don't like that robots seem to be the big bad again


you can do something way more interesting than robots in a sci-fi setting

That guy at the end didn't look like a robot to me.

Yep, they released another Initiative video today alongside the game trailer. Each species had its own ark and they were told they'd wake up 600 years from that point on. So they probably left sometime before ME3.

Backstory
-Around 2185, at the height of galactic progress, unaware of the impending Reaper invasion, several species band together for the "Andromeda Initiative"
-4 Arks, each carrying a different race, are built, housing thousands of individuals to chart a course to Andromeda
-The Heleus Cluster is noted as having a significant amount of "Golden Worlds", or planets ripe for life
-Each ark is led by a "Pathfinder"
-The Pathfinder, recon teams and others onboard are in cryosleep, unaware of what transpires in the Milky Way after they depart
-You play as either Scott or Sara Ryder, the children of Alec Ryder (pathfinder of the human ark)
-Alec Ryder is voiced by Clancy Brown
-Events at the start of the game occur that pass this role down to you, you are untested and unproven, unlike Commander Shepard of the previous trilogy
-This doesn't mean Mass Effect is Ryder's story from now on, they want the game to feel like a complete story (while teasing other stories that could happen)
-More customization options than previous games
-You can customize your father and your sibling, though not as extensively
-The "Nexus" is basically a forward command center staffed by multiple species that arrives in Andromeda early to pave the way for the Arks
-The Hyperion (humanity's ark) arrives at an incorrect location that's volatile and loses contact with the other arks and Nexus

Inspiration
-The (much improved) Mako of ME1, the loyalty missions of ME2, the multiplayer of ME3

Combat
-Global cooldowns are now replaced by individual timers
-Powers are instead hotkeyed for quick use, no longer pausing to bring up a wheel and aim
-Dynamic cover system (ala TLOU)
-Still a cover based shooter with a goal to get the player moving around the battlefield more
-Jetpack allows for more movement variety; you can quick dash instead of rolling
-Jetpack has a hover function that allows you to hit enemies seeking cover or survey your surroundings
-Less emphasis on linear, clearly telegraphed environments that tell you a combat encounter is coming (though linear areas are still in the game)
-Game Informer's hands on was positive, feel the game has a clearer identity in combat than previous games
-You still queue up attacks, combos, order your squad, etc
-All key elements are still intact but the studio wanted to encourage more experimentation and wider variety of abilities

-Class system is gone; instead you have full access to abilities from all classes, you can mix and match skills from tech, soldier or biotics
-Goal is to allow players to try different approaches to combat without being locked in at the start
-However, you can still specialize once you invest enough points into a category of skills, you unlock a profile that can get you bonuses for your particular play style
-This is where class names like "Vanguard" (invest in combat and biotics) and "Adept" (invest in biotics) resurface
-Invest in multiple categories and you unlock the "Explorer" profile
-There is a narrative reason that allows you to reconfigure your points throughout the game so that you can try out multiple gameplay approaches without making multiple characters
-You can customize your helmet, chest, shoulders, arms and legs, more extensive than previous trilogy
-Many familiar weapons return, as well as new melee options like swords and hammers

-The 'Kett' are the main enemy
-The team wanted players to experience the first time encountering a new alien species vs already having it established in prior games
-Rather than painting them as mortal enemies, BioWare wanted to make them feel foreboding but not ugly as they want you to also empathize with them
-Instead of having "linear slices" of planets that you land on, you explore these planets from the surface to their underbelly
-Critical paths, optional planets, major hubs, loyalty missions return
-Your land vehicle is designated the "Nomad", and the team got special guidance from NFS developers on its handling.
-The Nomad isn't sluggish and cumbersome like the Mako, it's very fast, still boosts and maneuvers much better
-The Nomad doesn't have weapons, you can customize things like its speed and appearance
-BioWare did not want to repeat having things like mineral nodes and multiple identical outposts scattered across planets
-Points of interest include combat encounters, puzzles, narrative beats etc on planets
-One planet, called 'Elaaden', is flagged as a possible habitat zone, however the surface is hazardous (no water, extremely hot); you can be pointed in this direction in multiple ways, for example, a Krogan can request the Pathfinder to find a missing colony ship or you can just choose to land on the planet yourself and see what you find
-On planets, one of your priorities is to scout for drop zones for your crew that drop "forward stations" that establishes a foothold for you
-These stations allow for changing up your loadout, fast travel point, etc
-Planets can have multiple dangers like acid pools, burning wreckage, weather etc that can all kill you
-Most planets have at least one major enemy base
-Planets can have areas, encounters and "super bosses" that are too tough for you to handle at first, encouraging players to come back later
-Since Andromeda is a new galaxy, Ryder can actively scan and discover things in the environments; that gets sent back for analysis and unlocks new technologies for the player
-Scanning and discovering these things also allows you to obtain blueprints to craft weapons and armor for yourself
-You can create a wide array of items, not just ammo types and weapon mods, items that haven't been seen before in the Milky Way (thanks to new alien tech)
-Some plot threads and missions lead you across multiple planets

Characters
-Peebee: Asari squadmate shown in previous footage. Went off on her own after arriving on the Nexus and described as having a "bubbly personality". She's smart and not concerned with social norms and "niceties".
-Liam: Arrived with the Pathfinder, former police officer and described as having a "light attitude", bringing levity to situations

The Tempest (Your Ship)
-Important to harken back to the Normandy as it was a fan favorite
-There are no loading screens as you move through the ship
-Galaxy map returns but rather than piloting a mini ship on a map, it is more immersive, you select a planet, the game gives you sense of traveling towards that planet, and when you back out, you're immediately at your destination
-You don't pilot the ship manually, but it feels seamless as you go from planet to planet and see them from your bridge getting closer in the window

Mass Effect: Andromeda takes you to the Andromeda galaxy, far beyond the Milky Way. There, you'll lead our fight for a new home in hostile territory - where WE are the aliens.

Play as the Pathfinder - a leader of a squad of military-trained explorers - with deep progression and customization systems. This is the story of humanity’s next chapter, and your choices throughout the game will ultimately determine our survival in the Andromeda Galaxy.

As you unfold the mysteries of the Andromeda Galaxy and the hope for humanity lies on your shoulders – You must ask yourself… How far will you go?

Key Features:

Be the Pathfinder. Chart your own course in a dangerous new galaxy. Unravel the mysteries of the Andromeda galaxy as you discover rich, alien worlds in the search for humanity’s new home.

Return to the Mass Effect universe you love. Lead the first humans in Andromeda on a desperate search for our new home. In this new chapter of Mass Effect, meet and recruit all-new, interesting characters caught up in an epic space saga filled with mystery and galactic conflict.

Battle like never before. New additions like destructible environments, boosted jumps for added verticality, and all-new weapons and Biotics make combat more thrilling than ever.

Play your way. Build a formidable hero with amazing weapons, powers and tech. With a much more flexible skill and weapon progression tree, you can replicate your play style to make you unstoppable against powerful alien enemies.

Join the APEX Forces. Multiplayer in Mass Effect Andromeda places you into a class-based, 4-player co-op fire-team experience. Team up with three of your friends to take on the enemy threat and protect the interests of the Andromeda Initiative.

So you're telling me these were built and flown away right before The Reapers invaded?

Quote from: DAS B00T x2 on October 27, 2016, 12:04:28 PM

I'm #feelingtheJohnson

YouTube

Heh, never seen him get frustrated like that.

Probably won't bother. Jill is okay, as is Johnson. And yeah, Johnson isn't really libertarian. There's really nothing wrong with libertarianism either. I admit, some of it can be borderline anarchism, but eh... I can only assume when Verb says it's for selfish people. It's because a lot of them don't think there should be handouts. I tend to agree. Nothing wrong with helping people, but I don't have a job, only to have chunks taken out to support others. It's my money. Some people unfortunately, don't have much. If someone wants to help them, they can, but it shouldn't be forced. My biggest issue is government size. It's not the governments job to tell me what I can or cannot do. Within reason of course. No killing for example, it's a law, common sense too. But drugs? Get the fuck out of here, if someone wants to do it, let them.

Have you tried Demon's Souls?

That was a nice speech. It's too late to stop the globalist agenda though.

Swear I didn't see it. My bad.

What a shit article. I hate people that write garbage like this. Not all comic book movies are the way he describes. Or comics. How about Watchmen? The newer Batman films are pretty good. And certainly not aimed at children.

The leaks were right. Red Dead and NX tomorrow. Mhhm.

Quote from: Gatortag on October 19, 2016, 07:13:53 PM

What's the point of the Raid Finder when you have Duty Finder and Party Finder?

I'd be scared to do raids, besides the Crystal Tower or Mnach with randoms. People STILL have trouble clearing The Binding Coils with the Echo Buff, and playing it as a full team of unsynced level 60s. Especially Turn 9.

Would you rather they not be there? Better than nothing.

No, it's good for those who can't get a group together, or can't get a group that can clear it while it's still hard. Even though, it still gives people trouble, as I mentioned. I was being serious. Why is there a Raid Finder when you have Duty and Party Finder already? Seems to be redundant.

What's the point of the Raid Finder when you have Duty Finder and Party Finder?

I'd be scared to do raids, besides the Crystal Tower or Mnach with randoms. People STILL have trouble clearing The Binding Coils with the Echo Buff, and playing it as a full team of unsynced level 60s. Especially Turn 9.

IF this is a new Red Dead, I hope they do like Bethesda did with Fallout 4. Announce it, then show it actually comes out in just a few months. Rockstar announced GTA V and we had to wait 2 years, so...

All that free stuff is nice and all. Paid leave for parents with newborn. College, healthcare, etc... But I ain't paying for all that crap with my check. Nope. Those countries do seem to be better off than the US, but I'd still have to decline. Heck, if it was up to me, I'd cut out nearly all government help. Disability, Unemployment, all of it. As someone mentioned earlier... I know of several people who sit at home all day doing drugs and collecting checks. I work 40 hours a week. Not counting taxes removed, I make about $1832 a month. $21,000 a year just about, that's not really enough to live off of if you live on your own and pay house notes, car notes, gasoline, electric bill, water bill, sewer bill, internet bill, TV bill, etc... Yet the "poor" people can sit at home with their 6 kids all day in their Detroit looking neighborhood, paying less for everything because of their status, while collecting $600+ monthly checks.

Title
- STORMBLOOD

Setting
- Ala Mhigo

Race
- No confirmation that we get one at all
- Viera almost became a playable race
- The Lorebook comes with a Hummingway (also the codename of an Ala Mhigan spy)
- Beast tribes won't be playable for lore reasons, inhuman races for technical reasons, and not-cute races because japanese don't like em.

Classes/jobs
- New jobs confirmed
- Samurai almost became a playable job
- There are strong hints towards a new sword wielding job/class
- scarlet witch=red mage


Central theme
- 3.0 was going to be either about flying or swimming. Flying won, so swimming should come next.

Characters
- Zenos Yae Galvus occupies Ala Mhigo and is the leader of the XIIth legion.

- The blonde chick from the trailer who will join us in 3.x

Locations

- New city is Rhaelgr's Reach
- Eureka is new exploratory mission area (Tied to the relic weapon questline)
- Deserts, ruins, lots of water and a misty forest. And a Wall!
- New Aetheryte shapes
- We are going to cross the wall from Black Shroud in 3.5
- Castrums are temporary bases but 4.0 will have actual Garlean architecture
- -It will mix with Ala Mhigan style

Features

- New level cap (70)
- New raids
- New dungeons
- New Primals
- revamped battle system
- - Additional skill system (role skills instead of job skills)
-- reassest unused/ineffective actions
— Accuracy revorked
- Inventory expansion as much as possible (server upgrade) (Probably won't come with release to ensure a stable launch cause server upgrades are hard)
- New Residential area (Somewhere) (Will affect the main story)
- Flying in all new areas after finding aether currents (easier than finding moogles)
- Open World PVP might happen with positive feedback. On dedicated servers. Not at release.

Windows version
- Minimum specs raised
- really want a 64 bit operation system


Some of that's speculation by the way. Seems so. So hyped, we'll actually see Garlean architecture now. Instead of just Castrums. Didn't even think of that.