Bioware General (Mass Effect/Dragon Age/Other)

[FrozenShadow]

And as for the quarian themselves. I get some wanting to break off and not bother getting Rannoch back and settling somewhere else. I get that. What I don't get is why the quarians would go along with a plan that would make a virus spread among other races exist. Because if it can spread to others it might be able to spread to them eventually. I mean it doesn't make sense for a quarian to engage in germ warfare.

Yeah, the reason for some of Quarians wanting to leave Milky Way was pretty much only sensible part from Draganos mini review of the book. I was actually surprised of how good explanation they came up. But then......well it became batshit crazy and illogical.

Though about germ part. I don't know the name for it, but there is some psychology phenomenon were someone or something becomes or starts doing something they hate/fear. So, in that sense, this biological germ insanity of few Quarians does make sense. Illogical and totally twisted sense, but sense nonetheless.

Still, if it would've just been this Quarian created virus, I could have bought the idea. But with everything else crazy in the book.....it just too much craziness.

[Someone With Mass]

Feels like someone wanted to really write their version of Dead Space.

[Dragaros]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3NjkpkQ_qg

[Dragaros]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehqMbuB-qIE

[Dragaros]

"Happy #N7Day to everyone! I love this IP deeply, and we’ve grown together over the years as fans and developers in it. We still have stories left to tell in this universe...the future is bright."

"They celebrate #N7day in Fort Tarsis too!"

"Happy N7 Day to Mass Effect fans across the galaxy!"

[SciFlyBoy]

Having a Turian variant of N7 armor would have been so cool!!! Like the Covenant variant of Mjolnir armor.

[Mazder]

Hey Dragaros was there one Pathfinder on the quarian Ark or two?
I've been hearing rumors of two.

[Dragaros]

Hey Dragaros was there one Pathfinder on the quarian Ark or two?
I've been hearing rumors of two.

► Show Spoiler

There’s a quarian pathfinder and there’s a pathfinder that represents both the hanar and the drell. Its mentioned that because the batarians are only a few hundred in number, they reluctantly share representation with the quarian pathfinder, so that guy has double duty. Of the eclor and volus, I can’t remember if its mentioned that they have their own pathfinders or not. I’ll have to re-read the chapter. None of the Pathfinders get awoken in the novel for fear of them getting exposed to the plague.

Also, on regards to the volus, I should have said there was an anarcho-communist group instead of is, and that it no longer exists. That’s my bad. To quote the most relevant passages:

“[…] We volus dislike unpredictability, in both markets and in life.” Irit made a disgusted sound. “My father would say that is our greatest weakness as a people.”
[…]
[…]When in doubt, its always daddy issues. Therion trod carefully “Your father?”
[…]
“My father says a lot of things. In fact, you could say that all the fat old bastard does is says things. Professionally. My father is an invasive fungus in volus form. We do not get along. And yet… And yet I am here. The miserable gasbag pissed off so many people so many times that the Vol Protectorate forced him into exile. Do you know how many writs of exile the Protectorate has issued in the history of civilization? Three, and two were for my father.”
“Your father is Gaffno Yap? The terrorist?” She knew of Yap, of course. It was hardly possible not to. He was a regular feature in political satires acoss half the galaxy, a cartoonish villain among the volus, a violent criminal among the courts, a tragic figure among others. […]
“Never proven!” snapped Non. “As if my father would lift a finger to do his own work. He is a radical, yes. He is an agitator, yes. He is an anarcho-communist who preaches the abolition of currency and personal property to the volus for fuck’s sake, yes. But he had nothing to do with those bombings. He just… inspires people. Its not his fault those people invariably run off holding hands and skipping through flowers to blow up banks and treasuries and any place where there might be a lot of money or influence all together in one spot.”
“People like your mother.”
Irit did not take the bait. “I had to grow up with that voice whining in my ear, singing all property is theft, all money is blood money as a lullaby. He thought we should emulate the quarians, and give up the whole notion, not just of capital, but of trade itself. Revolting. To isolate us that way, to take away the lump of sugar that coaxes any species to take the risk of interacting with any other. And when I made a success of myself, he took it as a personal insult.”
“Yet you came with him. You left your success behind.”
Irit Non’s shoulders slumped a little. “He is old. He is not well. All his life he has had followers to manage his affairs. Now he is in disgrace. He has no one. They abanonded him once there was no more profit in writing tell-alls about spending a bit of their youths rubbing elbows with the intellectually dangerous. But Guffno is an opportunist to my pessimist. He actually thinks he can convince the volus on board to join him in creating a new society on whatever world the Patherfinders discover for us. I could not… let him be alone when he finally understands that they will not. I am weak, in that way. And that pill will be all the more bitter for him, now that his only other friend is dead.”

Sounds like it was the brain child of just a 1-2 quarians who came up with the virus plan, although Drag has to confirm that as he is the one who have read the novel.

► Show Spoiler

In regards to the guilty party of coming up with this plague plan, its only the quarian captain and her helper. The rest of the quarians are totally innocent and unaware of all this plague business. Like I said earlier, the quarian captain dies spreading the retrovirus to the rest of the crew, and her partner in crime gets thrown out the airlock with all the diseased corpses. These two did have a human tech help them install some stuff on the ark's systems when it was still in dock, but he had no idea what he was doing, lied into thinking it was nothing harmful or sinister, and he gets murdered to cover up any loose ends before the ark departs the galaxy.

[Dragaros]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucG5w0XDo8

Mass Effect Andromeda Annihilation Chapters 1-3

Mass Effect Andromeda Annihilation Chapters 4-5

Mass Effect Andromeda Annihilation Chapters 6-9

Mass Effect Andromeda Annihilation Chapters 10-17

Mass Effect Andromeda Annihilation Chapters 18-19

Mass Effect Andromeda Annihilation Epilogue (FINALE)

[NCLanceman]

Really, I think this says everything that needs to be said about that book.

[Vol]

That synopsis reads as if the intent was to wholly subvert the generalization of each species under the guise of explaining why they're coming to Andromeda. Which isn't the worst idea, the outcasts and weirdos would be the first to sign up, but also a supervillain quarian rustles my jimmies on principle. Then she's condemned to death by exposure. But it sounds better than the first book, which I could bring myself to finish, as it was debatably worse than my own writing.

Really, I think this says everything that needs to be said about that book.

Drell Sherlock Holmes: Fun idea
Elcor actor: Funny for a second, then never again
Volus fashion designer: Same deal
Badass lesbian woke crime boss: Bioware is not capable of writing this kind of character as history has shown us, repeatedly

[Mazder]

No wonder the book's how it is, she picked Synthesis as an ending to ME3...
And her favourite species were the Elcor and Drell...
Wow...geez...Weird.

[TTTX]

That synopsis reads as if the intent was to wholly subvert the generalization of each species under the guise of explaining why they're coming to Andromeda. Which isn't the worst idea, the outcasts and weirdos would be the first to sign up, but also a supervillain quarian rustles my jimmies on principle. Then she's condemned to death by exposure. But it sounds better than the first book, which I could bring myself to finish, as it was debatably worse than my own writing.

Well the quarian isn't the first evil quarian in ME history, Golo who tried to sell quarian children (or at least ones who hadn't gone on pilgramage) for Collector tech, later helped Cerberus and killed a lot of his own people in the process and Garrus killed a quarian serial killer during his time on omega at least according to the Shadow Broker files.

[Alienmorph]

Really, I think this says everything that needs to be said about that book.

At this rate, I'm gonna throw a party to celebrate when BW shuts down.

[NCLanceman]

That synopsis reads as if the intent was to wholly subvert the generalization of each species under the guise of explaining why they're coming to Andromeda.

[Someone With Mass]

No wonder the book's how it is, she picked Synthesis as an ending to ME3...
And her favourite species were the Elcor and Drell...
Wow...geez...Weird.

I'd be hypocritical if I judged things as weird without a proper understanding, but just doing it for the sake of being weird has no place in a novel that stretches several hundred pages.

While homosexual people have the right to exist just as much as everyone else, I can't help but note that they'll be among the least contributing members of the project in the long run if they're not willing to procreate.

The entire point of the Andromeda Initiative was to preserve different races, after all.

So far I've seen: Idiots who can't command, idiots who don't understand their own technology, idiots who can't cooperate and idiots who want to take fate into their own hands as soon as everything stops aligning for five minutes. None of them should have even set foot on the arks.

[Alienmorph]

I guess it would be alright if there was a hint of something like "each ark carries a buttload of embryos of the various races and the means to raise them into well adjusted people" as well as the normal colonists. That way it doesn't really matter even if all your ark's crew is made of gay people or infertile people or folks who just don't want to raise a family. But I don't recall that being the case, it's just a bunch of morons and snowflakes who somehow put togheter the most expensive colonial endeavour in the history of the galaxy, and managed to slip away right before the Reapers arrived and natural selection took its toll on them.

Oh wait no... how did Rider senior put it? Thei're not morons thei're "Carefully selected dreamers and explorers". Suuuure.

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong tho.

[TTTX]

I'd be hypocritical if I judged things as weird without a proper understanding, but just doing it for the sake of being weird has no place in a novel that stretches several hundred pages.

While homosexual people have the right to exist just as much as everyone else, I can't help but note that they'll be among the least contributing members of the project in the long run if they're not willing to procreate.

The entire point of the Andromeda Initiative was to preserve different races, after all.

So far I've seen: Idiots who can't command, idiots who don't understand their own technology, idiots who can't cooperate and idiots who want to take fate into their own hands as soon as everything stops aligning for five minutes. None of them should have even set foot on the arks.

Well you can use science to make Homosexual have children so they don't have to have sex with someone they don't find attractive, we can even do that now so that's not really a problem.

It's more of a problem having people onboard who don't want to have children.

[TTTX]

I guess it would be alright if there was a hint of something like "each ark carries a buttload of embryos of the various races and the means to raise them into well adjusted people" as well as the normal colonists. That way it doesn't really matter even if all your ark's crew is made of gay people or infertile people or folks who just don't want to raise a family. But I don't recall that being the case, it's just a bunch of morons and snowflakes who somehow put togheter the most expensive colonial endeavour in the history of the galaxy, and managed to slip away right before the Reapers arrived and natural selection took its toll on them.

Oh wait no... how did Rider senior put it? Thei're not morons thei're "Carefully selected dreamers and explorers". Suuuure.

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong tho.

Well there are dreamers and explorers, there is also also good portion there is isn't and that's not even counting the ones who got mental problems because of being frozen for so long and then the problem of the Leadership being laughably incompetent and the nexus not having pathfinder of the own which is just really stupid.

[Alienmorph]

Well there are dreamers and explorers, there is also also good portion there is isn't and that's not even counting the ones who got mental problems because of being frozen for so long and then the problem of the Leadership being laughably incompetent and the nexus not having pathfinder of the own which is just really stupid.

Lol, that might be it. Maybe the cryonics tech wasn't quite perfected, and most of the people who went to Andromeda have various degrees of brain damage because of the ice crystals forming in their heads have disrupted a lot of neurons.

Would also explain why the krogans are the ones who are the closes to be fully consistent with their Shepard Trilogy selves, since they pretty much regenerate and have uber-redundant anatomy.

(No, I'm not equating being gay to be brain damaged, don't get triggered people)

[TTTX]

Lol, that might be it. Maybe the cryonics tech wasn't quite perfected, and most of the people who went to Andromeda have various degrees of brain damage because of the ice crystals forming in their heads have disrupted a lot of neurons.

Would also explain why the krogans are the ones who are the closes to be fully consistent with their Shepard Trilogy selves, since they pretty much regenerate and have uber-redundant anatomy.

(No, I'm not equating being gay to be brain damaged, don't get triggered people)

Well the side mission to find a cure for it, pretty much just state they become more violent and angry (but it doesn't affect everyone for some reason.), which isn't good when the leadership is terrible and the plan failed as it did.

[Alienmorph]

That still explains alot. I mean... only one year to get a mini-civil war and having a bunch of colonist setting up Omega 2.0. that's implies alot of violence and aggressive behaviour.

It was kind of a joke I was making, but sounds like I'm not too far off from a plausible explanation.

[TTTX]

That still explains alot. I mean... only one year to get a mini-civil war and having a bunch of colonist setting up Omega 2.0. that's implies alot of violence and aggressive behaviour.

It was kind of a joke I was making, but sounds like I'm not too far off from a plausible explanation.

Yeah, but it's not like the game makes a big deal about which is bad as it would made the main story more interesting, but then again when they didn't have a vision for the game until it was to late.

[Alienmorph]

Also, had they just the balls of starting the game during the Reapers invasion, and enstablish the whole Andromeda thing was a rushed, last-ditched effort, to escape extinction that would explain the poor planning and the general moronic attitude too. Instead the plot seems to imply that the whole thing had been carefully planned for years, and that it was sped up near the end, after the Battle of the Citadel and got away conveniently right in time... it's like a sequel/spinoff with prequel-itis.

[TTTX]

Also, had they just the balls of starting the game during the Reapers invasion, and enstablish the whole Andromeda thing was a rushed, last-ditched effort, to escape extinction that would explain the poor planning and the general moronic attitude too. Instead the plot seems to imply that the whole thing had been carefully planned for years, and that it was sped up near the end, after the Battle of the Citadel and got away conveniently right in time... it's like a sequel/spinoff with prequel-itis.

It would have been more interesting that's for sure and made more sense, even if they try with the secret back we don't know who are makes clear the only reason why they even managed to the project even got the funding is because of that reason instead it's kept secret from everyone expect like 2 people which is BS if I ever heard it.

[Mazder]

I'd be hypocritical if I judged things as weird without a proper understanding, but just doing it for the sake of being weird has no place in a novel that stretches several hundred pages.

While homosexual people have the right to exist just as much as everyone else, I can't help but note that they'll be among the least contributing members of the project in the long run if they're not willing to procreate.

The entire point of the Andromeda Initiative was to preserve different races, after all.

So far I've seen: Idiots who can't command, idiots who don't understand their own technology, idiots who can't cooperate and idiots who want to take fate into their own hands as soon as everything stops aligning for five minutes. None of them should have even set foot on the arks.

Wasn't referring to her as weird on any sexual grounds, just that it's weird to see someone who likes the very minor races.
I've never met someone who's favourite race is the Elcor.

[Riptide]

If I might weigh in for a minute and play a little devil's advocate.

I actually read the author's Ask Me Anything on Reddit and she actually seems pretty cool. She was a really big fan of the series like the rest of us and sort of just lucked into the chance to write the book, and, her choice of ending not withstanding, I actually like that they gave it to someone who understands and cares about the setting, as opposed to what happened with Deception, where it was VERY CLEAR that the author had never even heard of Mass Effect before.

I haven't read the books myself, but the premise itself actually makes sense. That most of the people sent on the Initiative are castoffs and deviants from their own worlds. The thing to remember is just because most volus are capitalists and merchants, not all of them are. Or that all Elcor are super chill guys who take their time with everything, Garrus references one that was a serial killer in the first game after all. And I actually think what we see of the quarians in the novel, at least from what I've read above, is pretty interesting.

I also found it amusing, that for as absurd as her plan is, the quarian captain's backstory and character are strikingly similar to what Jones and I cobbled together for Reckoning a long, long time ago. God that feels like a lifetime ago.

Also, screw you guys who say the Elcor aren't cool. I always loved some of the smaller races, and have always been really sad we never got more of them. I mean, you can't really say we got more of them because everyone in this novel has had their racial hat turned upside down, but I empathize with the author's liking of them. Not everyone's favorite race is the quarians, guys.

Anyway, I'm not really interested in reading this novel anytime soon. I feel kind of burned on Mass Effect like most of you do, and I have zero love for Andromeda. But I also do want to recognize progress where I see it. Bioware hired a fan, not a cookie cutter lazy sack of crap to write their novel this time, and I respect that the author's opinions, while different from mine, come from a place of passion for the series. And, hell, I'll be honest, the plot of the book at least sounds more interesting than anything we got in the actual game, so you know, kudos for that.

As for gays in Andromeda, just because they don't have sex with the opposite sex doesn't mean they can't contribute via sperm donation or artificial insemination. I mean, it's obvious the Andromeda Initiative is a bit of a joke, but don't let being burned out on Bioware's bullshit turn you into a prejudiced asshole, guys.

Devil's advocate, concluded.

[TTTX]

You raise some good points Rip, you should be proud.

[Alienmorph]

Yep, that was some pretty good Devil's Advocating.

[TheodoricFriede]

I liked Andromeda and I thought it was a pretty ok story based on the plot synopsis.

I've frankly just given up. I cant get any enjoyment out of the series anymore because there is almost nothing left related to it that is positive.

Turian porn is about the best I can hope for.

[Alienmorph]

Our little disfunctional family here is pretty much the only good thing I still associate to ME. Okay... and some of the porn too. Funny how that keeps happening to most works of fictions I get into. But ME was one of the first that went that way, sigh.

[TheodoricFriede]

Well I actually do believe that there is a Mass Effect and Dragon Age currently in development.

There is no way that EA Bioware doesn't see the writing on the wall for Anthem. It will not sell well. It isnt being marketed well. People still only barely understand what it is.

Whether or not the Dragon Age or Mass Effect will actually release remains to be seen, but I dont think it was a coincidence that the less faith the gaming community at large has in Anthem, the more he have heard about the potential future for both series.

All I know is turian porn remains popular, and in the short term no one can take that away from me.

[Deano]

I thought it's already been confirmed there is another dragon age being made.

Yeah quick google confirms it.

[TheodoricFriede]

I thought it's already been confirmed there is another dragon age being made.

Yeah quick google confirms it.

Believe me it took an absurd amount of fan prodding to finally get an unofficial "Yes" from some of the developers.

I'm pretty sure that Dragon Age Next is still unannounced in any official level.

[Alienmorph]

I'd be guessing it's in some uber early stage of production. Like just putting togheter some concepts in-between working on the project that is likely gonna kill the whole studio one way or another.

As for a new ME... either we go back to the Milky Way with some kind of prequel, or get a soft reboot of Andromeda set much after the first ME:A, diverging even more from the original series. And that's even assuming we don't get Mass Effect Destiny Clone, if for some miracle Anthem doesn't flop. I'm afraid we're kind of in a lose-lose situation.

[TTTX]

Our little disfunctional family here is pretty much the only good thing I still associate to ME. Okay... and some of the porn too. Funny how that keeps happening to most works of fictions I get into. But ME was one of the first that went that way, sigh.

I don't know I think the characters, the lore (most of it anyway) and some of the missions are still great.

[TTTX]

I'd be guessing it's in some uber early stage of production. Like just putting togheter some concepts in-between working on the project that is likely gonna kill the whole studio one way or another.

As for a new ME... either we go back to the Milky Way with some kind of prequel, or get a soft reboot of Andromeda set much after the first ME:A, diverging even more from the original series. And that's even assuming we don't get Mass Effect Destiny Clone, if for some miracle Anthem doesn't flop. I'm afraid we're kind of in a lose-lose situation.

I don't see a Milky way ME prequel game work unless it's very small scale like on one planet as we know the outcome of all the the major events.

[Alienmorph]

I don't know I think the characters, the lore (most of it anyway) and some of the missions are still great.

Well, I meant in recent years. I definately do still have some good memories, especially when it comes to ME2.

I don't see a Milky way ME prequel game work unless it's very small scale like on one planet as we know the outcome of all the the major events.

Honestly a smaller and more character-driven story would be what I want the most. I'm tired of Chosen Ones looking for powerful artifacts hidden in giant ancient ruins. But I don't think it's likely to happen.

[TTTX]

Well, I meant in recent years. I definately do still have some good memories, especially when it comes to ME2.

ah I see.

Well I wouldn't say ME:A was bad, it had bad moments, the biggest problem was it was just very generic in almost everything.

Honestly a smaller and more character-driven story would be what I want the most. I'm tired of Chosen Ones looking for powerful artifacts hidden in giant ancient ruins. But I don't think it's likely to happen.

Personally I would like play a ad guy, it would be nice to be the villain for once, there isn't any new Overlord games coming out anytime soon and the Terminus systems are perfect for it..

[Alienmorph]

I doubt we're even gonna play a straight up bad guy. But yeah, ME:A lacked alot into renegade/anti-hero stuff. A ME game where you're the leader of a small group of mercenaries or space pirates, leaving you the choice to be somewhat honorable or a straight up bastard trhough the whole game would be tons of fun.

[TTTX]

I doubt we're even gonna play a straight up bad guy. But yeah, ME:A lacked alot into renegade/anti-hero stuff. A ME game where you're the leader of a small group of mercenaries or space pirates, leaving you the choice to be somewhat honorable or a straight up bastard trhough the whole game would be tons of fun.

now that's an idea I can get behind.

Maybe we should try and make the next ME game.

[Deano]

It's probably going to be a sequel to inquisition meaning it would probably have to be grand in scale, which fits in line with the current advertising schemes.

I would definitely prefer something a bit more contained, and please bring back the origin stories, they were so fun.

[Mazder]

Well we have to resolve that whole Fen'Harel thing, right?


Origin's type of "many small games that fall in line to a grand game" is pretty cool and honestly where I was hoping Andromeda could go, new galaxy, new stories based on where they came before sort of thing.

[magnuskn]

I hope someday someone at BW has the balls to just make a canon ending for ME3 and continue the series properly.

[TheodoricFriede]

The most important question I have with that book.

Are there any detailed descriptions of what a quarian looks like?

Because as far as I'm concerned that bet between Vol and I is still on.

[TTTX]

The most important question I have with that book.

Are there any detailed descriptions of what a quarian looks like?

Because as far as I'm concerned that bet between Vol and I is still on.

according to the audio book from the vids Drag posted, no.

It is confirmed they have toe nails (it would have been odd if they didn't but it does get confirmed in this book).

[Dragaros]

The most important question I have with that book.

Are there any detailed descriptions of what a quarian looks like?

Because as far as I'm concerned that bet between Vol and I is still on.

► Show Spoiler

There isn't much. Based on the descriptions of the suitless, maskless quarian the Ancestor VI is based on:

Quarians have fingernails and toenails
Quarians have hair on their heads like humans, and it also turns gray when they get old
Quarian eyes are described as “white” and “without pupils” and "prismatic"
The manner of clothing this quarian grandmother is wearing is purple and red woolen robes

And that’s pretty much it. Some other trivia the book drops:

Its mentioned that quarian legs are indeed very strong and quick
An "old Rannoch accent" is described as being "clipped" and "melodious"
Quarians like the nuts of the fa’yin plant; it takes a lot to crack the shell, ancient proto-quarians had to smash them open with rocks
The Ancestor VI's loading icons depict her smoking cigarettes, drinking krogan ryncol, washing linens, rocking on a chair, singing an old Rannoch fishing song, and carving objects with a knife

[Dragaros]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0yEoPHFqgM

[TheodoricFriede]

Real bummer that the dlc never came. Id bet we'd have seen a suitless quarian in that VI if it had released.

[TTTX]

Real bummer that the dlc never came. Id bet we'd have seen a suitless quarian in that VI if it had released.

that's assuming that was the original story intended for the DLC.