2025
Captain's Chronicles
Skull and Bones, Ubisoft
Community Narrative Campaign
In collaboration with Ubisoft Singapore
Captain’s Chronicles are a narrative device that seek to showcase the impact of player gameplay on the overarching war narrative of Faction Wars (Y2S3). Each chronicle is written reactively to the outcome of a phase of fighting concluded by players. It is a campaign that is posted externally to the game as short lore stories across the State of War website and the Skull and Bones Community Discord, with redirections to these links from other social platforms.
The first piece also featured as in-game news at the start of war:
It seeks to:
- Explore the impact on the player’s character to create emotional connection and investment.
- Detail the state of the warring factions with each win/loss.
- Encourage players to further engage with the narrative from the perspective of their character.
When a phase of fighting ends, the Chronicles provide information on the changing state of war and the impact on factions and/or NPCs within.
After the first Battle Phase ended in a draw, the impact of the French holding a location in the Coast of Africa was explored, looking at the existing smaller factions and their thoughts on the new occupation:
After a considerably long escalation of terror, the Dutch Merchant Company have successfully claimed the regions surrounding Grand-Fort, despite the Compagnie Royale’s attempts to reclaim that which was theirs. The growing presence of Dutch ships has not gone unnoticed by the Confederation of Ungwana.
Queen Halisi cares not for sides in this war. The destruction of Compagnie fleets has brought a sense of justice, however. Revenge, even. Against those who drove her from Great Ukuta.
Those who burned her throne and turned cannons on her people.
Though karma did not come at her hand, it is sweet all the same.
At the end of Battle Phase 3 in November the French took the lead for the first time with players securing a victory of 3-1:
“Coast of Africa’s fared no better. Compagnie have seized the inland and continue to push back any resistance from the Confederation of Ungwana.” Asnah topples another DMC flag, in favour of the French one. It hits the map as soundlessly as the first two, in stark opposition to the roaring cannon-fire that likely preceded the defeat on the seas. “Heard it’s got the Wolf-Hunter spooked.”
You’ve little doubt that Commodore Vanderkill seethes at this loss, given his reputation thus far for enduring so many.
“Both Vanderkill and the Hubac Twins have issued orders for their fleets to converge,” Asnah continues, “With the seas around Poacher’s Cache now Dutch, they will meet to the north.”
R. McGahey 