Mass Effect 3.6: Are you engaging in reproductive behavior with this thread?

[Edge]

No, I mean it wasn't even doing that. I tried comboing Shockwave -> Warp on unprotected targets that were very clearly floating in the air after being hit by Shockwave, and got nothing. Just regular Warp damage, no combo. Baffled me, but I saw it repeatedly throughout several games, so it was no one-off bug or lag problem.

Weird. I've definitely seen it working before. But come to think of it, I was having trouble detonating from Dark Channel into Throw on my Fury Adept earlier. Dark Channel's graphic seemed to be jumping after a successful detonation rather than on target death, and sometimes my Throws just seemed to whiff entirely. I put it down to lag, since everything had been working fine yesterday.

[SiuiS]

Does the accuracy mod tighten the spread at all?

I've not actually tried it without the smart choke on, but with it on, it becomes capable of headshotting at a remarkable distance.

I run it with the ripper mod for AP and the extended barrel; smart choke tighten the spread but did nothin for the erratic pattern. I have trouble with shotguns in general though; my usual symptom
Is shooting someone twice before the damage from the first shot registers. I've shot a marauder, been taken down while standing there, and then his head pops an he falls on me :-\

And it'll one-shot Cerberus Assault Troopers on Silver (admittedly with it at rank 10, and with a rank 5 extended barrel mod).

Speaking of Silver, I think it's finally time for me to step up from Silver as my main difficulty and up into Gold. Me, a friend and two randoms got a nice full extract on Vancouver against Gold Cerberus. Taking this with the fact that me and my friends got a full extract against Gold Reapers for Operation Broadside, it is probably time for me to move up and start making more credits, to try and max out those Ultra-Rares.

I moved up to gold a couple weeks ago. The stronghold package gives me enough health boost to run an adept without fitness and not experience any problems. Between that and the slew of guns I have at high rank but don't really use... I ran solo up to wave six with an infiltrator with the shotgun. I think I'm good on silver for now.

That is, quite probably, the reason as to why I wasn't enjoying it very much, if I wasn't using it properly I'll try again at some point and see if I change my mind.

Well, more games today. Played on Firebase London a couple of times again, and I still don't like it. Again my teammates seemed determined to wander the center of the map, and it got us killed on another wave 10 "king of the hill" objective once. The second time, with a completely different team, the others finally wised up in the last couple of waves and joined me up on the ramp, and after narrowly succeeding in an escort mission in the final wave we made it out. So that map can be made better with a smart team I suppose, but my problems with it remain, especially when it comes to king-of-the-hill objectives, which are just as bad there as on Hydra - perhaps worse in some spots.

I was playing around with the regular Human Adept, since I recalled that range buff to Shockwave. Eh. It helps, but less than I'd like. I didn't take the range increase at rank 5, since detonate is always a good idea on Adepts, and this one is even a little better than that of other powers (65% increase in radius/damage instead of 50%), but I started to wonder whether I should have on some maps, as there were many times when I tossed a shockwave only to have it come up short. Also, it looks like Lifting Shockwave cannot prime combos after all - I never saw any biotic residue on lifted targets, and my attempts to combo Shockwave -> Warp never worked. Which makes Singularity the better power for unprotected enemies, and still leaves me feeling like Shockwave is only good for detonating combos - and occassional harassment through walls, but it still doesn't do much with that if the target has defenses.

Anyway, I actually got some worthwhile stuff in my Premium Specter Pack today. The Assault Rifle Extended Barrel mod - which, since I just got that AR piercing mod last night, means I now finally have all the mod options for Assault Rifles - and an unlock for the N7 Slayer (Vanguard). The other rare was just another rank to my Striker AR though, which does tick me off since that thing is now at rank 6, my highest-rank rare weapon, even though it's one I don't use. I still don't even have some rare weapons I want at all, like the Carnifex.

Anyway though, I set up my Slayer's powers - specced him like a caster since both of his non-charge powers seemed worth trying out, specced them both for max damage, took armor damage on Phase Distruptor's final level. Haven't tried him out yet though, I don't feel like playing further today, even with a new class.

Zevox

I'm jealous. Thirty three packs and not a single new character so far.

Lifting hock wave very much does prime targets, but self detonating is a feat. You have to hit them with the tail end o the shockwave while running forward, otherwise the lift duration and travel time of warp mean you can't self-detonate.
Having a human and Phoenix adept both blasting through walls is magical though.

[Zevox]

I'm jealous. Thirty three packs and not a single new character so far.

I'm almost afraid to ask, but... all Premium? Or are you doing regular Specter Packs, or a mix? Not that it makes that kind of luck suck much less either way, but I'm morbidly curious.

Lifting hock wave very much does prime targets, but self detonating is a feat. You have to hit them with the tail end o the shockwave while running forward, otherwise the lift duration and travel time of warp mean you can't self-detonate.

Hm, so you mean the effect that allows detonation doesn't last as long as the actual lifting effect? Because the lifting effect seems to last plenty long enough for me to easily get Warp off on a shockwave-lifted target.

Having a human and Phoenix adept both blasting through walls is magical though.

I'd imagine it would be, if the targets were close enough for Smash to hit. High damage and priming from Smash, detonation from the shockwave - anything would be taking a ridiculous beating from such a combination.

Zevox

[SiuiS]

All premium specter packs.

I have two new gear items, a level 2 piranha, level 3 pistol ULM, and level 1 pistol headshot boost, and level 1 SMG armor piercing barrel. And level 3 omniblade attachment for assault rifles too. So that's twelve new items out of seventy drops (I've gotten a decent amount of third rare cards), and that is why seeing a class card that just so happened to Mac out appearance on the Salarian is so darn annoying. It's like a slap in the face.

[Zevox]

level 3 pistol ULM,

A what now?

and level 1 SMG armor piercing barrel.

SMG armor piercing barrel? But those don't exist. Did the Earth DLC add new mods without telling us it would or something?

Zevox

[Dhavaer]

A what now?

Ultra-light materials, same as the SMG mod.

SMG armor piercing barrel? But those don't exist. Did the Earth DLC add new mods without telling us it would or something?

Zevox

They actually added less mods that they said they would; apparently the heavy mods were bugged.

[Zevox]

Ultra-light materials, same as the SMG mod.

!

Well, that's kind of a huge addition. Which weapons have that now? (Oh, and did they fix the bug for he SMG version? I recall that they tried once, but I think someone here said it hadn't worked.)

They actually added less mods that they said they would; apparently the heavy mods were bugged.

I don't recall them saying they were adding any mods. All the previews I saw talked about the classes, maps, weapons, and Platinum difficulty, nothing about mods.

Zevox

[Beowulf DW]

Well, I started playing again, after getting back from a somewhat stressful vacation to the New Jersey shore, and two interesting things happened. First, I got a Vorcha sentinel in a veteran pack, which would be great if I had any idea what to do with this class. Most other sentinels (except for the Krogan) seem like straight up casters with limited combat ability, but the Vorcha seems like it's designed for combat first and foremost.

Second, I tried a Firebase White Geth Gold match with my level 8 geth engineer. And to my utter surprise, I was vastly out-scoring the level 20 infiltrator. He (or she) was using a Graal spike thrower rather than a sniper rifle, and kept cloaking, running into a group of enemies, and then dying. We didn't make it to extraction but I still leveled up few times.

[Zevox]

First, I got a Vorcha sentinel in a veteran pack, which would be great if I had any idea what to do with this class. Most other sentinels (except for the Krogan) seem like straight up casters with limited combat ability, but the Vorcha seems like it's designed for combat first and foremost.

Yeah, a lot of people remarked when the second DLC pack released that there seemed to be practically no difference between the Vorcha Soldier and Vorcha Sentinel. The only change is that the Soldier has Carnage while the Sentinel has Cluster Grenades - and since Grenades are still very much a Soldier type of power, that doesn't really do much to make it seem like a Sentinel.

Zevox

[Beowulf DW]

Yeah, a lot of people remarked when the second DLC pack released that there seemed to be practically no difference between the Vorcha Soldier and Vorcha Sentinel. The only change is that the Soldier has Carnage while the Sentinel has Cluster Grenades - and since Grenades are still very much a Soldier type of power, that doesn't really do much to make it seem like a Sentinel.

Zevox

I see. Thanks a bunch. I'll stat him out as I would a soldier.

[Crossblade]

I got a Vorcha sentinel in a veteran pack, which would be great if I had any idea what to do with this class. Most other sentinels (except for the Krogan) seem like straight up casters with limited combat ability, but the Vorcha seems like it's designed for combat first and foremost.

Max bloodlust for HP and weapon damage on rank 5. Flamer vs Armor, Fitness for HP 100% (I put rank 5 as melee instead of shields, because they have no shields anyways).
Proceed to win. This class is definitely an easy class to use, my brother -who never plays and struggles on bronze still- found Silver easy when he got his Vorcha on the first day of Earth DLC.


Interesting side note for the Slayer Vangaurd, incase no one's noticed it yet, it can dodge-teleport through walls... and across vertical plans. Even on Tachunga, bottom of the first ramp, beside the wall, it can teleport into the raised cargo area.

[Edge]

Interesting side note for the Slayer Vangaurd, incase no one's noticed it yet, it can dodge-teleport through walls... and across vertical plans. Even on Tachunga, bottom of the first ramp, beside the wall, it can teleport into the raised cargo area.

I'm guessing you mean Tuchanka?

But yeah, this is one of the Slayer's main selling points, one it shares with the Fury Adept. At the bottom of the ladder on Firebase White with an ally who needs reviving at the top of the stairs? Just dodge up. Firebase White geth farming and everything's going to hell, and you need the chance to get a rocket out in peace? Just dodge backwards. Really need to get out of the tower on Dagger? Just dodge out.

Also brilliant for getting out of trouble if you make a bad Charge decision.

[Krade]

Lifting Shockwave only primes detonations for a very short time. If they're right in front of you and get lifted with the first wave, they will fall faster than your cooldown. If they're farther away, you can do it, but it still takes precise distances and timing. I suggest priming with something else and detonating with Shockwave.

Edit: The Slayer is the one new class I haven't gotten yet. I probably would have, but my connectionn has been shoddy so I haven't been playing aas much as normal.

Edit II: I also managed to fail to notice the Shockwave question was already answered. Oh well.

Edit Mk. 3: Did anyone else notice that the Vindicator buff brought it back to EXACTLY where it was before they nerfed it 4 months ago?

[GloatingSwine]

!

Well, that's kind of a huge addition. Which weapons have that now? (Oh, and did they fix the bug for he SMG version? I recall that they tried once, but I think someone here said it hadn't worked.)

It works on the Geth SMG but no others at the moment. Why it should be that way is anyone's guess, but that's how it is.

[Strife Warzeal]

- GitP user name - Strife Warzeal
- game system(s) - Xbox360
- in-game user name - aafro1109
- frequently used weapons/classes - Generally, all. I've been leaning towards Sentinels and Infiltrators recently, but it varies.

[Dhavaer]

!

Well, that's kind of a huge addition. Which weapons have that now? (Oh, and did they fix the bug for he SMG version? I recall that they tried once, but I think someone here said it hadn't worked.)

The new mods are: pistol cranial trauma system (+headshot damage), ultralight pistol materials, SMG High-Velocity Barrel (armour piercing), SMG recoil system, assault rifle omni-blade.

Also, after maxing out every single pre-rebellion rare (grr), I finally got a new class; the Shadow. It's great fun.

[SiuiS]

A what now?


SMG armor piercing barrel? But those don't exist. Did the Earth DLC add new mods without telling us it would or something?

Zevox

Yes. You seem to have missed me explaining using the pistol Headshot boost (cranial trauma system) on my eagle in a vein attempt to make it not suck, and the really cool looking omniblade Assault rifle bayonet that has me using assault rifles over jottings on my batarians because it is just that cool to swing.

I have a scorpion 4, which hits like +167 on a cool down. With the ULM I'm packing it on my Phoenix vanguard at +200. The loss o ammo hurts though.

Hornet with a level 1 AP mod does as good against armored targets like brutes as the revenant.

Cranial trauma system is overrated until higher levels, as +25% pistol damage is way better than +25% headshot damage, or even +30%.

It works on the Geth SMG but no others at the moment. Why it should be that way is anyone's guess, but that's how it is.

- GitP user name - Strife Warzeal
- game system(s) - Xbox360
- in-game user name - aafro1109
- frequently used weapons/classes - Generally, all. I've been leaning towards Sentinels and Infiltrators recently, but it varies.

Woohoo!
I'll hit you up later :3
Will add you soon.

The new mods are: pistol cranial trauma system (+headshot damage), ultralight pistol materials, SMG High-Velocity Barrel (armour piercing), SMG recoil system, assault rifle omni-blade.

Also, after maxing out every single pre-rebellion rare (grr), I finally got a new class; the Shadow. It's great fun.

I think givin a much higher shot at older rates is part of the RNG system. I have everything else except the widow at max now, and not a single new class :-\

EDIT: OP updated. Forgot to add Arbitrarity's suggested link to the master copy. Fixed.

[Dhavaer]

I think givin a much higher shot at older rates is part of the RNG system. I have everything else except the widow at max now, and not a single new class :-\

Huh. The Widow was my last to max as well.

[tomaO2]

After 50 hours, I finally finished Mass Effect 1.

Despite having read a whole lot on this game, there were a few surprises. Including one, in particular, that I really wish hadn't been.

I knew that the level cap was 60 but I did NOT know that you had to beat the game first to unlock it. I was quite surprised when I noticed that the exp had stopped after 50. Now I'm stuck with it. I really would have liked to have known about this little thing FIRST before playing. I would have done things much differently.

On the other hand, Tali was a very pleasant surprise. I picked Liara as the romance option since she seemed likable in the vids I watched and was in all 3 games. I was quite surprised that Tali was also in game 1 though, even though not as a romance option. Furthermore, Tali was definitely the character I liked interacting with the most. I think I'll make a new character eventually to follow up on a relationship with her at some point.

Another surprise was the Conduit. I knew it was a small teleporter but I had no idea that it connected to the "art" in the Citadel. The entire ending was pretty awesome too, by the way.

I was also surprised by finding out that the Reapers already used various means of combining organic and artificial tech to fuse together. So this makes

-Saren the Reaper Paragon of Synthesis option.
-Hollow-Man the Reaper Paragon of Control option.
-??? is Reper Paragon of Destroy option. I'm sure I'll decide on someone for this.

On top of that, I never did figure out that the Citadel was actually the key to summoning the Reaper Fleet until I saw that in game. The Virgil period was especially helpful for clearing up some stuff.

Playing this game further cements the opinion I had that Indoctrination Theory was the ending Mass Effect should have had. Especially since they never even tell you who made the Crucible. In my mind, it's just far more likely that the Reapers made it as a failsafe in case plan A didn't work out.

Just leave the plans for some Reaper killing weapon lying around (note: I have no idea how they found out about the Crucible) and let them build it only to have that thing wipe the organics out instead.

I read that they didn't want the ending to be some big battle but more an intellectual ending so they should have just gone full tilt on that. Make the discussion wide ranging and hitting on all the players actions. Like saving the Geth or not. Having a romance (ie. someone to live for) or not. Believing in redemption and second chances (saving the Rachi) or not.

In my imagination I came up with a variation where only indoctrinated people could use the Crucible. So while it is possible to use it to kill the Reapers, no one has the strength of will to make it do so and they end up killing their own kind instead all the time. Only the most Paragon characters that started from Mass Effect 1 would have made the choices needed to create the strength of will to deny the Reapers all their tricks (and the ending that many wish was fake) and turn the Crucible their own control chips instead so that they would be free of their programming.

I would love the true surprise to have been that Reapers are also victims and could be redeemed, just like so many other races had been. Redemption and accepting differences has been the theme that my Shep has been creating during my first play through and I know already that is not going to be realized.

PS. Thanks for suggesting Star Control 2. I actually wouldn't mind trying that at some point.

[Mr._Blinky]

It works on the Geth SMG but no others at the moment. Why it should be that way is anyone's guess, but that's how it is.

I thought they'd fixed it right before Rebellion came out? Wasn't there a big update where they announced they'd finally fixed ULM?

[Zevox]

Alright, just took my N7 Slayer for a spin. Impressions:

The teleport-dodge was awkward and hard to get used to, due to the distance it covered and the fact that it was inconsistent on when it would pass through walls - there were some times when it wouldn't pass through walls I know it had passed through previously. Dodging forward through a wall was especially troublesome, as it tended to result in me entering cover instead, even if I seemed to be a good distance back from it. For that I honestly ended up using the heavy melee instead, which does suck a bit since it has some recovery time on the end, but it is fast enough that I could always get an emergency Charge off if need be. Still, the dodge seemed extremely effective once I started to adjust to it - like the Asari's, it's fast (if perhaps not quite that fast) and invincible, and it covers significantly more ground than theirs, so it's quite handy. I look forward to using it on the new Adept, since you good folks have said she has it as well.

Melee attacks surprised me by using the teleport animation, though for the regular ones it seems to be just that - an animation. You move a little bit with those, but not much. The fact that it repeats on every swing if you do the melee combo makes that slow compared to other classes', but it seems pretty effective nonetheless, aside from sometimes not staggering targets for some reason. The heavy version can genuinely teleport you a good distance and track the nearest opponent in the direction you're facing (even reorienting you to strike an opponent in cover from the side or back), which is nice - except it lacks the invincibility of the dodge-teleports but still drains a bit of your shields like they do, which is not nice at all. Makes it very tricky to decide when to use that one, and unlike most classes it makes my go-to melee attack in most cases the regular/combo version.

For powers, Biotic Slash specced for max damage is pretty potent - second only to Smash, I think. Actually, it's pretty comparable to Smash: long startup, shockwave-esque effect, high damage. The difference is it trades some damage for a bigger range (but smaller width) and shorter cooldown, which actually probably makes it more effective than Smash in most circumstances. However, this being a Vanguard class, I found myself struggling to find appropriate times to use it instead of Charge. It having a short cooldown of its own helps there, but only so much, since Charge is my means of keeping myself alive as much as an attack, whereas this is just an attack, and a somewhat risky one given its startup time too. Not sure about the synergy between those powers.

Phase Disruptor... seems like it should be more effective in theory than it seemed to be in practice. Converting shields to damage with no cooldown involved is a proven means of being effective with Vangaurds (thank you, Nova), so making a projectile version of that which doesn't use all your shields seems like it ought to be a good idea... but the damage isn't there, sadly. I have mine specced for max damage, and it could only take out half a Cannibal's hp on silver. It wasn't half bad on armored targets, since I took the +75% damage boost against armor for the final rank, but I found myself preferring to try and find time to get a Biotic Slash out on them instead of a Phase Disruptor. The only enemy I found it particularly useful against was, oddly, Phantoms, since I could target it at their feet just after they cloaked from their barriers dropping and usually take them out. Also, it seemed like it was riskier to use than Nova, in spite of using less of your shields. I guess the animation time was longer than I'd have liked, or maybe it's just that Nova is so good at clearing an area that it's not that risky to use at all. Hard to say.

I do think I want to use one of my respec cards on this class, as I don't think my current built (maxed powers, 5 class skill, 3 fitness) is optimum for it (I really feel the lack of maxed-out fitness compared to my regular Human Vanguard, for one), but I'm conflicted on how to build it. Obviously I want to ignore one power and max out everything else, but... Biotic Slash or Phase Disruptor? Oh sure, in general effectiveness Biotic Slash beats Phase Disruptor hands down, but I don't know that I want to give up on Phase Disruptor, since it synergizes with Charge so much better than Biotic Slash. Maybe I could try switching my build with Phase Disruptor to an AoE-focused one and see where that gets me.

Anyway though, yeah, I like it. Seems like a pretty awesome biotic assassin type of class. Honestly, I now have a hard time thinking I'll like the Shadow as much as an assassin class, what with the lack of at-will teleporting that only biotics can give (both in dodges and, of course, Charge itself).

Speaking of though, I played alongside a Shadow in one of my games, and couldn't help but note that Electric Slash is identical to Biotic Slash, just tech-type. That kind of sucks - I can't say I approve of recycling powers by just changing their type that way. Granted they seem to have done a great job on giving us a variety of new powers and play styles in this update in general, so it's hard to be too mad about it, but still, I don't approve of that particular move.

Zevox

[Dhavaer]

I thought they'd fixed it right before Rebellion came out? Wasn't there a big update where they announced they'd finally fixed ULM?

The fix didn't work and they removed it from the patch notes.

[Tome]

Anyway though, yeah, I like it. Seems like a pretty awesome biotic assassin type of class. Honestly, I now have a hard time thinking I'll like the Shadow as much as an assassin class, what with the lack of at-will teleporting that only biotics can give (both in dodges and, of course, Charge itself).

Shadows compensate for the lack of dodge-teleporting by having Cloak. Specced for duration/melee/two powers it not only boosts damage, but lets you Cloak, Shadow Strike and then retreat while still cloaked. Makes it fairly safe and surprisingly viable on higher difficulties.

[tomaO2]

I started game 2 now. I figured out how to import my ME 1 save but I'm not sure if I got the DLC for this game or not. They don't seem to have a dedicated spot to tell you what downloaded content you get, or am I missing something?

Also, I get that Cerberus helped me when I was dead and all but the assignments I had dealing with them in ME1 are quite fresh in my mind and my Shep isn't mentioning it so far. I just finished the Illusive Man meeting and at no point have I mentioned the fact that this group has tortured and killed many humans despite being a "pro-human" group.

Did I just miss something or am I really not going to bring it up. I get that I'm forced to work for this group for the majority of the game but... I'd rather do it undercover for the Council or something if I could, as soon as I can.

I want my Specter status back, dang it. I'm no terrorist.

[Sanguine]

I started game 2 now. I figured out how to import my ME 1 save but I'm not sure if I got the DLC for this game or not. They don't seem to have a dedicated spot to tell you what downloaded content you get, or am I missing something?

Also, I get that Cerberus helped me when I was dead and all but the assignments I had dealing with them in ME1 are quite fresh in my mind and my Shep isn't mentioning it so far. I just finished the Illusive Man meeting and at no point have I mentioned the fact that this group has tortured and killed many humans despite being a "pro-human" group.

Did I just miss something or am I really not going to bring it up. I get that I'm forced to work for this group for the majority of the game but... I'd rather do it undercover for the Council or something if I could, as soon as I can.

I want my Specter status back, dang it. I'm no terrorist.

You can bring it up in conversation with Miranda. As for getting your Specter status back, that is also achievable.

[SiuiS]

I thought they'd fixed it right before Rebellion came out? Wasn't there a big update where they announced they'd finally fixed ULM?

I was under tHe impression that they had fixed it. Let me check.
Yep. It is fixed. Piranha; power takes 1.84.
Add shuriken, power takes 1.99
Add ULM to shuriken, power takes 1.85.

[Aotrs Commander]

Getting my readiness up a bit before I tackle the ending later...

Four games... Tried all three new maps. Not very impressed, though Rio is okay I guess.

Ye gods Batarian solider is boring. Sadly, still the most interesting soldier class I have to hand.

But hey, I think I managed to hit something with my Ballistic Blades at one point. For like the first time ever. *sigh* I will get to level 20, though.

Spectre Pack - two golds... One Thermal Clip upgrade and a stronghold upgrade or something. Woo. *eyeglow roll*



Weird, though... I've got inflitrator, vanguard, engineer and sentientl at level 20, soldier at level 17 (haven't played adept yet), not promoted anyone, and my N7 is 77. Shouldn't it be, like 97 or something?

Ho hum. Back to do some more grinding...



??? Wha... Krogan Vanguard vanish! Pretty damn sure I didn't promote him, and level is still at 20, but it was reading "new" and wasn't named or anything... Had to make him again. That's... Must be a bug or something, because otherwise, surely it'd have gone back to lower level (since Krogan Vanguard was the only character I had...)

Guh. Dammit.

Funnily enough, re-making my Krogan Vanguard put my N7 back to 97...

Bug, must be.

[Dienekes]

Getting my readiness up a bit before I tackle the ending later...

Actually one of my personal favorite thing about the new endings is that they brought down the war assets necessary to get the best endings to 3100. So no need to get readiness up at all if you already did those fetch quests in the game.

[Beowulf DW]

Shadows compensate for the lack of dodge-teleporting by having Cloak. Specced for duration/melee/two powers it not only boosts damage, but lets you Cloak, Shadow Strike and then retreat while still cloaked. Makes it fairly safe and surprisingly viable on higher difficulties.

I was using my human adept alongside a shadow on Gold Reactor against Reapers. Everything went to hell on wave 9, but the shadow stayed alive by using cloak, and proceeded to one-shot every Marauder on the map with Shadow strike. The shadow then proceeded to start picking off the Ravagers, then the Brutes, then the Banshees. It was a lengthy process, but it got us through that wave when it seemed like we were screwed.

[Aotrs Commander]

Actually one of my personal favorite thing about the new endings is that they brought down the war assets necessary to get the best endings to 3100. So no need to get readiness up at all if you already did those fetch quests in the game.

Huh.

Well.

That was a waste of a couple of hours.

Mostly because I didn't get anything of note from my packs.

Tried Cerberus Vanguard... Ehh. I thought Smash would synergise better with Biotic charge - which it didn't. I tried the Human vanguard (for charge/nova spam) and it was... okay. Depressingly, the Krogan Battlemaster is still miles the most fun.