During Valhalla's Viking settlement would shake up the franchise, fans were excited to build their home and reap the rewards of their hard work, only to find a lackluster system without much to offer.
While there is a certain satisfaction in seeing tents transform into homes and shops in the Ravensthorpe settlement, there's no real gameplay bonus for doing so, since all the shops that open up there can also be found in many other locations on Valhalla's map. This issue applies to the Jomsvikings as well, since they offer little customization and only bring back decent rewards if another random player decides to hire them for raids - something that doesn't happen often enough to be lucrative.
By the endgame, the settlement system is largely forgotten. There are some minor upgrades to Ravensthorpe, like statues and other aesthetic items, but most players would rather spend that money on weapons, armor, or supplies. The problem is ultimately a lack of incentive to put the time, work, and resources into a system that doesn't give much back. Thankfully, AC Valhalla's Wrath of the Druids DLC takes a big step in fixing the settlement system's shortcomings.
Wrath Of The Druids Trading Posts Fix AC Valhalla's Settlement
Assassin's Creed Unity's settlement system was a standout for the series, as building up Arno's home, the Café Théâtre, was rewarding. Making additions to the Café always revealed something interesting, such as secret hallways, an armor room, a training area, and an underground vault containing the legendary armor of an ancient Assassin. There was also an incentive to spread the Café's influence all over Paris because doing so provided contracts, side missions, and a ton of ive income. All of these elements were distinctly lacking in Valhalla's settlement system until Wrath of the Druids added trading posts.
Each post, aside from being fun to clear out, provides actual benefits to the player. Regaining the deed for each allows Eivor to establish a variety of stalls that work to make ive income, restore rations and ammunition for free, and grant access to pigeon coops for completing Royal Demands. The trading posts act like a mix between the Café Théâtre upgrades and Black Flag's fleet system, since each reclaimed post expands Dublin's influence and collects valuable trading materials in large quantities that further improve the city. After collecting materials from Azar's chest and trading for upgrades, unique pieces of armor and weapons can also be included among the rewards, depending on how many posts are fully upgraded and able to expand their reach.
Thanks to these adjustments, Wrath of the Druids shows what Ubisoft can do to improve Ravensthorpe and encourage players to continue the grind after beating Valhalla. Hopefully, in the time building up to The Siege of Paris DLC, Jomsvikings will receive a Brotherhood-style upgrade, allowing players to more directly control what they do and send them on missions, rather than relying on chance. While Assassin's Creed Valhalla initially fumbled the potential of its settlement system, it's using its post-launch content to improve things and to make its world one worth building upon.
