The Tempest thread (confirmed 100% weaponry free)

that is where we differ...MEA is already sitting on the dashboard of my xbox

It's not a true RPG until you have a group of teens and young adults defeat a God through the power of friendship.

...and the combat looks like a posing contest? Yikes!

But why in the world would you "cut" something like armaments on scouting vessels?

Seems to me that the things to be cut would be luxury type things that make living in the new galaxy more enjoyable, more comfortable, etc. NOT something that can protect you and your interests in the new galaxy.

I think I saw somewhere that the crew would move about the ship.  Crew mobility is something they did increase from ME1 through ME3.  I also agree that it would be a nice touch if, in addition to the upgrades we do through crafting/collecting, there were some ongoing changes evident to show that others were contributing to the improvement effort.  It would have been a great added touch to ME3, for example, if the cables lying around Normandy's decks were "picked up and put in their proper place" (i.e. disappeared) as the game progresses.  It does give the game an element of the elapsing of time.

I'm not necessarily anticipating it for Tempest itself; but I think it seems almost likely for Nexus and for the various bases we visit that they will show changes occurring.

Thanks, I'm glad you like it. I agree this kind of scenario would do a good job rounding out the different factions. Jien won't be another can-do-no-wrong character, and Sloane won't just be violent for the sake of it but instead have good intentions. And yeah, I hope we can express our opinion about both sides rather than being forced to say support Jien wholeheartedly and write off Sloane as a thug. I also hope that there is a way to reunite both groups since while they have different methods if this hypothesis is true they have the same goals in mind so there is room there. Maybe make it hard to do, but still have it as an option. 
By pacifist stance, I don't mean that Jien isn't pragmatic but merely doesn't see conflict as a good course of action. As for the 'trail of bodies' left by Sloane, it sounds like that is what we are investigating or was a recent event which is part of what made me think her and her follower's exile was because of a coup attempt. Both sides have pros and cons, and are two ways towards the same end: ensuring protection for the people under their command. 
We don't know what the past if any there is between Jien and Sloane, or really what most of their personality is. Sloane could have been really clever about hiding the coup attempt or maybe got involved after it started, and Jien could have been kept in the dark or never figured Sloane would actually go that far. These kinds o situations can lead people to act in ways you don't expect. 

Why did you preorder without having enough info, especially considering your opinion of Bioware in the recent past?



The cut/not implement thing was about the Nomad having weapons, since it'd have required a different game mode, and balance with the combat on foot. I don't think the weapons on the Tempest were cut, but a intentional decision. And I wasn't talking about in game, but decision made by Bioware in development.
As for in game, I stand but my opinion that they made huge, stupid assumptions on what they'll encounter in andromeda that lead to Problems as we arrived.

So, then - which one of us is really giving them a pass?

Man, if this is true, I'm right there with Sloane.

I agree completely with Iakus! Why did we join this shit? 

I would love the passing of time to show its effects on the Tempest too.

I agree with UpUpAwayRedux that the Normandy could maybe have benefited from this by moving gradually away from the whole retrofit look it had from the beginning.

Just helps make the ship feel more organic and lived in.

I wonder if Alec Ryder 's mantra will be "I am one with the Mac, the Mac is with me"?

I meant it goes against common sense if there are aren't any warships at all. If there are the situation of the initiative might be less stupid.
I very much doubt the orientations are meant to be in-game briefings to the volunteers.