Character Spotlight
Character Breakdown: Connor Kenway AKA Ratonhnhaké:ton
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Character Breakdown: Connor Kenway
The Connor Kenway Workout
The Skills of Connor Kenway
The Dichotomy of Connor Kenway
Name: Ratonhnhaké:ton AKA Connor Kenway
Games: Assassin’s Creed 3, Assasin’s Creed: Liberation
Skills/Attributes:
- Traceur
- Hunter/Tracker
- Half Native American/Half European
- Skilled Tomahawk and Knife Fighter
- Dual Wielding Specialization
- Humble
- Strong Sense of Justice and Equality
- Naive
- Occasionally Rash and Impressionably
Summary: Once again, a big thanks to reader Sora Shadow for suggesting this character!
(as usual, spoilers ahead)
So, I prefer calling him Ratonhnhaké:ton instead of Connor, but hey, search indexes. Anyway, Ratonhnhaké:ton hails from the Assassin’s Creed 3, and is probably my favorite protagonist in the series (and 3 is probably my favorite game in the series). Yeah, I know the Ezio die-hards are gonna disagree with me on those points, but hear me out. Ezio is, basically, a god. Yes, I know that’s a bit of hyperbole, but he is a man who watched his family die in front of him, slaughters countless people for years in a quest for vengeance, and yet is also devilishly good looking, well balanced, virtuous, and good looking. Oh, he also manages to head up the Assassin Order (ain’t no big thing), and have countless interactions and visions with Those Who Came Before. You don’t endure all that without picking up some major flaws, and yet Ezio is, basically, flawless.
Not so with Ratonhnhaké:ton/Connor. Ratonhnhaké:ton is young, brash, and impulsive. He’s relatively easily persuaded, and at times lets his own thirst for justice override a better course of action. He gets caught, he gets hurt, and he doesn’t always win. But Ratonhnhaké:ton is also humble, measured, and wise beyond his years. In many ways, his tale is a tragedy, all the way up to the end. He catches and avenges his mother’s killer, but in the process he loses people who he thought were his allies, his people lose their land and leave him, without a parting thought, and he kills a childhood friend. Ratonhnhaké:ton has flaws, loss, and problems…but that’s what makes him human.
In The Connor Kenway Workout we’re going to be setting up a workout somewhat similar to Ezio’s, but taking into account that Ratonhnhaké:ton/Connor is a stronger, larger individual, with a different combat style and environment to move through. We’ll be focusing a bit more on raw strength, and upper body conditioning.
In The Skills of Connor Kenway, we’ll learn a bit about Ratonhnhaké:ton/Connor’s fighting styles, as well as how to develop ambidexterity to better dual wield weapons. We would be remiss to leave out Ratonhnhaké:ton’s formidable hunting skills, so we’ll be taking a crash course on tracking game. Finally, we’re going to explore Mohawk culture a bit, and learn what traits define them as a people.
The Dichotomy of Connor Kenway will explore the two worlds that Ratonhnhaké:ton straddles, and how they affect his psyche, and outlook on the world. We’ll explore the somewhat conflicting traits that he possesses, like how a many so driven for vengeance can also be so compassionate, or how a brash young man can also be wise beyond his years.
I have to say, I’m a little biased here. If you weren’t aware, I live in Northern New Jersey, and this area is pretty steeped in revolutionary history, happenings, and goings-on. My mom and dad actually grew up in the town where the real life Charles Lee was actually captured, haha. As such, I geeked out throughout most of AC3, which is probably why I loved it so much. Regardless, I am really looking forward to this week, and I hope you guys are as well.
We will continue tomorrow with The Connor Kenway Workout. Please don’t forget to like the blog on Facebook, and follow on Twitter and Tumblr. While you’re at it, if you enjoyed this post, please share/retweet it to your friends! We’ll see you on Sunday!. Until then, remember to live boldly, change the world, and continue to be awesome.
Dan “DaRatmastah” Wallace
Wow! this is really good and informative! I can’t wait for the rest. Connor is the best assassin personally for me anyway 😀
Thanks!
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You guys are really-really-really-really-really-really awesome…
Thanks! So are you!
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Hey Dan,
I don’t know I’d you are taking suggestions but if you are maybe you could do Turok from the newer XBOX game (2011ish?
Very Respectfully
Taylor
Hey Taylor! Sorry I’m so VERY late in getting back to you on this one! Turok is a cool character, I’ll definitely add him to the list! Thanks for the suggestion!
Hey, I was just wondering when I could expect to see the complete results of this workout.
This really is awesome and informative
Thanks,
Jim
Hey Jim!
That’s really kind of a relative question, and it depends on what you mean by “Complete Results.” Depending on your starting point, if you’re starting at the very beginner level, you could conceivably make your way up to the Assassin level within a year (maybe a bit more), assuming dedication and good living habits. Of course, that varies based on genetics, and personal health/diet, but it’s achievable.
Physically, reaching Connor’s build/appearance could take less than a year, more than a year, or anywhere in between, based upon where you’re starting from and, again, genetics/diet.
I hope this helped answer your question. Feel free to clarify or ask others. =)
Dan
I don’t really want to bash either Ezio or Altair because Ubisoft clearly put a lot of effort into writing those guys as well, but for me they pale in comparison to Connor. I honestly believe he’s the best written character in the whole series (maybe besides Shaun, heh :P). The writers managed to make him flawed (unlike Ezio who pretty much was always Mr. Perfect despite the lust for vengeance) but he’s also not a d*ck for a certain period of his life like Altair was. (which, you know, wasn’t ALL bad since he does recognize he was a d*ck)
Connor’s “flaws” actually come from the clash of 2 cultures and, to a certain degree, are also a critique of our European society and ways of life. In AC3 there are so many characters with flaws. And that makes it great.
I agree, on all points =D
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So is Ratonhnhaké:ton under the Monk class or the Brawler class ? Because I just recently joined the Champions Guild 😀 and I fall in line with the Brawler Class with body type and signature tenacity but more a Rogue stealth oriented mindset. People say I resemble Ratonhnhaké:ton as far as bidy tyoe and worldview goes and this thread is actually how find this badass website XD. D.A. Johnson Class:Brawler
Body type
I would say Brawler =D
Thought so XD
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Could you compare Jacob Frye with Connor? What would the difference be?
I’m not trying to roast your opinion about AC characters, but Ezio does have flaws as a character. At the beginning of Ac 2 you see he is very impulsive, brash, and arrogant are some of his flaws. By the time of AC Revelations he changes so much due to his growth as a person and his experiences that it is haed to believe he was what he was as a 17 year old.