Mass Effect 3

[Dasquian Belargic]

Just finished the game...



:(

I didn't want to play the finale of the game, because I was fully expecting to be underwhelmed by whatever climax Bioware had come up with. It felt a little like preparing to watch the series finale of Battestar Galactica: I had become invested in so many characters, and there was such a complex storyline involving different worlds, cultures and so forth, that I didn't think that they could pull off an ending that would feel really satisfying.

Up to the point where Shepard limped her way onto the Citadel, I was actually feeling like it might all come together. Saying farewell to your crew mates was sad and downing the Destroyer was a real "Fuck yeah!" moment... as was finally shooting the Illusive Man... but when that lift took Shepard up to see the Catalyst?

That was disappointing. What impact did my Galactic Readiness and my War Assets actually have on my options?

Also incredibly jarring to see Liara and Garrus leaving the Normandy with Joker, as I assumed they had died during the charge towards the Citadel beam.

I loved so much of this game and honestly I don't know how they could have ended it in a way that would have satisfied me, now that I think about it... but this is not it.

[Karl Valten]

Just finished the game...



:(

... but when that lift took Shepard up to see the Catalyst?

That was disappointing. What impact did my Galactic Readiness and my War Assets actually have on my options?

Also incredibly jarring to see Liara and Garrus leaving the Normandy with Joker, as I assumed they had died during the charge towards the Citadel beam.

I loved so much of this game and honestly I don't know how they could have ended it in a way that would have satisfied me, now that I think about it... but this is not it.

Amen. Everything up to the lift was pure gold......I do have a lot of other comments about this whole ending bit that I put up on the bioware forums, but I'll hold off a bit in putting it up here.....I can send them to people via PM if they want it of course.

Galactic Readiness and War Assets pretty much just change how messed up the Earth gets in the final fight. IE Completely Destroyed vs. Fairly Intact in various degrees. You still have the same 3 options no matter what is done.

Paragon/Renegade doesn't do jack either...........and with so many loose ends and just a BAMN ending....no conclusion really. I really have no emotional attachment to anything that happened after the final chat with Anderson.

Felt like a bit of a shot to the gut after such good storytelling.

[Sanis Prent]

Just tell me without spoiling me. Based on what you know about me and my tastes, will I like this ending? I want to finish it all but my wife will kill me if I just plant myself down and play, so I'm a ways away

[Dasquian Belargic]

Endgame spoilers/speculation

Have you read the theory that some parts of the endgame may be Shepard hallucinating/going through indoctrination (http://social.bioware.com/forum/Mass-Effect-3/Mass-Effect-3-Story-and-Campaign-Discussion-Spoilers-Allowed/Was-the-ending-a-hallucination-9727423-1.html)? I kept thinking how odd it was that the 'destroy the reapers' option was coloured red, like a Renegade choice. Some of the stuff in that thread makes so much sense, but it could just be fans trying to rationalise what may ultimately be a really lazy Deus Ex Machina.


Charley - I honestly don't know. Just enjoy the game while it lasts. My problems with it didn't arise until literally the final couple of scenes, by which point you will already have gone through a fantastic emotional journey with your Shep.

[Karl Valten]

Endgame spoilers/speculation

Have you read the theory that some parts of the endgame may be Shepard hallucinating/going through indoctrination (http://social.bioware.com/forum/Mass-Effect-3/Mass-Effect-3-Story-and-Campaign-Discussion-Spoilers-Allowed/Was-the-ending-a-hallucination-9727423-1.html)? I kept thinking how odd it was that the 'destroy the reapers' option was coloured red, like a Renegade choice. Some of the stuff in that thread makes so much sense, but it could just be fans trying to rationalise what may ultimately be a really lazy Deus Ex Machina.

I've read this as well and I mentioned it in one of my spolier filled posts above as well. At this point I don't think it's worth speculating.

More ending spoiler in response to Jen

The "best" ending (if you pick 'Destroy') does allow Shep to live if you have a 5000+ effective military strength. It cuts to a scene a body in N7 armor covered in rubble just starting to gasp for air......some people are speculating that it's Shep coming to after the laser blast and not the citadel wreckage


And Charley, I agree with Jen on this one. 95% of the game I absolutely loved and would not change.

[Sanis Prent]

I have a theory about how this is going to end. Let me guess, it's got a lot to do with Sheperd's dream, right?

Also holy shit round three of epic Citadel mission spall. I take three steps and have five missions thrown at me. Also I've run into Zaeed yay my second favorite Mass Effect character (PLEASE DON'T KILL THIS ONE TOO) :uhoh

Also maybe I spoke too soon about Vega. Invited him up to my quarters :mischief. Still a bit more work to do before I can unwrap that tamale.

[Karl Valten]

Also maybe I spoke too soon about Vega. Invited him up to my quarters :mischief. Still a bit more work to do before I can unwrap that tamale.

Forget it, he secretly wants Cortez. :p

[Dasquian Belargic]

Endgame spoilers/speculation

Have you read the theory that some parts of the endgame may be Shepard hallucinating/going through indoctrination (http://social.bioware.com/forum/Mass-Effect-3/Mass-Effect-3-Story-and-Campaign-Discussion-Spoilers-Allowed/Was-the-ending-a-hallucination-9727423-1.html)? I kept thinking how odd it was that the 'destroy the reapers' option was coloured red, like a Renegade choice. Some of the stuff in that thread makes so much sense, but it could just be fans trying to rationalise what may ultimately be a really lazy Deus Ex Machina.

I've read this as well and I mentioned it in one of my spolier filled posts above as well. At this point I don't think it's worth speculating.

More ending spoiler in response to Jen

The "best" ending (if you pick 'Destroy') does allow Shep to live if you have a 5000+ effective military strength. It cuts to a scene a body in N7 armor covered in rubble just starting to gasp for air......some people are speculating that it's Shep coming to after the laser blast and not the citadel wreckage

I saw that ending.. :cyduck it does not make any sense. I really hope Bioware are going to give us some answers. How did Shepard survive the Harbingers laser, how did Liara and Garrus teleport on board on the Normandy, how did Shepard end up lying in some rubble that clearly looks like the rubble on Earth?

[Crusader]

Hell I am still stuck at priority Tuchanka...

I made it a terrible habit lately to check each quest in the journal when I need to finish it before I am allowed to move on.

On the mission where you meet Grunt I was disappointed to run into a Rachni Breeder (no queen since this one died on Noveria). I was expecting to meet no Rachni at all for my sins. It seems like most of your decisions just influence the stats in the war room and who will return from a previous game or who needs to be replaced because you killed or did not save that person.

[Kyran O'Hurn]

On the mission where you meet Grunt I was disappointed to run into a Rachni Breeder (no queen since this one died on Noveria). I was expecting to meet no Rachni at all for my sins. It seems like most of your decisions just influence the stats in the war room and who will return from a previous game or who needs to be replaced because you killed or did not save that person.

That's pretty much accurate. I started a new game without using a previous ME2 save, and chose my past to be a spacer, ruthless, and having Ashley die in ME1. Compared to my first play through where I used my import where everyone from ME1 and 2 was alive except Kaiden, there is a significant difference in who is around. I assume based on the "ruthless" choice that basically the chose all of the "ruthless" choices. Like Wrex is dead, the rachni queen is dead, and I've already spotted a few other things that are spoilers that are different that I won't say.

And guessing that the ruthless also means "I" didn't romance Miranda in ME2, because her email to me was addressed to Commander rather then to Sheppard. Interested to see how that meeting goes compared to last play through.

[Dasquian Belargic]

On the mission where you meet Grunt I was disappointed to run into a Rachni Breeder (no queen since this one died on Noveria). I was expecting to meet no Rachni at all for my sins. It seems like most of your decisions just influence the stats in the war room and who will return from a previous game or who needs to be replaced because you killed or did not save that person.

That's pretty much accurate. I started a new game without using a previous ME2 save, and chose my past to be a spacer, ruthless, and having Ashley die in ME1. Compared to my first play through where I used my import where everyone from ME1 and 2 was alive except Kaiden, there is a significant difference in who is around. I assume based on the "ruthless" choice that basically the chose all of the "ruthless" choices. Like Wrex is dead, the rachni queen is dead, and I've already spotted a few other things that are spoilers that are different that I won't say.

And guessing that the ruthless also means "I" didn't romance Miranda in ME2, because her email to me was addressed to Commander rather then to Sheppard. Interested to see how that meeting goes compared to last play through.

Who lives and who dies seems to be kind of random if you don't import your game. I was talking to a friend of mine who did that and he had met some of the ME2 squad-mates whilst others didn't show up at all. We couldn't work out a particular logic to it all.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Also maybe I spoke too soon about Vega. Invited him up to my quarters :mischief. Still a bit more work to do before I can unwrap that tamale.

My Shep asked him (without my prompting her to :o) if he was ever going to make good on his flirting and he got all flustered, started to stutter his words :lol

[Karl Valten]

Holy shit, connections between the PTSD Asari and Joker's family (reposted from Reddit):


You know how Joker talks about his family that lives on a farm way out on the outskirts of civilized space?

You know that PTSD Asari at the Citadel Hospital that talks about how she was stranded on a farm way out on the edges of civilized space?

The girl she rescued, accompanied, ended up killing the indoctrinated family of, and eventually murdered to keep her crying from alerting nearby enemies was named Hillary. Joker's sister is named Hillary. That Asari Commando with PTSD in the Citadel Hospital killed Joker's entire family, and none of the characters even know its happened.

But the really terrifying part was when I realized what this meant for the implications of the "Allow the patient to have a gun" option that comes up at the Spectre Terminal.

She probably knows. She spent several days with Hillary.

They probably had a bit of a rapport going. Hillary would would be worried sick about the family that she knows is on the farm and the brother who's personal pilot to the famous Commander Shepard and doing who knows what.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Asari get to know Hillary pretty well, and lots of trivia about her family members. And how could you not mention you brother is best friends with Commander Shepard? And I bet he's famous enough at this point that the Asari knows who he is.

So she stages this rescue mission, and it goes bad, and she kills the family. And then, to save herself, probably thinking it won't even buy her that much more time anyway, she kills Hillary. By some miracle, she's rescued, and she ends up back on the Citadel. But, she knows who she's killed. And she can't take it. She wants out. She knows. And every time Shepard walks through the lobby she knows.

And every time we pause over her or her doctor's shoulder, listening to this story we think is totally unrelated to us, she's panicking inside. "Does Shepard know? Does Shepard know I know he knows!?" And she keeps pleading for the gun nobody will let her have. And then, one day, an orderly gives her a package.
"Special Spectre Authorization"
A gun. Straight from Commander Shepard. To most of us, hitting X on that report was just "paperwork."
But to her, especially if you played a Renegade Shep, we might've basically been saying "Yeah, get it over with."


TL: DR - The Asari commando killed Joker's sister =(

Holy fucking shit! :(

[Dasquian Belargic]

From Bioware:


We appreciate everyone’s feedback about Mass Effect 3 and want you to know that we are listening. Please note, we want to give people time to experience the game so while we can’t get into specifics right now, we will be able to address some of your questions once more people have had time to complete the game.

WHAT ARE YOU HIDING BIOWARE :shakefist

[Karl Valten]

Why do I feel like I'm being trolled?

[Eluna Thals]

Also maybe I spoke too soon about Vega. Invited him up to my quarters :mischief. Still a bit more work to do before I can unwrap that tamale.

My Shep asked him (without my prompting her to :o) if he was ever going to make good on his flirting and he got all flustered, started to stutter his words :lol

Yep that just happened with me too. Right now I'm trying to do whatever I can to get either Vega or Garrus to fool around. I broke my rule for Garrus because he's been legit since the beginning and I think my femshep gets him more than she gets anyone in her crew.

Also I ran into Jacob. Dude not only had a lady on the side, but got her pregnant too. No hard feelings, because I got mine and I wasn't sticking around.

Traynor's not a bad option if I feel like swinging bi, but she's kinda boring to me.

Also Liara is still a dork I don't care if she's the Shadow Broker she is always a DORK

Also stay the fuck away from me Jessica Chobot your voice is annoying as fuck.

Also is EDI really creepy to anyone else? I mean don't get me wrong the interaction with Joker is amazing (and will soon result in his death no doubt) but the whole "exploring the constraints of artifical sentience" she keeps going on with me makes me really nervous. I get the feeling that I'm gonna up and cause SHODAN to happen.

[Dasquian Belargic]

I think you only get one chance with Traynor and if you knock her back then, that's it. At least was how I found it. She only really flirted with me one time.

Anyway, Liara is the best and no one will convince me otherwise! :colbert

If you get the From Ashes DLC you get to have some cool interaction with the bonus character regarding your love interest, especially if it's Liara.

[Crusader]

From Bioware:


We appreciate everyone’s feedback about Mass Effect 3 and want you to know that we are listening. Please note, we want to give people time to experience the game so while we can’t get into specifics right now, we will be able to address some of your questions once more people have had time to complete the game.

WHAT ARE YOU HIDING BIOWARE :shakefist

Didn't they mention like 6 months ahead of the release of this game that you should hang on to your save files after completing the game.

Maybe they will do it like in ME2
Where the Lair of the Shadow Broker and Arrival worked as an epilog for Mass Effect 2 and as a cliffhanger for ME3.

Talking about those:
Lair of the Shadowbroker and Arrival features a lot of dialog that depends on if you did the Omega 4 Relay before or after the DLC.

In Lair of the Shadow Broker Liara's speech about how you will defeat the Reaper will be a "good luck beyond the Omega 4 Relay, buddy" speech.

In Arrival you will talk to a Reaper called Harbinger if you defeated the Collecters before destroying the Alpha Relay. If you do the Arrival before the Omega 4 Relay the creature in the hologram will be the Collecter General (who is infact Harbinger as well).

I just completed Tuchanka... I hope Eve and Wrex will breed a lot of ugly children... for my army.

Then I went to the citadel where I watched my former love interest Thane nearly sacrifice himself for the greater good. Praying with Thane's son for your own soul was such a cute scene. If I was not already cheating on him with Liara, Traynor and Allers I would have cried.

I nearly shot Ash in the head but then decided to intimidate her and after that I made a political statement with a bullet through Udina's chest.

The Cyber Sam is next!!! Nobody makes a dieing man's life span even shorter and gets away with it.

[Sanis Prent]

It's a nice somber touch seeing the memorial plaquard on the crew level...and seeing it fill up with familiar names :cry

[Karl Valten]

I think you only get one chance with Traynor and if you knock her back then, that's it. At least was how I found it. She only really flirted with me one time.

Anyway, Liara is the best and no one will convince me otherwise! :colbert

If you get the From Ashes DLC you get to have some cool interaction with the bonus character regarding your love interest, especially if it's Liara.

Javik is awesome. I like bringing him along with every shore leave and mission just to hear his comments. Bringing him to Thesia and watching him smack the Asari that are freaking out into line was good......and listening to him comment on the artifacts at the temple and refuting Liara at every steps....while assholish....was very blunt and true....felt bad for Liara, though.

[Dasquian Belargic]

I think you only get one chance with Traynor and if you knock her back then, that's it. At least was how I found it. She only really flirted with me one time.

Anyway, Liara is the best and no one will convince me otherwise! :colbert

If you get the From Ashes DLC you get to have some cool interaction with the bonus character regarding your love interest, especially if it's Liara.

Javik is awesome. I like bringing him along with every shore leave and mission just to hear his comments. Bringing him to Thesia and watching him smack the Asari that are freaking out into line was good......and listening to him comment on the artifacts at the temple and refuting Liara at every steps....while assholish....was very blunt and true....felt bad for Liara, though.

Wherever possible, I took Garrus and Liara with me. Since I had Garrus commenting there on Thessia instead of Javik I guess he wouldn't be quite so harsh, though he was pointing out how every bust and mural looked a lot like Protheans, much to Liara's annoyance. After you've been to Thessia I did walk in on a confrontation between Javik and Liara where she was pissed at him, but I stopped her before she went Biotic on his ass.

Next playthrough, I will be using Javik more I think... although it will be hard to resist taking Liara everywhere :swoon: (even though my BroShep didn't romance her)

[Dasquian Belargic]

Then I went to the citadel where I watched my former love interest Thane nearly sacrifice himself for the greater good. Praying with Thane's son for your own soul was such a cute scene

I wonder... how does this play out if you're playing as a male Shep? How does Shepard realise that the prayer is for him, instead of for Thane? Cause I didn't romance Thane and still had him give me the prayer, but of course Shep asked why it referred to 'she' in the last phrase.

[Dasquian Belargic]

It's a nice somber touch seeing the memorial plaquard on the crew level...and seeing it fill up with familiar names :cry

Yeah, I found myself stopping at that quite often. Especially looking at Tali'Zorah's name, since I feel so responsible for what happened to her :(

[Karl Valten]

Wherever possible, I took Garrus and Liara with me. Since I had Garrus commenting there on Thessia instead of Javik I guess he wouldn't be quite so harsh, though he was pointing out how every bust and mural looked a lot like Protheans, much to Liara's annoyance.

Javik does similar, but he's more of a jerk (well...not a jerk.....just brutally honest) by blatently saying things like "Yes we though you had potential so we taught you calculus" (paraphrasing)


After you've been to Thessia I did walk in on a confrontation between Javik and Liara where she was pissed at him, but I stopped her before she went Biotic on his ass.

Yeah I interrupted that as well and made Javik apologize.......he did.....but he wasn't honest about it.


Next playthrough, I will be using Javik more I think... although it will be hard to resist taking Liara everywhere :swoon: (even though my BroShep didn't romance her)

I always took Tali with as well. My next play through I'll have liara with the whole time...and Garrus.

Garrus probably wins "Best Friend in the Galaxy Ever" award.

I will not play the last scenes again, though. Screw that.




I wonder... how does this play out if you're playing as a male Shep? How does Shepard realise that the prayer is for him, instead of for Thane? Cause I didn't romance Thane and still had him give me the prayer, but of course Shep asked why it referred to 'she' in the last phrase.

Bro Shep kinda makes the comment to Kolyat about "Hey Thane is the kind of person that prays for himself and doesn't want other having to ask forgiveness for his actions.......what gives?"




Yeah, I found myself stopping at that quite often. Especially looking at Tali'Zorah's name, since I feel so responsible for what happened to her :(

The Quarians made their choice to attack. You gave them the option for peace, but they went to war. But still....poor Tali :cry Aside from Shep, she's my favorite character so I don't think I could ever pick that option.

Did the renegade/paragon options not appear for you (both options save the two species I think) or did you ignore them?



And to everyone else. The renegade interrupt in the fight with Kai Leng is the most epic one ever.....I would highly suggest doing it even if you are the goody-two-shoes.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Did the renegade/paragon options not appear for you (both options save the two species I think) or did you ignore them?

I don't remember the options I had exactly. I don't recall there being any colour-coded paragon/renegade options. It gave me 2 chances to change my choice and I was all "I'm sorry, Tali." and then the Quarian fleet got blown to hell.


And to everyone else. The renegade interrupt in the fight with Kai Leng is the most epic one ever.....I would highly suggest doing it even if you are the goody-two-shoes.


Was it just me or was that fight hard? If you mean the last time you fight him aboard the Citadel. I was running all over the place to keep him from stabbing me But yeah I did the interupt, I assume that if you don't do the renegade option then, you die? Or does one of the squadmates notice him wheezing and staggering his way towards you? I was seriously questioning Liara and Garrus's powers of observation then, until I realised that maybe I was just imagining them as part of my Indoctrination dream!


Incidentally, did you see the alternate version of the scene when you're running towards the Reaper beam? They uploaded a video of what it might have been, where Liara and Garrus get hit and you see their dead bodies :cry

[Kyran O'Hurn]

Any of the xbox players feel like a drinking and multiplayer night tonight? Starting at like 9ish EST?

[Karl Valten]

I don't remember the options I had exactly. I don't recall there being any colour-coded paragon/renegade options. It gave me 2 chances to change my choice and I was all "I'm sorry, Tali." and then the Quarian fleet got blown to hell.

I had both the renegade and paragon colored options....yeah.


Was it just me or was that fight hard? If you mean the last time you fight him aboard the Citadel. I was running all over the place to keep him from stabbing me But yeah I did the interupt, I assume that if you don't do the renegade option then, you die? Or does one of the squadmates notice him wheezing and staggering his way towards you? I was seriously questioning Liara and Garrus's powers of observation then, until I realised that maybe I was just imagining them as part of my Indoctrination dream!

I actually found that fight pretty simple.Have the team hit him with overloads/warps, turn on disruptor ammo, tactical cloak, head-shot,head-shot. Fight off the extra baddies, rinse repeat.


I think Shepherd ends up just dodging out of the way and gutting him like a fish. But shattering the sword and shanking that bastard was gratifying "That's for Thane you son of a bitch"



Incidentally, did you see the alternate version of the scene when you're running towards the Reaper beam? They uploaded a video of what it might have been, where Liara and Garrus get hit and you see their dead bodies :cry

I think that happens to your party anytime you have a stupid low effective military strength.

[Dasquian Belargic]

I think that happens to your party anytime you have a stupid low effective military strength.


No, it was a deleted scene. Check out 'The Final Hours of Mass Effect 3' app or just search for it on youtube. The scene just isn't in the game anymore.. which makes it all the more confusing since they both end up on the Normandy in the aftermath anyway.

[Kyran O'Hurn]

So in the middle of my second playthrough. Going fast and loose with the choices. If you fought with me in the past I'm a nice guy... You didn't I'm an asshole to you...

Just backstabbed the Krogan, Wrex was dead, and Eve died getting the cure ready. Decided to stop the cure from spreading, and had to put a bullet in Mordin to do it...

And dammit, looks like I forgot to go back to the Citadel before that mission and now Cerberus' attack is on. Hope it doesn't cost me too many interactions (specifically Miranda for the first time).

And apparently if Thane is dead, and the Solarian from ME1 are both dead, Kai kills the Solarian Ambassador... and apparently not having talked to Kaiden before the Cerberus attacks, I had to kill him to stop Udina...

[Sanis Prent]

So look who's a total badass and who saved both the Geth as well as the Quarians :cool

...at the expense of Legion

STOP KILLING MY FAVORITE CHARACTERS MASS EFFECT 3 STOOOOOP

If you motherfuckers kill Zaeed I am coming to your houses :mad

EDIT: Also all y'all multiplayer babies on Xbox 360, we've got a campaign this weekend. Project Goliath is ON, bitches. Join us as we <strike>get murdered</strike> murder a million Reaper Brutes

[Kyran O'Hurn]

EDIT: Also all y'all multiplayer babies on Xbox 360, we've got a campaign this weekend. Project Goliath is ON, bitches. Join us as we <strike>get murdered</strike> murder a million Reaper Brutes

I'm in. I'll be around most of the day tomorrow, though supposed to be going out tomorrow night. And again the majority of the day Sunday.

[Sanis Prent]

Tomorrow is BBQ day here so I'll be periodically tending to the smokehouse. Not saying I won't be playing video games as well, it just will be intermittent

[Dasquian Belargic]

So in the middle of my second playthrough. Going fast and loose with the choices. If you fought with me in the past I'm a nice guy... You didn't I'm an asshole to you...

Just backstabbed the Krogan, Wrex was dead, and Eve died getting the cure ready. Decided to stop the cure from spreading, and had to put a bullet in Mordin to do it...

And dammit, looks like I forgot to go back to the Citadel before that mission and now Cerberus' attack is on. Hope it doesn't cost me too many interactions (specifically Miranda for the first time).

And apparently if Thane is dead, and the Solarian from ME1 are both dead, Kai kills the Solarian Ambassador... and apparently not having talked to Kaiden before the Cerberus attacks, I had to kill him to stop Udina...

*whistles*

Wow. I'm looking forward to my Commander Space-Racist / Hard Renegade BroShep playthrough. Sounds like it's gonna be bleeeak.

[Sanis Prent]

I just discovered the location of the illusive man's base. How close to the end am I?

Also something's gotta be up biowares sleeve because there's clearly at least three major clusters on the star map that aren't selectable

[Dasquian Belargic]

^ Once you start that mission, it's basically the beginning of the end-game.

[Sanis Prent]

Bummer. Not sure if I should do it or wait

[Dasquian Belargic]

There is still a fair chunk of game to actually play but Cerberus HQ is the point at which you'll lock yourself out from side missions, visiting the Citadel, gathering more assets, etc. You do get another chance to go back to the Normandy though, to explore more dialogue with your crew.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Spoilers/speculation - don't read until after you have finished the game

I just replayed the intro on Earth as BroShep and noticed that no one else acknowledges the little kid that Shep tries to save - the kid that the Catalyst later on looks like. Anderson doesn't comment on him, when Shep spots him inside the vent ("You can't save me"), and when the Normandy takes off and people are being evac'd, none of the soldiers interact with him. You see them pushing other people into their vehicle but no one touches the kid, even when he is the last one out on the ground with a few soldiers around him, they don't shove him towards the vehicle and none of the other passengers make an effort to grab him either. Just before the vehicle door shuts, he is standing right in the threshold, further forward than anyone else... I can't believe that someone on board wouldn't pull him back from the door, to avoid him falling out or getting in the way of the door as it closes.

Am I reading too much into that, or is that weird? :cyduck I don't think that kid ever even existed in the first place!

[Sanis Prent]

I'll probably hold off on my endgame until I get my galactic readiness up this weekend. I'll be playing a lot of infiltrator / multiplayer I think.

[Karl Valten]

I'll probably hold off on my endgame until I get my galactic readiness up this weekend. I'll be playing a lot of infiltrator / multiplayer I think.

If the PC version could interact with the console stuff I'd run Vanguard support for you.

[Kyran O'Hurn]

Holy hell there is a difference between Bronze and Silver... Didn't realize there was that much of a difference. I'm afraid of what Gold is like.

[Sanis Prent]

I'll probably hold off on my endgame until I get my galactic readiness up this weekend. I'll be playing a lot of infiltrator / multiplayer I think.

If the PC version could interact with the console stuff I'd run Vanguard support for you.

Peter rolls a vanguard so I've got somebody to get close and personal with baddies, although I've been tending to break cloak with an omni blade a lot these days. It's especially therapeutic against Guardians


Holy hell there is a difference between Bronze and Silver... Didn't realize there was that much of a difference. I'm afraid of what Gold is like.

Aw man don't tell me that, we've gotta survive extraction on silver for squad prizes this weekend :(

[Dasquian Belargic]

Holy hell there is a difference between Bronze and Silver... Didn't realize there was that much of a difference. I'm afraid of what Gold is like.

I accidentally got slotted into a Gold game once and died so fast it was laughable

[Kyran O'Hurn]

I'll probably hold off on my endgame until I get my galactic readiness up this weekend. I'll be playing a lot of infiltrator / multiplayer I think.

If the PC version could interact with the console stuff I'd run Vanguard support for you.

Peter rolls a vanguard so I've got somebody to get close and personal with baddies, although I've been tending to break cloak with an omni blade a lot these days. It's especially therapeutic against Guardians


Holy hell there is a difference between Bronze and Silver... Didn't realize there was that much of a difference. I'm afraid of what Gold is like.

Aw man don't tell me that, we've gotta survive extraction on silver for squad prizes this weekend :(


Well might be doable... It's definately need a 4 person team, and it's different playing in a quickplay where nobody is chatting vs. playing as a party where we can all communicate.

Was having a pretty good game a few minutes ago until my system froze up. Level 6 so far is as far as I've gotten... there's like 2 brutes, at least 1 banshee and like 4 reavers.

Edit: Now on the flip side, if you play quick matches and get slotted in with someone who's basically done nothing but play MP and you can clear a couple Bronze levels like I've been able to do a bit of this week, you can afford Specter packs.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

I've been opting for light weapons and fast recharge time so I can cloak/stab and be a pain in everyone's ass but I may have to consider another option to winnow down a Banshee. I'd carry a sniper rifle if I could get her pinned without teleporting too much, but I'm definitely not closing distance.

[Karl Valten]

You want someone with a submachine gun or assault rifle...preferrably with warp ammo....to bring down the barriers on a banshee. From there and infiltrator can just chew her up.

Survived to Wave 6 in Gold....oof....I'm running a level 18 vanguard.

[Kyran O'Hurn]

that's why you bring a soldier along :p. Though I need fully auto assault rifle better then the avenger to go along with my newly acquired Widow sniper.

Edit: Fuck... made it to level 10 and then my entire team got rolled by a Brute.

[Karl Valten]

that's why you bring a soldier along :p. Though I need fully auto assault rifle better then the avenger to go along with my newly acquired Widow sniper.

Too heavy. Sniper Rifle needs a heavy pistol or machine pistol otherwise you just pack on too much weight. Personal preference of course.


Fuck... made it to level 10 and then my entire team got rolled by a Brute.

Ugh, I have having to deal with 2-3 of those at a time....with Ravager/Cannibals plus the occasional banshee backing them up.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Brutes I'm weirdly okay with. Cloak, fire from cover, cloak stab in back, repeat

[Kyran O'Hurn]

With my soldier I don't worry about it as much because there aren't really any powers that I "WANT" to be recharging fast.

On a biotic or tech character though, yes I agree that's too heavy. I try and keep those at "+" level recharge times.

[Kyran O'Hurn]

Bammm... In spite of my crappy play, got in with a team that completed Silver. Shuttle arrived just as we were getting mauled by a Brute and a Banshee... I hate those bitches.

[Dasquian Belargic]

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[Karl Valten]

With my soldier I don't worry about it as much because there aren't really any powers that I "WANT" to be recharging fast.

On a biotic or tech character though, yes I agree that's too heavy. I try and keep those at "+" level recharge times.

My Vanguard....whether a good idea or not....only carries a shotgun. I know some people have played vanguards only using a pistol or SMG (with lightweight materials upgrade).

[Kyran O'Hurn]

LMAO @ Jenny's vid.... that's awesome...

[Dasquian Belargic]

Yup, one of the moments in the game when I actually laughed out loud :lol

[Sanis Prent]

Hahaha I love Salarians, they're so awesome

[Charlotte Tur'enne]

So look who's a total badass and who saved both the Geth as well as the Quarians :cool

...at the expense of Legion

STOP KILLING MY FAVORITE CHARACTERS MASS EFFECT 3 STOOOOOP

If you motherfuckers kill Zaeed I am coming to your houses :mad


Just finished this mission last night... same thing. Felt like a badasss. First curing the genophage, then this? Damn I'm awesome.

And I agree... if they effing kill Zaeed I'm going to go crazy >_<

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Because I felt like being depressed, last night I watched the video where you side with Legion at the expense of the Quarians / Tali

Holy shit depressing

[Dasquian Belargic]

^ Now you understand why I feel so bad :(

[Karl Valten]

Because I felt like being depressed, last night I watched the video where you side with Legion at the expense of the Quarians / Tali

Holy shit depressing

Ya, was even more depressing with Tali as the LI.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Just discovered an emoticon on SA that I had to steal for us:

Ah yes... "Reapers" :airquotes

[Sanis Prent]

And...galactic readiness is now 100% :cool

[Dasquian Belargic]

Now's a good time to start your endgame then since that 100% will start decreasing soon

[Sanis Prent]

Yeah I'm gonna begin my push tonight

[Dasquian Belargic]

Can't wait til you're done so we can finally talk spoilers!

[Charley]

What star cluster is Dekuuna located in? I have an elcor mission that I can't find the planet for. Also, how do you finish the eden prime resistance mission if you're not on eden prime? It still shows active for me

[Karl Valten]

What star cluster is Dekuuna located in? I have an elcor mission that I can't find the planet for.

Silean Nebula


Also, how do you finish the eden prime resistance mission if you're not on eden prime? It still shows active for me

I think you're screwed on this one. :(

[Emelie Shadowstar]

What star cluster is Dekuuna located in? I have an elcor mission that I can't find the planet for. Also, how do you finish the eden prime resistance mission if you're not on eden prime? It still shows active for me

The thing to keep in mind with this one (MUCH TO MY DAMN DISAPPOINTMENT) is it's a scan "mission" Not a real one. :( I wanted to see the Elcor, dammit.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Oh My God

MY FACE

MY FACE HAS MELTED OFF

THAT

IS

THE MOST FUCKING AWESOME SPACE BATTLE

IN

ALL

OF

ANYTHING

OOHHHHHHHHHHHH GOOOOOOOOOODDDDDDD

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Also just before that I walked in on Garrus and Tali making out in the gunnery tube :mad

Ooooooone iiiiis the looooneliest number...... :\

ALSO I HAVE NOT FINISHED THE GAME YET SO.....That will be tomorrow. I ran out of time and got too much war boner. If I play it now I will never sleep.

[Serasai Onashi]

Also just before that I walked in on Garrus and Tali making out in the gunnery tube :mad

Ooooooone iiiiis the looooneliest number...... :\


Hahahahaha I just saw that video on the Tube of You and I feel so bad for you man. Those were the most horrible excuses and cover-ups I've ever heard. Even in a game.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Finish It Charley!!

[Charley]

Tonight!!!

[Karl Valten]

Oh My God

MY FACE

MY FACE HAS MELTED OFF

THAT

IS

THE MOST FUCKING AWESOME SPACE BATTLE

IN

ALL

OF

ANYTHING

OOHHHHHHHHHHHH GOOOOOOOOOODDDDDDD

I heard Charley jizz in his pants half a country away.

[Charley]

It sound like the main Thanix mass driver weapon on a reaper capital ship?

[Karl Valten]

I'm pretty sure reapers don't use mass drivers. ;)

[Charley]

Accelerating molten streams of metal to nearly light speed?

[Charley]

Finished!

So, it appears my top two favorite game franchises are big fans of Hegelian dialectics!

I'm gonna be the dissenter here. I really liked this ending. People looking for character closure apparently missed the send-offs on Earth. These people didn't know if they'd see the next few hours through. They said their peace, they did what they needed to do. Throughout the game we're hammered by a theme of survival at any cost. It's bleak and dark. We know full well what it means to fail, but we have no idea what it means to succeed.

The Crucible was a giant macguffin throughout the whole game and we have no idea what role it serves. We'd hope its some instant galactic reaper kill switch, but I think that kind of cheapens what is at stake here. This isn't rebels blowing up the death star. This isn't a "hooray" moment and then we look dreamy-eyed to what's next. We're throwing a wrench into the cogs of a machine that has probably functioned smoothly since the universe began expanding or not long after. That kind of scale is almost theological to comprehend.

Sovereign himself said the Reapers have no end and no beginning. They simply are. It's interesting to see that theme, the overarching theme of the Catalyst's universal design, and the undercurrents of how organic and synthetic life interact. This ending goes back to what makes me like Mass Effect even beyond the engaging story and wonderful human elements. This is Science Fiction. I'm not talking Star Wars or Star Trek. The science in this is the stuff that is far-seeing and tackling really difficult questions about how civilization will truly ascend as the ages roll on.

I controlled the Reapers at the cost of Sheperd's life. It was the choice my Sheperd would have made. Was it the right one? Probably the biggest mistake the Catalyst could have made was putting the decision into the hands of my deeply flawed character. I have to wonder if I'm just luckier than the Illusive Man was.

One thing is for sure. The cycle could no longer continue once I ascended to the top of that platform. Thesis, antithesis, or synthesis. What are you willing to sacrifice.

[Dasquian Belargic]

My problem with the ending is that it doesn't seem at all consistent with the rest of the series.

Everything up to the point where you meet the Catalyst, I love. The confrontation with the Illusive Man, your finally words with Anderson... that's wonderful, albeit slightly surreal and confusing. But when you reach the Catalyst... what??

Where are the repercussions of all the choices we made? The Citadel, for example. Does building up the Citadel defense force actually affect the number of Citadel inhabitants who were harvested by the Reapers? All we see of the Citadel after going into the beam is a hallway full of bodies, a couple of Keepers, and then the mysterious control room. Did everyone on the Citadel die, or did some of them resist being harvested? It's just one question, but for a game where choice and consequence are so important, I can't believe that you don't get more of a epilogue.

Ultimately, it comes down to 3 simple choices which every character has the option to make. Whatever choice you make, the Mass Relays are destroyed and you subsequently see the Normandy land on an unidentified planet, with Joker and a couple of your most frequently used team-members disembarking. How did they get there? Why was the Normandy fleeing from battle? Why didn't Shepard get any chance to actually converse with the Catalyst and question what s/he was being told? How did anyone actually survive all of the Mass Relays exploding, since it's been shown in-universe that an exploding Mass Relay = completely destroyed star system?

Anyway, try reading this and see what you think: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QT4IUepvrU1pfv_B95oQj0H84DlCTUmzQ_uQh1voTUs/preview?pli=1&sle=true

[Catherine Kelly]

Still not done here... Just finished Thessia

And all I wanted the entire time was a button to tell Liara to shut it. "Oh my planet! Oh my people are Banshees! Oh goddess this can't be happening!" Meanwhile I just know my Earth-born Shep and Kaiden are all ":| Earth. Husks. Stop acting like this is new." And if I'd brought Garrus along he could have been all "Palaven ring any bells for you? The hell do you think Mauraders are? Not to mention Brutes!" It's nice to see her showing some emotion over everything for once but ffs... She was looking for sympathy in all the wrong places on that mission. And THEN she went and hid in her room acting like she's the only one going through hell?! I know the Asari are a big deal but I was just annoyed that the entire time she was acting like we didn't all see this coming and that it's oh so shocking at this point. >_> it just seemed like a slap in the face to the others on my crew who had home worlds devastated as well... Kinda a "oh... That must be horrible. I'm sorry it sucks to be you right now." sentiment until it was her people... Then suddenly it became the end of the galaxy as we know it.

Ok done with that rant lol

[Dasquian Belargic]

What I got from it was that the Asari have always been the pinnacle of society and somewhat distant from the conflicts of the other species. Javik comments that the Protheans gave them the advanced technology, because they thought they were the most capable... so even when the Genophage etc was happening, the Asari and their worlds went untouched. It seemed like seeing Thessia collapsing was hitting home the reality of the situation for Liara, especially when it appears like Thessia was not equipped or prepared to deal with that kind of onslaught, whereas we get the impression that all along Earth is somehow managing to put up a decent resistance. Combined with the realization that everything she had spent her life studying and believing, for the past 100 or so years, being lies and their failure to retrieve the crucial data that Kai Leng, which could ultimately doom everyone... I figured it would be pretty overwhelming. She has always been guarded where emotions are concerned, so I felt like she was due some time to just let it all out.

Then again I do have a bit of Liara obsession so who knows how unbiased my opinion is :p

[Emelie Shadowstar]

Hmm you do have a point...

I can see the entire thing being a cracking point to her... I think I was just more disappointed I didn't get a magic renegade interrupt to tell her to pull herself together since we're all going through the same thing lol

On a more positive note... I love Javik... I really do. (not a spoiler, I think, let me know and I'll edit)... Highlight of my night was:"Your 'Joker' pilot insists I call myself 'Prothy the Prothean.' I insisted he allow me to throw him out the airlock." XD

[Dasquian Belargic]

I haven't used him a lot but in my second play-through I'm going to recruit him ASAP so I can hear him berating everyone :lol Tempted to roll with a Javik/Garrus or Javik/Vega line-up all the time, just to hear as much banter as possible.

Also I've realised that I mustn't have completed Lair of the Shadow Broker with my BroShep, since lots of his dialogue with Liara seems to be different! he gets referred to more often as an information broker rather than as the Shadow Broker, and when we were talking about the last time we met, it was obviously when I went to her office on Ilum (Ilium? one of those is a Star Wars planet and one from Mass Effect, I forget which :uhoh)

[Taataani Meorrrei]

My problem with the ending is that it doesn't seem at all consistent with the rest of the series.

Everything up to the point where you meet the Catalyst, I love. The confrontation with the Illusive Man, your finally words with Anderson... that's wonderful, albeit slightly surreal and confusing. But when you reach the Catalyst... what??

Where are the repercussions of all the choices we made? The Citadel, for example. Does building up the Citadel defense force actually affect the number of Citadel inhabitants who were harvested by the Reapers? All we see of the Citadel after going into the beam is a hallway full of bodies, a couple of Keepers, and then the mysterious control room. Did everyone on the Citadel die, or did some of them resist being harvested? It's just one question, but for a game where choice and consequence are so important, I can't believe that you don't get more of a epilogue.

Ultimately, it comes down to 3 simple choices which every character has the option to make. Whatever choice you make, the Mass Relays are destroyed and you subsequently see the Normandy land on an unidentified planet, with Joker and a couple of your most frequently used team-members disembarking. How did they get there? Why was the Normandy fleeing from battle? Why didn't Shepard get any chance to actually converse with the Catalyst and question what s/he was being told? How did anyone actually survive all of the Mass Relays exploding, since it's been shown in-universe that an exploding Mass Relay = completely destroyed star system?

Anyway, try reading this and see what you think: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QT4IUepvrU1pfv_B95oQj0H84DlCTUmzQ_uQh1voTUs/preview?pli=1&sle=true

That guy's write-up has some good points but its mostly spergy fluff, I dunno.

Really, the biggest gripe I have about the ending is that what we see needs to be fleshed out a good bit more. It's pretty vague. Answering those questions would do a lot more than a pandering ending where Sheperd right-hooks Harbinger or something.

As far as the effects prep has made, I guess that's just all a number on the big galactic readiness meter. I kinda wish they did more with that myself. Like, I'd want to see little fleet combat vignettes with the Geth since I rallied them to the cause. If they gave it a battle of Endor thing where we get treated to five minutes of war footage for every sub-stage cleared, that would go a long way to satisfying the buildup.

[Emelie Shadowstar]

I second the space battle thing. Holy crap that was amazing...

Oh MAN killing Kai Leng was wonderful. I think the only time I mashed the Renegade button THAT fast (I kinda ponder them sometimes, just long enough for my brain to produce some sort of maniacal little laugh. It's a quick process :p ) was when it gave me the opportunity to kill Udina.

Oh...and did anyone NOT cut off the Prothean VI when it started suggesting you not go back to Earth right away? I'm kinda wondering what it was trying to tell me now but in the heat of the moment all I could think of was ">: No. We. Are. Going. To. Win." when it gave me the option to interrupt. Hope it wasn't anything important. :uhoh

Earth was...well..insane. YAY for finally getting to use the CAIN again. I love that damn boom gun. Pretty sure I used that on the Protoreaper at the end of the second game just for the fun of it.

I didn't FINISH though >_< (Getting up at 4am has a way of keeping you from staying up real late)

But I get home a bit earlier than normal tonight so ...yep...gonna make the final push! Which, I have to admit, I'm a bit worried about given all the fuss over the ending.

[Crusader]

It seems like Sarah you and I are exactly at the same point as I am and according to your achievement list you brought a big fucking army with you as well. I flew there with a Galactic Readyness of 100% and 7000 points war assets.

BTW I think the Asari got what they deserved by holding back the beacon. I am still mad about the Salarians for not sending their army but I guess my mighty Krogan, Quarian AND Geth forces will make it up. Second battle against Kai Leng was fun but not very hard. Those little phantoms can't do shit against my Biotic shock wave.

I always thought that the citadel still had a role to play in this. Like the Mass Relays it is Reaper Tec in the end and if I have learned one thing from Horizon it is that Reaper Tec is evil no matter who uses it.

So far I only had three notice worthy casualties but I did not really consider them tragic: Thane was about to die anyway and his death had meaning just like Mordins and Legions while I think that Legions code will live on in all the Geth. I am kind of disappointed that you don't take your entire team back to earth (so far). I loved the Shepards small army shots in Mass Effect 2's suicide mission.

I can't wait to go home after work. I want to FINISH THE FIGHT and TAKE EARTH BACK...

...and after that I want to bash this game for its ending since I heard this is the latest trend on twitter. Right now I have so low expectations that I might even fall in love with the ending if it does not totally let me down.

[Dasquian Belargic]

You guys need to finish it before Sunday so we can spend the spare Dark Banana hour talking about it :ohno

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

I'm starting to give the theory credence that the ending might be an indoctrination fever dream after all. I'm willing to accept that this isn't the case, but considering how much time Shepard has spent among reapers, and the full-court press she gets while in the company of the Illusive Man, and considering the Paragon ending is somehow the Illusive Man's choices...

I would not be at all surprised that BioWare unlocks some kind of epilogue or something next month to expound upon that.

Also if Shepard is indoctrinated, he/she is done. Nobody survives that, whether the outcome is short or long term debilitation.

[Emelie Shadowstar]

Gonna finish it tonight for sure. Probably as soon as I get home lol

[Dasquian Belargic]

Just realised how big this thread got. Here's a new one: http://sw-fans.net/forum/showthread.php?t=22407