Story Complete Save Files - No Sidequests - No Collectibles - No Upgrades

So Skull and Bones was a mess, but it did inspire me to play an actually fun pirate game again, AC4. Unfortunately, I had lost my savefile, and I really didn't want to have to go through the story again with its eavesdropping quests and forced Abstergo sections. I wanted to just roam around in the postgame doing minor quests and improving the Jackdaw at my own pace like what I imagined S&B could be. Unfortunately all the save files I could find that have the story completed are also 100% saves with nothing left to do.

So I took it upon myself to create my dream save file. I rushed through the entire story, doing no sidequests, picking up no collectibles, and never upgrading my ship except for what the story forces you to do. This is the ultimate blank slate: you start from scratch with no resources and can upgrade Edward and the Jackdaw at your own pace. All the sidequests, forts, and legendary ships are still out there, ready to be fought. All the collectibles (save one or two I accidentally picked up) remain to be found.

you do start with 30000R because I couldn't be bothered to spend it down by throwing smoke bombs at 75R a pop.

*Turns out trying to beat the game with no upgrades is NOT intended lol. Check out the videos tab for a montage of my struggle just trying to reach the final mission.

The following instructions have been lifted from getsmor's savefiles here on the Nexus:

Instructions:

0. 5. Find your CD Key/encryption ID

1. Open save files by clicking `Open` button, or drag and drop to app window.

2. Choose the matching game title, or leave as `` (only work for certain game saves).

3. Enter `Decryption ID` for the loaded saves, or select `Detect` checkbox (if supported).

4. Enter `Encryption ID` needs to be converted to, or use that weird button, open a test save to detect encryption ID.

5. Click `Convert` button, original saves will be backed up in `acst_backup` folder.

6. Copy converted files (.save) to save location, you may need to temporarily disable cloud save sync before starting the game.

Please let me know if there are any issues.