabled. You can copy your local saves and take them with you to continue playing without losing your progression.

Through the initial installation of Uplay PC client on your computer, all files are saved here:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Ubisoft\Ubisoft Game Launcher (default destination).

Please open this folder. If you’ve chosen to install Uplay in a different folder, please go to that alternative destination and open the folder.
Here you find the savegames folder with all savegame files for your account(s) and game(s).

Copy this savegames folder and paste to the install folder on the other computer you want to use for gaming, log in to your Uplay account and you can continue from where you quit the game(s) the last time.

Perhaps a batch file using Task Scheduler to move them to a different HDD location would be advisable.

[Daehawk]

I formatted my C OS drive and G game drive. All gone .

[Daehawk]

Hmmm reinstalled and have a graphics problem. In the native res of 2560x1080 I have black side bars over an inch big. Im playing in a box. If I set it to 1920x1080 is fill out the sides but looks squished. Strange one.

Ive been having a few graphics troubles lately with old games. These side bars in BG......ugly textures in RDO....I dont recall all this before.

[Daehawk]

Strange that I dont remember black bars before. Reading online it seems to be a thing with this game and ultra wide. Either they were there before years ago and they didn't bother me or I fixed them somehow. Now they bug me to no end.

[Daehawk]

Got ultrawide working but had to download a hacked .exe. I hate using those. But it works. Still even wit hall graphics maxed out it looks worse than I remember it. I remember it being a graphics showcase..now its just old looking. And yes I know its a 2013 game but I played it last about 4 years ago. Same video card.

[Daehawk]

Arise?..ya thats it. I was watching mysteries of the Earth or some weird video....think In Search Of hosted by Leonard Nimoy for us older folk. Anyway they were showing those Costa Rican round rocks and I saw some in a circle and instantly i had the urge to climb up on a rock and look down lol..... One day I really should play and finish this game. Was ssooooooo close once in like my 2nd try at it...ive done 4.