Patch Notes and PC System Specs

The 1080Ti does make the game feel light as a feather 😁 I played initially with a GTX 660, so the difference for me was even bigger. Heck, even going DSR at 4k resolution runs better than the 660.

I think he's talking about 4K or at least 1440p. I have GTX 970 and I play on 1080p. With some mixture of settings (Ultra textures, normal HBAO, medium shadows, rest on mix of medium/high) I never drop below high/mid 40s (Havarl), mostly sticking to 55+ (everything else). For my first playthrough I actually set textures to Ultra, ambient occlusion to HBAO Full and all of the rest settings to High and locked my FPS at 30 for coherent experience. I NEVER dropped below 30, even on Havarl. As a matter of fact I could play all ultra (with only effects on high, cause effects on ultra dropped my fps badly at the tempest) with 30 FPS lock @ 1080p but there was too much stuttering, so I settled for mostly High.

Mass Effect: Andromeda Patch 1.09 Notes
blog.bioware.com/2017/07/04/mass-effect-andromeda-patch-1-09-notes/

by Author - Mae MorrisonPosted on - July 4, 2017

For patch 1.09, we’ve continued to improve facial animations in Mass Effect: Andromeda, as well as fixing a number of player-reported issues. We’ve also added Platinum difficulty to Multiplayer, featuring a new mixed enemy faction.

You can find a full list of notes below. For notes in other languages, click here.

Various improvements to facial animations and cinematic scenes
Improved stability
[MP] Platinum difficulty added
Fixed issue where certain hair textures could disappear from female custom heads when using Facial Reconstruction Suite
Fixed issue where negative AVP could be displayed after reaching Nexus level 20
Fixed various quest progression blockers
Fixed issue where Ryder could be killed even when following directions during the guarded walk through Aya
Fixed issue where player could commit to relationships with both Jaal and Cora concurrently
Fixed issue where the “Reach the Signal Source” objective in Peebee’s quest line could fail to trigger
Fixed issue where player could get trapped on a ledge in the Elaaden Vault, causing an infinite load screen
Fixed save/load issues with the final battle area in Peebee’s Loyalty mission
Fixed issue where the “Speak to Sid” objective on the Nexus could persist indefinitely
Fixed issue where quest marker could disappear during the final step of the “Reformation” quest on Voeld
Addressed issue where it was possible for the player to be attacked during initial conversation with Bain Massani on Eos
Fixed issue where save/load could cause final platform to disappear in Drack’s Loyalty Mission
Fixed issue where the player can’t progress through the final story mission if the Nomad is broken from the “Out of Gas” quest
Added a confirmation prompt before changing Ryder’s appearance on the Tempest
Fixed issue where player could become trapped by NPCs in the APEX HQ on the Nexus
X5 Ghost can now be dismantled.
Fixed issue where TAB (keyboard) and Start/Options (Controller) no longer served as shortcuts to close the pause menu
Fixed issue where auto-level could assign skill points into loyalty-locked squadmate skills
Tactical Cloak melee damage bonus now applies to jump-melee as well.
Fixed issue with Fusion Mods displaying incorrect stats
[PC] Improved HDR functionality on Windows 10 Creators Update
[PC] Photo mode now supports Ansel’s depth-of-field controls.
[PC] Fixed issue where Logitech keyboard rebinding would cause key lighting to work improperly

Mass Effect: Andromeda Combat Balance Updates
blog.bioware.com/2017/07/04/mass-effect-andromeda-combat-balance-updates/
by Author - Mae MorrisonPosted on - July 4, 2017

You asked for greater challenges, and you’re getting them. The new Platinum mode cranks up the difficulty, requiring strong teamwork and skilled play to achieve victory. Platinum players will battle tougher enemies and a mix of heavy hitters from all factions.

To help you survive, we’ve added Veteran Bonus ranks that increase your available power, combo, and melee damage stats for every character. We’ve adjusted many Ultra Rare weapons so they pack a heavier punch. In particular, the Black Widow is now as deadly as the name suggests.

New variants for Uncommon, Rare, and Ultra Rare weapons will also help you stay in the fight. New Bulwark weapons increase your damage resistance when teammates are nearby, while Siphon weapons replenish your health as you deal damage. And for crowd control, new Concussive weapons create a biotic explosion when an enemy is killed with a weak point shot.

You’ll also have a little help from an old Milky Way friend. We’ve added the Batarian Scrapper, and he’s bringing the dreaded Kishock Harpoon Gun with him.

Based on popular feedback, enemies can now disrupt Hacks, and we’ve reduced Upload’s depletion rate when it’s not controlled by players. Assassination has been replaced with a Boss objective featuring stronger enemies that have special nameplates, more hit points, and are resistant to Cobra RPGs.

You can find a full list of changes below. For changes in other languages, please click here.


Multiplayer

Introduced Platinum Difficulty, featuring mixed enemy factions.
Added the Batarian Scrapper character (Rare).
Added a Skin Tone slider to customization options for some characters.
Added Veteran Bonus ranks that increase power, combo, and melee damage stats for each character.
There are now two daily challenges and new types of challenges.
The Item Store has a weekly rotation of two Uncommon and two Rare equipment items.
Characters can be renamed in the customization options.


Weapons

Added the Kishock Harpoon Gun, a heavy, single-shot batarian sniper rifle that bleeds targets slowly.
There are new versions of the Uncommon, Rare, and Ultra Rare weapons with unique perks.
Bulwark: grants you additional damage resistance when near other players. Damage resistance increases with each team member in range.
Siphon: damage dealt replenishes player health.
Concussive: killing an enemy with a weak point shot causes them to detonate with a biotic explosion.


Assault Rifles

Avenger S
Increased damage from 55-66 to 66-79
Falcon
Increased damage from 385-462 to 415-498
Increased total ammo from 30-38 to 36-45
Increase explosion radius from 2 meters to 3 meters
P.A.W.
Increased damage from 58-67 to 64-74


Pistols / SMGs

Charger S
Increased damage from 47-56 to 57-68
Sidewinder
Decreased reload speed from 1.5 seconds to 0.75 seconds
Increased total ammo from 42-53 to 60-75
Eagle
Increased clip size from 18 to 24
Increased total ammo from 180-225 to 192-240
Scorpion
Increased damage from 475-570 to 587-704
Equalizer
Increased damage from 57-68 to 71-85


Shotguns

Scattershot
Increased damage from 66-79 to 87-104
Reegar Carbine
Increased damage from 58-70 to 90-108


Sniper Rifles

Viper S
Increased damage from 460-552 to 610-732
Indra
Decreased damage from 105-126 to 92-110
Black Widow
Increased damage from 771-891 to 900-1041
Increased gun weak point multiplier from 1.7 to 2.0
Naladen
Changed damage distribution between impact and area of effect from a 40/60 ratio to 20/80
Shadow
Slowed down the Shadow’s recharge by 33%


Mods

Added new Targeting System mod for pistols and assault rifles that increases accuracy without a magnified scope.


Powers
Combat

Concussive Shot:
Increased base damage from 350 to 440
Increased Rank 3 damage bonus from 25% to 35%, and Rank 5 damage bonus from 40% to 50%
Increased Rank 6 Anti-Shield damage bonus from 50% to 100% and Rank 6 Anti-Armor damage bonus from 50% to 120%
Flamethrower:
Increased the direct damage per second from 240 to 250
Increased the burning damage over time from 120 to 130 per second
Frag Grenade:
Base damage radius increased from 5 meters to 6 meters
Rank 5 Shrapnel damage over time increased from 65 to 100 damage per second. Duration increased from 5 seconds to 6 seconds

Tech

Assault Turret:
Rank 5 Omni-Link radius increased from 6 meters to 10 meters
Rank 6 Cryo Ammo bullet damage bonus increased from 20% to 60%
Rank 6 Flamethrower:
Immediate damage per second increased from 150 to 275
Burning damage over time increased from 130 to 200 damage per second, and the burn duration increased from 2 seconds to 4 seconds
Flamethrower damage to armor increased from 50% to 60%
Flamethrower range increased from 8 meters to 15 meters
Fortify:
Fixed a bug that was preventing Rank 6 Unmoving Defense from providing stated damage resistance
Increased Rank 6 Unmoving Defense damage resistance from 8 to 10 per second, up to a maximum of 50 (was 40)
Tactical Cloak & Stealth Grid:
Increased the melee damage bonus from 60% to 75% and bonus window from 2 seconds to 3 seconds

Tactical Cloak
Escape Artist now recloaks player for 4 seconds after killing blow with a melee attack.
Remnant VI
Decreased the Rank 2 beam damage bonus from 65% to 50%
Decreased the Rank 5 Focus beam damage bonus from 100% to 80%
Increased the Rank 6 Electric beam damage bonus from 30% to 50%
APEX Training Passive:
Rank 5 Aerial Combat Training is now Special Combat Training and adds 50% damage to combo detonation on top of existing bonuses


Biotic

Lance:
Increased base damage from 350 to 400
Increased aim assist vs. distant targets from a 2-degree angle to a 3-degree angle
Nova:
Increased Rank 5 Anti-Armor and Anti-Shield damage bonuses from 75% to 100%
Increased Rank 6 Seismic damage bonus from 40% to 50%
Shockwave:
Increased base damage from 350 to 400
Singularity:
Increased the Rank 3 damage per second bonus from 40% to 100%
Increased the Rank 6 Explosion damage from 350 to 700
Throw
Fixed a bug that prevented Throw rank 6b from increasing combo detonation damage
Annihilation
Fixed a bug that prevented Annihilation from affecting targets within first 5 seconds of activation


Enemies

In most cases, Ascendant, Fiend, and Hydra sync kills are no longer fatal, but will bring down the player.


Gameplay
Objectives

Timers and progress bars now scale based on difficulty level.
Devices now must be defused within 45 seconds of spawning. This timer resets upon completing interaction.
Upload depletion rate now reduced when not controlled by players.
Hack can now be contested by enemies.
Assassination
Replaced with Boss objective
Boss now spawns more difficult variants of creatures, in progressive order of creature difficulty
Targets have special nameplates, more hit points, and take reduced damage from Cobra RPGs


Equipment

Juggernaut Shield bonus increased to 20%
Shield Enhancer bonus Increased to 30%
Revive Pack Transmitter
Renamed as Supply Pack Transmitter
Now duplicates the effects of First Aid, Revive Packs, and Ammo Packs to teammates within 10 meters
Increases the radius of the Cobra RPG by 50%
Damage from Cobra missiles modified to be more consistent among enemy types, and no longer deal extra damage to weak points.

Does anyone know if Earn your Badge quest is fixed in the patch?

For any prospective PC bottom-feeders lurking, I just saw a used Dell i5-4590 go on eBay for $152 including shipping. Min spec, but drop in a vidcard and you'd be up and running.

Not quite as good as it seemed; it was one of those propietary mobos which needs an adapter cable to use a non-Dell PSU, and the OS was Win 8.1.

Edit: And a home brew i7-2600k for $205, with a decent PSU. Might have gone for less if I hadn't bid the thing up myself a bit.

Edit again: just picked up an i7-3770, 4GB/1TB for $180 with shipping. OK, Windows 8.1, but I'm running the W10 preview anyway.

Anyone else just get an update?

Has the running a fever quest on kadara been fixed yet.

Here are the release notes directly from Bioware. Seems like its exclusively for MP, though.

blog.bioware.com/2017/07/31/mass-effect-andromeda-patch-1-10/

I started playing on the High preset (1080p), then turned off Depth of Field and Motion Blur and reduced Ambient Occlusion to SSAO. Textures set to Ultra. Getting between 50-70 fps, with occasional dips to the mid-40s in highly populated areas or areas with a lot of visual effects (like multiple combat detonations). V-sync is off. Very smooth, only stutters I've experience were when visiting some outlying areas on Kadara.

Win7 x64
Core i5-4590
Radeon RX470 (MSI Armor OC 4GB)