Assassin's Creed III

1. How many multiplayer characters are there exactly, not counting pre order/special editions bonuses?

2. How does skill upgrading in multiplayer work?

3. Are the map/menus more practical than in ACR (stuff like not having to wait for text in the DNA menu to show up, or the map not having like 50 symbols all of the same color, symbols on top of each other, and not even being able to notice missions unless you're looking carefully, etc)

4. This question is a bit more subjective but... does the game feel different than AC2/B/R? I like this series a lot but it almost felt like playing the same game 3 times sometimes.

Bonus question - This is actually about Revelations, but it kind of relates to question #1. Did the various preorder bonuses eventually get added to the game? I'm asking because I got a platinum edition copy of the game and it included the Harlequin and the Doctor. I'm wondering if it's just because it was platinum or because they were eventually added in a game update.
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PSN: ilikethispart

I can really only answer your first question(as I don't play multiplayer, outside of leveling up to 20 in solo wolfpack).

There's 14:

Bear
Carpenter
Commander
Hessian
Huntsman
Independent
Lady Maverick
Mountebank
Night Stalker
Pioneer
Preacher
Robber
Silent Shadow
Strong Man

http://assassinscreed.wikia.com/wiki/Multiplayer/ACIII#Characters (the one's I haven't listed are the pre order/special editions ones.)
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"A man's dreams are an index to his greatness."-Zadok Rabinwitz
PSN: THE_JOKE_KING33

Thanks. But uhh... worse than Revolutions? How is that even possible?

And regarding the MP skills, do you still have to pay for each change you make? That was pretty annoying.
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PSN: ilikethispart