(never played an AC game before) The lesson I took from the tutorial boss is that you should use the right weapon for the job, i.e. the build matters a lot. I wasn’t getting anywhere with anything but the sword.
There are roleplay servers for modded RDR2 online (RedM) where you can actually do this. I just started playing on one with some mates and it’s a player driven economy, so if people need wood they either have to chop it themselves or someone has to do it for them. I haven’t tried it personally but you start with an axe and there seem to be areas where you can chop wood. I just like wandering about picking flowers and saying yeehaw to people.