Mass Effect?

[Zeppo]

Zeppo, going through with the same character is pretty much for the Achievement only. You are uber-powered, have all your cool gear, and it's only worthwhile if you play on a harder difficulty. You can't change your class or anything.

One cool thing is that the weapon pick-ups level up with you, so on Eden Prime at the start you are picking up such and such IX and X level weapons, upgrades, armor, etc.

As for DLC, BioWare hinted that they'll put some more missions for some of the planets and other systems, which will naturally make me play through it once more.

I'm also thinking of going through 'BioShock' again with the new FOV and try and pick up those few tapes I missed the first time through. Crazy that so many good games are out right now!

I read on some other forum a guy was complaining about there not being any 'legendary' or unique items. He's right, there aren't any in this game. But already within a very short time after having left the citadel with my 2nd guy, I got as loot a type of armor for Tali that I never saw before, and it's without doubt the coolest armor for her I've seen yet.

I am somewhat hopeful that there is enough variety of stuff out there that you won't be able to see it all in two play throughs, though there probably isn't really all that much stuff. I never came across the Geth Plasma weapon with my first guy, for example; I still haven't seen it.

I do wish there were unique items in the game, but I guess that's more of a fantasy RPG thing than a scifi RPG thing; I don't know. And then as much as I'd like to see them add content for download, like I mentioned above, it doesn't seem like it would really fit as well as it does in Oblivion. In Oblivion, the main quest is just like one of many quest-line threads in this massive, open world. In ME, it's more like the main story is this huge trunk line and the side quests are just that, side quests, not really individual story lines or threads. ME is more directly story driven or based, while Oblivion is more opne-ended-world based, if that makes any sense.

[JohnnytheSkin]

I'm sure if they add new missions and planets that some fancy uber-weapons will be found there. Much like the "super bosses" and weapon quests that most Japanese RPG's include (FF series, Kingdom Hearts, etc.).

You mention the Geth weapons though. I had two my first time through and at one point was able to buy the "Geth Armory" license (not sure if it was bought from one of the Citadel guys or the guy on Noveria). Then again, after buying the license my lame salesman on the Normandy offered NOTHING from them.

Oh well...

[RallyMonkey]

I grabbed this the day after Christmas and am 10 hours in without even having advanced the main story beyond the Citadel and yet this is the first time i can say i am "addicted" to a video game. I am not an RPG guy, or at least never had been, but this experience has been awesome and at level 10 i have so much more to enjoy.

My question is this though. As a non-RPG guy i chose to have XP points assigned auto as opposed to manual. Am i doing myself a disservice here? It appears thus far that things are being appropriately upgraded but i'm not sure if i just don't know enough about this type of set up.

And in case it matters, i am a Vaguard and i basically bring Wrex and Tali as my squad.

Also, when do i see/get "Lift" as a biotic?

As always the help is much appreciated.

[WillHunting]

I grabbed this the day after Christmas and am 10 hours in without even having advanced the main story beyond the Citadel and yet this is the first time i can say i am "addicted" to a video game. I am not an RPG guy, or at least never had been, but this experience has been awesome and at level 10 i have so much more to enjoy.

My question is this though. As a non-RPG guy i chose to have XP points assigned auto as opposed to manual. Am i doing myself a disservice here? It appears thus far that things are being appropriately upgraded but i'm not sure if i just don't know enough about this type of set up.

And in case it matters, i am a Vaguard and i basically bring Wrex and Liara as my squad.

Also, when do i see/get "Lift" as a biotic?

As always the help is much appreciated.

I don't think it matters that much to autoassign points in the long run. In the short run, you can get certain powers faster. For example, to get lift, you must powerup Throw to a certain point. Basically I max out Electronics, etc on Tali and Biotics on Liana. I like those 2 gals the best, but Wrex is pretty decent too.

[RallyMonkey]

Thanks Will. I bring Wrex for the comedic relief mostly.

[davet010]

I'm sure if they add new missions and planets that some fancy uber-weapons will be found there. Much like the "super bosses" and weapon quests that most Japanese RPG's include (FF series, Kingdom Hearts, etc.).

You mention the Geth weapons though. I had two my first time through and at one point was able to buy the "Geth Armory" license (not sure if it was bought from one of the Citadel guys or the guy on Noveria). Then again, after buying the license my lame salesman on the Normandy offered NOTHING from them.

Oh well...

I'm wondering whether that's because the availability of Geth weapons may be low - except on planets I've been to, naturally

The Pulse Rifle is the only one I found, roughly equivalent to a lvl 8 assault rifle, except that there are no mod slots, so no chance to use my favourite incendiary ammo

[Brando70]

I got this for Christmas and finally put Rock Band down long enough to start playing this over the weekend. I really dig it. The story line is really interesting, the acting pretty good, and it feels expansive. I created an Infiltrator. I've been sticking with Ashley and Kaiden in my party for the most part, as it gives me good combat, biotics, and tech balance.

The main thing is that the game has a sense of grandeur. I recognize the same kinds of design tricks they used in KOTOR, but the graphics and space exploration part of it make the game feel really expansive. I have been pretty sucked in.

[XXXIV]

I got this for Christmas and finally put Rock Band down long enough to start playing this over the weekend. .

I was really into it then I got Rockband, GHII and MGP07...I need to put it back in...It really is a great game in every way.

[Zeppo]

Time for some Batarian ass-kickings! The first downloadable content pack (Bring Down the Sky) is available on the MP: 400 MS points for the thing, which includes one achievement for 50 pts.

From what I hear, it's more along the lines of Virmire than a typical uncharted planet, and can take anywhere from 90 minutes to three hours for a first time playthrough (of course, there are different endings for paragon or renegade choices). I don't know if there's any new armor or gear, or not.

[Danimal]

You realize that most people will need to start there game over to use this right? If you've hit a certain point, which I can't recall what it was but it is pretty early in the game, then you can use this.

[Zeppo]

You realize that most people will need to start there game over to use this right? If you've hit a certain point, which I can't recall what it was but it is pretty early in the game, then you can use this.

All you have to do is use a game save for any character that is before you go to Virmire (or maybe even before you go to Ilos, but I don't know if you have to return to the Citadel to complete the add-on quest or not), and you can access it. I have two characters on current run throughs, and am ready to begin a 2nd run with my Soldier (on insane) and a 1st run with a full biotic (on insane), so I've got lots of goodies.

If you don't have a pre-Virmire save, you just have to get to the point where you are a Spectre and have the Normandy at your disposal, and you can head on over to the system and beat down those bastard Batarians.

Here's the thing about this game and particularly the upcoming sequels: you will be able to start the next game with a character from this one, as long as you have completed the story. I don't know if the talent points or renegade / paragon level and such will carry over, but what will definitely carry over is the 'state of things,' meaning choices you make in the game as to who lives or dies, what happens to the council, etc. will create the starting conditions for the next game.

So, if you've completed two playthroughs with the same character, you will be able to pick which end state of that char. you will start with; or if you have several characters who have completed the story, you can select any one of them to start with, and certain info about the the choices you made in the first game will carry over.

And I would suggest to anyone who has not done so to at least start a 2nd playthrough with a completed character. Do it on the highest difficulty you have available. Stuff levels with you, so even though you are seriously bad ass, you aren't completely overpowering when you start with a level 45 or 50. Plus, even though your character is as you finished the game, your squadmates are all back at square one, but with a ton of talent points available, so you can really tailor them nicely to make some nicely balanced squads. A high level run through really is a lot of fun, and there are quite a few blue or red dialog choices early in the game you'd never be able to access with a newb character.

[Phototropic]

I'm still playing Mass Effect off and on as I want to complete it, but my enjoyment level has really dropped off. It feels like there is no reward to completing any of the side missions, and when I pick up weapons it's just kind of ho-hum. The whole gameplay mechanic of driving the Mako around looking for elements sucks as well. I'm thinking it might be better just to play through the story.

[davet010]

Hands-down one of my top 5 games ever - I even loved the trundling round the planets stuff.

Finished it 3 times as different character types and backgrounds, and was still finding new missions. Got the DLC yesterday, not played it yet.

I then bought Last Odyssey to tide me over in terms of RPG's, and even as a veteran of FF7-10 and FF12, this is a spectacularly tedious grindfest with a nonsensical storyline and some abysmal cod-philosophical dream sequences. I'm almost at the end of the first disk, and to be honest I've got little motivation to progess much further.

It's also possibly the best argument for scaling enemy levels (a la Oblivion or ME) ever...you can tell it's bad when even the guidebook says that if you don't grind the random encounters to get your team to lvl 14 or 15, you've got little chance with the first boss.

[webdanzer]

I'm giving the 1st one another shot before grabbing 2. Is it safe to say that if I ignore most of the side missions I won't be missing much?

Finally finished the first one tonight.

Web i skipped almost all the side missions, so yeah you won't miss much.

depends. Some of them end up showing up in the new one in one way or another, and I'd have to say that you really should do the whole Admiral Kohoku line of quests because that will add a TON of context to ME2. Garrus's special quest is pretty fun, is on a ship so there's no annoying driving around, and isn't long. Wrex's is on a planet, and has some tough enemies, and it's not as interesting.

And you really should deal with 'the fan' if you want to call that a quest.

A few tips: don't bother with the cheaper manufacturer licenses, as the Normandy's quarter master can only get so much stuff in his stock, so you'll end up taking up space with crappy gear and lessening the chances of getting really good stuff later on. Only get the pricy ones that appear at level 35, and maybe one or two of the 2nd tier ones.

Do the doctor side quest on the Citadel (very early) because she gives you much better prices for stuff you sell than anyone else, and that helps early on.

If you'd like, Web, I could go on and on with tips and advice in a PM.

I figured I'd resurrect the original thread in case there are others who are going through in in light of the sequel's release. Thanks for the response, guys.

I plowed through much of the beginning last night. I really do like the world and the story, but I'm still finding myself gritting my teeth at some of the action elements. Already my biotics NPC buddy managed to use up all his abilities in the first few seconds of a combat and somehow managed no effect on the enemy, guys run straight into death hallways, and somehow my party decided to equip themselves with sniper rifles while neither was trained at all in them. *sigh* I quickly turned off 'active' ability use or whatever and all my combats now start off with a 'stay here.' Last rant about this and then I'll shut up and either deal or shut the game down again, but I just don't find this sort of cat-wrangling NPC management 'gameplay' fun in this action sort of setting. At least ME has some shooter-y action...in DA:O this sort of thing basically makes up the ENTIRE gameplay....

Anyway...

Crap on the cheap licenses thing! I already bought a couple. I'll hold off now until I get the really good stuff. Couple more questions:

Assault rifles have a 1 accuracy?? Is that right, or am I missing something?

I guess I should remove weapons from my party members that I don't really want them using, huh?

Is there a way to assign equipment between all possible members of your squad while on the Normandy or anything, or do you have to do this by a three-person squad at a time?

[TCrouch]

You can't remove weapons--but you can simply hold LB and select the weapon you want them to equip. I've never, ever seen them equip a weapon that they can't use unless I told them to.

Assault rifles with a 1 accuracy? Not sure what you mean. I had AR accuracy maxed on my soldier that I finished the game with.

I barely recall, but I think there's a locker downstairs by your quartermaster where you can change the loadout of each team member when not on a mission. I could be wrong, but I *think* there are individual lockers down there for that.

[webdanzer]

You can't remove weapons--but you can simply hold LB and select the weapon you want them to equip. I've never, ever seen them equip a weapon that they can't use unless I told them to.

I guess they *can* use them (can you use unskilled?) but I certainly didn't want them to. I know about the button assignments, and one was kitted out with a shotgun and the other an assault rifle. I was approaching one of those side mission merc bases at a distance, circling around some mountains to close in and we fell under some sniper file. My dudes started firing back with their own, previously unassigned sniper rifles. I had to switch them back as I closed in.

Assault rifles with a 1 accuracy? Not sure what you mean. I had AR accuracy maxed on my soldier that I finished the game with.

I'm still early in the game, so maybe they get better later? But I've found 3-4 different types of assault rifles now, and they all have an accuracy rating of 1. Almost seems like a glitch.

I barely recall, but I think there's a locker downstairs by your quartermaster where you can change the loadout of each team member when not on a mission. I could be wrong, but I *think* there are individual lockers down there for that.

Cool, thanks! I'll check it out.

[TCrouch]

Bizarre...never seen that uncertified weapon issue before in multiple playthroughs.

As far as the actual accuracy rating of individual guns, it wouldn't shock me if they're all 1--I never actually looked. As you up your AR skill the accuracy gets better anyway. By the end of the game my aiming reticle was about the size of a pinhead when I was in cover and crouched. Had the accuracy of a sniper rifle, practically.

The AR's on ME2 are horrendously inaccurate by comparison, though. I got a 2nd or 3rd upgrade last night and that thing sprayed all over the place.

[webdanzer]

As far as the actual accuracy rating of individual guns, it wouldn't shock me if they're all 1--I never actually looked. As you up your AR skill the accuracy gets better anyway. By the end of the game my aiming reticle was about the size of a pinhead when I was in cover and crouched. Had the accuracy of a sniper rifle, practically.

Found my answer on this one on a ME wiki: Yes, apparently a lot of the early ARs do indeed have an accuracy rating of 1. Crazy.

[Zeppo]

If you are out and about, you can adjust the equipment of yourself and your two squadmates right there in the 'equipment' menu. If you are on the Normandy, you have to go down to the lower level and access the individual lockers of your companions. They are all in one place, next to Ashley, but it is very annoying that you have to go down there to do it, and also that if you are buying from the quartermaster you can't compare what he's selling with what your companions have (off-ship you can compare with what your two squadmates have as well as yourself).

The level I and level II gear is probably more useful converted to omni-gel than the paltry sums they would get if you sell them, at least once you get a few levels. Once you get a useful amount of, say, level IV gear and upgrades, it is worth it to clean house of everything below that level, especially weapon and armor upgrades and ammo upgrades. It's such an annoyingly disorganized inventory system that I found it best to be brutal about this and try to sell off anything that wasn't at that top level I had, if that makes any sense. You get so much stuff as loot, and most of it is not worth keeping, so don't stress too much about trimming your inventory almost to the bone before you head out on a long mission.

I have had my squamates randomly use the pistol or some other weapon they shouldn't have been, and in the glitchiness department, I've had lots of occasions where a squadmate got stuck using a weapon they shouldn't have and simply wouldn't swap it out. A quick save and re-load would solve this, but of course if enemies are nearby enough you can't save. Frustrating.

Remember that weapon upgrades and particularly ammo choice is huge for combat. Make sure you have ammo that is effective against the enemy you are fighting at the moment. You can swap it at any time, even in the middle of combat. Some players will have, say, two fully geeked out assault rifles, one for synthetic enemies, one for organics, and just switch from one to the other as needed, but I would just swap the ammo upgrade, myself. Ammo combinations can be useful too, like have one of you use the shield-busting (but not much damage-dealing) ammo while the others use good, damage dealing ammo, that kind of thing. The same is true for armor upgrades, tailoring them to the enemies you are facing.

The importance of such upgrade management is directly proportional to the difficulty level you are playing in combat. That is, on 'casual' or even 'normal' it's not that critical, but on 'hardcore' and especially 'insane' these kinds of things become much, much more important to survival.

So if it's very frustrating, play on Casual and worry less about these intricacies and just enjoy the story.

And remember that the squadmates don't necessarily have to have line of sight to do their special biotic or tech attacks. So, if you are playing the soldier, bring along a full tech and a full biotic (Tali and Liara, a fun pair to have around!), and try to keep them safe from enemy fire. Spam their abilities as often as you can (definitely turn 'active abilities' off), and use your soldierly prowess to deal the bulk of the damage. It can be a bit more frustrating if you are not the soldier, but you can sort of mix and match the 'follow me' command and the 'stay here' command to get your party members to where they can fire on the enemy. Use the 'target this enemy' D-Pad choice as often as you can.

Also, once you get far enough, there is nothing more fun than 'lift and throw.' Especially outdoors, when you get a fully-powered throw ability (either you or whichever squadmate). Sometimes they don't seem to come back down at all!

Don't underestimate the effectiveness of 'warp.' It can make the toughest, most armored-up enemy easy to kill. And AI Hack is another personal favorite. In some fights with the geth, you can almost just sit back and watch if you have a powerful AI Hack ability.

[ScoopBrady]

Zep, I'm pretty sure you could take all of your posts about Mass Effect, throw in some screenshots and sell it as a strategy guide.

[webdanzer]

I don't get all the intense Mako hate. It's certainly not the best vehicle gameplay ever, but it's nothing tragic IMO. I think I would miss it a little in ME2 at this point.

[Slumberland]

I don't get all the intense Mako hate. It's certainly not the best vehicle gameplay ever, but it's nothing tragic IMO. I think I would miss it a little in ME2 at this point.

I do sort of miss it. It's an interesting way to experience the physicality of each planet, and gives the proceedings a sense of scale. The real problem with the Mako missions is the cut and paste nature of what you find on them, not the vehicle itself.

[Zeppo]

I don't get all the intense Mako hate. It's certainly not the best vehicle gameplay ever, but it's nothing tragic IMO. I think I would miss it a little in ME2 at this point.

I do sort of miss it. It's an interesting way to experience the physicality of each planet, and gives the proceedings a sense of scale. The real problem with the Mako missions is the cut and paste nature of what you find on them, not the vehicle itself.

I think the biggest issue with the Mako isn't the vehicle as much as it is the terrain. I read that somewhere and I agree that many of the planets have incredibly poorly designed terrain that is just frustrating as hell to deal with.

Another problem is that once I found out that you get a ton more XP for killing things from on foot rather than killing them from the Mako, I couldn't help but get out of the vehicle at every encounter. That didn't help me love the vehicle any.

But while I agree with Slumber that there is a sense of scale added to the empty, lonely world of ME because of all the driving around, in the end a lot of that driving becomes simply a time consuming chore. In ME2, it's like BAM, you're in the action right away.