inherit
✜ Forge Mechanic
352
0
Jun 12, 2024 13:49:30 GMT
6,256
PapaCharlie9
3,851
August 2016
papacharlie9
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by PapaCharlie9 on Sept 12, 2017 15:21:12 GMT
This started with some comments in the Twitter thread. I started to reply there, but as my reply got longer and longer, I could feel Hrungr breathing down my neck, so I moved it to this thread. It's things like these with the pacing of tasks and presumed order of doing things that make me imagine how much better the game could have been if it hadn't been so open world. I do like roaming around but I think I would prefer a tighter story line and a fixed order of doing things. Especially since there is so much to do, it's hard to remember why I'm doing this or that when you're fairly free to proceed in any order you want. So this is another example of Bioware designing the game particularly for me and not for the vast majority of players.  The same thing happened with DAI and the Hinterlands -- my first PT I immediately figured out how to work that zone for maximum value, just by doing what I normally do in open worlds. While it's pretty widely agreed that BW fucked up the Hinterlands and blew the pacing for 99.9% of players, for us 0.1%'s, it was perfect. Maybe DAI trained me how to play MEA? Eos was a bit disorienting at first, so that was my learning experience, but once I got to Havarl (which I decided to do before Voeld -- wonder what the percentages are on that choice?), something clicked and I figured out how to work each world. Fixing the Vault is almost always last, it's the closing scene of the act, at least for the first major visit. Side-quests can send you back to a world, but the main act closes with the opening of the vault (ha!) The exception is when there is a Priority Ops mission associated with the world, like on Kadara, then that goes last. With where to end sorted out, let's look at the beginning. Getting all the forward stations manifested was always a priority for me. I wouldn't beeline to them, always tried to have a quest to put me in the area, but getting them set up for fast travel and, very importantly, healing and ammunition resupply, was a priority for me every time I came to a new world. After that, what comes next is a matter of perference. Personally, I liked doing Alliances & Relationship quests on the world first. Next, or if there weren't any A&R stuff, do the "make the world suitable for an outpost" quests, which of course includes activating the pillars, as well as dealing with whatever the threat/political situation is. That stuff would take up the bulk of the act. I'd save the big battle/raid for last-ish, usually just before dealing with the vault. When some side-quest would bring me near a pillar, I'd cruise over and get that done -- I don't think I did them purposely after Eos, it was always because I was in the neighborhood. As for Tasks, I consciously tried not to do most of them. If they were "Gather X of Y" type, forget it. If I happened to be right next to one on the way to something else, fine, but otherwise, ignore. The exception being the Memory thingeys, those I did try to get for the sake of unlocking that bit of narrative. Tasks that were more about going to strange places, meeting new people and killing them (j/k), I'd do if they seemed interesting. Overall, I don't need BW's prompts to get me to go look at their cool environment design, I'd voluntarily do that on my own. Finally, one additional note. When a quest sent me back to the Tempest, I fucking went, without delay. Not only because I wanted to progress the loyalty missions of my crew, but also because I didn't want to tempt the bugged-out quest gods and screw something up. You play BW games long enough, you learn that going back to headquarters/your ship should not be delayed. Even if nothing sent me there, I always tried to go back to the Tempest after I did something major on a world, just to see if something was unlocked. And of course, if I had email. The above worked really well for me. I really only got lost and fed up on Eos the first time. And I was able to avoid most of the dumb side-quests, with one exception. Contagion. What a PITA that one is! Avoid at all costs. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Deleted
inherit
guest@proboards.com
7959
0
Deleted
0
January 1970
Deleted
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2017 15:49:27 GMT
I like doing Havarl before Voeld, and normally do not do any of the tasks, unless I like the character or haven't done it before, or I am in the area. I prioritize Vaults, Memories and Planetary stories. Companion missions I mix and match with the game's material. Overall, I prefer not to return to a planet if I don't have a few missions outstanding.
One thing that I do rather differently than anyone else, is that I do not do Kadara story in one sequence. I do one task with Reyes, flirt, then run and do a few things on Eladeen, other planets, loyalty missions etc. This way I can time the last visit with Reyes just before we set out to take Meridian, and my romance lasts the whole second half of the game before drying up. Even if I don't intend to commit to Reyes, I'll keep the relationship going to the last possible moment because it is a lot of fun and my character has a home on Kadara so to speak.
I liked Contagion, but I am pretty sure it was part of the batch quests on each planet as I was doing my rounds.
I do not like Nexus, so I tend not to do many quests related to it.
|
|
inherit
3439
0
9,661
alanc9
Old Scientist Contrarian
8,054
February 2017
alanc9
|
Post by alanc9 on Sept 12, 2017 15:59:51 GMT
You may want to have the Contagion opening convo with Captain Dunn just to stop her from asking you to drop by every time you visit the Nexus.
My biggest problem with the order and pacing is the companion quests. They seem positively designed to keep you randomly bouncing around the cluster. It's particularly annoying, RP-wise, with the ones which are framed as urgent. Though I suppose the Pathfinder would be on-call for a lot of urgent stuff.
|
|
inherit
7106
0
4,137
samhain444
1,669
April 2017
samhain444
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by samhain444 on Sept 12, 2017 16:19:43 GMT
I've played the game from beginning to end 10 times now and I certainly have a preferred process at this point that usually gets me through ME:A in around 50 hrs.
For me, Habitat 7 is the best combination of more of a linear mission, as you have to find the your father and you other crew members, with a bit of open world. You have the ability to explore alien ruins, hidden caves, and rescue crew members all while getting to use the jump jet to jump over obstacles or avoiding enemy fire. Its "tight" and "loose" in the right areas and I wished the other planets mimicked this layout.
After Habitat 7, I obviously visit with the Initiative reps like Tann, Addison, and Kesh, and SAM node but, for the last few playthroughs, I haven't done "First Murderer" or the sabotage one because I feel they are mostly meant to get you familiar with the layout of the Nexus and Operations so no need to revisit since it doesn't have an overall impact on things. So, after the meetings, I go get the Tempest.
Obviously, Eos is the first planet no matter what so I just focus on site 1, getting the Nomad, activating the vaults, fighting with Drack and establishing the first settlement. I don't usually bother with site 2 as I know I will be back. That's a quick and tightly focused set of objectives and it moves pretty quickly. Plus, Eos' main vault is one of favorites.
After that, you are given a choice of either Voeld or Havarl and I almost always go with Voeld as it makes sense since, on the way, we are meeting the Archon, getting on Aya, and meeting Jaal. So, in this sequence, getting Jaal on your team and progressing through the resistance battles on Voeld just feel narratively in sync. Once on Voeld, I get the missions at the resistance headquarters and proceed to knock them out along with the supply drop assignment from Aya, clearing out the Kett base, activate the vaults and establish the settlement.
From there, I go to Havarl as it a smaller map and a nice change of pace as you get a different setting without environmental hazards and you are not in the Nomad. Once Harvarl is completed, I go back to Eos to get the other memory triggers that were blocked by the radiation, do site 2, finish activating all the forward stations, and, finally, completing the Kett base mission, leaving me at 100% viability on all three planets with almost zero tasks or side missions (the ones I don't think are necessary).
At this point, I visit the Nexus to view memories from SAM Node and go off to rescue the Moshae. Once completed, i only do what I have to do on both Kadara and Eladaan in that I complete the vaults, the main narrative missions, missions like the poisoned water one if I feel like it, companion missions, including their little side interludes, the movie night missions, and, once at 100% on both, I go to the Salarian Arc.
Once the Salarian Arc mission is complete, its just a matter of completing or "cleaning up" whatever you feel like but the pay off is pretty perfect with the final mission riding your Nomad through Meridian and seeing all your allied involved.
In the end, I usually have avoided 90% of the "Task:" missions, a good chunk of peripheral missions like "Sleeping Dragons" and "Contagion", will most likely do missions like "The Firefighters", "Truth and Trespass", and "Dissension in the Ranks", most likely will scan planets as the Galaxy Map is beautiful, gives you nice resources and is quick with the "skip" button, and my game averages around 55hrs.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Deleted
inherit
guest@proboards.com
7959
0
Deleted
0
January 1970
Deleted
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2017 16:23:12 GMT
Oh, I forgot to add. I stopped scanning, I was running Strike teams instead, and now have more materials than I'd ever need. I normally just craft a level X gear set and play the whole game in that.
|
|
inherit
3439
0
9,661
alanc9
Old Scientist Contrarian
8,054
February 2017
alanc9
|
Post by alanc9 on Sept 12, 2017 16:29:42 GMT
I'm going to give up on Strike Teams in the future. The loot and gear system falls apart eventually, and Strike Teams just bring that point on faster.
|
|
inherit
7535
0
2,066
abaris
2,013
April 2017
abaris
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by abaris on Sept 12, 2017 18:50:16 GMT
Maybe DAI trained me how to play MEA? Don't assume everyone having liked DAIs open world would like MEAs. I replayed DAI about a dozen times, but Eos and all the other worlds of MEA left me utterly bored. They're not on the same level. There's next to nothing to explore or to loot in MEA. The worlds are lifeless as compared to DAI, with only a few generic remnant sites and lots of generic Kett as the only attractions. Not much of an attraction, actually. |
|
inherit
7106
0
4,137
samhain444
1,669
April 2017
samhain444
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by samhain444 on Sept 12, 2017 19:07:51 GMT
I'm going to give up on Strike Teams in the future. The loot and gear system falls apart eventually, and Strike Teams just bring that point on faster. I do both the APEX APP and the strike team missions at the Tempest Console. They are pretty easy to engage and at the base minimum give you some additional credits but I use the mission funds towards Rare Characters and Weapons in MP so, while its not that great, it's still pretty easy and, at times, rewarding. |
|
nvanfleet
N3
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Mass Effect Andromeda
Posts: 273 Likes: 583
inherit
6331
0
583
nvanfleet
273
Mar 27, 2017 17:16:58 GMT
March 2017
nvanfleet
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by nvanfleet on Sept 12, 2017 19:28:18 GMT
Maybe DAI trained me how to play MEA? Don't assume everyone having liked DAIs open world would like MEAs. I replayed DAI about a dozen times, but Eos and all the other worlds of MEA left me utterly bored. They're not on the same level. There's next to nothing to explore or to loot in MEA. The worlds are lifeless as compared to DAI, with only a few generic remnant sites and lots of generic Kett as the only attractions. Not much of an attraction, actually. I totally agree, especially considering 3 of the planets were desert worlds. Just... just ugh. It was all Hissing Wastes all the time. The only planet I legitimately wanted more of was Havarl, and it was the smallest, most navigable and therefore most 'full'-feeling world. (I don't count Aya, that was friggin Space Citadel for Angara and was barely worth the time spent on it) |
|
inherit
7535
0
2,066
abaris
2,013
April 2017
abaris
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by abaris on Sept 12, 2017 19:34:31 GMT
(I don't count Aya, that was friggin Space Citadel for Angara and was barely worth the time spent on it) Aya was fetch quest central. Get emails, get stories, get messages .... |
|
inherit
7106
0
4,137
samhain444
1,669
April 2017
samhain444
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by samhain444 on Sept 12, 2017 19:44:54 GMT
I'm playing both DA:I (on XBOX 1) and ME:A (PS4) simultaneously and each "worlds" or "lands" in the respective games have their pluses and minuses but not I'm seeing significant advantages of one over the other...I'm just not. DA:I's areas have a ton of "empty" in them not matter which one you are looking at as does parts of the planets of ME:A. They need to "corridor" the narrative better in both.
|
|
inherit
✜ Forge Mechanic
352
0
Jun 12, 2024 13:49:30 GMT
6,256
PapaCharlie9
3,851
August 2016
papacharlie9
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by PapaCharlie9 on Sept 12, 2017 20:46:39 GMT
I've played the game from beginning to end 10 times now and I certainly have a preferred process at this point that usually gets me through ME:A in around 50 hrs. For me, Habitat 7 is the best combination of more of a linear mission, as you have to find the your father and you other crew members, with a bit of open world. You have the ability to explore alien ruins, hidden caves, and rescue crew members all while getting to use the jump jet to jump over obstacles or avoiding enemy fire. Its "tight" and "loose" in the right areas and I wished the other planets mimicked Habitat 7 Linear is fine for a tutorial level, but personally I hated Habitat 7 with a passion. The storm/lightning tortured my ears and the flashes played hell with my fps, even after turning down everything to medium. No other world gave me those problems and I can get rock solid 60 fps everywhere else on High+Ultra. |
|
inherit
7106
0
4,137
samhain444
1,669
April 2017
samhain444
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by samhain444 on Sept 12, 2017 20:55:52 GMT
I've played the game from beginning to end 10 times now and I certainly have a preferred process at this point that usually gets me through ME:A in around 50 hrs. For me, Habitat 7 is the best combination of more of a linear mission, as you have to find the your father and you other crew members, with a bit of open world. You have the ability to explore alien ruins, hidden caves, and rescue crew members all while getting to use the jump jet to jump over obstacles or avoiding enemy fire. Its "tight" and "loose" in the right areas and I wished the other planets mimicked Habitat 7 Linear is fine for a tutorial level, but personally I hated Habitat 7 with a passion. The storm/lightning tortured my ears and the flashes played hell with my fps, even after turning down everything to medium. No other world gave me those problems and I can get rock solid 60 fps everywhere else on High+Ultra. I played on PS4/XBox 1 respectively at different times so I didn't have same distracting issues but can see how that might deter you from enjoying that mission. I was more referring to the mission structure - it had a definable map and mission objective that had a starting and ending point and, within that pathway you could make "open world" choice and push it horizontally and vertically with the jet pack to give you a more dynamic movement within the the mission. With the other planets, everything was spread out and there was no mission parameter in particular pushing you in a specific direction so it became a big map with a whole lot of markers (it you are counting "Task:" and accepted side missions) but no clear path in how to engage those markers in relation to narrative. Some people may find that liberating but I felt the game's direction needed a more narrow scope so, a lot of times in these playthroughs, I find myself "self-editing" a lot, which is not a big deal but I can see how it may be daunting for someone attempting to play the game for the first time. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Deleted
inherit
guest@proboards.com
7959
0
Deleted
0
January 1970
Deleted
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2017 20:56:55 GMT
I've played the game from beginning to end 10 times now and I certainly have a preferred process at this point that usually gets me through ME:A in around 50 hrs. For me, Habitat 7 is the best combination of more of a linear mission, as you have to find the your father and you other crew members, with a bit of open world. You have the ability to explore alien ruins, hidden caves, and rescue crew members all while getting to use the jump jet to jump over obstacles or avoiding enemy fire. Its "tight" and "loose" in the right areas and I wished the other planets mimicked Habitat 7 Linear is fine for a tutorial level, but personally I hated Habitat 7 with a passion. The storm/lightning tortured my ears and the flashes played hell with my fps, even after turning down everything to medium. No other world gave me those problems and I can get rock solid 60 fps everywhere else on High+Ultra. OMG, I loved H7. I kept hoping we are going back, and was sad it was a bit on the ship in the end-game. I would have loved to have H7 as a homebase. |
|
inherit
✜ Forge Mechanic
352
0
Jun 12, 2024 13:49:30 GMT
6,256
PapaCharlie9
3,851
August 2016
papacharlie9
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by PapaCharlie9 on Sept 12, 2017 20:58:25 GMT
Don't assume everyone having liked DAIs open world would like MEAs. I replayed DAI about a dozen times, but Eos and all the other worlds of MEA left me utterly bored. They're not on the same level. There's next to nothing to explore or to loot in MEA. The worlds are lifeless as compared to DAI, with only a few generic remnant sites and lots of generic Kett as the only attractions. Not much of an attraction, actually. I totally agree, especially considering 3 of the planets were desert worlds. Just... just ugh. It was all Hissing Wastes all the time. The only planet I legitimately wanted more of was Havarl, and it was the smallest, most navigable and therefore most 'full'-feeling world. (I don't count Aya, that was friggin Space Citadel for Angara and was barely worth the time spent on it) No argument from me. Except for Havarl, the interest density of the worlds was really low, compared to DAI. Two deserts in DAI didn't bother me, but did in MEA. Definitely needed an Emerald Graves type world to balance things out. For the record, all I meant was the style of quest structure in DAI was good training towards figuring out how to approach each MEA world for the "good stuff." |
|
inherit
3439
0
9,661
alanc9
Old Scientist Contrarian
8,054
February 2017
alanc9
|
Post by alanc9 on Sept 12, 2017 21:01:05 GMT
We talked about this in another thread. I never did get how someone who didn't like Kadara could tolerate the Storm Coast.
|
|
inherit
7106
0
4,137
samhain444
1,669
April 2017
samhain444
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by samhain444 on Sept 12, 2017 21:02:33 GMT
Linear is fine for a tutorial level, but personally I hated Habitat 7 with a passion. The storm/lightning tortured my ears and the flashes played hell with my fps, even after turning down everything to medium. No other world gave me those problems and I can get rock solid 60 fps everywhere else on High+Ultra. OMG, I loved H7. I kept hoping we are going back, and was sad it was a bit on the ship in the end-game. I would have loved to have H7 as a homebase. Yeah, I was thinking that, with a potential sequel, Ryder 1 becomes habitable after the vault activation and ends up being a major human colony and base of operations for the Human Andromeda Initiative while the Ark on Meridian continues to serve as a museum/cultural landmark of sorts. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Deleted
inherit
guest@proboards.com
7959
0
Deleted
0
January 1970
Deleted
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2017 21:07:45 GMT
OMG, I loved H7. I kept hoping we are going back, and was sad it was a bit on the ship in the end-game. I would have loved to have H7 as a homebase. Yeah, I was thinking that, with a potential sequel, Ryder 1 becomes habitable after the vault activation and ends up being a major human colony and base of operations for the Human Andromeda Initiative while the Ark on Meridian continues to serve as a museum/cultural landmark of sorts. Pretty much. I never trusted the space stations. Gimme a planet! Particularly if it has the floating rocks. Add some mist, and it would be like Chinese painting. Havarl, H7 and Kadara are certainly my favs. Also, turning Voeld into a waterworld of oceans, streams, meltwater pools and tentative wildflowers on the edges of the moraines would have made my day in the sequel. Oh, well. Something for my Ryder to dream about when s/he activates the Vaults. |
|
inherit
7106
0
4,137
samhain444
1,669
April 2017
samhain444
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by samhain444 on Sept 12, 2017 21:14:05 GMT
Yeah, I was thinking that, with a potential sequel, Ryder 1 becomes habitable after the vault activation and ends up being a major human colony and base of operations for the Human Andromeda Initiative while the Ark on Meridian continues to serve as a museum/cultural landmark of sorts. Pretty much. I never trusted the space stations. Gimme a planet! Particularly if it has the floating rocks. Add some mist, and it would be like Chinese painting. Havarl, H7 and Kadara are certainly my favs. Also, turning Voeld into a waterworld of oceans, streams, meltwater pools and tentative wildflowers on the edges of the moraines would have made my day in the sequel. Oh, well. Something for my Ryder to dream about when s/he activates the Vaults. Voeld, especially. I could imagine having a lot of fun with that planet from a developers perspective in terms of the Angaran pre-"Scourge" ruins they could uncover and exploration opportunities. Or perhaps even Jardaan/Opposition related information would be revealed through the melting ice. I really think the next 5-10 years wouldn't be a bad jump in terms of the sequel. A lot of colonies could be developing, obviously the new population of the respective Milky Way races would still be low as any child born after arrival would still be under 10 and any counter-attack by the Kett would up the tension in terms of the fight for defense and survival. |
|
inherit
7535
0
2,066
abaris
2,013
April 2017
abaris
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by abaris on Sept 12, 2017 21:14:18 GMT
We talked about this in another thread. I never did get how someone who didn't like Kadara could tolerate the Storm Coast. Can't say I particularly liked the Storm Coast, but it wasn't the only map there. Kadara, well, it may be Storm Coast, but certainly not much better. |
|
nvanfleet
N3
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Mass Effect Andromeda
Posts: 273 Likes: 583
inherit
6331
0
583
nvanfleet
273
Mar 27, 2017 17:16:58 GMT
March 2017
nvanfleet
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by nvanfleet on Sept 12, 2017 21:23:39 GMT
We talked about this in another thread. I never did get how someone who didn't like Kadara could tolerate the Storm Coast. I liked the Storm Coast - but then the only part of Kadara *I* didn't like was how hard it was to scan the damned footprints in that one spot during a certain quest. The Storm Coast having 3 distinct corners was interesting, I liked the combination of caves/dwarven ruins/Warden camps/the 'lighthouse'/the area with the Hounds of Hassarian or whoever... I don't remember the landmarks quite as well for Kadara, but I found the area focused enough for what it was. The scenery was just too similar to other planets for my taste, whereas I really dug the gray/rainy/washed out look of the Storm Coast. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Deleted
inherit
guest@proboards.com
7959
0
Deleted
0
January 1970
Deleted
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2017 21:32:44 GMT
Pretty much. I never trusted the space stations. Gimme a planet! Particularly if it has the floating rocks. Add some mist, and it would be like Chinese painting. Havarl, H7 and Kadara are certainly my favs. Also, turning Voeld into a waterworld of oceans, streams, meltwater pools and tentative wildflowers on the edges of the moraines would have made my day in the sequel. Oh, well. Something for my Ryder to dream about when s/he activates the Vaults. Voeld, especially. I could imagine having a lot of fun with that planet from a developers perspective in terms of the Angaran pre-"Scourge" ruins they could uncover and exploration opportunities. Or perhaps even Jardaan/Opposition related information would be revealed through the melting ice. I really think the next 5-10 years wouldn't be a bad jump in terms of the sequel. A lot of colonies could be developing, obviously the new population of the respective Milky Way races would still be low as any child born after arrival would still be under 10 and any counter-attack by the Kett would up the tension in terms of the fight for defense and survival. Yep, agreed. Meanwhile, we can get some suspense building up around Jardaan, tensions resurfacing with Angara. I actually would not even mind 20-30 years, so we can also deal with the new generation of Andromedians, and maybe even their divergences from the original colonists, biologically or spiritually... |
|
inherit
7106
0
4,137
samhain444
1,669
April 2017
samhain444
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by samhain444 on Sept 12, 2017 21:39:21 GMT
Voeld, especially. I could imagine having a lot of fun with that planet from a developers perspective in terms of the Angaran pre-"Scourge" ruins they could uncover and exploration opportunities. Or perhaps even Jardaan/Opposition related information would be revealed through the melting ice. I really think the next 5-10 years wouldn't be a bad jump in terms of the sequel. A lot of colonies could be developing, obviously the new population of the respective Milky Way races would still be low as any child born after arrival would still be under 10 and any counter-attack by the Kett would up the tension in terms of the fight for defense and survival. Yep, agreed. Meanwhile, we can get some suspense building up around Jardaan, tensions resurfacing with Angara. I actually would not even mind 20-30 years, so we can also deal with the new generation of Andromedians, and maybe even their divergences from the original colonists, biologically or spiritually... That would be a good premise for a sequel as well. I think if we had a better understanding of how far away the cluster that the Kett originated from was in relation to Heleus, we could discern what type of invading force they could collect and when it would arrive. As it stands, an older Ryder in their 40's or 50's could make a solid advisory role or NPC not unlike Hawke in DA:I although I wouldn't mind them breaking precedent and having your Ryder from ME:A be a squadmate with your psychological profile created during your playthrough determining the character that joins your new team. Also, like you stated, if would be enough time for the inevitable internal conflicts between the respective races to surface making galaxy-wide relations less certain. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Deleted
inherit
guest@proboards.com
7959
0
Deleted
0
January 1970
Deleted
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2017 21:53:51 GMT
Yep, agreed. Meanwhile, we can get some suspense building up around Jardaan, tensions resurfacing with Angara. I actually would not even mind 20-30 years, so we can also deal with the new generation of Andromedians, and maybe even their divergences from the original colonists, biologically or spiritually... That would be a good premise for a sequel as well. I think if we had a better understanding of how far away the cluster that the Kett originated from was in relation to Heleus, we could discern what type of invading force they could collect and when it would arrive. As it stands, an older Ryder in their 40's or 50's could make a solid advisory role or NPC not unlike Hawke in DA:I although I wouldn't mind them breaking precedent and having your Ryder from ME:A be a squadmate with your psychological profile created during your playthrough determining the character that joins your new team. Also, like you stated, if would be enough time for the inevitable internal conflicts between the respective races to surface making galaxy-wide relations less certain. Well, given that in 20-30 years Ryder twins are of the age of Alec and Ellen when they set out for Andromeda, you need not move Ryder from the protagonist's seat tbh. |
|
haolyn
N3
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Mass Effect Andromeda
Posts: 285 Likes: 777
inherit
8869
0
Jun 30, 2017 23:19:43 GMT
777
haolyn
285
Jun 29, 2017 20:09:08 GMT
June 2017
haolyn
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by haolyn on Sept 12, 2017 22:05:58 GMT
so, what i usually do is the following (keeping in mind i find it physically impossible to NOT do every single available sidequest and task. i'm that person):
- intro/hab 7/nexus plus all sidequests
- eos: both sites, followed by the pillars, vault and outpost, then all quests that can be completed without dying of radiation poisoning
- nexus, then aya
- havarl first: i find it a nice change of pace to do a pedestrian planet after the nomad-heavy eos, and a good way to learn about angaran culture after first contact. i finish the main planet quests followed by all possible quests here, including boarding the tempest after the "outpost" is finished and immediately coming back to do the additional tasks
- nexus and aya again, then voeld. i do the main planet quest first, then i activate the vault and place the outpost. then i do any sidequests and tasks i haven't yet completed, including all randomly spawned objective ones
- save the moshae, back to the nexus, then aya
- back to eos (i like to do this now after kallo/suvi actually tell me i can do it, it makes more narrative sense to me). i finish placing all forward stations, do the architect, then do bain's quests, wipe out the kett base and finish by mopping up all the remaining sidequests and tasks
- loyalty missions: at this point i advance all loyalty missions i can do. iirc i can already do liam's mission at this point, so i do that one
- kadara: i take my time here in order to get the most content out of the reyes romance. i do it all in one go though, i know some prefer to space it out but i don't have the patience for that.
i do the kadara market intro first, don't accept sloane's offer so i can work with reyes, then gather all available quests and move to the slums
tour of the slums to get all quests, then talk to reyes a bunch of times
first round of quests in the badlands, i activate the pillars and the vault on the way
back to the slums, turn in quests and accept new ones, then kadara market and do sidequests again
badlands questing again, but do NOT do sloane's kett cleanup quest
back to the slums/market to turn in more stuff, then back to the tempest (where i choose "being open minded" in the meeting), then accepting more quests including night on the town
back to kadara market for night on the town, then talk to reyes in the slums after the party for the one bit of post-party extra dialogue (the reyes romance is REALLY starved for content, don't judge me)
then more questing in the badlands, including to finish behind enemy lines (sloane's quest), then turn everything in at the port
once i get high noon, do that one, then go back to slums/market to conclude it, then place the outpost and wrap up all other quests
- at this point i do the asari ark/cora's LM
- then before i go to the next planet i go back to nexus and aya and do some planet hopping to progress various sidequests and loyalty missions
- i should be far enough to do jaal's LM now
- now i go to h-047c (as it's a nice change of pace so as to not do the nomad-heavy kadara and elaaden one after the other). i do the main planet quest going clockwise around the map, activate the vault, then vetra's LM
- then elaaden. i do all quests in paradise, then the krogan colony, followed by drack's LM. then i do the main desert hopping quest alongside activating the vault and doing as many sidequests as possible. finally i place the outpost and wrap up the remaining tasks
- the turian ark should be next, followed by peebee's LM
- more planet hopping and sidequesting pretty much everywhere until i've progressed or completed everything but the critical path
- salarian ark/archon's flagship
- sidequesting/planet hopping
- khi tasira (exploration sector first, then research sector)
- more sidequesting, incl movie night. i like to go around and exhaust the dialogue of all named characters at this point, especially all the angara incl the sages on havarl
- meridian
- epilogue and wrapping up post-ending quests and dialogue
|
|
It's things like these with the pacing of tasks and presumed order of doing things that make me imagine how much better the game could have been if it hadn't been so open world. I do like roaming around but I think I would prefer a tighter story line and a fixed order of doing things. Especially since there is so much to do, it's hard to remember why I'm doing this or that when you're fairly free to proceed in any order you want. So this is another example of Bioware designing the game particularly for me and not for the vast majority of players. 
The same thing happened with DAI and the Hinterlands -- my first PT I immediately figured out how to work that zone for maximum value, just by doing what I normally do in open worlds. While it's pretty widely agreed that BW fucked up the Hinterlands and blew the pacing for 99.9% of players, for us 0.1%'s, it was perfect.
