Ryder vs Shepard

Shepard is Shepard.

Ryder is more prepared.

Shepard is augmented by his squad, but it only improves how he fights.

Ryder may be dependent on his squad (and I'm including SAM in this since he has SAM from the start), but it may overall make him superior for battle.

One-on-one, Shepard finds a way against even space gods.

Squad-on-squad, I can see a Ryder squad by the end, being powerful enough to overtake the other team.

I mean really



I think Bioware will take the fan joke somewhat seriously: You'll never be better than Commander Shepard (overall)

But you don't need to. You can be better in more unique ways Shepard isn't. You can have better connections with others. You can be defined in strange ways that make you more than an individual. This is sci fi after all. You can learn from Shepard (theoretically) and train to try to be better than him. All sorts of things can happen, with Ryder or others.

But Shepard won't be shaken from being that guy the galaxy lucked out on, the one who is singularly powerful and resistant enough to at least take on any challenge. Any. ANY. The series will probably, and should probably always remember this, and hopefully even incorporate the story and symbolism as it continues.

And I don't even like the character much. I think that's just his setup. That's what he represents in the MEU.

Ryder can be something else. Ryder can be even more powerful in another perspective. Ryder could be in situations, planned by himself, where Shepard would be defeated. But one on one, face to face? Goodbye Ryder. You don't just hit Shepard. At least I'd hope.


IMO Shepard is a bunch of things that make a recipe of a super surprising (even to ancient machines) entity.
Take humanity. Okay, promise, potential, aggression, evolution, lots of those concepts in the MEU.
Take a particularly tough one from it. Okay, we got a James or whateverthefuck. Not enough.
Add in great training, initial experiences. Cool, we have someone maybe at Ryder's initial level. They can fight, survive.
Add in N7 training, warfare, tests. Great, we have someone maybe at Alec's general level. They can be among the best of humanity, maybe of the galaxy.
But then add in the fight against the Reapers. And not just the Reapers, but add in the Prothean beacon. It is theoretical, but easy to consider that it DID imprint an aspect of 'Prothean-ness' onto Shepard, and evolve his mindset in a simply depicted, but amazingly useful way. It is possible that from Eden Prime, Shepard became THE person to oppose the Reapers. Not impervious, obviously, but driven to be someone who can face the Reapers no matter what. And he did. Just theoretical, sure.
And then add in the Lazarus Project. He's proven to not be impervious, but with Lazarus Project upgrades (even if mostly reconstructive), he's a Terminator Shepard. He can't just take a hit, he can hit back with more force. He won't just shoot a gun, he'll get your weak point. He doesn't just smacktalk you with ignorant arrogance, he'll actually infuriate the mecha space gods. He is practically a demi-god in this setting. Beyond Alec or initial Ryder, easily.
Then put him through ME3. At this point, sure, he's weakened/evened out in some way due to the stresses of war Bioware wants to depict. We don't want him at god level yet. Sure. But he's still developing his skills and experience. He's becoming a *practiced* Reaper killer. He's fighting in maybe deeper trenches than we may see Ryder ever fight in (Ryder may fight stronger enemies, stranger things, I dunno, but not THIS). He's 'against all odds'.

Even in crazier theories that the Reapers are effectively toying with their food, the toying is still beyond what perhaps (until shown otherwise) any other person in the galaxy for millions of years has faced, when adding his challenges all together.

Facing Ryder? Even with full Pathfinder upgrades? That's just another big boss enemy, tbh. We can be proven otherwise, but I think Shepard would squeak through again. Again, I'm not saying he's impervious, immortal, immune to being defeated. He can be defeated. He will be defeated. Ryder can defeat him. But my MONEY would be on Shepard.


And I want to be perfectly clear - that's only in a very particular circumstance. Victory and defeat... can be defined in other ways.



EDIT: BTW I think a little similarly with Hawke compared to Warden and Inquisitor. I think a big trait of Hawke is survivability. I think he probably 

2deep4me

I think Ryder's got some growing up to do before he can face the mighty Sheploo.



This.

Shepard has Wrex, Liara, Garrus, Samara, Jack, Thane, Zaeed, Grunt and Javik (just to name the most powerful). They'd wipe the floor with the manlet and his team of misfits.

I'm not sure why you'd say misfit like a bad thing. Most of Shepard's allies were misfits, coming under the authority of Shepard's lead partially due to their misfit nature and how Shepard ends up assisting them in regards to that.

Jack of all trades rarely beats a master.

If InfiShep, do you need more than TC, Incinerate and ED?

If AdeptShep, do you need more than Reave and a gun? You do? OK, have some grenades and Warp.

If....

Also, Shep can pause, look at the arena, and then unload the hurt, while Ryder is like WTF :spacemagic:

Uhhhh, where the fuck is my option for Blasto!!??

Not a fair comparison at the moment. Shepard already was a grizzled veteran before we even touched down on Eden Prime. After that he only got stronger as he took on Geth, Krogan Battlemasters, mercenary warlords, rachni, thresher maws, collectors, and the reapers. Not to mention the cerebrus tech in him.

The Ryder twins have potential and talent. Alec wouldn't have had them on the pathfinder team if they didn't (he doesn't seem like the type of person that would put them on his team just because they are his children). However they are unproven. Post game Ryder might give Shepard a challenge but Shepard would still come out on top.

According to in-game cutscenes, whoever fires their predator off first wins.

Shep for sure.

femshep would win, because she has the capacity for utter ruthlessness with no remorse. i dont think rider can go that far. from the poor dialogue and stupid facial animations, i can tell ryder cant measure up to a full on renegade femshep

Story wise, Shepard.

But gameplay wise, it looks to be Ryder.

Though I guess it's also possible that, despite all of Ryder's gizmos, swords and fancy tricks, this hypothetical encounter would simply end like this.

Well raise you hand if you got into a fist fight with a 600 lbs Yahg

(Shepard raises hand)

I think we're done here