***Your Last Solo in One Word***

Lets see, I hope that works.

I hear you. Having just gone through that myself, I totally get you.



Yeah, the Fire Barrel change wasn't great. I used to on the Ice Map drag away all the Barrels to a safer spread out location and Pull/Throw them at Armoured targets when needed. Would have made it much easier.



Key thing was see how a virtual Level 1 Rank 1 would experience it. So I felt detonating would cheat that a tiny bit unless there was good reason to do so (like, minimal health left on target). But from observation, a Gold detonation on that Kineticst XX would only deal ~50% damage to the targets anyway (with the 40% boost from XX rank). This compared to a full kill from removal from the map.

So whilst a detonation would affect everyone. I would need to reposition again as the abilities would be on timer, and everyone not killed would still be gunning me down. If I was in Ascension, the Shields needed to detonate twice would have reduced the Shields down to a very small amount (not ideal, since I could get kicked out of Ascension at that point from just 1 stray hit instead of a few). And it would have required me to also aim a tiny moment (or I risk the detonator hitting something else when there's so many in a group), all of which puts yourself in danger of Ascension loss and being taken down.

Compared to simply just using Pull and letting momentum carry the enemies off the map, as well as using ~10% Shields per kill that way only, and it becomes clear that if you want to preserve Ascension as long as possible for continued use, you'll need to kill on the cheap and as safely as possible too. Hence why I was just using Pull (and the occasional Push when on the other side of the map).



Very much agreed. There's also a big difference between Gold and Platinum difficulty where you need to constantly check around you every 2-3s compared with being able to effectively set up camp at a spot and work from there. But I hope people seeing this can see that Gold is already going to be rough, don't jump into Platinum too soon before you get your feet steady.

Havoc.

Since this thread isn't really one word, I guess it is time for the extra 100. I had a long time off from MEA, but being back has really just meant doing daily challenge for a few extra apex points. Today had combat mastery, so Flak Cannon for points. Actually I accidentally started with the Commando so that match was worthless except for Paradox waves.

I just half ass these on Bronze for the most part, but since I wasted 7 waves without a combat power that generates points, I did a Silver.

Earlier I had to finish yesterday's Zero and Gold waves, and used my Level 13 Commando for that. Typically I don't bother with boosters/consumables being a cheapskate and don't care if I complete the objectives. But for whatever reason I tried to actually finish the gold solo with her. I had to blow a shield pack on the Wave 3 devices, and then wasted like 3 Cobras on Wave 6 Boss. The Behemoths are massively irritating.

At least my Hornet Siphon is Level III now, I guess that is something.

Oh yes, good eye. I am on the PC, and you are correct that I am using the XBox 360 controller. It's because I started Mass Effect since the first one back in 06/07 on the original XBox 360. So it actually feels weird for me to use the keyboard and mouse compared to using the controller (I'd probably die on Bronze in my full gear and level up if I tried on the keyboard and mouse )

The frame rate counter at the top is from the overlay from Origin.

Here's the video decribed in the last post. But unfortunately there's audio issues from recording, fixed for future recordings, but it's noticable here. Unfixable I believe, but at least will prevent future ones from experiencing the same.

Finally.

Got Retrieval, Devices, and Devices for a not too difficult 37 minute Platinum run on Sandstorm with the Operator. Shaved 20 or so odd minutes from my first run with the Salarian.

Updated with video:

I have seen and used this place too. It works best against the Remnant on Platinum provided you can get the Destroyers and Progenitors to glitch.

There is a similar place in the basement of Derelict. Because there is no easy way out, it’s very easy to get swarmed, esp. as a character which does not have large amount of the DR.

Upload.

Another Wave 6 Upload to ruin an otherwise decent run with a Shield-Powered Asari Duelist. Without Incendiary Ammo, the Boss objective is quite challenging for her. I prefer to equip Disruptor ammo for non-stop crowd control with Shield-Powered Lance. Throwing in a few melees here and there. I should be used to the frustration of poor objectives, but it’s never fun to get to Wave 6 only to see Upload or Hack turn up.

vanelsa - GREAT!!!

I never thought to use a redbar as a biotic obstacle during Devices. Good strategy there!

I think the Platinum Boss objective is a good test of one’s overall skills in MEAMP. Retrieval and Devices is more of a matter of kiting enemies away (from the device) or how to navigate the map so you don’t go down (Retrieval). Hacks and Uploads are all but impossible for most characters; there’s no shame in failing with those two, as the game is stacked against you. With Boss, you have to become both the hunter and the prey. You can’t waste too much time kiting since you’ll run out of time, but on the other hand, you can’t go full on Rambo since enemies will converge on your position and riddle you to the ground. And, depending on when you get the Boss objective, you have to weigh whether or not to expend your Cobras and other consumables. You might need them in the later Waves!

You’ll get there eventually, and I’m looking forward to your successful solo vid!

monk Looking forward to the video! I've gotten confused with a Wave 6 Boss objective too, targeting the wrong Behemoth (see my Nimbus Juggernaut run for instance).

Your times will get down if you keep practicing and get used to the wave compositions, maps, etc. Most of my characters now equip the Vulnerability VI. The faster I can eliminate the enemies, the faster the waves go by!

Naladen.

A commenter on my YouTube channel asked for a run with the Operator and the Naladen. It took a few tries, including one failed mission with a double Boss (Wave 2 and Wave 6) in which I expended all of my Cobras taking out the first Behemoth, leaving nothing to handle the second. The Naladen is an interesting weapon with its AOE splash damage (20% direct and 80% AOE in a 3 meter radius). With no hipfire penalty, you can aim it at the ground and use it like the Venom or Scorpion with no charge-up or delayed explosion mechanic. It does reload very slowly, which is something that really annoyed me at times during the matches.

The way that I specced the Operator (https://thethirdrace.app.goo.gl/dy5g), one charged Overload on an Invasion-affected Observer would strip its shields. A subsequent shot from the Naladen would take it down. Four to five shots to the ground would take out an Anointed. I was able to get a few multi-kills when enemies were bunched up.

My backup weapon was the P.A.W. Siphon, but I used it sparingly throughout the match. Mainly, I deployed it to take down Ascendants near the end of a Wave.

Video and more details here.

Hack!

As in I finally completed a Platinum solo featuring a Hack with a non-stealth character. I've done Hacks before but they were part of failed missions on the subsequent Wave 4 or 6 objectives.

This might also be my last solo, and it's a good one with a Shield-Powered Human Vanguard. Watch the video and read more here: bsn.boards.net/post/1078902/thread