1) The YMMV Hilarious in Hindsight of Altair dismissing poison in AC 1 before recommending it later is explained in AC 2. The Templars went underground after AC 1, being far less obvious. Altair thought that the Assassins should as well - if that meant no more public assassinations, fine. If that meant skulking in the shadows, so be it. If poison would get the job done, why not? He reasoned that for the Assassins to survive and spread, some of the traditions would need to go. Reluctance to use poison was one of these, as was losing a finger. Always killing with the hidden blade just screamed 'Assassins,'as did losing the ring finger of your left hand. So it's not really hilarious. All There in the Manual.
2) Altair's Memetic Badass status is justified with the 'health' system. Since it's 'synchronisation' rather than outright health, Desmond is closer to what Altair actually did if he maintains maximum synchronisation. If you always have max sync, you're exactly re-enacting history, which means that Altair NEVER takes damage. Suddenly, his arrogance seems justified, as do the characters that refer to him as 'Master'
1) The YMMV Hilarious in Hindsight of Altair dismissing poison in AC 1 before recommending it later is explained in AC 2. The Templars went underground after AC 1, being far less obvious. Altair thought that the Assassins should as well - if that meant no more public assassinations, fine. If that meant skulking in the shadows, so be it. If poison would get the job done, why not? He reasoned that for the Assassins to survive and spread, some of the traditions would need to go. Reluctance to use poison was one of these, as was losing a finger. Always killing with the hidden blade just screamed 'Assassins,'as did losing the ring finger of your left hand. So it's not really hilarious. All There in the Manual.
2) Altair's Memetic Badass status is justified with the 'health' system. Since it's 'synchronisation' rather than outright health, Desmond is closer to what Altair actually did if he maintains maximum synchronisation. If you always have max sync, you're exactly re-enacting history, which means that Altair NEVER takes damage. Suddenly, his arrogance seems justified, as do the characters that refer to him as 'Master'