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Mass Effect - Bring Down the Sky and patch 1.01 out now for PC
Pancake
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In the year 2148, explorers on Mars discovered the remains of an ancient spacefaring civilization. In the decades that followed, these mysterious artifacts revealed startling new technologies, enabling travel to the furthest stars. The basis for this incredible technology was a force that controlled the very fabric of space and time.
They called it the greatest discovery in human history...
The year is 2183.
It has been 26 years since humanity made first contact with an alien species after an accidental confrontation with the Turians exploded into open warfare.
It has been 26 years since humanity has joined the galactic community and stands amongst alien races that have called the stars home for tens of thousands of years.
You are Lieutenant Commander Shepard, XO of the SSV Normandy and an N7, the best the Alliance has to offer. Your record is exemplary and you have caught the notice of the Spectres, the most elite military branch of the Citadel Council, the largest and most powerful alien government.
For more than twenty years, humanity has wanted one of their own amongst the ranks of the Spectres. You are to be the next candidate for induction. All you need to do is prove yourself as capable as your record states under the watchful eye of the Spectre Nihlus.
What is Mass Effect?
Mass Effect is BioWare Corp's (creators of the Baldur's Gate series, Neverwinter Nights, Knights of the Old Republic, and Jade Empire) latest RPG venture.
Combining a relatively robust character creation system, a new dialogue system, a new reputation system, third-person tactical combat, and a sleek and stylish but harsh and unforgiving original sci-fi universe, Mass Effect has made itself one of the finest RPGs in years.
Character Creation
Facial Customization
Using a fairly easy to use character creator similar to, but more limited than, Oblivion's, you'll be able to make your Shepard look however you like.
Classes
There are six unique character classes in Mass Effect, three of which are specialized in either combat, tech abilities, or biotics, and three of which are hybrids, utilizing the talents of two classes, though they are more limited in scope.
Class information in spoiler:
Soldier
Starting Talents
Pistol
Assault Rifle
Combat Armor
Assult Training
Soldier Unlockable Talents
Shotgun - 4th point in Pistol
Sniper Rifle - 7th point in Assault Rifle
First Aid - 6th point in Combat Armor
Fitness - 6th Point in Assault training
Engineer
Starting Talents
Pistol
Decryption
Electronics
First Aid
Engineer Unlockable Talents
Basic Armor - 6 points in Pistol
Hacking - 7 points in Decryption
Damping - 4 in Electronics
Medicine - 5 in First Aid
Adept
Starting Talents
Basic Armor
Throw
Warp
Barrier
Adept Unlockable Talents
Pistol - 5 in Basic Armor
Lift - 6 in Throw
Singularity - 7 in Warp
Stasis - 4 In Barrier
Infiltrator
Starting Talents
Pistols
Tactical Armor
Electronics
Decryption
Infiltrator Unlockable Talents
Sniper - 5 in pistol
Fitness - 6 in Tactical Armor
Damping - 4 in Electronics
First Aid - 7 in Decryption
Sentinel
Starting Talents
Throw
Barrier
Decryption
First Aid
Sentinel Unlockable Talents
Lift - 7 in Throw
Stasis - 6 in Barrier
Electronics - 4 in Decryption
Medicine - 5 in first aid
Vanguard
Starting Talents
Pistol
Assault Training
Throw
Warp
Vanguard Unlockable Talents
Shotgun - 6 in Pistol
Tactical Armor - Assault Training
Lift - 7 in Throw
Barrier - 4 in Warp
Starting Talents
Pistol
Assault Rifle
Combat Armor
Assult Training
Soldier Unlockable Talents
Shotgun - 4th point in Pistol
Sniper Rifle - 7th point in Assault Rifle
First Aid - 6th point in Combat Armor
Fitness - 6th Point in Assault training
Engineer
Starting Talents
Pistol
Decryption
Electronics
First Aid
Engineer Unlockable Talents
Basic Armor - 6 points in Pistol
Hacking - 7 points in Decryption
Damping - 4 in Electronics
Medicine - 5 in First Aid
Adept
Starting Talents
Basic Armor
Throw
Warp
Barrier
Adept Unlockable Talents
Pistol - 5 in Basic Armor
Lift - 6 in Throw
Singularity - 7 in Warp
Stasis - 4 In Barrier
Infiltrator
Starting Talents
Pistols
Tactical Armor
Electronics
Decryption
Infiltrator Unlockable Talents
Sniper - 5 in pistol
Fitness - 6 in Tactical Armor
Damping - 4 in Electronics
First Aid - 7 in Decryption
Sentinel
Starting Talents
Throw
Barrier
Decryption
First Aid
Sentinel Unlockable Talents
Lift - 7 in Throw
Stasis - 6 in Barrier
Electronics - 4 in Decryption
Medicine - 5 in first aid
Vanguard
Starting Talents
Pistol
Assault Training
Throw
Warp
Vanguard Unlockable Talents
Shotgun - 6 in Pistol
Tactical Armor - Assault Training
Lift - 7 in Throw
Barrier - 4 in Warp
Civilian and Military Background
You can't write your own biography for Shepard, but you can select his or her background from a list. These have the benefit of actually affecting dialogue involving your character while in-game and your civilian background will even open up a background specific quest for you and will give you alignment bonuses. And while these form your life and reputation leading up to the game, it will never limit your choices in-game.
Background bonus info in spoiler:
Earthborn - Grants a Renegade point bonus
Spacer - Grants Paragon point bonus
Colonist - Grants Paragon and Renegade point bonus
Ruthless - Grants a Renegade point bonus
War Hero - Grants Paragon point bonus
Sole Survivor - Grants Paragon and Renegade point bonus
Spacer - Grants Paragon point bonus
Colonist - Grants Paragon and Renegade point bonus
Ruthless - Grants a Renegade point bonus
War Hero - Grants Paragon point bonus
Sole Survivor - Grants Paragon and Renegade point bonus
Talents, Leveling Up, and Reputation
Like any other RPG, you will gain experience for successfully killing enemies or completing quests. As you gain levels, you'll earn talent points, which you can then invest into your talents and increase in skill.
Talent and talent point reward information in spoiler:
Level 1-5 Shep earns 3 points per level squad earns 2 points per level gained
Level 6-20 Shep and squad earns 2 points each level
Level 21-35 Shep earns 2 points squad earns 1 point each
Level 36-60 Shep and squad earn 1 point per level
Shepard's Talents
Spectre Training - Elite agents of the Council the Spectres have access to special training unavailable elsewhere in the galaxy. Increases health, accuracy and the effectiveness of all attacks and powers.
Biotics
Barrier - Bolsters your kinetic shields with a mass effect field that can absorb a massive amount of damage. Attacks that penetrate the shields also penetrate this barrier.
Lift - Projects a sphere of powerful contra-gravity. Any object or creature struck is lifted into the air Enemies are temporarily immoblized untill they fall back to the ground.
Throw - Projects a mass effect field powerful enough to hurl objects and enemies out of the way.
Singularity - Projects a sphere of dark energy that creates an intense mass effect field. nearby enemies and objects are drawn into the singularity unable to escape its gravitational pull.
Stasis - Creates a powerful mass effect field that immobilizes a single target.
Warp - Projects a powerful mass effect field that wreaks havoc on a subatomic level. It weakens armor and inflicts damage over time on enemies.
Combat
Assault Training - Increases melee and weapon damage, also grants Adrenaline Burst talent.
Armor - Enables use of better armor, increases damage protection in battle.
Assault Rifles - Increases accuracy and damage with assault rifles.
Pistols - Increases accuracy and damage with pistols.
Shotguns - Increases accuracy and damage with Shotguns.
Sniper Rifles - Increases accuracy and damage with Sniper Rifles.
Fitness - Increases health and grants the invaluable immunity ability.
Tech
Damping - Increases the explosion radius on your tech proximity units. Use damping to shut down your enemies’ tech and biotic abilities.
Decryption - Allows you to open secure containers increases tech mine explosion damage and grants Sabotage talent.
Sabotage - Overheats enemy’s weapon so they cannot fire, and burns them for damage over time.
Electronics - Increases the strength of your shields and lets you use the electronics skill to repair or bypass objects.
Hacking - Recharges your tech proximity mines more quickly and grants AI hacking ability.
First Aid - Increases squad healing by improving the effectiveness of the medigel.
Medicine - Improves the recharge time of squad healing and grants the neural shock ability that devastates organic enemies.
Class Talents
Soldier - Front line warriors that are trained to withstand the physical punishment that comes with combat. Increases health at higher levels and gives limited health regeneration.
Engineer - Tech specialists can use innovative tricks to get the most out of every resource.
Adept - Focuses training to optimize their abilities.
Infiltrator - Increases damage done by tech mines and reduces overheating on sniper and pistols.
Sentinel - Increases damage and accuracy with a pistol and grants marksman ability.
Vanguard - Can use abilities to counter enemy biotic attacks and get into short range positions Increases biotic resistance and damage with shotguns and pistols.
Level 6-20 Shep and squad earns 2 points each level
Level 21-35 Shep earns 2 points squad earns 1 point each
Level 36-60 Shep and squad earn 1 point per level
Shepard's Talents
Spectre Training - Elite agents of the Council the Spectres have access to special training unavailable elsewhere in the galaxy. Increases health, accuracy and the effectiveness of all attacks and powers.
Biotics
Barrier - Bolsters your kinetic shields with a mass effect field that can absorb a massive amount of damage. Attacks that penetrate the shields also penetrate this barrier.
Lift - Projects a sphere of powerful contra-gravity. Any object or creature struck is lifted into the air Enemies are temporarily immoblized untill they fall back to the ground.
Throw - Projects a mass effect field powerful enough to hurl objects and enemies out of the way.
Singularity - Projects a sphere of dark energy that creates an intense mass effect field. nearby enemies and objects are drawn into the singularity unable to escape its gravitational pull.
Stasis - Creates a powerful mass effect field that immobilizes a single target.
Warp - Projects a powerful mass effect field that wreaks havoc on a subatomic level. It weakens armor and inflicts damage over time on enemies.
Combat
Assault Training - Increases melee and weapon damage, also grants Adrenaline Burst talent.
Armor - Enables use of better armor, increases damage protection in battle.
Assault Rifles - Increases accuracy and damage with assault rifles.
Pistols - Increases accuracy and damage with pistols.
Shotguns - Increases accuracy and damage with Shotguns.
Sniper Rifles - Increases accuracy and damage with Sniper Rifles.
Fitness - Increases health and grants the invaluable immunity ability.
Tech
Damping - Increases the explosion radius on your tech proximity units. Use damping to shut down your enemies’ tech and biotic abilities.
Decryption - Allows you to open secure containers increases tech mine explosion damage and grants Sabotage talent.
Sabotage - Overheats enemy’s weapon so they cannot fire, and burns them for damage over time.
Electronics - Increases the strength of your shields and lets you use the electronics skill to repair or bypass objects.
Hacking - Recharges your tech proximity mines more quickly and grants AI hacking ability.
First Aid - Increases squad healing by improving the effectiveness of the medigel.
Medicine - Improves the recharge time of squad healing and grants the neural shock ability that devastates organic enemies.
Class Talents
Soldier - Front line warriors that are trained to withstand the physical punishment that comes with combat. Increases health at higher levels and gives limited health regeneration.
Engineer - Tech specialists can use innovative tricks to get the most out of every resource.
Adept - Focuses training to optimize their abilities.
Infiltrator - Increases damage done by tech mines and reduces overheating on sniper and pistols.
Sentinel - Increases damage and accuracy with a pistol and grants marksman ability.
Vanguard - Can use abilities to counter enemy biotic attacks and get into short range positions Increases biotic resistance and damage with shotguns and pistols.
And you may notice those two bars around the character's face in the screenshot. Those are the reputation meters. They aren't really Shepard's alignment as similar meters have been in previous BioWare games. Shepard is always more or less good, but how you choose to conduct yourself while on your noble mission will change how you're thought of and whether you lean more towards impatience, brutality, and getting it done at any cost or more towards finding the best solution for everyone, patience, and leniancy.
Morality in Mass Effect isn't all about cartoon evil and being good isn't going to decrease your renegade meter. You'll be able to fill both at the same time and there's never a way to decrease one or the other. If you perform a ruthless act on your goody-two-shoes character, they're stuck with having done it. You can't change your past.
Reputation bonus information in spoiler:
Paragon bonuses
5% - Opens 2 charm ranks and gives 1 free charm point
25% - Opens 2 charm rank, gives 1 charm point, and 10% first aid cooldown
50% - 10% Bonus health
75% - Paragon achievement, opens 2 charm rank, 1 free point, and 5% Shorter cooldown on all powers.
Renegade Bonuses
5% - Opens 2 intimidate ranks, gives 1 intimidate point
25% - Opens 2 intimidate ranks, gives 1 intimidate point, 10% weapon powers cooldown
50% - 1 health regeneration per second
75% - Renegade achievement, opens 2 intimidate ranks, gives 1 intimidate point, and 5% damage/duration on all weapons and powers
5% - Opens 2 charm ranks and gives 1 free charm point
25% - Opens 2 charm rank, gives 1 charm point, and 10% first aid cooldown
50% - 10% Bonus health
75% - Paragon achievement, opens 2 charm rank, 1 free point, and 5% Shorter cooldown on all powers.
Renegade Bonuses
5% - Opens 2 intimidate ranks, gives 1 intimidate point
25% - Opens 2 intimidate ranks, gives 1 intimidate point, 10% weapon powers cooldown
50% - 1 health regeneration per second
75% - Renegade achievement, opens 2 intimidate ranks, gives 1 intimidate point, and 5% damage/duration on all weapons and powers
Let's talk dialogue.
Unlike BioWare's previous games, Mass Effect utilizes a brand new dialogue wheel.
Instead of being offered completely written out dialogue options that NPCs then respond to, you're given a short thought or feeling. The options are arrayed in an obvious logical order with positive responses being on the top, neutral responses in the center, negative options at the bottom, inquisitive responses that lead to more information on the left side, and options that advance the conversation towards its conclusion on the right. Once you select an option on the wheel, Shepard will then speak a full line or lines completely voice acted.
Or maybe even interact with the NPCs in more interesting ways. Such as punching them in the face. Or shooting them in the face.
Gears of Rainbow in Arms Theft Warfighter of the Old Republic
Unlike your average and traditional RPG, Mass Effect's combat is in no way turn-based and in no way Dungeons & Dragons or JRPG.
Instead, you'll play it as if it was a third-person tactical shooter. Because it is, in essence. It has a cover system like you've seen in plenty of games, but you can pause at any time and tell your squadmates to change their weapon or use their abilities.
You can also give them move and attack orders as a group in real-time. Or if you're playing on the PC, while paused you can give them individual move and attack orders.
Epic Scope burns more than it should.
Early in the game, you will gain command of the SSV Normandy, a small state of the art recon frigate.
Using the Normandy to get around the galaxy, you'll be able to travel to many different star clusters and solar systems, land on 32 alien worlds, and read about scores of others.
The Milky Way is a large place and you might not be able to go everywhere, but there's plenty to see in Mass Effect.
Vehicular Combat and Exploration
But you won't have to explore on foot. The planets you land on are vast and covered with rough terrain.
To compensate, you'll be able to drive the Mako, a heavily shielded and armed light all-terrain APC that is able to drop from high altitude from the Normandy for quick and relatively quiet insertions.
Drew Karpyshyn wrote a Mass Effect book once and his weird name is on the cover.
That's right, there's a novel!
Drew Karpyshyn was lead writer of Mass Effect the game and has written a prequel novel to the game. No, it's not a novelization of the game which wipes out everything you knew and loved about your Shepard by making something else canon.
Instead, it tells the story of Captain Anderson and his fateful mission with Saren twenty years ago.
There's also another book coming out this July under the title Mass Effect: Ascension.
Downloadable Content
Available for 400 MS points for the 360 version, "Bring Down the Sky" adds one explorable planet, a new quest line, about 90 minutes of gameplay, and a new alien race: the Batarians.
Bring Down the Sky, along with the first patch, has been released for the PC at this here site here. Installing Bring Down the Sky requires a BioWare Community account and a registered Mass Effect CD key.
* All screenshots are from the PC version and all class, talent, and reputation information is courtesy of LookFreeGrenade because I stole them from him and didn't even pay him for it because he doesn't deserve it.
Pancake on
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1) I hear the female renegade voice acting is quite good? Is this true?
2) When should I start working on my tech talents as an infiltrator? What teammates are good to use?
Also, carnage+high explosive rounds= lulz.
Way better. Male Shepard sounds kind of bored at worst and like an angry Canadian at best. Jennifer Hale does a much better job at being convincingly renegade.
I usually start as early as possible. Getting sniper rifles is important, but at least getting decryption up is probably a higher priority. I normally try to balance out combat and tech progress. At least having Advanced Overload by the time you leave the Citadel is probably a good goal.
Infiltrator was my choice for the first runaround - the good thing to do is get Decryption and Electronics to their masteries quickly, because that way you'll be able to decrypt and reveal everything on the 20 sidequest planets. Not to mention the skills themselves in combat are extremely useful.
Other than that, Sniper Rifles and Armor are a second priority, with everything else coming after.
Destiny Profile : http://www.bungie.net/en/Profile/254/7028016
Kind of forced me to play male. Ah well.
It's kind of a stupid complaint, but man, it's annoying. Like walking into that random private guy in the Citadel, and immediately in my mind I'm all, "How are things, Liquid Snake?"
I asked a friend who's completed it these questions, and I'd be interested to see if you guys respond in the same way:
1) Without spoilers, is there any recommended order I should approach the game in? I hit Noveria first, but I should probably have gone to get the Asari chick beforehand for dialogue with her mother, for example.
2) Can I continue to play the game after completion to finish off any sidequests, or is there some final location I should leave till last?
3) Items-wise, what's worth buying from shops? I figured I can probably do just fine picking stuff up off corpses and boxes. What items are worth getting?
4) Are there a set of armour and weaponry which are absolutely the best? Without spoilers, how/when would I aquire those?
5) Can one complete romance sidequests just by chatting to characters on the Normandy? I.E., do I ever HAVE to take certain characters with me if I want to experience those plots? I tend to take whichever characters will say the most in certain situations, so in future playthroughs I'd take the Asari chick and Wrex to Noveria, for the Asari and Rachnai plotlines there.
6) Are there any plotlines you can only get with certain character types? I.E., are there any sidequests for just Soldiers, or just Vanguards, etc. Likewise, are there sidequests based on my history or gender?
I think that's all I asked him. God, I'm loving this game.
And for number six yes, your choice of origin (spacer, colonist, earthborn) gives you a different sidequest for each one, two are quite good, one's kinda meh. You're military background doesn't give a new sidequest but it does affect the dialogue for some other quests.
1.) Do it any order you feel like. Then on your next playthrough, change it up. Things happen slightly differently depending on how long you take to get to each planet.
2.) You will want to make a seperate save before going to Ilos, after that I don't think you can do any more sidequests.
3.) Eventually you will be given access to special stuff in the Citadel's Armory, those are the only things I bought....ever.
4.) See #3.
5.) You can just chat them up. My toon banged the 1D-whining wonder just by talking I never took him in my party.
6.) Not that I noticed. People can react differently depending on your history, but I don't recall any specific quests just for a specific class. Edit: Apparently according to the guy above me, there are. I didn't notice. Whoops!
1. The proper way is Artemis Tau > Feros > Noveria > Virmire > What comes next. Many would say "There is no proper way", but they'd be wrong. There are hooks however to alleviate if you deviate from the order I outlined above, however the natural way is that way.
2. Try to do everything after Virmire, or even before it. After you finish Virmire things sort of go on their own, but you will be able to travel the galaxy up until you need to go to Ilos. After you select Ilos, it's KOTOR one way to the end.
3. Nothing's worth buying until much later in the game, sans the medi-gel and grenade upgrades
4. Yes, SPECTRE gear VII for weapons and Colossus for armor, in the end, and the best of the best is only on the second playthrough when you go from 50 to 60 (can't cap 60 on first playthrough, have to play it at least twice, cap the first time is 50, however on the second playthrough the best gear is SPECTRE X weapons and Colossus X armor which was what Nihlus used if I'm not mistaken).
5. Just talking to them is fine enough, don't have to take em anywhere. Have to talk to them after the story planets, and preferably as you complete the side planets in chunks.
6. Not for gender, but yes for selection of past - all 3 have a unique quest that starts on the Cidatel after you complete your first story planet. You have to find the NPC to start it though.
And as a continuation from last thread, I've done just about every sidequest I could find. Even managed to finish all of those excavation and scanning missions.
Now I'm almost finished with the game and am in my upper 40's. I think I'll manage 50 before the game ends.
Well, after much fucking around in Vista to get my 8800gt sli configuration to work, I re-installed XP last night and it immediately recognized the two and welcomed me with open arms. So I'm happy to say that I'll be starting my PC journey into the game after I beat my last case in Trials and Tribulations tonight. /Cheers gentlemen.
Unfortunately, I'm beginning to get this way for fps as well. After around 40 minutes or so, I start feeling like ass. But luckily, I'm just fine with over-the-shoulder perspective.
Yes they completely overhauled the UI and inventory to better take advantage of the keyboard/mouse. The inventory was a big complaint about the 360 version, it still isn't perfect, but I guess it's much better.
Also you can order your squadmates around individually which wasn't possible on the 360, and they redid the hacking minigame. I guess the new one is better, but I didn't play the 360 version.
The PC version also supports much higher resolutions, has higher res textures, and you can force AA in the console to make it look fantastic. And the load times are much better.
Those long elevator rides PA did a comic about have been shortened significantly shortened unless they have dialogue in them. Most people complained about the Normandy elevator ride which is only a few seconds now.
Anyone else get this? And did the solution listed here work or should I just turn off the shadows?
I have a 320M 8800GTS, BTW. So I don't think I have other problems listed in that thread which seem to be ATI specific.
(Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
Oh, and fuck elevators. I'd be glad for a mod that removes those and every unskippable death/Mako/boss fight cutscene.
Other than that, solid gold.
The pixelated shadows are symptom of the UE3 engine. All UE3 games have them to some degree. You can turn of dynamic shadows and that will get rid of them, but you lose all shadows in the entire game and it makes the world feel very flat.
I used the ini tweak you posted and it worked great for me. It basically gets rid of most of the face shadows during conversations and smooths them out by making them higher res overall.
I really didn't notice them after I made this change.
Are you sure it's not just the shields being damaged and not the Mako itself?
Everything else in the Mako: Futuristic technology
Right front wheel: Ancient Earth Artifact of DOOM.
MUST GET TO 2ND PAGE
B.net: Kusanku
That which does not kill you makes you stronger.
Have the same graphic card you have, that didn't help me at all, in fact, it did absolutely nothing.
It was pretty fun.
No one is modding out the elevators.
They're actually disguised loading screens.
I did this and the shadows appear better I think. No FPS hit. I didn't mind them before but I think they're nicer now.
But the only time I was very annoyed with them was on Noveria, where they were every few feet and all missions seemed to be one-shot "go here and fix this then come right back" tasks reminiscent of Deus Ex 2. Even the sheer number of them on the Citadel didn't faze me too much because the mass transit usually bypassed them. But Noveria... Jesus.
What I mean is Shepard's got a pretty nice ass.
Hmmm, seemed to work for me as well.
(Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
Hmmm, I seem to remember something about two entries. One thus,
DepthBias=0.012000
the other
DepthBias=0.012
And only changing the former would work. But my file just has the latter and changing it worked.
(Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
IOS Game Center ID: Isotope-X