Positive thoughts on Patch 1.09 – or, I’m having fun, who else is?

All these negative threads. Let’s start a new thread for those people who are enjoying the new patch. Bioware has made the game more cooperative and less everyone running around Rambo-style. I’m all for that.

Hacks
Hacks are actually challenging now and require teamwork to keep the circle clear of enemies. This is where crowd control powers come into play. Don’t kill the redbar enemies, since they will just respawn, neutralize them instead with pull, throw, lifting shockwave, concussive shot, and other powers. Debuff and stun armoured targets with overload, cryo beam/snap freeze, and invasion. 

Platinum
Only played two APEX Platinum matches, one failure and another full extraction (Huntress with two Turian Agents and a Gladiator). Stealth Grid, Cloak, or a super tanky/fast character are necessary to get those devices and retrieval objectives done. Very challenging when the bosses rush the circle.

Supply Pack Transmitter
Great change to the medigel transmitter. I used this several times in the Platinum match to heal and resupply my teammates.

Veteran Card Bonuses
Yes, it sucks that we now have to go to rank XX to complete our character manifests. Think of it this way, you were having fun with Rank X characters already. The cards to XX are icing on the cake. They certainly make your characters so much more powerful. I played a few games with the Human Vanguard and Adept, and their biotic combo explosions were just destroying enemies left and right. These Veteran character cards will make your toons roll over Gold and will make Platinum more bearable. Think of them like 3 permanent boosters for your characters: Combat, Biotic, and Melee.

Different Weapon Cards
These cards won’t drop until you have your weapon cards maxed anyway, so those looking to fill out their manifests can just continue along their merry way. The weapons add a different gameplay experience for your favorite weapons. If you don’t like them, don’t use them! I’m looking forward to seeing how my gameplay changes with the Siphon/Bulwark/Concussive weapons.

All Those Cards
Regarding all the extra cards, for those with maxed Rare manifests and were looking forward to maxing their UR cards, look at the disappoinment everytime you opened 3 out of 4 Premium/Arsenal/Reserves packs and got nothing. Now, at least you’ll be getting something of value. Yes, getting those UR weapons and characters is going to be a slog, but the slog only begins once you get them to Rank X.

If Bioware wants this game to last, they had to add more to the loot pool. People were finishing up their manifests in 450 hours, which was way shorter than the ME3 time it took to max a manifest.

I had long maxed my rares and recently maxed my UR characters. Now, I can look forward to something different in the packs. And, the Veteran cards will breathe new life into old characters. I think Bioware has done a great job with this patch. Who else thinks the same?