Active abilities in ME:A (Updated)

It's also based on what was done with DAI, where we were limited to eight abilities.  It's reasonable to assume they will do something similar as this is the same "open world" sort of game, the same game engine,  and Bioware's recent obsession with "streamlining"

I wouldn't say it's reasonable.  In fact, I'd say you're reaching -- looking for reasons to worry, instead of judging things objectively.  You raise some good points, but you're ignoring the fact that Dragon Age and Mass Effect have wildly different gameplay in terms of combat mechanics.  In Mass Effect 3, we had three mapped buttons for the abilities of our choice, with the power wheel allowing us to access our full range of abilities.  We've seen quick power uses and quick weapon swaps, which both existed in Mass Effect 2 & 3.  Neither wheel having been shown does not mean they are gone.  The games both being made by Bioware does not indicate it either.

If you really want to know, respectfully tweet them and ask.  Maybe you'll find out.  Until then, there's not a lot of basis for this concern, aside from just wanting to have something to complain about.  If the wheel menus are gone and we are in fact limited to three abilities, I'll admit that I was wrong.  For now, you guys need to chill and wait for more information.

I disliked the Power Wheel of Fortune in MET, slows things down too much imo. Using powers, & their many combo effects, together with the independent cool system, & no stop to pause will be good fun. Maybe ME:A insanity will be more along the lines of ME3MP Platinum instead of the lolbronze that was ME3, where we'll need a proper setups to go through the game instead of mis-matched setups.

I have found something similar by googling it.  There is still a weapon wheel, but no power wheel.  Very interesting choice.

That is a totally valid point and I can definitely respect that.  You'll have to excuse my abrasiveness.  I've been part of the Bioware Community for over a decade now and, ever since Bioware joined up with EA, there has been no shortage of naysayers looking for any reason to complain.  This is a legitimate concern, but it doesn't necessarily mean that the entire game is going to ruined.  I just think it was a very odd decision to make.

Just to add my voice to this...

3 seems almost enough. But not quite.

Obviously Soldier will be fine.
Vanguard, Infiltrator will probably be fine. (Especially if we go by ME3, where by far the fastest SP character was a Vanguard spamming two powers. And Infiltrators are primarily about cloaking.)
Adepts might be fine. Some loss of diversity here, though, but Singularity/Pull + Warp + Throw seems OK.
Engineer and Sentinel lose their identity. The whole point of these classes was that they're power reliant, and since their individual powers are typically weaker than Adept's, they need a diverse toolkit.

It's funny, but I think 4 powers would be perfectly fine. Too bad about controllers limiting design space, I guess.

We do know that each profile has its own particular skill that comes with it.  The CES trailer showed that the profile skill for Engineer is combat drone, while for Soldier it's marksman's focus. What we don't know is whether these skills are active or passive.

It also seems likely that the profile skills for Vanguard and Infiltrator are not charge and tactical cloak, because these skills can be selected in the three-skill loadout.  I think the same is true of singularity because we saw a skill icon that looked like it on Dec 1.  No idea about tech shield.

If that's true, I think there are quite a few people who will find the journey to Andromeda to be untenable.



I guess they've decided to limit the way the game can be played to a singular gameplay style - which appears to be fast-paced, frenetic, action combat.

Never mind the people who have loved the games for the characters, the world, the settings, the stories - if you're not into frenetic action combat, you're not invited.  This decision pretty much extends a big middle finger to those players.

Personally, I'm perfectly willing to be limited to 3 active powers, but loss of pause to aim, pause to consider your tactical options, pause to coordinate the use of squadmate powers, etc. will force a playstyle I generally dislike.  I think it's also worth mentioning that the other feature available with the power wheel is a map showing the relative positions of enemies and squadmates, which is also pretty damned important tactical information.  I wonder if this feature is also being stripped?

Decisions like this are the reasons I don't board the hype train or pre-order games until much more information has been made available.  What little we know thus far is appealing in some ways, but seriously off-putting (or disqualifying for consideration) in others.

Good for you, I guess.

Do you disagree with the assertion that removal of the power wheel will limit how the game can be played and/or force an MP-like playstyle on those who typically make frequent use of the power wheel?



We definitely need more information. I'd like to see some different playstyles demonstrated, specifically a slower, more tactical approach versus full-on frenetic action. I care much more about that than the specifics of powers and whatnot.

I also want to know whether it will be possible to ever pause in combat and whether a map showing the relative positions of allies and enemies will be available.

I forgot about the mini map! :/

I feel a bit the same, although the saving grace for me is that ME has never really been about the combat. I've never disliked the combat but it's always been a secondary consideration behind characters, character-building, story and world-building. I pre-ordered the game but I did so knowing that there is unlikely to be any tactical pause option in combat.

I've been playing some Borderlands to get used to the idea of fast-paced combat, lol.

What makes you think we can't control companions? Nothing they've shown could lead to this conclusion because nothing they've shown has featured squadmates for more than three picoseconds in the first place.

Everything was "look how fast, fluid, and vertical our combat is now" and not "look at all of the mechanics and tactics you can utilize in a fight. The HUD still has spots on it to indicate which abilities are mapped/last used by a squad member and the squad hasn't been shown off at all.

Complain about the lack of extended power use in combat due to lack of a wheel, complain about the apparent three power limit, but complaining about squad control when we haven't even seen squad stuff is just silly.

We know what three characters look like; that's not enough to infer that we won't be able to manage them.

Total speculative post below -

Supposing we end up having access to a fourth "class power" based on the profile we select (with the other three powers in the loadout being customisable), what are the likely options?

Engineer - combat drone
Sentinel - tech armour
Infiltrator - cloak
Vanguard - charge
Soldier - ...? Adrenaline Rush?
Adept - ...? Singularity? Biotic overcharge?

I am hoping we have access to a fourth power in this way as it would be huge in terms of allowing more build variety. But Soldier and Adept are definitely hardest to pin down a class power for. Maybe adept profile could have something new that increases the potency of all biotics or maybe have flexibility in the class power.