Bioware General (Mass Effect/Dragon Age/Other)

[Mazder]

Oh god here we go.

You just go ahead and believe what you want.

I'll go with the basic fundamentals of Biology.

Earth-based Biology.

Asari aren't Earth based.
technically, at some level, arguments can be made for both. That's why they're so Generic McGenericson when it comes to diversity. Skin pigments. That's it really.

Mind you I am just of the mind that any Asari we've currently seen were all born before humans really came on the scene and the only other races with hair are the Blinks and Quarians. Quarians are rare to breed with and the Blinks are probably just as rare because of conflicting idealogies between the peoples.
On top of hair being a rare thing and only quarians really having the gene that contains "eyebrows" as a structure compared to the Blinks's "all over horse-like hair" then it stand to reason that said trait would be rare. So the concept of Asari having hair in places is fine for me given how they're made.
I don't know why Pubes has them though, given her elcor direct ancestry.
Unless they make a point of her having quarian DNA in her past/ancestors then it just doesn't make sense for her to have them.

[Alienmorph]

Oh god here we go.

You just go ahead and believe what you want.

I'll go with the basic fundamentals of Biology.

Thei're humanoids. That's really the only thing we know for certain.

For all we know the breasts are a vestigial organ where they ancestors stored ink to squeeze in the face of their enemies lol

If you want to classify them as "mammals" sure... go ahead. There's not much proving or disproving you, and sure as hell there's no point in arguing.

[Someone With Mass]

All I can do is point at us humans and say "why not both?" We have plenty of both mammalian and reptilian traits. Seems fair that other races can evolve along similar paths or have enough diversity to variate between the two. Especially when it's been theorized that a lot of the human DNA structure had help from elements beyond the Earth.

By the way, reptiles grew hair millions of years before any mammals even appeared. Like the thrinaxodon.

[TheodoricFriede]

...I cant even deal with this group sometimes...

[Mazder]

...I cant even deal with this group sometimes...

Oh no, dissenting opinions...

Personally I'd say they're humanoid/mammalian due to giving milk AND bearing live young.

All I can do is point at us humans and say "why not both?" We have plenty of both mammalian and reptilian traits. Seems fair that other races can evolve along similar paths or have enough diversity to variate between the two. Especially when it's been theorized that a lot of the human DNA structure had help from elements beyond the Earth.

By the way, reptiles grew hair millions of years before any mammals even appeared. Like the thrinaxodon.

True.
DNA is weird.

[TheodoricFriede]

...I cant even deal with this group sometimes...

Oh no, dissenting opinions...

Uh huh, "Dissenting" thats the word.

[Mazder]

Uh huh, "Dissenting" thats the word.

Yes, but you have missed the point entirely.

[Raga]

The question is whether or not they lactate. If they lactate, they are mammals. And I have 0 problem saying asari boobs are for lactating. Just like we know what biological function eyes server on a turian just by looking at them or what a mouth does on a krogan. In RL actual aliens would probably not have any identifiable features like this. In ME, all the aliens are obviously analogous to something or other on Earth.

[Vol]

Real aliens would depend on if the conditions for life on Earth are universal for life in general. So and so temperature range, pressure, gravity, chemicals, radiation, etc. If so, lacking any information whatsoever, I would *imagine* we'd see convergent evolution of some sort. On Earth, we got lucky with our mass extinction events, but I imagine that even without them, eventually, we'd have ended up with an omnivorous, sapient, tool using, social, language using, dominant species.

In Mass Effect, it's pretty clear that, lacking any indicator of a progenitor species, that convergent evolution is the name of the game. So insofar as you can lump organic life into discrete categories, asari would probably fall under mammals, or be close enough functionally that we expand the definition to include them.

[Dragaros]

[Dragaros]

[Dragaros]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUjIHi5XMAg

[Dragaros]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXfRx1pV1Ts

[Dragaros]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42jIL-nIVkk

[Dragaros]

Tali’Zorah nar Rayya: An In-Depth Character Analysis

[Someone With Mass]

Tali’Zorah nar Rayya: An In-Depth Character Analysis

This is another reason why it's so heart-wrenching to see parts of BioWare go down the route of mediocrity. I've been with BioWare for so long now and I know that they can do amazing things with characters when proper care and thought is given and they're not just there to fill a quota, but to also give an insight into their people or to give a new perspective on things like unrelenting selflessness and commitment to others because of things like high expectations to the point where someone like Tali hadn't been given a chance to think about what they themselves want and then hesitate or show signs of self-doubt when that chance is given to them. I had never seen commitment of that caliber in a character before.

Then so many of the staff quit or moved away from Mass Effect that it left a hole that I don't think just anyone can fill. Sure, Vetra's romance was fine even if I think that the start of it came almost out of nowhere without a slow and organic buildup, but it doesn't feel like it could carry the same weight Tali's romance did, where it's less about someone saying "I love you" and more about how that affection is structured and steadily growing with multiple layers and how that affection is later shown.

Then again, I won't hold it against Andromeda that much, seeing how its development was an utter mess.

[TheodoricFriede]

but it doesn't feel like it could carry the same weight Tali's romance did, where it's less about someone saying "I love you" and more about how that affection is structured and steadily growing with multiple layers and how that affection is later shown.

I would argue that none of that was intentional, and basically all a happy accident. It literally only exists because in Mass Effect 1 they didn't think anyone would want to romance the weird alien, and im Mass Effect 2 they let people romance the weird alien.

I like Tali, I like her romance, but i think we, as a group, really ascribe a lot more to it than is actually in the games.

[Raga]

Wow, 3 out of 4 of these are better than the tumor ears version of andara that we got. I *really* hate those stupid fleshy neck growths. The only dumber one is the one with googly eyes.

[Someone With Mass]

The last two concept art remind me a bit of a drell.

Looks like they tried to go for some kind of fish people, which would have been a nice change from all the reptilians.

I would argue that none of that was intentional, and basically all a happy accident. It literally only exists because in Mass Effect 1 they didn't think anyone would want to romance the weird alien, and im Mass Effect 2 they let people romance the weird alien.

I like Tali, I like her romance, but i think we, as a group, really ascribe a lot more to it than is actually in the games.

Oh, I completely agree that it was an accident more than anything, but they managed to turn it into something endearing, which I have to give them props for. It takes effort and talent to do something like that without it becoming too...I don't know the proper word, so I'll say... clingy?

[Vol]

That's a tacit admission of post patching content. Unless you consider null to be a value, which is a reasonable argument too.

[TheodoricFriede]

Frankly I think, more than anything, the future of the series stems from how this dlc goes.

Because for all people hated on Dragon Age 2, the DLC was pretty universally liked. I think that good dlc probably saved that franchise.

[Someone With Mass]

Frankly I think, more than anything, the future of the series stems from how this dlc goes.

Because for all people hated on Dragon Age 2, the DLC was pretty universally liked. I think that good dlc probably saved that franchise.

Was that the one in which Hawke could be a total drama queen, pretending that a bee stung him or something? Because that one made me laugh.

[TheodoricFriede]

Was that the one in which Hawke could be a total drama queen, pretending that a bee stung him or something? Because that one made me laugh.

There were two; Legacy, which introduced Coryphius, and The one you are thinking of, which was awesome except for Talis.

[Raga]

It also involved a *very* Orlesian pompous noble who rode a pet wyvern named Leopold. That was pretty great.

[Vol]

I'm rather unhappy with Anthem thus far, so my hope is that we'll get ME:A-2 sooner rather than later as the angry masses direct their anger at the new IP, and the calmer heads can say, "Yeah, ME4 wasn't perfect, but after the patches, it was pretty damn fun. And the DLC was good!" I still don't trust the Kotaku article, but the lack of an official response is deafening.

[Someone With Mass]

I'm rather unhappy with Anthem thus far, so my hope is that we'll get ME:A-2 sooner rather than later as the angry masses direct their anger at the new IP, and the calmer heads can say, "Yeah, ME4 wasn't perfect, but after the patches, it was pretty damn fun. And the DLC was good!" I still don't trust the Kotaku article, but the lack of an official response is deafening.

Considering the poor shape Andromeda was in when it launched, I wouldn't be surprised if the part of the article stating that they had not even two years to work on it after having to cut through all the management bullshit rings true.

[magnuskn]

It's now months after ME:A and I still consider it a turd. That has nothing to do with "cooler heads", but rather a preference for different types of storytelling and gameplay.

[Alienmorph]

Now that we know the full story, or at least have a better clue at what went on behind the scenes, I at least cooled down in regards of BW Montreal. The mere fact that the game got released at all, given the nighmarish production, is proof there was some good talent behind the thing... likely someone that got fired and took the blame, while Wac Walters and the other assholes that worked on the story and writing or caused other of the game's issues still have their jobs, or at least have been generously paid and took little to none of the blame.

The game itself, with the exception of a few characters, goes from uninteresting to infuriating to me, and it's almost everything I didn't want them to do with a follow-up or a spinoff of the original series. You could have had half the cast to be made of quarian nudists and that still wouldn't change my opinion on the matter.

[magnuskn]

They still would have the potatoe faces everyone else is suffering from, so, yep, no difference. ^^

[TheodoricFriede]

I'm rather unhappy with Anthem thus far, so my hope is that we'll get ME:A-2 sooner rather than later as the angry masses direct their anger at the new IP, and the calmer heads can say, "Yeah, ME4 wasn't perfect, but after the patches, it was pretty damn fun. And the DLC was good!" I still don't trust the Kotaku article, but the lack of an official response is deafening.

I frankly hope Anthem bombs so hard that Hiroshima is like "Daaaaamn."

[Riptide]

I frankly hope Anthem bombs so hard that Hiroshima is like "Daaaaamn."

For once, we agree.

[TheodoricFriede]

For once, we agree.

We agree more often than you'd like to admit.

[Someone With Mass]

As low as my interest in their new IP is, I think a total flop will only have negative effects for BioWare, considering how EA is run by short-sighted shitlords.

Oh boy, partnering with EA was the biggest mistake they ever made. At least they could have gone out with some dignity before that happened. Now it'd almost be a mercy killing because of that festering parasite.

[TheodoricFriede]

For the record, they didn't "partner" their parent company got bought out.

[Someone With Mass]

For the record, they didn't "partner" their parent company got bought out.

Eh. They're suffering either way.

[magnuskn]

Yeah, they got bought out. It makes you wonder how their games after ME2 and DA:O would have turned out if they did not have the constant pressure to make their deadlines? Would their old talent have left the company one after another?

[Raga]

Yeah, they got bought out. It makes you wonder how their games after ME2 and DA:O would have turned out if they did not have the constant pressure to make their deadlines? Would their old talent have left the company one after another?

EA probably doesn't help but I think a lot of Bioware's problem is it's own. Especially the mass exodus of the snowflakes following the debacle that was the ME3 ending. There was a *lot* of melodramatic butthurt going around then and it wasn't just from players. The "Drs" and some other high ups leaving had a very, very strong whiff of "but-but they didn't like our game!!! Waahh!! And we are Bioware! That's not supposed to happen! We are smart and make good stories!!!"

[Grand Admiral Cheesecake]

Yeah, they got bought out. It makes you wonder how their games after ME2 and DA:O would have turned out if they did not have the constant pressure to make their deadlines? Would their old talent have left the company one after another?

EA probably doesn't help but I think a lot of Bioware's problem is it's own. Especially the mass exodus of the snowflakes following the debacle that was the ME3 ending. There was a *lot* of melodramatic butthurt going around then and it wasn't just from players. The "Drs" and some other high ups leaving had a very, very strong whiff of "but-but they didn't like our game!!! Waahh!! And we are Bioware! That's not supposed to happen! We are smart and make good stories!!!"

Getting legitimate pushback along with literally shaking outrage tends to do bad things to people who have gotten nothing but adoration for years yes.

[magnuskn]

Hm, I don't know about the Doctors. They left after SWTOR bombed, so I always thought that they were pushed out by EA due to that factor. But you guys could be right that the ME3 debacle was also a big factor.

[SciFlyBoy]

What's the best way to use the biotic arm shield in multiplayer? Do you just use it as cover to have your powers charge up?

[UNiT]

Use it to deflect observer lasers, nulifier shots, anointed miniguns or acendant orbs. Mostly usless against outlaws.

[SciFlyBoy]

Really. I'll run up and block an observer laser next time I play an asari...sentinel?

And the power weapon skill for Turian Soldier, that doesn't work so well with a semi-auto like the Mattock, correct?

[Someone With Mass]

Use it to deflect observer lasers, nulifier shots, anointed miniguns or acendant orbs. Mostly usless against outlaws.

Yeah, the outlaws tear through that thing as if it's made out of wet tissue paper. The trick is the timing, because some shots don't go back simply because you put up the shield well in advance. From what I've seen, it's easier to deflect the Acendant orb if you activate the shield just before it's about to hit.

I can't for the life of me get the timing right, though. Either that, or I'm simply suffering because of lag. Either way wouldn't surprise me.

Pretty sure you can't block Hydra missiles either, since they'll utterly destroy that thing. Same goes for the Berserker's flak cannon. And the Saboteur's Energy Drain.

Really, don't bother blocking anything except raider and sharpshooter fire.

[Someone With Mass]

Really. I'll run up and block an observer laser next time I play an asari...sentinel?

And the power weapon skill for Turian Soldier, that doesn't work so well with a semi-auto like the Mattock, correct?

I think that it gets very tiring to spam fire the Mattock while it's turbocharged. Another gun that works surprisingly well with Turbocharge is the Cyclone assault rifle. Burns through ammo, but it also does a lot of damage and is rather lightweight.

[SciFlyBoy]

I think that it gets very tiring to spam fire the Mattock while it's turbocharged. Another gun that works surprisingly well with Turbocharge is the Cyclone assault rifle. Burns through ammo, but it also does a lot of damage and is rather lightweight.

My trigger finger hurt like hell, I had to switch to my middle finger when I equipped the Mattock. Most of my characters are around level 6 so I'm in the 'learning about the powers' phase and fresh out of the just survive phase.

I really want to get the Turian soldier down. The armor skill limits mobility, but raises defense so would that make it good for close combat? I found that outlaws will flank me and get behind me really quickly. And because I'm me I over turn and end up shooting the wall when I want to hit the badie. Turbocharge looks like it's best for automatic weapons, so one shot sniper rifle doesn't sound like it's a great weapon for that class, along with shot guns. So that limits my guns to assault and SMG if I want to use the power to it's fullest. Grenades I"m getting down, just trying to figure out the timing when I hold the button versus throwing immediately. The skill is called 'sticky grenades' correct? They seem to act like regular grenades when I throw them and bounce around, do they get sticky at some later skill level? Anyway, I'd like to hear how any of you equip your Turian Soldier and whether you have him be melee or long range.

[SciFlyBoy]

*My mistake, TS has Frag grenade.

[UNiT]

I think that it gets very tiring to spam fire the Mattock while it's turbocharged. Another gun that works surprisingly well with Turbocharge is the Cyclone assault rifle. Burns through ammo, but it also does a lot of damage and is rather lightweight.

My trigger finger hurt like hell, I had to switch to my middle finger when I equipped the Mattock. Most of my characters are around level 6 so I'm in the 'learning about the powers' phase and fresh out of the just survive phase.

I really want to get the Turian soldier down. The armor skill limits mobility, but raises defense so would that make it good for close combat? I found that outlaws will flank me and get behind me really quickly. And because I'm me I over turn and end up shooting the wall when I want to hit the badie. Turbocharge looks like it's best for automatic weapons, so one shot sniper rifle doesn't sound like it's a great weapon for that class, along with shot guns. So that limits my guns to assault and SMG if I want to use the power to it's fullest. Grenades I"m getting down, just trying to figure out the timing when I hold the button versus throwing immediately. The skill is called 'sticky grenades' correct? They seem to act like regular grenades when I throw them and bounce around, do they get sticky at some later skill level? Anyway, I'd like to hear how any of you equip your Turian Soldier and whether you have him be melee or long range.

The Turian soldier is the best weapons platform in game. Only the Turian Havoc Trooper has more accuracy but it has a different play style. You don't want to play him in melee range however, that's what other characters are for like the Krogan Vanguard. One solution to your flanking problem is to spec into Fortify 6b evolution that let's you detonate your fortify skill and stun surrounding enemies making them easy kills.

As for overcharge, yeah it makes all full auto guns shine, makes semi auto slightly better but fuck that clicking seriously your better off using a full auto. Another use for it is to use a 1 shot sniper rifle and maximize the magazine size passives as well as overcharge passives that give mag size to make something like the Isharay shoot 3 times without the need to reload. It's very niche tho.

Also I think the best full auto in game that is AR right now is probably the Cyclone. However only when you use turbocharge.

[Someone With Mass]

I think that Fortify is a very useless power, since I can use those points to get more health, shields, melee damage and 200 damage resistance when close to death through the passive abilities instead. Not to mention that Fortify gets turned off every time you get downed, which is really annoying.

The only good bonus it gives in my opinion is the slight boost to stability and accuracy, but it's rather redundant since you can already get that with the passives and Turbocharge.

[UNiT]

I think that Fortify is a very useless power, since I can use those points to get more health, shields, melee damage and 200 damage resistance when close to death through the passive abilities instead. Not to mention that Fortify gets turned off every time you get downed, which is really annoying.

The only good bonus it gives in my opinion is the slight boost to stability and accuracy, but it's rather redundant since you can already get that with the passives and Turbocharge.

I disagree. The extra damage resistance is good and so is the other evolutions. The real useless power is grenades. They are limited use or you need to constantly run for an ammo refill and you can't even kill anyone with 1 grenade on gold. Now if the turian had something like flak cannon instead tho hell yes I would take it over fortify.

[Someone With Mass]

I've noticed that they've removed the charge feature on the kett burst rifle, which is a welcomed change. I really didn't like that it had two gimmicks to keep track of. Low traveling speed is more than enough and the charge features on the guns in this game feels weird and counteractive in general.