Mass Effect 2 *spoilers around pg 29/30*

[Rasix]

Make a new "plot discussion"  thread.  If you state from the start that "spoilers be here", it's no one's fault but their own for seeing them.

[Shrike]

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This.

I've done all three options--paragon, renegade, and rabble-rousing and gotten Tali's issues resolved. All felt good and appropriate to the situation. The paragon speech is particularly good, but the renegade has a certain spice to it, particularly the "...and the horse you rode in on." moment.

Actually, I"ve always thought of Tali as a moderating influence on a renegade Shepard. He does kind of need it. I had at least two moments in the first game where I was going to scorch the earth and not leave two boards nailed together and Tali talked me out of it (Novaria and Feros). No regrets either, but I was going to kill everyone in sight unitl she said something. The game turned out better for it, too.

[Tannhauser]

Yeah, please no spoilers here yet.  Just started playing this weekend and it's such a great game.  But the lack of equipment is a bit disconcerting.  Oh and lack of skills.  It's quite a change from ME1 but I'm loving it anyway.

[rk47]

Part of the problem, is that people go over board on the scanning. You can actually wait until you need a specific resource and then jump to an empty system and just scan until you have enough. I scanned every planet dilligently for about 2/3 of the galaxy, and when I finished had over 40k/100k/100k/150k extra resources at the end, with every upgrade but two. One of my coworkers finished with over 500k of some of them.

Playing through the second time, at least I'll know enough to get the scanning and probes upgrades right away.

I'm playing hardcore and I can't get over how un-fun it is to get sidetracked for 10-20 mins of dull scanning when you just want a simple upgrade between missions. If someone can just make a 99999 resource hack I'll download it.

Also: With such a small power pool for every squad member, I'm finding it hard to justify bringing those without direct damage powers. Pull, Throw, Shockwave sounds good but doesn't really do anything when facing Shielded/Armored opponents. Makes it easy to stick with Miranda for her awesome Squad damage boost and Grunt for him crazy regen. Jack, Tali & Legion just doesn't do it for me.

And the returning cast was a mixture of good and disappointment. Ashley & Liara is a total WTF moment. I don't understand Liara's situation at all.
I'm actually LP'ing a Renegade Shep now and it's easy for him to find reason to get angry. The writer wrote Shep into that corner with Cerberus actually 'doing something that mattered'. Despite knowing Cerberus did some bad shit (see Admiral Kahoku ME1 sidequest) I see no reason to remain faithful to Paragon approach when everyone is either ignorant or make up their own rules in Terminus Region.

Finally: It's sad that the big decision Shep made in ME1 finale didn't count for much in the sequel except for 10 minutes of non consequential dialogue. The same 'Sorry, Shep. we can't help you' bullshit I was fed in ME1 returned and that was the point off turning back for Renegade Shep. I'm not 100% Cerberus but for now it's the best tool for the mission at hand.

[NowhereMan]

I actually really liked the effect that choice had on the general atmosphere of the game. I did a playthrough from a fresh slate and have started one based on a ME1 save and the difference is 1) Noticeable and 2) Elegantly handled in terms of keeping dialogue changes to a minimum and the impact on gameplay. Really it would have been silly for that choice to leave you with two radically different games ("Zomg the council is totally on your side now you're back, we're sending you a fleet!")

Scanning sucks ass, I honestly feel they took all the gameplay elements that didn't quite work in ME1 and rather than refine them they just ditched them entirely. The inventory thing could have been solved if they'd just added in item stacking and categories for buying and selling in shops, or at least I think 90% of annoyance with it would have gone away. Instead we get the upgrades stuff and the choice between (in most cases) the starting gun or a better gun. Also the multiple use space bar thing, every now and again I go to try and run round a corner and instead jump into cover.

[rk47]

I'm not asking for much radical changes, but make it that a Renegade choice in ME1 create such hatred from non human races that Shep meets in the Sequel. Something that people constantly question and challenge. It's amazing within 2 years of his death, most people have forgotten his deeds. Revisiting Anderson did nothing but taste that bad soup I was constantly fed under the Council, it was very unsatisfying. And not giving a punch his face option when Udina started talking shit again...sigh.

[Koyasha]

One of the things I find disappointing about that is that the Council could be totally on your side and it would still not have changed the game much, because you're out in the Terminus Systems, and if the Council gave you significant support like sending troops or fleets to help you, it would cause too much trouble with the races out there.

They could just as easily have had the Council totally on your side, but simply say, 'well we can't afford to get into a major conflict with the Terminus Systems, not if we're going to prepare our fleets and whatnot for the Reaper threat, so if you find something we really have to act on come tell us, but otherwise it would be best if you handle it without too much interference from us.  Simply done, elegant, and without being complete blind, stupid jackasses.

Infact, by that same token they could have allowed you to try to leave Cerberus, say you're ditching them, and then have Anderson and the Council actually tell you that they want you to work with Cerberus, because their own resources are already strained rebuilding from the last attack, Cerberus already gave you a ship, and you can operate with less political problems if you appear to be acting as a Cerberus agent instead of as a Council Spectre - not to mention that you being in Cerberus keeps you close, and like they say, keep your friends close and your enemies closer.  It would make a hell of a good reason for Shepard to accept working with Cerberus regardless of previous considerations, but instead they just kinda make you go along with it because.  Which reminds me of this amusing comic I saw linked on the official forums: http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/2554/masseffect2solesurvivor.jpg

I will say that if Shepard lets the Council die, I noticed significant and appropriate changes in the Citadel.  Avina's little travel advisory, the reactions of a handful of the shopkeepers, etc, the differences in the news.  A little subtle, perhaps, but certainly present.

[Tarami]

I'm playing hardcore and I can't get over how un-fun it is to get sidetracked for 10-20 mins of dull scanning when you just want a simple upgrade between missions. If someone can just make a 99999 resource hack I'll download it.

http://www.cheatengine.org/

I've tried making a trainer in it, but I can't seem to find the pointers needed. If you can stand some fiddling, here are instructions on how to do it manually instead. It shouldn't take more than 15 minutes or so.

[NowhereMan]

[tmp]

[Shrike]

Ah, but contrast that distrust of these old teammates with the innate trust of another...

[Lantyssa]

[Shrike]

[tmp]

Ah, but contrast that distrust of these old teammates with the innate trust of another...

[Ingmar]

Its almost like different people are different. 

[Trippy]

I'm playing hardcore and I can't get over how un-fun it is to get sidetracked for 10-20 mins of dull scanning when you just want a simple upgrade between missions. If someone can just make a 99999 resource hack I'll download it.

http://www.cheatengine.org/

I've tried making a trainer in it, but I can't seem to find the pointers needed. If you can stand some fiddling, here are instructions on how to do it manually instead. It shouldn't take more than 15 minutes or so.

I got my resource trainer from gamecopyworld. Worked fine.

[Tarami]

I'm playing hardcore and I can't get over how un-fun it is to get sidetracked for 10-20 mins of dull scanning when you just want a simple upgrade between missions. If someone can just make a 99999 resource hack I'll download it.

http://www.cheatengine.org/

I've tried making a trainer in it, but I can't seem to find the pointers needed. If you can stand some fiddling, here are instructions on how to do it manually instead. It shouldn't take more than 15 minutes or so.

I got my resource trainer from gamecopyworld. Worked fine.

Probably did, I'm just very, very, very wary of downloading trainers. Put it down to old experiences.

Edit:
Plus that CheatEngine works for pretty much everything.

[rk47]

I'm playing hardcore and I can't get over how un-fun it is to get sidetracked for 10-20 mins of dull scanning when you just want a simple upgrade between missions. If someone can just make a 99999 resource hack I'll download it.

http://www.cheatengine.org/

I've tried making a trainer in it, but I can't seem to find the pointers needed. If you can stand some fiddling, here are instructions on how to do it manually instead. It shouldn't take more than 15 minutes or so.

I got my resource trainer from gamecopyworld. Worked fine.

Gotcha. Will download tonight. It isn't really cheating anyway, it's a frickin' time saver. That feature was nothing more than a waste of time. Oh, just got my third Warp squad mate.

*in Insanity Difficulty*
Miranda: Shepard, Enemy Spotted!

Shepard: Everyone, Warp my target.

*Collector Drone dies*  

I regretted taking the shotgun 3rd weapon pick for my Sentinel, anyone can recommend me another? Assault Rifle / Sniper?
Maxed out my SMG 50% dmg boost. It's very satisfying when the whole AI Squaddie just sprays it all over the target. They're not even affected by recoil either. Hax!

[MisterNoisy]

I regretted taking the shotgun 3rd weapon pick for my Sentinel, anyone can recommend me another? Assault Rifle / Sniper?
Maxed out my SMG 50% dmg boost. It's very satisfying when the whole AI Squaddie just sprays it all over the target. They're not even affected by recoil either. Hax!

The anti-material (sniper) rifle is pretty badass, even though the ammo capacity sucks.

[rk47]

I regretted taking the shotgun 3rd weapon pick for my Sentinel, anyone can recommend me another? Assault Rifle / Sniper?
Maxed out my SMG 50% dmg boost. It's very satisfying when the whole AI Squaddie just sprays it all over the target. They're not even affected by recoil either. Hax!

The anti-material (sniper) rifle is pretty badass, even though the ammo capacity sucks.

How small is small? When I first took the shotgun it was 15 shells only. That's not gonna last long in Insanity.

Edit: oh well. I can't use it anyway. Sentinels can only pick between the default or the semi auto sniper.

After finishing that collector ship i drew the conclusion finally. Amazing that in-game Shepard never realized it!

[caladein]

The Widow is 12 rounds plus one in the barrel but its got the damage bonus to Armor and hits like a freight train.  The Incisor has the same profile at 15 bursts, damage bonus to Armor, and the burst-fire makes it good against Shields too.

[rk47]

The Widow is 12 rounds plus one in the barrel but its got the damage bonus to Armor and hits like a freight train.  The Incisor has the same profile at 15 bursts, damage bonus to Armor, and the burst-fire makes it good against Shields too.

I'm a Sentinel. I can't use that Anti Material Rifle. Guess I'll go for Assault Rifle for flexibility.

[Lantyssa]

The Widow is 12 rounds plus one in the barrel but its got the damage bonus to Armor and hits like a freight train.  The Incisor has the same profile at 15 bursts, damage bonus to Armor, and the burst-fire makes it good against Shields too.

Energy Drain -> Widow.  Lovely little combo.

I do wish it had more ammo though.

[Shrike]

The Widow is almost overkill in most situations. With damage buffs, the thing hits insanely hard; way harder than it needs to. The Mantis can usually score one shot kills with the same buffs. Still, it is cool. The only thing I can think of offhand that might need its level of power is Ymir mechs.

I'm more soldier oriented, so it's all about the Revenant. I did do a hardcore run and picked up the Geth Pulse Rifle. Nifty gun, but it's smokes through ammo like no tomorrow and it's not a heavy hitter. It tears up shields in a heartbeat (outrageous cyclic rate), and with incindiary or AP ammo it shreds armor. Not so hot on health, but incindiary largely makes up for that. Still, it lacks the authority of the Rev. An upgraded Rev with AP can smoke scions easily and even put a praetorian down in less than two cooling cells.

If I ever get around to a vanguard playthrough, I may try the Claymore, but--unlike ME1--shotguns aren't giving me a warm and fuzzy in this game.  I miss carnage.

[Trippy]

If I ever get around to a vanguard playthrough, I may try the Claymore, but--unlike ME1--shotguns aren't giving me a warm and fuzzy in this game.  I miss carnage.

There aren't enough husks in ME2 to make the shotgun a regular use weapon.

[Nightblade]

If I ever get around to a vanguard playthrough, I may try the Claymore, but--unlike ME1--shotguns aren't giving me a warm and fuzzy in this game.  I miss carnage.

There aren't enough husks in ME2 to make the shotgun a regular use weapon.

They should have made the shotguns in ME2 like the ones in Modern Warfare 2, capable of picking people off from across the room in one shot. PEW PEW PEW.

[Venkman]

Coincidentally, the ME1 shotgun is worthwhile because of the number of husks

Also, didn't see this mentioned in my skim: DLC coming in March. Featuring a sequel to the Mako. Which many hours into ME1 I still don't hate. Though it is odd to be able to climb 85% inclines...

[Rasix]

Coincidentally, the ME1 shotgun is worthwhile because of the number of husks

And because it had an effective range of better than 5 ft.  ME2 shotguns rape face, but small clips, small max ammo and no range means it extremely situational.  Whereas in ME1, it was my gun of choice.

It's somewhat offset by how much better the sniper rifle is and the addition of submachine guns.

BTW, I'm sure this has been answered but..

[Trippy]

BTW, I'm sure this has been answered but..

Yes you can.

[Kitsune]

After finishing that collector ship i drew the conclusion finally. Amazing that in-game Shepard never realized it!

[rk47]

Coincidentally, the ME1 shotgun is worthwhile because of the number of husks

And because it had an effective range of better than 5 ft.  ME2 shotguns rape face, but small clips, small max ammo and no range means it extremely situational.  Whereas in ME1, it was my gun of choice.

It's somewhat offset by how much better the sniper rifle is and the addition of submachine guns.

I thought the shotgun works well when facing chargers like varrens / husks. Those things are dangerous when playing Insanity. Nothing like unloading the whole shottie clip right after the tech armor exploded and knocking down those little bitches to the floor.

[tmp]

[tmp]

Also : Couldn't get the Trainer +11 to work . I hit Numpad 4 for 99999 Resource and nothing happened. Anyone can point me to the correct trainer file from GCW?

Get yourself gibbed's save editor instead, can give yourself all resources and much more with it.

[Shrike]

...and us 360 owners don't get to cheat.

I've fallen asleep three nights this week while mining planets. Now that's an immersion breaker.

[rk47]

hahah yeah fuck. Mining planets burn at least 1 hour of unfun. I think I did at least 3 hours max. Fuck that feature. Please no more of that crap in the future!

Insanity Achievement done! Triple Warp Strike is too awesome.