The Tempest thread (confirmed 100% weaponry free)

Like I said in my post, it appears nothing will convince you that there is a reason for this decision. I'm not trying to persuade or convince people, and I respect your opinion on this matter. I just find it disappointing that you are willing to let something like this completely deter you from seeing, that there still could be a reason. I'm not holding out hope for one good enough to completely justify the decision, but from the trailers, we see some AI ships under attack. The briefings are all set before all this takes place, before the attacks. So there may even be unforeseen fallout from this decision within the game itself. I think that statements like there is zero reason for this are premature at this stage, given we have yet to fully see the context of this decision within the game itself.

Sure, as it stands, it seems ridiculous. I can't assess whether any of the developers are surprised by this response to the Tempest and Nomad having no weaponry. It would seem to me that they shouldn't be surprised there would be some against this decision, on the precedent of what we've seen in the past games alone.

The second statement I highlighted in bold... now I'm not sure if this is a wider cultural thing pertaining to guns and control and what not, but I'm against that philosophy of just shooting anything that we can't try and evade or defend ourselves from etc. I still am waiting to see how this holds out given the game, and what we've seen in the trailers vs. the optimism in the pre-Andromeda arrival briefings.

The last bit. Again as I have mentioned twice, I think it is still very early to assume that the writers all suffer from lack of reasonable logic and common sense etc. and that we are going to see completely loss of reality and cohesion in the game. I really don't see how this bodes ill for the very franchise? That statement seems to me to be ridiculously hyperbolic. Your entitled to that assessment of things as they stand right now, but I think letting something like this, before we've played the game and see how things pan out, effect your assessment of the entire franchise is vastly overblown. I think at the end of the day if you are steadfast in seeing a basic level of reality and cohesion, whatever you consider those two to be in regards to the generic elements of the franchise, then you aren't probably going to enjoy the game and that would be your loss. I'm sorry and somewhat surprised people have been so deeply effected by this that there perception of the franchise has changed. But I think a lot of people, from now to launch, and after launch, will be able to get over this and still enjoy the game, and may even find that there is an important plot point that is tied to the structure and leadership of AI as to why scouting and research vessels are being sent out, weaponless. I could be wrong, and there is no damn reason. I'd still enjoy the game, and not let this lapse effect my experience of it, or the franchise itself.

I would nuke that entire site from orbit -- it's the only way to be sure... 

All this talk about weaponless vehicles and rebelling security chiefs is seriously making me think that BioWare is intentionally setting up the Andromeda Initiative to fail so as to have humanity portrayed as the underdog. Now obviously, the colonists would be facing an uphill battle regardless of how well prepared they might have been, but the systematic crippling of the Initiative's means to operate on even a basic level just seems like an elaborate set up to have Ryder, our human protagonist, lead the Milky Way immigrants to safety and to prove, once again, how superior we humans are.

Much like how in ME 3, all of Earth's military leaders went brian dead at the beginning of the game so as to have an excuse to Take Back Earth, or how the Council did nothing to ready the galaxy's overall military readiness despite knowing of the impending Reaper invasion; all so Shepard, and his/her superior human ingenuity could unite the various races and convince them all to follow human leadership back to our home planet.

Yes, but since we are talking about people being logical vs. illogical... don't you think that it is somewhat illogical for you to be insisting that I'm giving Bioware a pass on this by saying "I'm going to wait and see"... As opposed to badgering them about something that, by your own admission, you have actually no faith that they'll listen to you and, in fact, have some pretty solid evidence from past experiences that they'll just ignore you... and admitting that you've already bought the game.  So, if they don't rectify the issue... in reality, you've already joined the initiative... while stating that it's impossible for the people in the story to have joined the initiative unless they were absolutely proven beforehand that the Nomad and Tempest had weapons?

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 think it would apply to humanity the most though. After all, the writers have ensured that us humans are the undisputed ubersmench of the galaxy in every possible area of expertise (science, military tactics, economics, genetic "diversity", etc.). What better way to (artificially) force us into the role of the scrappy underdog then by having the human lead initiative break down?

I think it would apply to humanity the most though. After all, the writers have ensured that us humans are the undisputed ubersmench of the galaxy in every possible area of expertise (science, military tactics, economics, genetic "diversity", etc.). What better way to (artificially) force us into the role of the scrappy underdog then by having the human lead initiative break down?

well duh I am sure that other parts of the will be up to what I have come to expect from Bioware yet mistakes are made in every game and I want to make sure Bioware is aware of the fact that people are aware of the lore breaking moronic flaw. That as assuming that somehow by magic we get a more reasonable explanation that is not based on some hippy logic.

And yes I have seen Bioware handwave crap before because it suited them, it is a reality of game developing and yet sometimes they even agreed they were wrong tho with little effort to rectify the situation.....and sometimes they even correct the issue promptly (or almost promptly) namely the ng+ in me2.

I am not going to be deterred from buying the game but I sure as hell am going to tell Bioware what I like and what I do not like about it

Also I am fairly sure those who joined the initiative were reassured that they would be properly protected.

That's not very peaceful of you, Jockey...

Another thought - if it really was that important to appear peaceful, couldn't a ship's weapons just be removed and put into storage for that mission instead of forgoing the option entirely? You'd have all the advantages of being unarmed, such as there are, and if the situation required it, the guns could be refitted. Bam.

Then again, NPC stupidity may well be the in game reason for the lack of guns on the Nomad and Tempest. I mean, look at DAI's templars, mages, wardens and so on... shit happens because people are stupid.

By having already bought the game, however, you've left yourself no recourse BUT to complain endlessly to them about it; whereas, I can walk away completely with my money in my pocket and the time to enjoy whatever game it is that I've purchased instead.  I'm not giving Bioware any sort of pass, nor am I relying on some magical "hippy logic."  I would say I'm being completely logical and practical in waiting to see where Bioware takes this from here.  In the meantime, I'm enjoying myself discussing possible plot devices with other here on the website... note - possibly good plot devices AND possibly bad ones as well. 

I disagree that human are the best in every field in ME. They are special since ME, and it got worse in the sequels, but they're still behind some species. The way they set up the universe would've clearly lead to their dominance eventually (or their annihilation by an alliance) because their growth and expansions was unlikely any other species in the cycle, but they weren't still as superior as you said (genetic crap aside).

The Initiative is still a multi species organization, and we haven't seems who are exactly the leaders, beside Jien (which I doubt will govern alone). And we already have hints of the asari ark not faring so well. I Doubt turians and salarians won't struggle as the rest.