Mass Effect 3

[Saquist]

Hanukkah Solo wrote:

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Right. Because humans, turians, and krogans don't have any element zero on their world, they didn't develop the ability naturally, and have to be exposed in-utero to gain it. Since there isn't any other known way of gaining biotics (yet), we have to assume the asari's homeworld has element zero in it, probably its core, to explain how they developed it naturally. There might be a different explanation in ME3, but until then, that's the best guess any of us can make.

Then again, we won't really know just how inconsistent the story of the Reapers may or may not be until ME3, either, so arguing about either case is kind of pointless at this stage.

Are you saying it's a known fact that there is element zero on the Asari Homeworld?

[Skywalker]

Are you reading every word of my posts, or only some of them?

I suggest you go over what I said again.

[Reverend]

Saquist wrote:

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Big ship destroy small ship: Sure it has the power.
Small ship destroy big ship: Now that's special.

If Fire power wasn't a factor then the only use for the Geth is Canon Fodder but clearly Sovereign couldn't handle the offensive requirements for destroying a whole fleet. His armament was at least limited in number. But there was no rapid fire from Sovereign. It's likely he wasn't a true offensive weapon at all. Perhaps he merely had Offensive weaponry.

Are you being intentionally dense or something? I really can't tell. The codex entry explicitly says that the gun is a scaled *down* version of the one Sovereign had. Meaning it's *less* powerful than the original Reaper version. Just because Sovereign didn't happen to have any bigger ships around to destroy is neither here nor there.

As for the Turians spotting it's approach; it's a bit hard to miss anything that size when it's in visual range...like when it went ramming through half the fleet.

TheGodBen wrote:

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Sovereign has a bias against organic life, it's trying to kill us, so why should I trust it to tell the truth about us?

While I understand the argument from an objective standpoint, I get the feeling that being a big, ancient and neigh incomprehensible as Reapers are above that kind of self delusion. I see it as being somewhat akin to the opposing Vorlon and Shadow ideologies from B5. Neither is "wrong" or even biased, it's just a point of view that they've set on. Likewise the Reapers have concluded that their way of harvesting and "ascending" suitable races is the best way to perpetuate themselves. The fact that they've lasted so long means they're correct...though of course being correct doesn't mean they're nice about it.

[Herkimer Jitty]

Saquist wrote:

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Even though the focus seems to be element zero, manipulation of dark energy is the ability that is natural to the asari.

During melding, an asari consciously attunes her nervous system to her partner's, sending and receiving electrical impulses directly through the skin

Element Zero (Atomic Number 0, Chemical Symbol Ez), also known as 'eezo', is a substance that, when subjected to an electrical current, releases dark energy which can be manipulated into a mass effect field

It can be assumed, then, that the Asari would need the eezo in their bodies, regardless of whether or not their abilities are based on pure electrical charge manipulation, or more magical dark energy manipulation.

[PsychoPere]

On a related Mass Effect note, I finished reading the third novel, Retribution, earlier tonight. Anderson can still be a bit of a badass - I want him on my squad in ME3.

[Skywalker]

PsychoPere wrote:

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On a related Mass Effect note, I finished reading the third novel, Retribution, earlier tonight. Anderson can still be a bit of a badass - I want him on my squad in ME3.

There's another character introduced in Retribution that I hope will be in ME3 as an antagonist. I really want my Shepard to kill that bastard.

The Mass Effect novels are pretty decent, overall. They're not literary masterpieces or anything, but definitely readable. I'd also recommend David Gaider's Dragon Age novels, The Stolen Throne and The Calling.

[Jono]

Do the novels have any impact in the games, or at least ME2?

[-Brett-]

Seventh White Boomer wrote:

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Do the novels have any impact in the games, or at least ME2?

Not really. The novels tie in to the games in some fun ways, but nothing of any particular substance.

[Herkimer Jitty]

Hide yo wife, hide yo kids, cause they reapin' everyone on Earth.

[Reverend]

Seventh White Boomer wrote:

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Do the novels have any impact in the games, or at least ME2?

Yes and no. Yes the events in the books "happen" in the continuity of the games and some repercussions did creep into the games. For example, if you'll recall when you first encounter Tali in ME2 the other Quarians *really*don't like Cerberus and when you ask, Tali mentions an incident involving Cerberus going after a young human biotic girl hiding in the Migrant Fleet. That incident is the central plot to the novel 'Ascension'. You might also recall in ME1 Anderson had some prior history with Saren where he was almost the first human Spectre. That story is told 'Revelation'

While on the other hand, no, nothing in the books (aside from a few possible errors) can contradict anything you can do in the games. For example, although Shepard is mentioned a few time, the Commander's first name, gender or appearance is never mentioned.

Mostly though, they're separate but connected stories. One taking place decades prior, another between ME1 & 2 and another just after ME2. The main constant is that Anderson is prominently featured though not exactly the protagonist of all three.

[Jono]

They sound interesting, might have to hunt them down

[PsychoPere]

Hanukkah Solo wrote:

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There's another character introduced in Retribution that I hope will be in ME3 as an antagonist. I really want my Shepard to kill that bastard.

Very much agreed.

Hanukkah Solo wrote:

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I'd also recommend David Gaider's Dragon Age novels, The Stolen Throne and The Calling.

I've read those as well. Very enjoyable.

Seventh White Boomer wrote:

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They sound interesting, might have to hunt them down

I'd say they're worth reading. They're not mind-blowing, but they are a lot of fun and offer perspectives on other events in the universe that you don't get from the games.

[bullethead]

Seventh White Boomer wrote:

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They sound interesting, might have to hunt them down

Revelation is OK, but the other two are severely hampered by this Mary Sue character that Drew Karpyshn introduced in Revelation (where she wasn't too bad). You're better off looking up the summaries on the Mass Effect wiki than reading Ascension and Retribution.

[Blamo]

The best thing about Retribution is that it goes into detail about indoctrination (and it does add some additional nightmare fuel to it), shows a bit of how the Reapers think and once again reminds us how advanced Reaper tech is (especially the bit about quantum entanglement).

As for the female character being a Mary Sue, that's something she most certainly isn't, no matter which definition you use. She's just so bloody useless and is so easily tricked that the author lampshaded it in Retribution.

While the books aren't fantastic, they do a good job of expanding the Mass Effect Universe, with some element filtering back into the main story (the academy for example, which gets mentioned in the Overlord DLC).

[Saquist]

Reverend wrote:

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Are you being intentionally dense or something? I really can't tell. The codex entry explicitly says that the gun is a scaled *down* version of the one Sovereign had. Meaning it's *less* powerful than the original Reaper version. Just because Sovereign didn't happen to have any bigger ships around to destroy is neither here nor there.

I fail to to comprehend how prefacing you comments with an insult serves any purpose at all. I haven't committed the codex to memory.

As for the Turians spotting it's approach; it's a bit hard to miss anything that size when it's in visual range...like when it went ramming through half the fleet.

I don't believe that has any significant meaning.
If they had cloak or Stealth it would have been logical to use it to get to the station and let the Geth occupy the Citadel fleet.

TheGodBen wrote:

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Sovereign has a bias against organic life, it's trying to kill us, so why should I trust it to tell the truth about us?

While I understand the argument from an objective standpoint, I get the feeling that being a big, ancient and neigh incomprehensible as Reapers are above that kind of self delusion. I see it as being somewhat akin to the opposing Vorlon and Shadow ideologies from B5. Neither is "wrong" or even biased, it's just a point of view that they've set on. Likewise the Reapers have concluded that their way of harvesting and "ascending" suitable races is the best way to perpetuate themselves. The fact that they've lasted so long means they're correct...though of course being correct doesn't mean they're nice about it.[/QUOTE]

Herkimer Jitty wrote:

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It can be assumed, then, that the Asari would need the eezo in their bodies, regardless of whether or not their abilities are based on pure electrical charge manipulation, or more magical dark energy manipulation.

Hanukkah Solo wrote:

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Are you reading every word of my posts, or only some of them?

I suggest you go over what I said again.

Indeed. I thought you were offering answers and not merely your own speculations.

From the wiki...

All asari are natural biotics from birth (see below), though not all choose to develop their abilities. Biotics of other species, such as humans, are individuals who were exposed to dust-form element zero ('eezo') in utero and, beating the odds, developed eezo nodules throughout their nervous system. The natural electrical impulses in the body can create mass effect fields from these nodules, producing the effects seen as biotic abilities.

Your assumptions are fine as speculation goes but the asari aren't in the category of using eezo modules. They are out side the "Other Species" group made in the codex signifying that some other method is at work. I did look up Bio amps and it does seem to support your asari element zero theory but it's not specific enough to be for sure.