Mass Effect 3.8: "How things begin isn't nearly as important as how they end."

SiuiS · 11-29-2012, 10:52 PM

Mass Effect 3, thread 8
or
Not as good as Shadow Broker, but Close!

***

This is the eighth thread for discussion of Mass Effect proper, currently on its third installment, the final game in the ballad of Shepard. Here we discuss gameplay, mechanics, multiplayer, and anything at all from Mass Effect 1 &2. Spoilers are still spoilers, at least for the DLC. Main game is fair game though.

Prior threads:
Thread 1
Thread 2
Thread 3
Thread 4
Thread 5
Thread 6
Thread 7

Playgrounder multiplayer profiles (please use the provided format of
- GitP user name
- game system(s)
- in-game user name
- frequently used weapons/classes

PC:

Spoiler

X-Box 360:

Spoiler

PS3:

Spoiler

Character builder complete with numbers compiler. Some damage calculations are off.
bioware page archiving useful information

Much Better bio ware page.

Illven · 11-29-2012, 11:08 PM

Since Yakyak never put me in the Xbox 360 listing.

- GitP user name Illven
- game system(s) Xbox360
- in-game user name Migratingimp 44 (I'll make sure this is right)
- frequently used weapons/classes Adepts+Vorcha soldier

Luzahn · 11-29-2012, 11:43 PM

I'll do the same, actually.

- GitP user name: Luzahn
- game system(s): Xbox360
- in-game user name: Luzahn
- frequently used weapons/classes: Shotguns / Vanguards

Dhavaer · 11-30-2012, 02:41 AM

Was there a turian adept scheduled for release in the weekly changes? The operation fluff seems to imply we might be seeing another biotic turian.

Edge · 11-30-2012, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dhavaer

Was there a turian adept scheduled for release in the weekly changes? The operation fluff seems to imply we might be seeing another biotic turian.

Sadly, no. But Omega finally adds a Codex entry on the turian Cabals, detailing how they work (a biotic turian STG, basically), how they recruit, and that squd commanding officers are called kabalim.

It makes me hopeful that we'll see a turian adept and/or vanguard in possible future DLC.

Morty · 11-30-2012, 08:17 AM

I think I'm getting a hang of Gold. It's hectic, but manageable. Today I had a full extraction on Hydra against Geth and died on Wave 8 against Reapers in Rio. And then I got another Geth Plasma Shotgun and a Turian Ghost upgrade for my troubles.

Yora · 11-30-2012, 08:21 AM

Wouldn't it make sense to just name the thread Mass Effect. After all, the first post even says its about the whole searies and not just the third game. Would we keep numbering all the threads 3.9, 3.11, and so on?

SiuiS · 11-30-2012, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yora

Wouldn't it make sense to just name the thread Mass Effect. After all, the first post even says its about the whole searies and not just the third game. Would we keep numbering all the threads 3.9, 3.11, and so on?

Yes. But inertia, and a sense of passage are what kep the 3 in there – mass effect 1 & 2 don't feel open, where 3 is still chugging along as far as multiplayer goes. But I'm up for changing the thread title; I actually was going to ask about that. Current subtitle is subpar, I feel.

Landis963 · 11-30-2012, 09:51 AM

Zevox had a pretty good one, IIRC: "How it begins isn't as important as how it ends" or something like that.

Psyren · 11-30-2012, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Landis963

Zevox had a pretty good one, IIRC: "How it begins isn't as important as how it ends" or something like that.

Given that it hasn't ended yet, I disagree.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yora

Wouldn't it make sense to just name the thread Mass Effect. After all, the first post even says its about the whole searies and not just the third game. Would we keep numbering all the threads 3.9, 3.11, and so on?

Well, back when it was about ME2, all the threads were labeled ME2 but people still talked about ME1 freely. Also, when ME4 comes out some folks will want to avoid even setting foot inside for fear of spoilers, so we'll just end up having a separate thread for that anyway.

CreganTur · 11-30-2012, 12:25 PM

Was playing some random random Gold matches last night with some friends and we ended up on Hazard Reactor against the Geth.

One fo the guys was just being silly and kepy obsessing about closing the reactor on enemies and even tempting fate by almost getting caught inside the reactor a few times.

Wave 10 we get an escort mission that takes us right through the reactor. I tell the guy, jokingly, not to close the door on us. Guess what he does- CLOSES THE DOOR ON US! The entire team wipes inside the reactor with less than 40% remaining on the escort. Thankfully we were able to hop up, revive those who used up their medigel, and fought out way to completion and extraction.

Tome · 11-30-2012, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SiuiS

Not as good as Shadow Broker, but Close!

Heresy!

But yeah, would you mind taking out the preference bit in my entry? I've expanded my repertoire significantly since then.

Zevox · 11-30-2012, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Landis963

Zevox had a pretty good one, IIRC: "How it begins isn't as important as how it ends" or something like that.

"How things begin isn't nearly as important as how they end."

Probably one of the most memorable lines from the Omega DLC, from Aria. Also more than a bit ironic, given the immense controversy over ME3's ending.

Zevox

Dhavaer · 11-30-2012, 02:00 PM

Valiant IV this time, not bad. I'd rather like to try the Valkyrie, but I've heard it's not much good.

Zevox · 11-30-2012, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dhavaer

Valiant IV this time, not bad. I'd rather like to try the Valkyrie, but I've heard it's not much good.

I had it in the single-player via pre-order bonus, and didn't like it. It's like the Argus - another three-round burst rifle that just doesn't seem very good.

Zevox

Psyren · 11-30-2012, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zevox

"How things begin isn't nearly as important as how they end."

Probably one of the most memorable lines from the Omega DLC, from Aria. Also more than a bit ironic, given the immense controversy over ME3's ending.

Zevox

I have no doubt they had her say that ironically.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zevox

I had it in the single-player via pre-order bonus, and didn't like it. It's like the Argus - another three-round burst rifle that just doesn't seem very good.

Zevox

Agreed, I hate bloody all of these. I hate them in Borderlands too. If it's not full-auto or single-shot, I'm not interested.

Landis963 · 11-30-2012, 03:13 PM

Really, really, really hating the matchup system right now. Farix, Dhavaer, and I have been trying to get a Plat match together for an hour now, and no dice.

It's really frustrating.

EDIT: Farix directed me to a soc.bioware page saying to turn on UPnP, but I don't know how to do that with the router I'm using.

Farix · 11-30-2012, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Really, really, really hating the matchup system right now. Farix, Dhavaer, and I have been trying to get a Plat match together for an hour now, and no dice.

Specifically Dhavaer and I can party up off an invite no problem but any time Landis tries to join he gets stuck with "Joining Party..." sitting endlessly on the screen. Any advice would be appreciated (PC version btw).

Luzahn · 11-30-2012, 03:45 PM

It could be a port issue on his router or something. Those have caused me some problems in the past.

Corvus · 11-30-2012, 03:51 PM

Got a Valiant VII in my pack.

Bit of an annoying one to do actually. I'd recently promoted by adepts so was levelling up them during the op doing silvers - and every match I had also had a level 20 infiltrator. Hard to get biotic explosions going with kill-stealing infil glory hogs.

Landis963 · 11-30-2012, 04:08 PM

If I knew how to mess with those ports on the router I'm using, I'd toggle the s**t out of them. As it is, I'm moving to the basement tomorrow and hoping the router I can connect to down there hasn't had its settings changed since the summer (that's the one I could reach friends on then).

Dhavaer · 11-30-2012, 04:22 PM

Ow. I've hosted every game I've played for the last few months - being reintroduced to lag was not fun. It wasn't terribly bad lag though.

Xondoure · 11-30-2012, 04:27 PM

Does Omega change the end game at all? (say, Aria showing up in the little pre final charge bit.)

SiuiS · 11-30-2012, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zevox

I had it in the single-player via pre-order bonus, and didn't like it. It's like the Argus - another three-round burst rifle that just doesn't seem very good.

Zevox

Two-round burst, actually. It's also fast and accurate enough to be a sort of laggy mattock. You don't get huge deviation between shots. As far as burst guns go, it's pretty stellar. It's hard to pick this out when it's only rank 1 though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Farix

Specifically Dhavaer and I can party up off an invite no problem but any time Landis tries to join he gets stuck with "Joining Party..." sitting endlessly on the screen. Any advice would be appreciated (PC version btw).

switch up host. Have whichever of you is not the host do it. If that doesn't work, have landis host. Odds are only two of you are incompatible and the third is fine. I had this problem; I've got three friends I can only play with if another party plays host for me.

Edge · 11-30-2012, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SiuiS

Two-round burst, actually. It's also fast and accurate enough to be a sort of laggy mattock. You don't get huge deviation between shots. As far as burst guns go, it's pretty stellar. It's hard to pick this out when it's only rank 1 though.

Also, apparently the version in multiplayer has a pretty big difference between its damage at I and X. Something in the region of 200 damage per bullet.

Corvus · 11-30-2012, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xondoure

Does Omega change the end game at all? (say, Aria showing up in the little pre final charge bit.)

Nope.

You do get some war assets which are vitally important to defeat...oh, wait, that's right. War assets have no real use.

YakYak · 11-30-2012, 06:45 PM

For the record, I liked the original title better. It was a more subtle way of saying "we still hate the ending!"

Illven · 11-30-2012, 06:52 PM

- GitP user name Illven
- game system(s) Xbox360
- in-game user name MigratingImp 44
- frequently used weapons/classes Adepts+Vorcha soldier

Pretty please put this on the first post...

Zevox · 11-30-2012, 07:20 PM

Well, today was a pretty good day for me. Maxed out my last core class - Quarian Engineer, and I can't help but note that the "skin tone" appearance it unlocked doesn't actually do anything - so that ought to make getting new classes easier from now on. I also ranked up my Carnifex (6 now), maxed out my Volus Engineer, maxed out my Shotgun Shredder mod and SMG ULM mod, and picked up two new classes in a single pack: the Vorcha Hunter and Volus Mercenary.

Played the Vorcha for a few games. Couldn't get Submission Net to detonate fire bursts on armored targets, as SiuiS indicated was possible, disappointing me immensely. Nonetheless though, Submission Net is a very handy power against weaker enemies, and I can actually get consistent solo tech bursts off it to boot. And other players can always set off your fire bursts, which was very common today since every other player was using a biotic class. Usually the Fury.

Bloodlust though, well, if I didn't think it was basically the only way to mitigate the Vorcha's crippling lack of shields, I'd drop it. The red aura it puts on the screen is annoying, there doesn't seem to be a way to tell how many of those "stacks" you have at any given time, that shouting pose it sometimes makes you do ticks me off because it takes you out of cover, and the regeneration doesn't restore your health gate, so even if you get most of your health back very fast because of it, you can still be one shot from a mid-rank or higher enemy away from dead. Still, it's better than nothing I suppose.

Ran into a very annoying bug on one of my games as him, too, though I don't think it has anything to do with the class. Basically, it was a game against the Reapers where all of the Brutes and Ravagers were invisible to me. Everybody else seemed to be able to see them, but not me. I could still take damage from them though, on one occassion actually saw a Ravager's shots when they were hitting me, and may have been able to interact with them - I did once have an Incinerate that I fired at a spot my allies were shooting at detonate seemingly on nothing - but without any indication where they were unless I noticed my allies shooting at what seemed to be thin air, I just couldn't do anything about them. I consider myself quite fortunate that I never had to solo a wave in that one.

As for the Volus, eh, I'll probably try him tonight or tomorrow, but I'm not expecting to like him.

Zevox

SiuiS · 11-30-2012, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corvus

Got a Valiant VII in my pack.

Bit of an annoying one to do actually. I'd recently promoted by adepts so was levelling up them during the op doing silvers - and every match I had also had a level 20 infiltrator. Hard to get biotic explosions going with kill-stealing infil glory hogs.

Not me. I was 90% done by wave 3, when some others dropped in because I forgot to set my match to private. One of them tried to be the glory hog (QMI with Eviscerator I think) but not only did I detonate all my targets, I also stopped reviving him when he made his third B-line for my primed target so he could shotgun them.

Unfortunately, I would have felt bad dropping out at that point so I had to sit disinterested for the rest of the match while everyone else was trying so hard.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edge

Also, apparently the version in multiplayer has a pretty big difference between its damage at I and X. Something in the region of 200 damage per bullet.

Celestia's Plot! That's insane, that makes it stronger than the Harrier!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illven

- GitP user name Illven
- game system(s) Xbox360
- in-game user name MigratingImp 44
- frequently used weapons/classes Adepts+Vorcha soldier

Pretty please put this on the first post...

Did you check the first post, mate?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zevox

Well, today was a pretty good day for me. Maxed out my last core class - Quarian Engineer, and I can't help but note that the "skin tone" appearance it unlocked doesn't actually do anything - so that ought to make getting new classes easier from now on. I also ranked up my Carnifex (6 now), maxed out my Volus Engineer, maxed out my Shotgun Shredder mod and SMG ULM mod, and picked up two new classes in a single pack: the Vorcha Hunter and Volus Mercenary.

Quarian skin tone; subtly tint the color of their face plate.
Battlemaster/shaman skin tone; subtly tint the color of... The ridged rubber on their calves. No joke.

Quote:

Played the Vorcha for a few games. Couldn't get Submission Net to detonate fire bursts on armored targets, as SiuiS indicated was possible, disappointing me immensely. Nonetheless though, Submission Net is a very handy power against weaker enemies, and I can actually get consistent solo tech bursts off it to boot. And other players can always set off your fire bursts, which was very common today since every other player was using a biotic class. Usually the Fury.

I can't either anymore. I think it was an artefact of the new detonation rules as the old submission net. Now that's it is what it's "supposed" to be, it doesn't work the same.

And good news! Tech and biotics no longer interfere with each other. If you use warp, they use incinerate, your fort throw will get whichever effect is visible (usually the fire) and the second will get the biotic.

Quote:

Bloodlust though, well, if I didn't think it was basically the only way to mitigate the Vorcha's crippling lack of shields, I'd drop it. The red aura it puts on the screen is annoying, there doesn't seem to be a way to tell how many of those "stacks" you have at any given time, that shouting pose it sometimes makes you do ticks me off because it takes you out of cover, and the regeneration doesn't restore your health gate, so even if you get most of your health back very fast because of it, you can still be one shot from a mid-rank or higher enemy away from dead. Still, it's better than nothing I suppose.

You can actually tell your stack amount from the amount of red on the vorcha himself. It's difficult to find without knowing first though.

Quote:

Ran into a very annoying bug on one of my games as him, too, though I don't think it has anything to do with the class. Basically, it was a game against the Reapers where all of the Brutes and Ravagers were invisible to me. Everybody else seemed to be able to see them, but not me. I could still take damage from them though, on one occassion actually saw a Ravager's shots when they were hitting me, and may have been able to interact with them - I did once have an Incinerate that I fired at a spot my allies were shooting at detonate seemingly on nothing - but without any indication where they were unless I noticed my allies shooting at what seemed to be thin air, I just couldn't do anything about them. I consider myself quite fortunate that I never had to solo a wave in that one.

As for the Volus, eh, I'll probably try him tonight or tomorrow, but I'm not expecting to like him.

Zevox

Happened to a friend of mine once while he was playing a battlemaster. What stage? It seemed to revolve around Rio. Poor guy was gunning for Ravager Mastery too.