When you begin playing, you'll need to choose from one of three available classes. Berserkers are your best option if you want to get up close and personal, thanks to their health and strength ratings, and the bombs they carry. Tricksters are as sneaky as their name implies. You can use them to move in for the kill, then retreat to safety thanks to their evasion capabilities. They're also good at using disguises and causing confusion among the enemy ranks. Shadowblades use a stealthier approach, blending into their surroundings and striking from a distance by throwing knives. Late in the game, you can also spend Hero Coins to unlock a fourth class: the Thief.
Jumping Assistance
If you've played console titles within the Assassin's Creed series, you might be used to taking a hands-on approach. That doesn't work as well here, since you're relying primarily on virtual thumbstick controls. However, you can take advantage of the Parkour Helper, which points out a route you can follow, and you can tap on your ideal destination to potentially make the leap more effectively than if you try to do everything manually.
Passive Friends
Bring along a Hireling and you'll gain passive buffs that remain in effect until you make use of the active ability. The exact boost you gain depends on the class of your ally. Berserkers improve your health, Tricksters make it easier to flee, and Shadowblades improve your likelihood of landing a critical hit.
Tokens For a Hero
Once you finish the introductory campaign, A Murder of Crows, you can start earning Hero Tokens. These can be spent to gain access to new locations, additional character customization, and more contract mission types. Those contract missions tend to be fairly straightforward, and you'll earn additional tokens (not to mention experience and skills) as you complete them.
Class Distinctions...