Mass Effect

[Arleban]

I'm around level 16 or 17 and not too far into the game. I did Eden, Citadel, and then went after Liara. Since then I've just been exploring the systems. <br><br>Anyway, I've got some ok gear everything from level 1-3. I went to a planet that had a hidden structure (really well hidden if it issitting there on my map -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif -- ). I had Wrex on my team and it started a quest to get his family armor back. After clearing out that place, I got some ridiculous stuff. Like level 4 and 5 ammo upgrades and some assault rifles and shotguns that just outclassed anything I had before. My best AR was on Ashley and it had a power of 160 and an accuracy of 1. The weakest of the two ARs I just found has a power of 247 and an accuracy of 24. I think it was a level IV...Tsunami? Tornado? Shotguns were a similar type of jump.<br><br>Is that normal? Did I just get lucky and clear out a place that I wasn't supposed to at that level? Does the game just say "fuck it" around equipment levels 4 and 5 and just go super-powered? It just seemed odd as every other upgrade I've had was 20 or so points in a category, if even that much, not 80.

 

[The Faceless Rebel]

There is a point in the game where equipment drops suddenly go from garbage to insane. I think you just found that point.

 

[Magus`]

Man, this bug in Noveria for infinite paragon/renegade is silly, and quite effective for shortcutting your way to the achievements -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif --

 

[the lidless eye]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by InfiniteNoodles:<BR><BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Question: The varren meat quest doesn't seem to be completable. David Reynolds just keeps saying "I can't believe she's gone" etc...<BR><BR>Will he ever stop? </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>Are you trying to complete these quests after going to exo-geni headquarters? If so, I would suggest doing them before you even head to the skyway.<BR><BR>Spoiler:<BR><BR>If he's saying that, it might be in reference to one of the colonists that could have gotten killed when you returned to the colony. (if you've gotten that far) This might have borked the quest.<BR><BR>I just found a frictionless materials X at the hanar merchant in the financial district, so that's kind of exciting. I can fire the spectre X AR non-stop and never even see a blip of red on the overheat meter now. </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>I think thats whats going on.

 

[Semi On]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Is that normal? Did I just get lucky and clear out a place that I wasn't supposed to at that level? Does the game just say "fuck it" around equipment levels 4 and 5 and just go super-powered? It just seemed odd as every other upgrade I've had was 20 or so points in a category, if even that much, not 80. </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>I just hit the same point, myself. I went after the xeno-biologists that had dropped communication and found absurdly more powerful gear. There appears to just be a tipping point when gear accellerates.

 

[Edge|]

The jump from Lvl 50 to 60 is incredibly tough. I'm on my 2nd playthrough (Hardcore difficulty) and almost completed the main storyline and I've only gained 6 levels.<BR><BR>That being said, it's so much fun taking down the Juggernauts and Armatures with just my Spectre X shotty!

 

[Luke-Alexander Johnson]

I just wanted to say that the end-credits theme is really cool... it fitted perfectly with the game.<BR><BR>The final 2 hours of the game are awesome - when the plot strands come together and it really *feels* like you are trying to save the galaxy.

 

[Luke-Alexander Johnson]

Also I heard mention of a pitch black planet but I didn't come across it and I went through every system (or so I thought).

 

[NinjaMutha]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Luke-Alexander Johnson:<BR>Also I heard mention of a pitch black planet but I didn't come across it and I went through every system (or so I thought). </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>Nor did I, and I felt like I probably did 98% of the game

 

[Diabolical]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by NinjaMutha:<BR><BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Luke-Alexander Johnson:<BR>Also I heard mention of a pitch black planet but I didn't come across it and I went through every system (or so I thought). </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>Nor did I, and I felt like I probably did 98% of the game </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>The sky is black. <BR><BR>The slopes... are black, with some grey and yello highlights.<BR><BR>There is only one 'easy' way up the primary slopes without spending at least a half hour tacking your way up the slop. <BR><BR>It's a fucking pain in the ass. The solution to the black on black level is to GO NORTH. You'll find a slope to head north with. <BR><BR><BR>I'm thinking it was the Major Kyle level?

 

[lateralis]

definitely NOT the major kyle level as I just did that one last night.<BR><BR>I too have yet to run across the black planet.

 

[Ajar]

I didn't find a black planet either. I did find one with black sky and black ground, but the sky was red around the edges so I didn't have any trouble seeing. I landed on every planet I could and didn't have any significant problems with the Mako.

 

[InfiniteNoodles]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">The sky is black.<BR><BR>The slopes... are black, with some grey and yello highlights.<BR><BR>There is only one 'easy' way up the primary slopes without spending at least a half hour tacking your way up the slop.<BR><BR>It's a fucking pain in the ass. The solution to the black on black level is to GO NORTH. You'll find a slope to head north with. </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>I know what you're talking about. I'm not sure which planet either, but I've seen it. After tackling some of those mountains, I've concluded that bioware hates us.<BR><BR>I just finished virmire on hardcore and I'm at level 54 now. I also got the krogan and turian ally achievements last night, so that's exciting. <BR><BR>I can't see the game being much harder on insane. Shock trooper + immunity makes you virtually invincible. I went toe to toe with a krogan warlord the other day and beat him with fisticuffs. I think the problem is that enemy damage doesn't really scale up, just their health.

 

[FractalLaw]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Edge|:<BR>The jump from Lvl 50 to 60 is incredibly tough. I'm on my 2nd playthrough (Hardcore difficulty) and almost completed the main storyline and I've only gained 6 levels.<BR><BR>That being said, it's so much fun taking down the Juggernauts and Armatures with just my Spectre X shotty! </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>I'm on my third playthrough, but am still about 60k short of 60. On my first I did a full clear in a normal play style. For my second I took an experience optimizing course, doing things like taking out ground targets on Mako missions on foot rather than with the Mako guns. That left me about 100k short of 60, so I'm doing a fast playthrough with just the main plot points for the last 100k.

 

[InfiniteNoodles]

I finished up my hardcore playthrough, but while ramboing my way through the last area, a krogan warrior and a juggernaut charged me. I'm not sure exactly what happened, but I guess one of them or both hit me. That caused hell with the low gravity physics in that area because it sent me flying into the air so high that I could see all the edges of the level. I was honestly in the air for at least 30 seconds before I landed, got up, and kept killing. It was quite a trip.

 

[!]

Finally finished it. Does paragon/renegade choice affect the ending at all? It seemed that there were three clear choices for Good, Bad, and middle near the end, leading me to think that the ending's were simply decided by your choice at the very end rather than a culmination of choices.<BR><BR>Was very disappointed that there weren't more game impacting decisions. Like when you could choose to save/kill the Rachni queen, I figured that would have SOME impact later on.<BR><BR>I might play through it again later on just to see how different the game is with opposite dialogue choices.

 

[Jonathan Hart]

I was wondering how many endings there are. I'm not sure that the neutral choice isn't the same ending as one of the others. Does your alignment affect the ending at all?<BR><BR>Major spoilers:<BR><BR>V cynlrq guebhtu gjvpr cnentba. Gur svefg gvzr V fnirq gur pbhapvy, gur frpbaq gvzr V qvq gur "arhgeny" pbapragengr ba Fbirervta bcgvba. Vg frrzf yvxr vg jbhyq or gur fnzr nf yrggvat gur pbhapvy qvr. Nalbar xabj ubj znal raqvatf gurer ner? V'q yvxr gb xabj nyy bs gurz.

 

[InfiniteNoodles]

As far as I can tell, the neutral ending is exactly the same as the renegade ending. Although it could be that the neutral choice ends up being the ending for whatever alignment you have more points in.

 

[Magus`]

There are only 2 endings, I believe.

 

[arhra]

There are at least three endings, i think (going by what i've read from others - i haven't seen all of them myself yet):<BR><BR>1) Gur Pbhapvy vf fnirq, uhznaf tenagrq n frng.<BR><BR>2) Gur pbhapvy vf jvcrq bhg, ohg errfgnoyvfurq va gur fnzr sbez, naq uhznaf tenagrq n frng.<BR><BR>3) Gur pbhapvy vf jvcrq bhg, naq errfgnoyvfurq nf n uhzna-bayl ehyvat obql.<BR><BR>#2 is the only one i'm uncertain about, but i'll be checking it at the end of my current game (v'yy or zbfgyl cnentba, naq tbvat sbe gur 'pbapragengr ba fbirervta' qvnybthr bcgvba).<BR><BR>Plus of course obvious minor variations depending on jub lbh pubbfr orgjrra Naqrefba naq Hqvan.

 

[Magus`]

V qba'g frr ubj 2 jbhyq svg va - vs lbh yrg gur pbhapvy qvr, V qba'g frr ubj gurl'q unir n arhgeny "er-rfgnoyvfu naq tvir uhznaf n frng" fvapr yrggvat gurz qvr vf n erartnqr pubvpr -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif --

 

[arhra]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">V qba'g frr ubj 2 jbhyq svg va - vs lbh yrg gur pbhapvy qvr, V qba'g frr ubj gurl'q unir n arhgeny "er-rfgnoyvfu naq tvir uhznaf n frng" fvapr yrggvat gurz qvr vf n erartnqr pubvpr </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Gurer ner guerr bcgvbaf, erzrzore - "Fnir gur Pbhapvy" (gur cnentba, fnpevsvpvny pubvpr), "Yrg gurz qvr" (gur erartnqr, frys-freivat bcgvba), naq "Pbapragengr ba Fbirervta" (gur arhgeny, centzngvp pubvpr). V <I>guvax</I> gung gur arhgeny bcgvba znl erfhyg va #2 (nygubhtu vg znl whfg cvpx orgjrra #1 naq #3 qrcraqvat ba lbhe nyvtazrag, v'ir bayl tbar jvgu gur cnentba bcgvba fb sne).<BR><BR>V'z snveyl pregnva gung v'ir ernq fbzrbar zragvba gung gurl yrg gur pbhapvy qvr (ivn gur arhgeny bcgvba), ohg qvqa'g raq hc jvgu gur nyy-uhzna pbhapvy ng gur raq. Znlor vg'f whfg n qvnybthr punatr, jvgu Naqrefba/Hqvan cebzvfvat gb ersbez gur pbhapvy, be fbzrguvat.

 

[Magus`]

V qba'g erzrzore gur erartnqr orvat na nyy-uhzna pbhapvy gubhtu, whfg gung gurl'q ersbez gur Pbhapvy naq or ng gur yrnq...

 

[arhra]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">V qba'g erzrzore gur erartnqr orvat na nyy-uhzna pbhapvy gubhtu, whfg gung gurl'q ersbez gur Pbhapvy naq or ng gur yrnq... </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>V'ir abg npghnyyl qbar n erartnqr raqvat lrg zlfrys, ohg sebz gnyxvat gb crbcyr, gurl'ir qrsvavgryl zragvbarq na raqvat jurer uhznavgl gnxrf nqinagntr bs gur cbjre inphhz gb fgrc va naq gnxr shyy pbageby bs gur pbhapvy (jvgu n engure fvavfgre gbar gb gur ragver guvat), fb vg'f rvgure crbcyr vagrecergvat bar fprar va irel qvssrerag jnlf, be gurer ner qvssrerag fprarf, onfrq ba rvgure lbhe cnentba/erartnqr fpber, be cbffvoyl jub lbh pubbfr ng gur raq (v'q vzntvar Hqvan jbhyq or nyy-gbb-unccl gb gnxr bire nf fbzr xvaq bs cfrhqb-Tnynpgvp-Rzcrebe, juvyr Naqrefba jbhyq or zber vapyvarq gb ersbez gur zhygv-fcrpvrf pbhapvy).

 

[Lord_Byron]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by arhra:<BR><BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">V qba'g erzrzore gur erartnqr orvat na nyy-uhzna pbhapvy gubhtu, whfg gung gurl'q ersbez gur Pbhapvy naq or ng gur yrnq... </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>V'ir abg npghnyyl qbar n erartnqr raqvat lrg zlfrys, ohg sebz gnyxvat gb crbcyr, gurl'ir qrsvavgryl zragvbarq na raqvat jurer uhznavgl gnxrf nqinagntr bs gur cbjre inphhz gb fgrc va naq gnxr shyy pbageby bs gur pbhapvy (jvgu n engure fvavfgre gbar gb gur ragver guvat), fb vg'f rvgure crbcyr vagrecergvat bar fprar va irel qvssrerag jnlf, be gurer ner qvssrerag fprarf, onfrq ba rvgure lbhe cnentba/erartnqr fpber, be cbffvoyl jub lbh pubbfr ng gur raq (v'q vzntvar Hqvan jbhyq or nyy-gbb-unccl gb gnxr bire nf fbzr xvaq bs cfrhqb-Tnynpgvp-Rzcrebe, juvyr Naqrefba jbhyq or zber vapyvarq gb ersbez gur zhygv-fcrpvrf pbhapvy). </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>Zl cynlguebhtu jnf nf n erartnqr--gubhtu V qba'g erzrzore jurgure V fnvq "Yrg gur pbhapvy qvr" rkcyvpvgyl--naq vg raqrq jvgu na nyy-uhzna pbhapvy. Furcneq vf nfxrq jurgure Naqrefba be Hqvan fubhyq or gur punvezna, naq lbh pna cvpx rvgure bar bs gurz be fnl gung lbh qba'g pner rvgure jnl.

 

[Magus`]

Vg'f tbggn or qvssrerag vagrecergngvbaf (be fbzr bs hf zvfernqvat, cbffvoyl zr) gura, nf V qvqa'g frr vg nf nyy-uhzna, ohg whfg uhzna-yrq, ohg vg jnf qrsvavgryl gur erartnqr raqvat.

 

[The Faceless Rebel]

Is it just me, or does Tali have the best body of the female party members in the game?

 

[senduran]

I'm missing something... in my first playthrough at some point I got the option to specialise from an adept to something else. I can't remember what triggered that though. Now I'm playing a soldier, am lvl41, and all I've got left are UNC missions and Ilos: but no specialisation. Don't soldiers specialize, or am I supposed to do something?

 

[Ajar]

You have to do the Luna mission, I think.

 

[Mojo-jojo]

I just beat it last night, and I've gotta say, I had no more trouble on Nodacrux than any other planet. <BR><BR><BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by !:<BR>Was very disappointed that there weren't more game impacting decisions. Like when you could choose to save/kill the Rachni queen, I figured that would have SOME impact later on.<BR> </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>I have a feeling that particular decision is going to come back later in the trilogy.

 

[Harbinger]

boy, I can't wait to see that all-Elchor version of <i>Hamlet</i>. That's going to be AWESOME. -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif --

 

[Agreschn]

<blockquote class="ip-ubbcode-quote">
<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div>
<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Harbinger:<br>boy, I can't wait to see that all-Elchor version of <i>Hamlet</i>. That's going to be AWESOME. -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif -- </div>
</blockquote>
<br><br>++

 

[senduran]

<blockquote class="ip-ubbcode-quote">
<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div>
<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Harbinger:<br>boy, I can't wait to <strike>see</strike> smell that all-Elchor version of <i>Hamlet</i>. That's going to be AWESOME. -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif -- </div>
</blockquote>
<br><br>T,FTFY

 

[onkeljonas]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Mojo-jojo:<BR>I just beat it last night, and I've gotta say, I had no more trouble on Nodacrux than any other planet. <BR><BR><BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by !:<BR>Was very disappointed that there weren't more game impacting decisions. Like when you could choose to save/kill the Rachni queen, I figured that would have SOME impact later on.<BR> </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>I have a feeling that particular decision is going to come back later in the trilogy. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Continuing your save in the next installmenst would be awesome!<BR>It's a very interesting universe...

 

[FractalLaw]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by onkeljonas:<BR><BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Mojo-jojo:<BR>I just beat it last night, and I've gotta say, I had no more trouble on Nodacrux than any other planet. <BR><BR><BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by !:<BR>Was very disappointed that there weren't more game impacting decisions. Like when you could choose to save/kill the Rachni queen, I figured that would have SOME impact later on.<BR> </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>I have a feeling that particular decision is going to come back later in the trilogy. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Continuing your save in the next installmenst would be awesome!<BR>It's a very interesting universe... </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>I've seen a few posts on Bioware's forums indicating that you should keep your savegames, which would indicate that you'll be able to import them in to the sequel.

 

[The Faceless Rebel]

<blockquote class="ip-ubbcode-quote">
<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div>
<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by senduran:<br><blockquote class="ip-ubbcode-quote">
<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div>
<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Harbinger:<br>boy, I can't wait to <strike>see</strike> smell that all-Elchor version of <i>Hamlet</i>. That's going to be AWESOME. -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif -- </div>
</blockquote>
<br><br>T,FTFY </div>
</blockquote>
<br><br>Judging from what information is available in the game, Elcor pheromones cannot be detected by human noses.<br><br>Honestly it sounds like the Elcor version of Hamlet would be the most boring thing in the galaxy to humans, because Elcor talk....so...damn...slowly. -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_mad.gif -- -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif --<br><br>The human version of the play is only a few hours long. The Elcor version would likely take a week with exactly the same dialogue. It would be like trying to watch the entire Ring Cycle all in one sitting, only way less happens. -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif --

 

[Zaskar]

I'm wearing light ONYX X with the beer belly upgrade today.<BR><BR>My wife got it for me here.

 

[Bammer]

Yes but we'd get a chance to judge Hamlet by his deeds, not his emotions.

 

[The Faceless Rebel]

Only if you don't die of boredom first.

 

[senduran]

<blockquote class="ip-ubbcode-quote">
<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div>
<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by The Faceless Rebel:<br><blockquote class="ip-ubbcode-quote">
<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div>
<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by senduran:<br><blockquote class="ip-ubbcode-quote">
<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div>
<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Harbinger:<br>boy, I can't wait to <strike>see</strike> smell that all-Elchor version of <i>Hamlet</i>. That's going to be AWESOME. -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif -- </div>
</blockquote>
<br><br>T,FTFY </div>
</blockquote>
<br><br>Judging from what information is available in the game, Elcor pheromones cannot be detected by human noses. </div>
</blockquote>
<br><br>True; I was just joking.<br><br><blockquote class="ip-ubbcode-quote">
<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div>
<div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Honestly it sounds like the Elcor version of Hamlet would be the most boring thing in the galaxy to humans, because Elcor talk....so...damn...slowly. -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_mad.gif -- -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif --<br><br>The human version of the play is only a few hours long. The Elcor version would likely take a week with exactly the same dialogue. </div>
</blockquote>
<br><br>Actually, the elcore version wouldn't involve them speaking in English (ie. slowly). It would be high-speed facial expressions and pheremones. To a human audience it would probably be like watching a silent movie. We'd just have to hope that we can detect their body language (if not their facial expressions), or else it would just be a bunch of Elcor standing on stage for an hour or two. -- View image here: http://episteme.meincmagazine.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_eek.gif --