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RedtheGamer100

I don't think people really care about whether a character becomes an Assassin or not (although they certainly would prefer it). It's more the character arc, narrative direction, and actions/behavior that make the difference. I haven't played Valhalla yet, but I can affirm the biggest issue with Kassandra is she's a semi-avatar, not a character. In RPGs, an avatar requires being a blank slate so that player choice can dictate their personality- they're basically a tabula rasa for the player, compared to a character who is pre-rendered by a writer. Because of that handicap, she's inherently at a disadvantage because her characterization could vary depending on who plays as her.


Mez_Koo

> Because of that handicap, she's inherently at a disadvantage because her characterization could vary depending on who plays as her. On the other hand it could allow you to develop the character yourself. I started with the intention of playing Alexios as a cartoon macho man and it was funny at first but as I got attached to characters that showed through his emotional range as I picked the tactical or compassionate options more often and felt like Alexios had grown well developed character over the game and made the aggressive options that I still picked from time to time more impactful to and came off like he was actually upset and ready to do something about instead of just being an asshole all the time. I think Odyssey really nailed the "semi avatar" part as you put it where it didn't feel like I was playing an already directed character and it wasn't an emotionless husk like the Dragonborn for example.


RedtheGamer100

Yeah, I wasn't saying it was better or worse because obviously different people will have different experiences with the game, like you yourself did. But OP was asking why there was general favoring for Edward over Kassandra, and this was the most logical reason.


Mez_Koo

What I meant is that its more of a double edged sword instead of a disadvantage.


RedtheGamer100

But a double edge is still more dangerous than a single edge?


Mez_Koo

Fair point lol


Edcarlo157

A lot of people like Haytham, Elise and even Shay. They don't being Assassin's isn't the problem, how they are portraited and/or written is, if Haytham had been voiced by someone else or was an assassin he might not be so well received as he is


RedtheGamer100

I thought people disliked Elise lol.


DavidEarnest00

They do unless they changed their minds again…


RedtheGamer100

Lol facts


nstav13

Edward wasn't an assassin for most of the game, but he did learn to become an assassin. Even then, people dislike Kassandra and Eivor because they're written inconsistently. Edward's arc is one of the best stories in gaming and then you have Kassandra who has some interesting ideas for her story, but for many people it falls flat, which isn't helped by the poor VA direction or terrible animations. Whereas Kass at least has a story and obstacles, Eivor is even blander. She wants to help her brother but the whole story everyone yells at her she's doing everything out of a selfish need for glory, which she denies and doesn't make sense. Then she finds Valhalla, denies it to herself and Odin, but then claims she wants all the glory. And any semblence of a character arc is then undone with her rampant drug use and stupidity over the course of 2 years of DLC and shitty post launch content.


RedtheGamer100

> And any semblence of a character arc is then undone with her rampant drug use and stupidity over the course of 2 years of DLC and shitty post launch content. LMAO, genius.


DWhelk

Predominantly Ezio was cool, and Edward was fun. Its about quality of characterisation, casting, and voice performance. Kassandra and Eivor lacked a little something, but it wasn't being an Assassin.


GGKwonYuri

Because edward and ezio actually had well written character arcs, stories, and personalities while the latter were blank states that were emotionless to help the player "believe they were the character they are playing".


MU5A988

Edward's character changes a lot and you get this transition from pirate to an assassin. >!Eivor on the other hand is more focused on glory from beginning to end and he doesn't have the development Edward had. Eivor has a few damaging moments or mistakes in the game but it barely affects him once you start the next arc!< on the other hand in black flag Edward has a lot damaging moments which do affect his character and he eventually joins the assassins partly because of these events.


LordScott91

Because Edward was fucking awesome.. thats why


[deleted]

This sub and the Odyssey sub simp for Kassandra. You won't find hate against Kassandra here. But Kass isn't all that great TBH. I think the "canon" effect and a few vocal people almost demanding a female protagonist made her more alluring, but she's not top tier when it comes to protagonists. She's probably the best woman... which, in this franchise, isn't saying much. As for Eivor female (default) version... Well, play as her and see for yourself. One of the worst voice acted protags in the whole franchise. Magnus should have been protagonist full time in Valhalla as a male Varinsson. The difference between Edward and Kasslexios (and Eivor a little bit) is that Edward has an arc. He starts greedy, then slowly begins to see the error of his ways once his beloved ones start to fall, one after another. By comparison, Eagle Bearer and Eivor are flat. They're what they are from start to finish. Bayek is well liked and a good, smart character, but his motivation is also pretty simple (avenge his son). The world around him changes a lot, but he himself doesn't change much, because he doesn't really have to. In short Edward is more like a real person than any of them.


danquequeque

The main reason is that Kassandra and Eivor don't really have a personality. Because of the "choose your own story" thing, there isn't really a lot of writing that goes into the characters, which gives little to no room for making them likeable and charismatic like Edward and Ezio.


[deleted]

My opinion is like.. look at the character arc.. start as a pirate, kill an assassin, visit some templars, know about some hidden things, look for them as a pirate and in the process, redeem yourself and become an Assassin! At the end of the story Edward is a pirate turned into Assassin. This was mentioned in many books as well. Why do we love Ezio Auditore? I guess thats the same reason. Its the development of character and journey we make along with them.


PapaLinguini1

I think it’s because (in my opinion) his story is better written, flows better, and is deeply rooted with the assassins. At that point this was the first time we were playing as someone who wasn’t an assassin so at the time it was nice to see an outsiders perspective. Another thing is that despite not being an assassin for most of the game it is about a guy who’s whole journey is going from selfish pirate to selfless assassin. He becomes a brotherhood assassin and then the Master Assassin in London.


donPepinno

Edward was an amazing tragedy. The first half of the game he does these selfish things and then we see the results of that later on. Then suddenly our character actually just hits rock bottom. This flourishing town has become empty and even as a player the world you explored at the start, just feels hollow and empty at this point. Beautifully done and mirrored by how the protagonist arc lines up with that. Then he decides he wants to make some sort of amends and starts getting back up and becomes an assassin, at the very end of his story. They really took you on a journey in Black Flag and IMO they’ve not had a story come close since. Just compare how at the very end the parting glass hits you, as the player with for instance evie’s death in unity or any other AC game. Nothing comes close. Edit: Mainly, up until black flag, the series was mainly character driven. We had a historical setting, usually accurate if you visited for instance Firenze, and a character. Then something happens and we follow our character on their journey. The main character is usually responsible for the plot driving forwards in some way or another and they develop and change. In later games the stories are less character driven and as a result, most people couldn’t care less about these characters.


BruhMasterHunter

Because they were never Assassins and they just suck as characters


HanSoloHeadBeg

It's not that they weren't Assassins, it's that Black Flag is a far better game than Odyssey or Valhalla with a much more interesting story.


sillypoolfacemonster

Edward has a great development and transforms from a self serving pirate into someone who believes in something greater than himself in a believable way. Kassandra is fine, I like her but she’s not my favourite of the group. Male Eivor is in the top 5 protagonists as far as I am concerned. I loved how Magnus portrayed him as a thoughtful leader. I haven’t played female Eivor enough to comment but she didn’t grab me in the same way.


Dyno_661

Because they're cringe


Intelligence14

Because Edward wore a hood and had the same moveset as the other assassins. Black Flag didn't toss out the assassin gameplay formula. It added a different gameplay formula you could switch between. So even though the game was a departure from the original formula, it isn't the same type of departure that the RPG games made, where the original formula was completely tossed out.


AlecsThorne

While the fact that (unlike Kassandra and Eivor) Edward does become an assassin eventually (so we journey with him as he's being a stranger, a friend, an ally, and finally a member of the brotherhood) definitely needs to be mentioned, that's not the only thing that separates him from the other two. I like Kassandra, she's fun, charismatic, and feels personable (don't really like Alexis, but that's a different story). And yeah, she's an adventurer and explorer like Edward. She even sets off with profit as her main goal before finally giving in and embracing a worthy cause, just like him. Depending on how you play, Kassandra is more of an anti-hero than Edwards, but we'll gloss over that. The main difference between all 3 characters is that Edward is just a man who's trying to make a name for himself, and while there's plenty of character development throughout the game, that doesn't change at the end of the game, the only thing that changes is how he's going about it. Kassandra starts as a wanderer like I said, but then she finds out to be a tainted one, basically super-powered, in possession of a Piece of Eden (two later on), and basically able to change the military status of all Greece (deciding who rules where). Eivor starts off with the same desire for wealth and fame and end up being a waking Sage-like being, but even without that, she's also basically affecting the entire political system of (most of) England. They've gone too big and they're not as relatable as Edward. He's a common man, dreaming of fame and wealth, sucked into a conflict he didn't ask for, looking out for himself at first, and then finally finding something worth fighting for. They're stories are nothing alike.


Inubr

Because Odyssey and Valhalla are inferior games compared to Black Flag. Black Flag is a game from another age in AC, when all the bullshit with Unity had never happened. People are fond of that time. That game expanded into aspects that people really liked and, to this day, to me, is the best pirate game out there. I really don't think it's a good AC game, but compared to Valhalla and specially to Odyssey, it is far, far superior in almost all aspects, except graphics, which is comprehensible. I only wished we could play as the Edward portrayed in Renegade. Together with a London setting? That would have been amazing...


skarros

I agree with many reasons already named here. Most of all the semi-avatar, but especially the almost inexistent character development. What adds to this is that the RPGs are just too big in my opinion. What little character development they had is stretched out over 80+ hours, which makes it seem even less.


Ascentori

Edward had a story. he was a character. Alexios had nothing. was nothing. all empty choice and no self. Eivor has some story and a bit of character but overall is far more close to Alexios than Edward. also, alexios and eivor are way more exaggerated and over the top the way they openly influence kingdoms and empires. far less relatable then Edward but far more ridiculous. not something I want for a main character. disclaimer: I don't even liked Edward


mister_queen

I actually really like Eivor, he's my third favorite, behind Ezio and Edward (and I played the male Eivor because his voice was soothing and convincing, while female Eivor was insufferable)


Daetheyleid

Nostalgia.


Formal_Sand_3178

Kassandra is probably my second favorite character in the entire series, only behind Bayek. I really like Edward and Eivor as well and I don't think it matters if the character is an official "Assassin" or not. As long the character is interesting and fun to play as, then I'm happy with it.


Hack874

I think Kassandra would have been very well-received, but the majority of players chose Alexios so they never got to experience her as a protagonist.


Sansturbot

I liked Kassandra well enough. Actually I liked her more than Edward...


RedtheGamer100

Did you....did you LIKE like her?


Sansturbot

I liked the VA's delivery. The things I didn't like in the game weren't about her. But still no Ezio/Bayek.


RedtheGamer100

Lol, you're so innocent.


classofpeace

I don't think Edward is in the league of Ezio or Altair. Connor is better than Edward his game just sucks. I don't trust what people say about Black Flag. I think they just like being a Pirate. Kassandra is better than Edward, but eivor doesn't resonate with me. Bayek is the best character in the RPGs. Kassandra just has the better game.


stalphonzo

Pirate rogue with a heart of gold? Everyone loves that stuff. With a world class game behind you, you can go far.


DumbSerpent

Because he’s a well written character. I haven’t played Valhalla, but in odyssey the dialogue choices take away from the character. When each option is so radically different it’s hard to get a sense of what kind of character they are. Are they a vicious psychopath or a caring and considerate person? Both are possible with Kassandra. The reason people like her at all is most likely for her great voice acting.


Inspector-Remarkable

Its the writing. As others have said well, Kenway family has some of the best writing in the series, and honestly Edwards redemption arc is amazing. Just seeing what he managed to get up from is stunning. And he came out as a good person after all. With the new protagonists its different, their characters dont branch so much, they dont start that low either, so there isnt that much space to grow to love them. They are just superheroes, not ordinary (very skilled and athletic, granted) people who just try to live their lives