Completing the Encyclopedia of the Common Man is one of the most unique and intricate side quests in Assassin's Creed 3. Instead of engaging in high-stakes combat or stealth eliminations, Connor must quietly observe the daily routines of the artisans living on the Davenport Homestead. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of how to scan every worker efficiently and complete your journal entries without unnecessary frustration.
Understanding the Homestead Scanning Mechanics
To record activities for the encyclopedia, players must use Eagle Vision while standing near a homestead worker. When an artisan performs a specific job, target them and hold the scan button until the log updates. Each worker has a set number of unique actions that must be successfully recorded to complete their individual entry.
Timing is crucial because NPCs follow realistic daily schedules that shift based on weather and time of day. If an artisan is performing a generic activity like walking or resting, the scan will not count toward your progress. Patiently following a character during their working hours is the best strategy to spot distinct tasks.
Recruiting Artisans to the Davenport Homestead
Before you can document any entry, you must first recruit the workers through specific Homestead Missions scattered across the map. These missions unlock gradually as you progress through the main story chapters and explore new regions. Ensuring all artisans are settled on the estate is a strict prerequisite for finishing the entire quest.
Some artisans, like the woodworker or the blacksmith, become available relatively early in Connor's journey. Others, including the tailor and the miner, require higher story completion before their initial rescue missions appear. Checking your map regularly for new recruit icons ensures you do not miss any vital community members.
Tips for Scanning Elusive Craftsmen Activities
Certain workers can be notoriously stubborn when it comes to repeating specific labor animations. For instance, the farmer family and the lumberjacks often engage in long conversations or leisure activities before starting a valid task. Keeping a moderate distance prevents Connor from accidentally interrupting their contextual AI routines.
If a worker appears stuck in a continuous loop of non-qualifying actions, fast traveling away from the homestead and returning can refresh their script. Fast traveling resets NPC positions and often prompts them to initiate new work cycles immediately. This simple trick saves substantial time when hunting for the last missing scan.
Rewards for Completing the Common Man Journal
Finishing every entry in the Encyclopedia of the Common Man fulfills a major requirement for achieving one hundred percent total game completion. It also adds rich narrative depth to the Davenport estate, highlighting the civil lives of everyday people during the American Revolution. Connor's completed journal serves as a lasting tribute to the thriving frontier community he helped build.
Beyond trophy progress and completion stats, finishing the quest grants a sense of satisfaction to thorough completionists. Taking the time to watch the settlement grow creates a deeper emotional connection to the game's world. It stands as a memorable departure from standard action-heavy gameplay mechanics.