AC U/AC S | Fine Points of Parkour (Up, Forward, Down)
I'm wondering what some of your favorite tricks are for the Parkour System introduced in the new engine. For me, it still feels a lot tougher to control than the previous one, even though I've got a good grasp on it. I think many people feel this way, but let's just have this thread to share and discuss tips and tricks we like to be mindful of while we use the Unity and Syndicate movement system, to make it feel or work better. It can be a List, and I'll Update this List as we get more answers. I'll start it off!
- [DAZ] While using Parkour Down (R2 + O) / (RT + B) along the facade or side of a building, holding the Stick sideways instead of downward will do a smooth sideways dismount once the Assassin reaches a low enough point. This will also swing the camera in that direction and allow you to easily keep running that way. Less work than having to spin the camera around manually after dismounting a wall using Stick Down + Parkour Down.
- [DAZ] Holdover from Unity, but in Syndicate we can still Roll when we hit the ground by tapping (O) / (B) before touching the ground. In Syndicate it's much easier to time. Has some Camera-Resetting usefulness: Doing it after a Controlled Descent movement - ones that have the Assassin vaulting or swirling downwards fluidly with the camera looking straight down - will Reset the camera to look forward again upon the Roll, so we can continue to just Sprint forward after.
- [DAZ] Preparing/Holding (L1) / (LT) before reaching the edge of the current building will auto-Rope to the most valid distant ledge as soon as you're in range. Doing this sometimes causes the Rope-Launch Prompt Icon to not appear at all. This also works for Roping up a building. Be careful not to just hold it down all the time, because sometimes you'll auto-Rope vertically (since that's the closest valid anchor-point).
- [McStab] You can Force-Drop off a building by holding Parkour Down on its side until the Assassin stops, and holding it further until the game gives you the "Drop - Hold (O) / (B)" prompt. It will only ever drop you straight down, you will always take damage, but you will never die.
- [McStab] It's possible to Drop Off of Ziplines by tapping (O) / (B) at any time. This is dangerous and might be the only way to kill yourself with a Navigation Input. May be the only way to open up Stunt Assassinations again in Syndicate.
I don't like that to dive into the river the command has to be "Parkour Down" 
rather than "Jump," which is now "Parkour Up" 
.
Did they get rid of the manual jump all together with the "Parkour Up" and "Parkour Down" system? I am constantly stalling at edges of buildings, the river, anywhere with elevation because I want to "Jump" but the game needs me to "Descend," and it's frustrating.
“Force has no place where there is need of skill." Herodotus
They did get rid of the Manual Jump. It is now also impossible to kill yourself off of buildings intentionally. Trying to do Wall Eject from a high place will result in the Assassin looking back and shaking their head rather than a jump.
They did get rid of the Manual Jump. It is now also impossible to kill yourself off of buildings intentionally. Trying to do Wall Eject from a high place will result in the Assassin looking back and shaking their head rather than a jump.
Lies. I killed myself off a building just yesterday!
“Force has no place where there is need of skill." Herodotus
You didn't do so intentionally. I'm willing to bet that it was one of those weird animations where you weren't really sure what happened, and spent the entire Desync sequence saying, "Wait... What?" I've had those happen to me several times in Syndicate, but they were always unintentional. We can kill ourselves off buildings by accident/broken pathing - but not Jump Off whenever we please and Catch Ledge at will.
I think you can double tap the "drop" off of ziplines. I'll check again tonight. Maybe you can do the same when hanging on buildings. 
“Force has no place where there is need of skill." Herodotus
You can for sure Force-Drop off of buildings when the game gives you the Option to hold (O) / (B) to do it. It only happens when the fall would damage you, but would not kill you. And it only ever drops you straight down, which is neither cool-looking nor super useful. As far as I know, anyway. I do know that you can definitely Kill yourself off of Ziplines as well. I think that might be the only time to do it intentionally when it comes to general navigation.
For clarity (and I'll check this today), I don't think the hold drop worked for me on ziplines. It was a double tap the drop button.
“Force has no place where there is need of skill." Herodotus
You don't need to hold it, and you don't need to double-tap it. It works just by single-tapping (O) / (B). You may have to be holding (R2) / (RT) while you do it though. You can also Prepare/Hold (L1) / (LB) as you approach an edge to Rope to the opposite side of the gap immediately upon being in-range to do so, the same way you would Hold the Parkour Controls down as you navigate.
Yeah. I haven't tried much. I know when I just hit it once it didn't always work, so I started double tapping to get it to work. 
“Force has no place where there is need of skill." Herodotus