Mass Effect 2

[Kerensky287]

It's coming out in less than a week and I know some of you are psyched about it.

Personally, I'm really happy that they've done so much to the combat system. The original version was pretty good too I guess, but there were problems everywhere... I mean, why bother giving squad-control commands if they were given to BOTH team members at once? You can't make them both take cover behind a box because then they'll just get in each other's way.

Beyond that, they've added a ton of new powers and weapons (more than 4 weapons! score!) so you do stuff like curving Biotic powers around cover, freezing enemies, using heat-seeking rockets... quite a bit above the original, in my opinion.

Probably my favourite thing is that they seem to have gotten rid of the Mako. In the original, the vehicle sections seemed tacked-on and cheapened the experience by giving you shitty controls and limiting you to two forms of attack. In the sequel you seem to be able to choose your landing spot (not sure how this works, procedural generation of the landscape maybe? Or it could just be one landscape that gets used over and over again... we'll see) and you go right there in a shuttle.

I'm torn as to what characters I want to use. They've brought back Tali and Garrus, but they seem to have something like 10 other characters (more with DLC, too) and most of them seem pretty awesome. It doesn't seem like they're limiting the nonhuman characters to the standard classes, either, because a lot of them appear to have unique abilities that they can use. Definitely going to be a game I'll play through multiple times for different party combinations.

I'm currently on a playthrough of the original as an Adept that I modeled after 50 Cent (http://goremasternews.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/50-cent.jpg).
...So you could probably say I'm really excited about this game. Anybody else?

[Azisien]

I am just ridiculously psyched for the game. That's probably obvious, as my Bioware fanboy status grows by the day.

Already got it preordered, limited edition PC edition. I hope they support this one with better DLC. BDTS was fine, but it was overpriced, and it was the only thing for like a year.


Edit:

I am very curious to see, not only where the story goes, but where they take the "actions from the first Mass Effect save game" thing they've promised. Really curious. Because as everyone knows the first game ends on kind of a cliffhanger. I read the first novel but it was very mediocre so I didn't bother getting the second one. Apparently the second one sets up the sequel more though, while the first was a prequel. I'm always a bit amblivent when Bioware says something like "and now there's this whole new enemy!" When I hear that, I worry about the plot meandering and having less to do with the Reaper threat. But, I'm sure they're related. I Believe in Bioware. :p

[Kerensky287]

I'll say that the ME2 DLC is gonna be pretty good. (http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/15/rumor-mass-effect-2-dlc-details-leaked/)

EDIT: I'm currently reading the 2nd ME book. I have actually noticed that they seem to be focusing on a lot of elements from ME2 - the Collectors have been mentioned, some important characters are affiliated with Cerberus, and so on - and while I'm still pretty early on in the book, I think that it'll serve as a pretty good "prequel" so to speak for ME2.

I agree that the first one was a little underwhelming, but the second is pretty good so far.

[Lost in Time]

I played Mass Effect 1 when it was first released, and have played it since. Now I'm going to play through it again to get caught up on it and get ME2 on the PC as soon as it comes out. I also have 2 of the books that I'll read through when I'm away from home.

[greed]

They've brought back Tali and Garrus

Fuck yeah. My favourite two NPCs from ME1. Kaidan, Ashley and Liara were boring and Wrex was kinda cool but I liked him better when he was called Black Whirlwind. And I liked him better when he was called HK-47.

[Arcanum]

What I've gleaned from the things I've seen of ME2, the "new enemy" is the Collectors, and they have somehow managed to acquire Reaper technology. As for the choices that will carry over, my guess is that it will alter who gets cameo appearances (and possibly offer side quests), depending on who got killed off. I hope that it's more than that though.

The one big nitpick I have with what I've seen about this game, is what they did to the health system. I hate games that change their old health system to regenerating health, especially when there was nothing wrong with the old health system. I feel that when I'll be playing this game, every time I see Sheperd's health regenerate I'm gonna think that he has a layer of medi-gel between the inner layer of his suit and his skin.

[Karrrrrrrrrrrresche]

Fuck yeah. My favourite two NPCs from ME1. Kaidan, Ashley and Liara were boring and Wrex was kinda cool but I liked him better when he was called Black Whirlwind. And I liked him better when he was called HK-47.

What, seriously?
You think Wrex is like HK-47?

[greed]

Well not really. More meant the guy who always advises violence as the solution. In that way they're similar. I just think that role works better with someone who's totally nuts, rather than Wrex. Maybe the comparison isn't that great. But whatever I thought Wrex was okay, just didn't really like him a great deal.

[Mirai Gen]

Ashley might not have been as badass as Wrex but there was something satisfying about having your most powerful party member being a human woman.

But yeah, roommate and I are going to split up this month's releases - Bioshock 2 and Mass Effect 2. He's getting ME2 cause I'm not as psyched about it.

[Red Fighter 1073]

Wow I am SO excited for this game. What I've seen from Wikipedia is that yeah there's no more Mako this time around. Instead, I think that explorable planets have multiple drop points where you immediately get into the action on foot instead of going around in a vehicle.

Oh yeah although it's not exactly the best written review, here are scans of the Xbox Magazine Review (http://www.allgamesbeta.info/2010/01/first-mass-effect-2-review.html).

[stefan]

I was excited until I realized there was no way in hell my computer was going to be able to handle playing it. Now I'm pissed because by the time I've saved up enough to upgrade into a state of ME2 playability, some chucklefuck is likely to spam spoilers every fucking where.

[01d55]

I still haven't finished DA, and no way am I going to have two open Bioware games in my house. On the bright side, I get to wait for a sale.

[Melfice]

Man, I'd buy the collector's edition for this game, on the sole virtue of it being Mass Effect.
Unfortunately, it appears we won't be getting a Collector's Edition.

Oh well. If EA doesn't want my money, am I right?

But yeah, pretty psyched about Mass Effect 2.

EDIT: Scrap that.
Found a Collector's Edition. Sweeeeet.

[Marc v4.0]

I'm really excited about getting to play this. but god dammit I hate they added a "Ammo, but not ammo" system. That just seemed like a pointless change.

[krogothwolf]

Any word on how or if the Saved games from ME 1 are somewhat transferable to ME 2?

[stefan]

Any word on how or if the Saved games from ME 1 are somewhat transferable to ME 2?

yes and no. Your stats, equipment, and skills won't transfer because the combat system is different enough to make conversion too difficult to be worth it. However, your choices made will transfer, and affect ME2. For instance, apparently if you killed Wrex, when you visit the krogan homeworld it's being torn apart by civil war. If, however, you spared him, when you get there Wrex is working on bringing the krogan to order.

Edit: Also I'm debating whether to just buy ME2 and let it sit until I've built a computer to play it on. Apparently preordering the Collectors edition gets you the most free shit (three sets of armor, two rifles and a black hole cannon) yeah nevermind apparently to get the black hole cannon and the terminus armor you have to give up the AH AHM IRON MAHN (http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Inferno_Armor) armor.

[Kerensky287]

So, I gave up on my 50 Cent playthrough because trying to pick the "most gangsta" dialogue option got kinda dull. Still gonna try to do a fresh playthrough for the sequel, though.

I created a Vanguard character to see how a close-combat oriented game would play out. Visually I used the default Male Shep model because to be honest, that's kinda how I see him these days. My original Shep was based on Dr Evil and seeing him with Shep's voice has become almost jarring - that's just how many preview videos I've seen. So yeah, default Shepard has become Shepard to me. I named him Commander, as well, so it kinda feels like people are actually saying his name. As a side-effect, any and all military situations feel a helluva lot less formal.

As for the game, I'm playing it a little differently too. On my first playthrough I think I was using mostly Wrex and Liara, but now I'm going with Garrus and Tali so I have the option to continue the trend in the sequel... plus, they're both awesome characters. I'm also trying to just skip the Mako sections as much as possible rather than worrying about the experience I'm missing out on. There was a time when I'd spend ages trying to park on top of an Armature so I'd get the 2.5x XP from killing it on foot, but that time is gone and now I'm just ramming the shit out of anything in my way until I reach my destination.

The on-foot sections are really what make the game awesome. Playing as a Vanguard - a class whose main strategy seems to be "knock them down and hit them as hard as you can while they're there" - is a huge change of pace from the Adept's "make them helpless in midair" and the Infiltrator's "SHOOT'EM INNA HEAD" strategies. I find myself actually using my squad members now - it's mostly because they're excellent diversions for when I charge the enemies and hit them with my fist/brainwaves/bullets, but it also helps keep them out of the cover I need to survive. It feels completely different from before.

I'm also trying sidequests far more often. I had THOUGHT the game felt a little short, and now I know why - I was dodging the meat of the game completely by accident. I'm on Feros, the first planet, but I'm already like Level 15 or something because of all the extra stuff I've done. It's a blast and it's ALMOST tiding me over for the sequel.

Dunno if I want to powerlevel up to 60 or not (apparently a stupidly high level grants you some experience bonuses) but I'm trying to make as many decisions as possible, since presumably most of them will impact the sequel in some way. I did buy Bringing Down the Sky but that was more because it's a whole set of levels I'd never encountered before and I figured it was worth a try.

Anyone else starting anew?

[Red Fighter 1073]

Ehh actually out of all my playthroughs, I liked the Adept class the most.. Though I guess that's primarily because I was an Adept on my 2nd playthrough I think so they let you immediately put points into Assault Rifles and the like instead of having to wait a while before you're even able to use a Pistol which was sick.

[Aerozord]

I was always a fan of specialists. Which in this game is all the women for some arbitrary reason. So I went with Tali and Liara. Though thinking back Liara was abit on the flat side. Tali however was a character I took a shine too and glad to know she's back. I am however unhappy they said romantic plot would never be possible with her.

[Melfice]

I was always a fan of specialists. Which in this game is all the women for some arbitrary reason. So I went with Tali and Liara. Though thinking back Liara was abit on the flat side. Tali however was a character I took a shine too and glad to know she's back. I am however unhappy they said romantic plot would never be possible with her.

Bit of a lame reason, really.
All you'd need to do is decapitate Shepard (to get rid of the bacteria-infested mouth, don'tchaknow?) and strip away his/her skin and disinfect the rest of his body, and he/she and Tali could totally get it on.

[Aerozord]

thats not the reason. In fact they said if it was a sterile enviroment, like aboard the normandy, they could get it on. Humans do not have any illnesses that can be passed on to her.

The reason its not gonna happen is simply, because they said so

[greed]

I always figured it was partly cause she was meant to be in her teens and Shephard's at least in his/her late 20s (the youngest Shephard models look late 20s, the official Shephard model looks like he's well into his 30s and character creation can put him/her into old age) so maybe they figured that Tali's too young for him/her. Also never heard that Normandy thing, I heard it was they had to have those suits on for contact with anything non-Quarian.

[Kerensky287]

They did point out, however, that there's a surprising amount of support for the idea, despite the fact that Tali has what can be accurately described as "chicken feet". But I guess some people go for that.

Just gonna point out though that Tali is an alien species. And not like the asari, who were seemingly invented for the sole purpose of interspecies lesbian sex. I think Bioware handwaved it somehow so the asari are basically universal power sockets or something, but quarians are quarians. They are incompatible with humans. Any romance between a quarian and a human would be purely through kind words and MAYBE inappropriate touching.

EDIT FOR NINJA: Quarians have no immune system. It comes from living on sterile spaceships for centuries. They need the suits so they don't go the way of the Martians from War of the Worlds.

[bluestarultor]

^ And this is why anti-bacterial soap is a bad idea.

Well, that and all the super-bugs it generates.

[Mirai Gen]

And not like the asari, who were seemingly invented for the sole purpose of interspecies lesbian sex.
They were invented for the sole purpose of interspecies lesbian sex.

[Aerozord]

They did point out, however, that there's a surprising amount of support for the idea, despite the fact that Tali has what can be accurately described as "chicken feet". But I guess some people go for that.


I just like Tali as a person. I like girls with that kind of personality and can look past things like that.

And just because reproduction isn't possible doesn't mean sex isn't.

[Azisien]

Yeah I mean she has opposable thumbs amirite?


I have the game though I'm pulling as close to an all-nighter as I can tonight. :D

[Kerensky287]

I just like Tali as a person. I like girls with that kind of personality and can look past things like that.

And just because reproduction isn't possible doesn't mean sex isn't.

It might.

Quarians --> chicken feet --> possible egg laying?

I mean, maybe you could try to get creative, but it'd still probably be a little unsatisfying.

[Azisien]

Wow I am loving the limited edition box. I don't usually get excited about boxes but the production values are waaaaay higher than Dragon Age.

Edit: fuuuuck I can't find my Blood Dragon Armor code!

[Melfice]

Okay, so... you've actually got the game there? Physically?
Bastard. ¬___¬

[synkr0nized]

Shoot.

Do I still have time to technically make a pre-order? Not that I am betting what you get is all that impressive, but hey.

[Melfice]

Gamestop's website does not appear to list the Collector's Edition (anymore), but you could always try the local Gamestop, or whatever other store you prefer/is available to you.
I know that some online stores in the Netherlands still have sufficient stock of the CE, because I just ordered mine 2 days ago, while physical stores are sold out. So, you could always do the same.

Also, pre-orders are pre-orders while the game still isn't released. ;)

[G.I.R.]

Amazon doesn't seem to be offering the Collector's Edition either online anymore. When I went to my local GameStop, they said that they'd been "Cut Off" of the CEs. Maybe BioWare is only selling so many copies of it. Amazon does have the CE for PC.

You can also find a copy of it on Ebay.

[Aerozord]

It might.

Quarians --> chicken feet --> possible egg laying?

I mean, maybe you could try to get creative, but it'd still probably be a little unsatisfying.

avians dont have breasts. besides, not like there aren't other holes if you get my meaning

[Kerensky287]

avians dont have breasts.

Bullshit! (http://jmahne.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/chicken-breast-recipes.jpg)

[Eltargrim]

Let me rephrase Aero's statement.

They have breasts. They don't have tits/boobs/boobies/funbags/<insert euphemism here>

[Aerozord]

now that I think about it, why is Tali of all people still involved. Out of everyone she seemed least likely to stay with you especially if you did that side mission to get her something for her to take back with her

[Yumil]

Tali's Trailer for ME2 sheds light on that. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAWMBS6wtXo)

[Karrrrrrrrrrrresche]

If anyone is interested in loading from a save for the PC version, but can't be assed to play again...

http://www.annakie.com/me/home.htm

[DFM]

Currently playing through ME1 again with Renegade Soldier FemShep/Liara/Tali. Joker's Angel's are going to win me the last three achievements I need.

(Or rather, the last three I'm going to bother to get. I've still got like three skills and the Pinnacle Station ones but fffffffffffffffffffffffff)

[Mirai Gen]

They're removing the Mako. I want a dancing gif right now.

[Krylo]

They're removing the Mako. I want a dancing gif right now.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/krylo/random/dhbiuc.gif http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/krylo/random/2a0nxty.gif

[Melfice]

Last I've heard, they replaced it with an other "vehicle experience", though that could have changed in the meantime.

Hold the dancing just yet.

[Azisien]

One of the launch day DLCs adds some kind of tank. I'm trying to speed through ME to have a save game on the PC before I start ME2. My buddy seems to be loving it though.

[Pip Boy]

Am I the only one glad to hear that they're removing the romance story from number 2? I mean, the one in number one was miserably flat. It consisted of nothing but flirty dialogue options that lead to you hittin' that for no reason but to get to watch your digital self hittin' that. It was a very unnecessary addition to the game that seemed to exist for no reason but to please the 13 year old 'OMG I HOPE THEY SHOW TITS' audience.

[G.I.R.]

Wait... No TITS? Eff this... I'm canceling my preorder!

[Melfice]

Am I the only one glad to hear that they're removing the romance story from number 2? I mean, the one in number one was miserably flat. It consisted of nothing but flirty dialogue options that lead to you hittin' that for no reason but to get to watch your digital self hittin' that. It was a very unnecessary addition to the game that seemed to exist for no reason but to please the 13 year old 'OMG I HOPE THEY SHOW TITS' audience.

What? They actually removed the romance part?
I thought it was still in.

EDIT: Mass Effect Wikia says it's still in... I mean, yeah, it's a wiki-page, but I figure it's good enough to serve as evidence.

EDITED: Armor is modular and custom N7 armor can be built from parts bought from merchants, or acquired on missions, through the player's armor locker aboard the SSV Normandy SR-2. These parts can have different behaviors and influences on gameplay. At the armor locker the player can also customize many aesthetic aspects of their armor, including color, material and shininess as well as choose between helmets and visors. Shepard can also equip alternatives to helmets including a visor similar to the one worn by Garrus, goggles or a recon hood.

For some reason, this makes me really giddy.
Ideally, you can also edit the Inferno armour to look less battle-worn and scratched. Cue "Iron Man" for real.

[Pip Boy]

Nevermind, maybe it is. I looked this up quite some time ago and it may have changed/ I had a bad source to begin with.

The statement still stands. If they want to include a romance story, they need to make it something better than "Hey I like you", "I like you too", "TITZ TIME!" If they're going to do it again, then they had at least better do better than the first time.

[DFM]

Or what?

[Red Fighter 1073]

Yeah for better or worse this new launch trailer (http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/rpg/masseffect2workingtitle/video/6246727?hd=1&tag=topslot;img;1) kinda hints at more romance subplots... Pretty epic trailer though.

[Karrrrrrrrrrrresche]

I think the only think I've heard or seen about Mass Effect 2 so far that actively makes me think it might be bad is that one trailer where the Psychopath chick and the other chick are arguing and Shepard steps in to break the fight up.

It just screams reality TV show, which makes me cringe in revulsion and despair.

[Aerozord]

It just screams reality TV show, which makes me cringe in revulsion and despair.

this is a normal and healthy responce to reality TV

My biggest hope is they redid inventory system. Was such a pain to ditch items, Say you want to convert the bottom two items to omni-gel, scroll all the way down, remove it, and it puts you right back up top. Worst was when you got new items and your pack was full you had to remove the items you just got, the ones you are most likely want to keep. Whole thing was a mess

[Osterbaum]

Anyone know if there's like a quiz or something on your choices in the first game, if you don't have your saves? I've played through Mass Effect twice, and I was happy with the choices I made but I really don't feel like playing through it again.

[synkr0nized]

But what if I didn't send the character I "loved" off to die when planting that nuke? Why is there a new love interest?

I am also a little confused about the new krogan. I always kept Wrex alive, save for when I re-loaded an old save to try out killing him.

[Krylo]

But what if I didn't send the character I "loved" off to die when planting that nuke? Why is there a new love interest?

I am also a little confused about the new krogan. I always kept Wrex alive, save for when I re-loaded an old save to try out killing him.

I was kind of wondering this, myself.

Especially as that it would have been literally impossible for me to kill mah love in about 90% of my playthroughs, as I chose Liara.

It doesn't look like any of the original three possibilities will return as playable characters/crew members, though.

[Red Fighter 1073]

It's kind odd though.. In the previews of the game, I've heard/seen stuff of obviously Tali and Garrus but also possibly of Ashley, Liara, and Wrex, but zero mention of Kaiden. Granted that I never ever used him so I don't care too much, but still.. It almost seemed like he got blown off the face of the Earth or I guess the producers didn't think him important enough to talk about.

[Karrrrrrrrrrrresche]

I was kind of wondering this, myself.

Especially as that it would have been literally impossible for me to kill mah love in about 90% of my playthroughs, as I chose Liara.

It doesn't look like any of the original three possibilities will return as playable characters/crew members, though.

Doesn't she starve to death in that force field or something if you choose to go to her planet last?

[Krylo]

No.

She just goes insane.

But not too badly. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TU7Ea4wsp0M)

[DFM]

But what if I didn't send the character I "loved" off to die when planting that nuke? Why is there a new love interest?

I am also a little confused about the new krogan. I always kept Wrex alive, save for when I re-loaded an old save to try out killing him.

They don't return as party members, but they still exist in the game world and you can carry on your romance with them whenever you go to see them. You'll be able to carry all your romances throughout all three games. (Well, you can only do the ME2 ones to ME3 but you know what I mean). New love interests are there in case you, you know, want a new love interest. Or killed your old one. Or never got one.

What's confusing about the new krogan, exactly? Why he's there instead of Wrex? Wrex is too busy rebuilding the entire Krogan species from near extinction to travel along with you on your pro-human saving adventures anymore, is the reason I imagine they have for him not being a party member. He's still there in the game world as the krogan leader and plays a pretty big part in certain missions.

Edit: I think my canon Shep was dating T'soni but I don't remember. I hope they remind me when they talk about whether I did x or y on the import menu or I'm just going to shag Garrus and everybody's going to be hella embarrassed when she walks in.

[Kerensky287]

New love interests are there in case you, you know, want a new love interest. Or killed your old one. Or never got one.

Apparently, cheating on your love interest will have lasting consequences. Who'd have thought?

Fine by me though, Liara sucks and Ashley's annoying. Probably going to go right after that one attractive girl, the Australian one. Unless she's useless too.

EDIT: Regarding the vehicle, I hear the new Hammerhead is a hovertank. Fine by me, it means I don't have to deal with the Mako's shitty turning anymore.

[DFM]

Ain't touchin' her with a ten foot pole FUCK YOU CERBERUS AND YOUR GENETICALLY ENGINEERED WHORE CHILD.

[Krylo]

Mako's turning wasn't shitty. You just had to learn how to do proper jump turns.

Also, is this Australian girl we are talking about the one with long black hair or the absolutely crazy bald bitch?

'Cause in the former I haven't seen enough of her, to know one way or another, but she comes off as Annoying-Ashley-Bitch-2.0, whereas the other chick is, well, crazy.

T'soni was at least hilariously awkward and cute with her personality.

Edit: And I better damn well be able to turn on Cerberus after they revive my dumb bitch ass, because man, FUCK Cerberus.

[DFM]

Australian is the one with the long black hair, the Cerberus lapdog. I hope there's an option to shoot yourself in the face as soon as you learn who revived you and teach them a lesson about karma with a six hundred billion dollar slug.

[BitVyper]

Mako's turning wasn't shitty. You just had to learn how to do proper jump turns.

I agree. I never found the Mako sections all that bad, myself, once I got the hang of handling it.

[Krylo]

I never found the Mako sections all that bad, myself, once I got the hang of handling it.

I wouldn't go THAT far.

Though the sections sucking was less about the Mako and more about the implementation with all the mountains and shit. The Mako sections that were all part of the actual story line were all pretty great. Just the side quest random worlds with the Mako that sucked balls.

[Mirai Gen]

Yeah I didn't mind the Mako, but it's like there was a team of programmers who were designed to build the Mako physics and some cool terrain, but then they found out it was for like two missions and they got all upset until Bioware threw them a sandbox to make them feel better.

I'm happier with it gone, really, it could have not been there and I'd have been happy.

[Kerensky287]

Another thing I hate about the Mako: How it sometimes arbitrarily decides it can't aim as low as you're pointing. Like, sure, give it a minimum pitch for its cannon, but at least TELL ME WHERE THAT IS.

Plus, that blue glow from the machine gun gets REALLY annoying when you're zoomed in.

[Azisien]

Mako runs pretty smoothly on the PC anyway. Its innate clunkiness became more pronounced on the 360, I think.

Of course I am skipping many of the side quests in this game, so I haven't had to deal with any mountains.

Also this is my fifth (sixth?) play through of the game and I just learned about its zoom. It took me to the third play through to find the cannon. Who knows what I'll find next!

I managed to get through Noveria and Feros in one sitting, phew, hopefully finish the game tonight and have my weekend consumed by the sequel.

[Osterbaum]

Stop talking about the stupid Mako and answer my question, people!

[Mirai Gen]

I have yet to see anything but I'm pretty sure since these are the dudes who made KOTOR II that might be the case.

[Melfice]

I have yet to see anything but I'm pretty sure since these are the dudes who made KOTOR II that might be the case.

Wut.
Unless Obsidian dissolved (I have no idea. Is Obsidian still around?) and those guys met up with and joined Bioware, that's not true. (EDIT: Were you actually responding to Osterbaum? I'm not too sure anymore.)

In any case, Osterbaum: Yes. As I understand it, you'll ALWAYS get quizzed about your past.
If you don't have a save*, you'll be able to establish a past.
If you DO have a save, you'll be corrected if you answer a question wrong about what you did in Mass Effect 1.

* On the Xbox, if you've finished a game, you'll always have a save, unless you wiped the hard-drive. Apparently, the games makes an invisible save upon the end-credits.
I don't know if you've played it on the 360 or PC, though. On the PC, I have no idea if it's the same situation.

[Mirai Gen]

Yeah, my bad. I keep forgetting Bioware was like "We don't feel like doing another Star Wars game. Make Obsidian do it."

EDIT: They're making Fallout: New Vegas, too.

[Osterbaum]

I don't know if you've played it on the 360 or PC, though. On the PC, I have no idea if it's the same situation.
I'm a PC-man all the way. And while most games tend to keep saves stored even if you uninstall the game, I some times go out of my way to delete those save files.

But if there's a quiz, then I must ask what exactly is the point of the whole "saves carried on from Mass Effect 1" then?

[Kerensky287]

But if there's a quiz, then I must ask what exactly is the point of the whole "saves carried on from Mass Effect 1" then?

I don't know why they'd bother quizzing you when you already have a save file, because they'll apparently correct you if you make a mistake. Maybe it's just to remind you that this was how it happened, so you don't end up getting confused when, say, Samesh Bhatri thanks you for getting his wife's body back, when you were sure you had donated it to military research?

BTW that's within the first hour or so of Mass Effect 1 so I don't think it counts as a spoiler.

[Azisien]

BTW that's within the first hour or so of Mass Effect 1 so I don't think it counts as a spoiler.

As a total unrelated note to this post of yours, I wanted to extend my thanks for partially recommending the second ME book. It's actually not horrible (though not great either). That beats the first one though! I'm too lazy to find the post where it was brought up.

[Eltargrim]

So I have this game now. Only played it for a bit, but it's awesome so far. Only notes:

a) Codex description for Eezo: current does not work that way.
b) Ammo D:
c) Pretty pretty pretty!
d) I'm not sure whether I should rush through ME1 to get story options the way I want (Default choice for the major ending choice is let the council die and I'm not really cool with that).

Starts off pretty damn awesome though :D

[DFM]

IIRC the quiz affects nothing, whether it's a new character or an imported one, and is just there to remind people what they did or bring new players up to speed on your previous adventures.

[Solid Snake]

Aww man.
I only have enough room on my computer's hard drive for this or for Dragon Age: Origins, and I have no idea which would be the better purchase. (Be sure to offer me your recommendations once you've played both.)

I'm definitely going through a bit of a Bioware withdrawal, through.

[Azisien]

Aww man.
I only have enough room on my computer's hard drive for this or for Dragon Age: Origins, and I have no idea which would be the better purchase. (Be sure to offer me your recommendations once you've played both.)

I'm definitely going through a bit of a Bioware withdrawal, through.

You know, back in my day we had these things called uninstall features and it let us clear off space if we had, say, two or more games we wanted to play.

[Krylo]

I'll be getting this for the 360, I think.

It saddens me to do so, but it would sadden me more to repurchase the original game on the computer and play through it all over again, and more yet to give up my old characters.

If the PC version of the original had been released alongside the 360 version this wouldn't be an issue... or even announced alongside it.

[Solid Snake]

You know, back in my day we had these things called uninstall features and it let us clear off space if we had, say, two or more games we wanted to play.

Well there's also the matter that my limited law school budget will only enable me to make one new purchase (I've already put aside money for Miles Edgeworth: Investigations), and in addition, I really only have the time these days to be hooked by one Bioware RPG.

So yeah, I mean I could theoretically do some uninstalls, but given how large both games are on the PC -- they seriously take up tons of space each, and my hard drive is only about 140GB total, with a fair chunk taken on programs I can't delete -- I'd end up having to lose a lot. Better to just restrict my purchasing anyway -- I plan on buying a PS3 for Christmas 2010, and so I'd probably just buy whichever game I don't play now for the PS3 then.

(Fortunately, I do have the PC version of Mass Effect, so if I wanted to go the Mass Effect 2 route, I could convert my save. Well I'd have to actually beat Mass Effect 1 first. But that's always an option.)

[DFM]

Well, Dragon Age is out for the PS3 and Mass Effect 2 is not, so...

[Solid Snake]

Well, Dragon Age is out for the PS3 and Mass Effect 2 is not, so...

Wow.
That's one way to make a decision easy!
Guess I'll be plowing through Mass Effects 1 and 2 on this computer, then...and Dragon Age will wait for a later date.

[Red Fighter 1073]

Soooo about that importing save files stuff.

Ahem. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZicFY8DsIo&feature=fvhl)

Though, I still don't know what people are talking about regarding any beginning game quiz or anything. That sounds more like a recap of the past choices like how in ME1, the Captain and Commander were talking about how you choose to have Shepherd be a Spacer/Colonist/Etc.

[Azisien]

Finally finished! I went as pure Paragon as possible, saved the Council, and went oogly-boogly with Ashley. Tomorrow I'll find out if any of it matters. :p

[Osterbaum]

So in short, I'm going to have to play through ME again just because.

[Eltargrim]

Just ran through that little quiz thing; They give you the answers: Kaidan dies in default run-through, and the other was about your history. Little to no consequence, just paragon vs renegade

Edit: Through the tutorial section, onto the first mission. The ammo system makes more sense now; it's a decent justification, and not actual ammunition per se. The vanguard is a lot different than it once was, and the classes in general seem to be a bit different. The new health system is interesting, though I think I may have preferred the old one. We'll have to give it more time to play :)

EDIT2: Galaxy map is waaaaay different. I like it :D

[Kerensky287]

What the fuck? How are you playing it already? It doesn't come out till the 26th.

[Eltargrim]

A little group happened to notice a dripping faucet, if you catch my drift :D

[Kerensky287]

A little group happened to notice a dripping faucet, if you catch my drift :D

Oh you scurvy bastards can screw right off.

[Eltargrim]

So the planet-scanning mechanic actually involves some interaction now. It's actually kind of fun, although it requires a lot more time to do. It helps that there's an actual point to collecting the resources now though.

[Azisien]

Elt were you able to download any of that launch DLC, or is it literally launch day?

Edit: Never mind, it accepted my Cerberus code but doesn't seem to be up yet.

Edit 2: So I maybe ruined my activation code. Yay!

[Melfice]

Elt were you able to download any of that launch DLC, or is it literally launch day?

Edit: Never mind, it accepted my Cerberus code but doesn't seem to be up yet.

Edit 2: So I maybe ruined my activation code. Yay!

I don't think so, Az.
I'm pretty sure I've had a similar experience once, though I can't remember with which game.
Free DLC code, but when I used it there was nothing in the store until a few days later. It still worked.
Besides, it's a one-time activation code. It'll be linked to your EA/Bioware account, so unless you didn't create/use that...

[Eltargrim]

I don't touch DLC until I'm sure that it won't fuck with what I've got already. Sorry I can't help you out; I hope your code is all right.

[Mirai Gen]

Kaidan dies in default run-through,
Offical confirmation; nobody likes Kaidan, not even Bioware.

[Marc v4.0]

Offical confirmation; nobody likes Kaidan, not even Bioware.

He shared a voice actor with Carth Onasi. I was fed up with his shit years ago.

[Osterbaum]

Once again it seems I'm outside of the norm: I chose Kaidan over Williams. But that was partly coincidental. I decided to put Kaidan with the Salarian strike team and Williams with the nuke. When the surprising choice came I simply decided to go with the option that would end up saving more people.

[Marc v4.0]

Once again it seems I'm outside of the norm: I chose Kaidan over Williams. But that was partly coincidental. I decided to put Kaidan with the Salarian strike team and Williams with the nuke. When the surprising choice came I simply decided to go with the option that would end up saving more people.

Oh, I did the same thing as well. Carth aside, I couldn't fucking stand that Woman.

[Mirai Gen]

Ashley ruled and you all can fuck yourselves.

[Eltargrim]

I saved Ashley, but that was because if the nuke got disabled, the entire mission would have been for naught. I think I split them up arbitrarily. I never used either one; my team was Wrex and Tali with myself as a Vanguard.

[Osterbaum]

I figured she could be trusted with making sure the nuke went off.

[Eltargrim]

I'm a control freak :p

[synkr0nized]

I never saw the advantage to using an AI-controlled character that was only good with guns. So, yeah, never used Ashley.

[Krylo]

Ashley ruled and you all can fuck yourselves.

She would have been ok if she would have stopped talking about how much she hated/distrusted aliens for ten seconds.

She wouldn't, though.

Thus she got killed in every play through except the one or two in which I used her because when properly stated she is basically a wrecking ball.

Also, I liked Kaiden. Other than sounding like Carth they were really nothing alike. Kaiden had every reason to be a distrustful paranoid prick, but he actually came out exactly the opposite. While Carth had, at best, shitty reasons for being a distrustful paranoid prick, and totally was.

[Solid Snake]

She would have been ok if she would have stopped talking about how much she hated/distrusted aliens for ten seconds.


But I mean, could you blame her? Humanity was a relatively recent addition to the intelligent species of the galaxy, right? They fought a costly against one of the strongest alien factions, in fact. The aliens didn't really give humans positions of any power or authority, and I dunno, I felt I could sympathize with her somewhat. It's one thing to be racist or discriminatory to individuals of a different color or creed who're also humans and who've existed and interacted with your ancestors for centuries, but it's quite another to be suspicious and distrustful towards a bunch of aliens with completely different histories, cultures, biological compositions, and identities who've just suddenly become a part of the human story. I don't think I'd be comfortable if I woke up tomorrow and my worldview was shaken by news reports of the discovery of an entire galaxy worth of disparate aliens and Intergalactic institutions. How would you know what their intentions were? And given their superior technology, a certain degree of paranoia makes intuitive sense: they could destroy humanity without blinking an eye at any moment if they wanted to.

[Melfice]

But I mean, could you blame her? Humanity was a relatively recent addition to the intelligent species of the galaxy, right? They fought a costly against one of the strongest alien factions, in fact. The aliens didn't really give humans positions of any power or authority, and I dunno, I felt I could sympathize with her somewhat. It's one thing to be racist or discriminatory to individuals of a different color or creed who're also humans and who've existed and interacted with your ancestors for centuries, but it's quite another to be suspicious and distrustful towards a bunch of aliens with completely different histories, cultures, biological compositions, and identities who've just suddenly become a part of the human story. I don't think I'd be comfortable if I woke up tomorrow and my worldview was shaken by news reports of the discovery of an entire galaxy worth of disparate aliens and Intergalactic institutions. How would you know what their intentions were? And given their superior technology, a certain degree of paranoia makes intuitive sense: they could destroy humanity without blinking an eye at any moment if they wanted to.

If I recall correctly, while it was a tough war and the Turians WERE more powerful, the humans were pretty much on equal footing with them.
Though I may be wrong, as it's been a while.

That said, yeah. I kinda see where Ashley was coming from.

"We" found a Mass Relay. Started colonizing planets, and suddenly we're attacked by the Turians for something the Turians did themselves. More than that, the humans were attacked for doing what the Turians did and being good at defending themselves while doing it.

Scrap that. The humans were attacked for opening too many Mass Relays.

[synkr0nized]

And given their superior technology, a certain degree of paranoia makes intuitive sense: they could destroy humanity without blinking an eye at any moment if they wanted to.

Wait. Isn't the Normandy proof that, though we had some help, we can make better stuff? Besides, once you reverse-engineer from the Mass Relays, your technology isn't really behind the other races' anymore. Also, humanity fought back the Turians. In fact, throughout the first game it's mostly the Turian council member who has the most negative things to say about humans/Shepherd, likely a side effect of this AND his race's relative newness to the Council. The other races you meet, while maybe having some stereotypes about us just as we do of them, are hardly as negative or worthy of Ashley's near-racism.


Kaidan was pretty neat, I thought, especially as you learn more about his training. But maybe that's my first character talking, since they did become an item.


I was always amused at the "oh no we can't trust the aliens" bit that most of the human NPCs stick to and yet there I am taking out non-humans as my party members almost every time (Kaidan aside for that character).

[Melfice]

The Normandy's actually a joint-effort between humanity's and Turian's best engineers.
But as I understand it, most of the biggest technological features are human.

EDIT: Ooh, sneaky. Editing in that "though we had some help".
Yeah, disregard me.

[Krylo]

Edit: Got distracted and ninja'd. Whatever.

Well, except the entire crew was made up entirely of aliens, and most of the game went about showing how much humans were exactly the same.

Then you have Williams, whom has never really interacted with aliens except for (probably) Terra Firma holovids being anti-alien, while in the meantime you have Kaiden whom was beaten, broken, watched his friend have her arm broken, and killed a Turian in self defense, coming away from the whole thing saying aliens are just as 'human' as anyone else.

Also: In the First Contact War more Turian lives were lost than human lives. The second fleet was able to decimate what Turian forces were sent to attack humanity, and while a full blown war at that time would have probably gone in their favor, one during the time frame of the actual games probably wouldn't given that the humans have one the strongest militaries in the ME universe (probably owing to the First Contact War).

So, no, paranoia of them 'wiping out humanity without blinking an eye' isn't exactly warranted, nor is any misconception about superior alien technology.

Also, any time speaking with any other race would show that any assumptions anyone was making about the humans not being given a position of power of authority is blatantly false, as humans gained more political power faster than any other race, the council founders aside.

And Mass Effect takes place two full generations after the Alliance was inducted into the council.

So it's not even a 'just woke up and they were there', thing. Ashley would have been raised knowing that aliens exist and all about the politics and what not surrounding them.

[Solid Snake]

Wait. Isn't the Normandy proof that, though we had some help, we can make better stuff?

Actual technological parity and perceptions of technological parity are two very different things. If we suddenly learned that an entire galaxy of alien civilizations was out there, I highly doubt we'd perceive ourselves to be on equal footing.
In fact the whole concept of humanity attaining technological parity struck me as somewhat silly in the context of Mass Effect: it was difficult for me to envision an intellectual justification as to how human beings with comparatively limited knowledge of the universe could compete with the Turians, who (even if unaided by other alien factions) could trade with other worlds beyond human comprehension or understanding. It seemed like one of those plot twists that was necessary to justify humanity's position in the story and Shepherd's identity as the main character, but beyond that it wasn't really answered to my satisfaction.

NOTE: I have not actually beaten ME1 yet, so I could be completely and utterly wrong about all this. However, that above issue was one of those persistent gnawing ones that colored my gameplay experience. Insofar as I haven't fully gravitated towards the ME "universe," that was one of the reasons why.

[Krylo]

In fact the whole concept of humanity attaining technological parity struck me as somewhat silly in the context of Mass Effect: it was difficult for me to envision an intellectual justification as to how human beings with comparatively limited knowledge of the universe could compete with the Turians, who (even if unaided by other alien factions) could trade with other worlds beyond human comprehension or understanding.

I would suggest reading the codexes.

The justification is this, basically. Earth, itself, didn't have any Prothean technology on it. While most of the other Citadel races were able to find Prothean technology right in their backyards, humans had to basically build our own technology to far greater levels than the other races had. At least enough to get to Mars, and it's not like getting to Mars was/is this big huge thing we're putting a ton of money behind, either--so our non-spacefaring tech was also pretty good.

So, basically, the other races didn't have much more in the way of technology than what they got from reverse engineering the Prothean tech, while humans had their own substantial (if rather primitive compared to the Protheans) tech plus Prothean technology AND were more adept at creating our own tech.



Edit: If I remember right there's other things, as well, like Humans being one of the most war-like races next to the Krogan and what not, due to having not discovered mass relay tech until far later in our conception--and thus being forced to war over resources and land in a way that other council races had never really been forced to. Of course that could be something I'm remembering from some other Sci-Fi universe and I don't care enough to look it up and make sure so I'll just put this note here.

[Solid Snake]

I would suggest reading the codexes.


That's another thing that really annoyed me about my ME1 playthrough, coincidentally. It's just not a well-written story if you have to dig out all the nuggets of essential information from optional material like those codexes. I would have enjoyed ME more if its prologue integrated these kinds of essential tidbits into the dialogue or the storyline in such a way that you actually came to comprehend the backstory as you played it. I remember having to open up the codex several times through Eden Prime just to figure out what the heck biotics were.

(I'm not trying to bash Mass Effect, though. It's a perfectly fine, standard BioWare RPG and I'm planning on picking up ME2. It's just that Mass Effect highlights the kinds of advantages BioWare had when creating KOTOR, when they were just creating new material for a preexisting science fiction universe. Since I already knew about Star Wars, BioWare didn't need to tell me in detail what lightsabers were. But I suppose I'd hold up the old Star Wars movies as examples as to how BioWare should have introduced their technologies and whatnot -- it's much better to show viewers indirectly than to just spew out tons of forgettable technobabble in codex readings.)

[Krylo]

That's another thing that really annoyed me about my ME1 playthrough, coincidentally. It's just not a well-written story if you have to dig out all the nuggets of essential information from optional material like those codexes. I would have enjoyed ME more if its prologue integrated these kinds of essential tidbits into the dialogue or the storyline in such a way that you actually came to comprehend the backstory as you played it. I remember having to open up the codex several times through Eden Prime just to figure out what the heck biotics were.

I honestly thought this aspect of it was fine.

If you wanted to get all into the backstory and codexes you could, but it wasn't something that was necessary to know to enjoy the story for most people. I mean, I didn't care how biotics worked in my first play through. I just cared that it was basically TK + some other cool powers and that some people could do it. I figured it was similar to the force at first, then I read the codex and realized it wasn't.

In much the same way I don't feel that human interaction with other species really needed much more fleshing out for the story than what was provided through dialogue and examples like the crazy politician asshole you have to work with. The First Contact War is mentioned, as is how it ended. It's mentioned how humans are viewed by other species, and even some of the whys without ever opening the codexes. Especially if you go with a Liara romance option.

However, if you have to know why humans are on equal footing or how exactly biotics work or why your guns have infinite ammo? Well, you can check that.

[synkr0nized]

EDIT: Ooh, sneaky. Editing in that "though we had some help".
Yeah, disregard me.

That's not the part I managed to edit in before the grace period, though. It was there originally. But I did add the sentence about the relays right after I initially posted that.


Dear Codex Screen: Stop telling me I have unread entries. I did all that in previous playthroughs.

e: I found it interesting to note parallels in the other races' histories to our own. Sure, they were different and the circumstances not the same, but there was some belligerence with the turians, appeals to authority by other races trying to get a say, etc. I liked that, and how the human spirit, or whatever you'd like to call it, appropriately granted us some benefits while also earning disfavour. I had a blast with how we all fit into everything.

e2: Though I did decide not to bother with the pre-order or the collector's edition. I am not sure I will like some of the gameplay decisions or the new characters.

I want mah Reapers and Geth!

[Solid Snake]

Heh.
...Well, I'm glad I'm restarting a new attempt to finish ME1 in preparation for ME2, as I may be in a better state of mind to appreciate some of the subtleties I missed the first time around.

[Aerozord]

well even ignoring technology, the trait of humans compared to the other races is curiosity and empathy. First thing we did with mass relays is experiment and explore as much as possible and expand. Humans are made as a very driven species to the point of obsession, most others are comparitively laid back. Other thing was pointed out with the contact wars, humans are very close. We demonstrated this during contact wars where we retaliated with vengeful fury, while many alien races viewed it as needlessly aggressive.

Its how we progressed so quickly. Some are jealous of the rapid advancement, others view us as foolishly impatient, then you have those that fear what we might one day become and there are those that respect our passion and drive. As was pointed out, their views on us is as varied as our views of them

[DFM]

I like how the Turian strike force sacked one human colony and figured that was the human race in its entirety, now subjugated.

Whoop what's this it's the second fleet say hello to Admiral Drescher.

[Bells]

So... hi there folks.

You see, i just saw a review for this game and it said there that it "reads" how you played ME1 and that your previous choices would "fine tune" ME2 so it would be more personal and unique.

Just wondering... did any of you with the game felt that? Because that actually sounds like a neat feature for sequels

[stefan]

But I mean, could you blame her? Humanity was a relatively recent addition to the intelligent species of the galaxy, right? They fought a costly against one of the strongest alien factions, in fact. The aliens didn't really give humans positions of any power or authority, and I dunno, I felt I could sympathize with her somewhat. It's one thing to be racist or discriminatory to individuals of a different color or creed who're also humans and who've existed and interacted with your ancestors for centuries, but it's quite another to be suspicious and distrustful towards a bunch of aliens with completely different histories, cultures, biological compositions, and identities who've just suddenly become a part of the human story. I don't think I'd be comfortable if I woke up tomorrow and my worldview was shaken by news reports of the discovery of an entire galaxy worth of disparate aliens and Intergalactic institutions. How would you know what their intentions were? And given their superior technology, a certain degree of paranoia makes intuitive sense: they could destroy humanity without blinking an eye at any moment if they wanted to.

Don't care. Bigots get no mercy. 'Specially when the bigot in question has no real experience on the matter and is likely having their ass saved by cover fire from friendly Alien allies.


I like how the Turian strike force sacked one human colony and figured that was the human race in its entirety, now subjugated.

Whoop what's this it's the second fleet say hello to Admiral Drescher.

"Hot damn I say, good sir. I think that bringing the entirety of one race to heel in one outing is quite a good record of productivity, don't you say? now then, What shall we have for luOH FUCK HUMANS EVERYWHERE"

[Osterbaum]

Also: In the First Contact War more Turian lives were lost than human lives. The second fleet was able to decimate what Turian forces were sent to attack humanity, and while a full blown war at that time would have probably gone in their favor, one during the time frame of the actual games probably wouldn't given that the humans have one the strongest militaries in the ME universe (probably owing to the First Contact War).
Still I'm pretty sure that Turians have THE biggest fleet amongst the Citadel Races.

[synkr0nized]

They should, as that goes along with the breakdown of dreadnoughts via the Treaty of Farixen, and as they are the backbone of the peacekeeping forces of the Council.

[DFM]

Yeah, don't humans have like the smallest fleet in the galaxy? By like, a 1 to 8 ratio?

I thought I remembered our only saving grace being the fact that our ships were equipped with VIs and could out fight and out maneuver three similarly classed ships from any of the council races.

[Kim]

I thought I remembered our only saving grace being the fact that our ships were equipped with VIs and could out fight and out maneuver three similarly classed ships from any of the council races.

I thought that was just the Normandy.

[Aerozord]

I'd wonder why we were the only ones, dont they all have VI tech? wouldn't be hard to duplicate us

[DFM]

What Normandy doesn't have a VI

Edit: Unless you mean in Mass 2

Edit for Aerozord: Everyone's got VI tech, but we're the only ones who I guess thought to put it in charge of weapons systems, IDK

[Kim]

What Normandy doesn't have a VI

I don't remember enough to know what a VI is, I just remember a bit about how the Normandy has some special something or other that other ships didn't, and vaguely remembered a line similar to the latter half of the original post.

[Aerozord]

its the only stealth ship, and I mean the ONLY one

[Krylo]

Normandy has a fucking massive engine in a very tiny ship, and stealth systems.

And the best damn pilot in the Alliance Fleet.

Also: http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Alliance_Navy

The Alliance Navy is one of the greater naval forces in Citadel space, rivalling that of the turians. Its military prowess has drawn the attention of the Citadel Council. While the Council is concerned about the possible outcome of another war between humans and turians, they are also keen to harness the Alliance Navy's peacekeeping potential, especially in unstable regions like the Skyllian Verge and the Attican Traverse. The Navy also makes humans an attractive prospect as the newest Council species.

[Eltargrim]

Normandy mk 2 has a fucking massiver engine in a larger ship with better guns and an AI. And the best damn pilot in the fleet :D

[DFM]

Hopefully it doesn't die like a bitch this time.

[synkr0nized]

Yeah, don't humans have like the smallest fleet in the galaxy? By like, a 1 to 8 ratio?

The treaty only covers dreadnoughts; I do not recall the numbers for frigates. It may be possible that we have many of the smaller vessel types [which are stated as being superior in many fighting conditions anyway] to give Alliance fleets more even standing. Also, as mentioned in that link, events at the end of the first game have likely resulted in the Alliance fleets being at less of a disadvantage and given more concessions for numbers were there restrictions previously.

Still, it was my understanding that the turians, at least, had several battle groups scattered around known Council space for defense and so forth, so I wouldn't consider their fleet to be lacking currently. But I also have not read any in-between-games "official story" yet, so maybe the Alliance fleet is becoming the big dog.


I am pretty sure other races have and use VIs, as not every VI you met in the first game were made to look human.

[stefan]

If I remember correctly the difference between the Human fleet and other fleets is that other fleets are concentrated on bigass battleships. Human fleets on the other hand are focused on shittons of smaller ships working together.

[Aerozord]

and humans know from WWII Germany, that scaling down size of a defeated enemies ships, doesn't limit their ability to make a formidible army. In fact it can, and judging by ME did, have the opposite effect thanks to forcing out of the box thinking

[greed]

There's also that codex that states that one of the council's big fears about humans is that despite having one of the most powerful militaries, we proportionally put far less money and people into our military than anyone other than the Volus (who don't have a military), because unlike everyone else our home planet is still fractured and squabbling. So that old sleeping giant effect. If we ever really organised and put in half as much effort as the Turians, it's possible we would steamroll half the galaxy going "Kekekekekekekeke".


I'm assuming the leader of the Alliance military is a Korean StarCraft player.

[DFM]

Well the Alliance has nothing to do with Sol, officially. I guess they've got that training camp on the moon but that's it if I remember the developer interview correctly.

I assume the Alliance is stronger than like Russia/America/France/All the Earth guys just because it's got more ships and way more resources. Earth probably has a shit ton more people though.

My favorite part about all this is just going from memory and not making two mouse clicks to check my half remembered facts.

[Osterbaum]

I thought that the Alliance was sort of the official representative of all the nations back on Earth.

[DFM]

It is, but it's its own governing body and isn't made up of member nations like the UN or something. It has jurisdiction over every human colony and territory claim outside of the Sol system, which is still squabbled over by America/Russia/China/Europe etc.

Edit: So seeing as how the council only ever interacts with humanity through the Alliance, it basically represents us.

[Osterbaum]

So, what... Earth is basically just a place for people to keep on arguing about stuff, isolated from the rest of the galaxy.

[Melfice]

So, what... Earth is basically just a place for people to keep on arguing about stuff, isolated from the rest of the galaxy.

Yeah, pretty much.
As it stands, while human, the System Alliance, and it's planets, is pretty much a completely separate entity from Earth/Sol now.

[Karrrrrrrrrrrresche]

That's absolutely fucking hilarious.

I wonder if the Council knows that we haven't even stopped killing each other yet.

[Azisien]

I'm eager to see some of the repercussions in ME2 because after finishing the second novel, I am wondering: The balance of power was shifted with the attack by Sovereign and the Geth. The Council fleet was practically massacred, and the flagship even destroyed depending on your choices. Fifth Fleet was also pounded pretty god damn hard. I expect the general reaction to be something along the lines of "That was ONE Reaper ship? *builds dreadnoughts*"

Also, relating to the novel somewhat, the largest fleet by far must now be the Quarians. Although all of their ships are old and secondhand, I'm told most of them are armed and, well, there's a shitload of them. I wonder what part that will play eventually, if any.

I never understood the complaints behind the amount of Codex material in ME though. I suppose they could have infused it more into the main story dialogue, but there was already lots, and there's a balance between giving material away slowly and becoming Star Trek techno-babble mayhem.

Besides, a good portion of the Codex is narrated, so you can just sit back and listen for like 30 seconds.

[DFM]

I never heard any complaints about the codexes and I certainly wouldn't want most of it thrown into the game any more than it already is or you'll get waitresses that go on for four minutes about their hover tray technology.

[Mirai Gen]

She would have been ok if she would have stopped talking about how much she hated/distrusted aliens for ten seconds.

She wouldn't, though.

Thus she got killed in every play through except the one or two in which I used her because when properly stated she is basically a wrecking ball.
This is basically the reason I liked her. Kaiden might have been a cooler character cause he didn't fall back to "I HATE MYSELF SOME TOURIANS" but I could pretty much plow through anything with Ashley taking the front.

Plus there's something kind of cool about having "The Hot Chick" in a wRPG being one of the higher-damaging tank classes.

[DFM]

T'Soni has blue Medusa hair, I think she's the hot chick.

[Osterbaum]

She's an alien, but she has boobs (and I'm guessing a vagina as well?). What more could you ask.

EDIT: She's hot and mature!

[Mirai Gen]

T'Soni has blue Medusa hair, I think she's the hot chick.
Point taken. Plus she's the lesbian. I still like Ashley.

(and I'm guessing a vagina as well?)
Her vagina is in her mind.

[stefan]

Her vagina is in her mind.

A Braingina, if you will.

[Aerozord]

EDIT: She's hot and mature!

hot yes, but by her peoples standards she's still a teenager. Unless you meant mentally mature, in which case yes but she takes it too far and is just so placid. Really polar opposite to Ashley personality wise

[Marc v4.0]

blue alien jailbait, what's not to love?

[Lost in Time]

Asari Matriarchs are still damn hot. That's why I like them, good to go at any age.

[Red Fighter 1073]

Asari Matriarchs are still damn hot. That's why I like them, good to go at any age.

Benezia included? ewww

[synkr0nized]

All right, we're done here.