147 réponses à ce sujet

[Khayness]

Higher bodycount, more ladies seduced and more spaceships destroyed.

Shepard understands the Holy Trinity of Space Captaining and thrives to perfect it.

[Sable Phoenix]

See... what people are saying about background, well, they beat me to it. We needed all of that to get more involved in Shepard as a character. We know that BioWare can integrate backgrounds into a game, they did it with Mass Effect 1 and even moreso with Dragon Age Origins, where one of the major sales points of the game was background and individual story.



Comparing Mass Effect to a novel and Mass Effect 2 to a collection of short stories is... incredibly apt. Even just one short story included for Shepard alone would have made all the difference in the world... and since it's Shepard who is the main character, more than one would only have been natural.

[Chignon]

Sable Phoenix wrote...

I think what people are really asking for when they say "character development" here is seeing some of Shepard's vulnerability.  Shepard's a single human with unimaginable pressures and traumas. Carrying the weight of all organic life in the galaxy on your shoulders and dying and being resurrected alone would be enough to break most people, to say nothing of a potentially traumatic early life, and Shepard typically sails along without seeming to really be aware of these things, much less affected by them.  Frankly, most of the time Shepard seems as cold and implacable as the Reapers themselves, more a force than a person.  Granted that is part of the character that is a necessary projection of such pressures, but the chinks in the armor just don't show themselves, and nobody can maintain that kind of mental armor indefinitely.  This is what made the Normandy lockdown scene in the first Mass Effect, where even Shepard's own locker is inaccessible and the player gets to see humanity's champion slump against it in defeat (if only temporary), so memorable.  Even better is that another squad member will acknowledge this and, for once, take up the cheerleader-******-sensei role that Shepard usually plays.

In Mass Effect 2, something like this could have been handled easily by including a scene after the romance fade-to-black, we'd had Shepard waking up in bed and sitting up to see the LI has just finished dressing (in a nice reversal of the similar scene in ME1), and then had a conversation where Shepard could have finally opened up to SOMEONE about the feelings that would have to follow from dying, losing the Normandy and two years, the pressures of saving all life, etc., and wrap it up by expressing the fears of the mission/failure and either a fatalistic attitude or a renewed determination and courage.  Not only would it add more depth to the romance subplot than just "rawr hot (possibly alien) sex", it would flesh out the human vulnerabilities that every good protagonist has.  And perhaps, if Shepard had not struck up a romance with anyone, we could have seen a contemplative scene, such as walking slowly through the captain's cabin touching the things accumulated through the course of the mission (concentrating on the LI photo if applicable), which would bring up a dialogue wheel with six conversation options, like "Talk to Samara/Thane/Miranda/Mordin/Tali/Garrus", followed by Shepard heading to their respective parts of the ship in search of a bit of personal support.

Even if we had just had that one scene, I doubt we would see many threads on this subject.

You've said everything I wanted to say, only much, much better. I agree completely.

[tonnactus]

Pocketgb wrote...

Yeah no, it's hilarious: You choose the option normally regarded as 'negative' and you get sex out of it, no one saw it coming.

Really not? Everyone knows that shaira offered such "services" too,and if her words dont please shepardt, these is something
everyone should see coming as a reward(not a bad one anyway).

Modifié par tonnactus, 06 septembre 2010 - 01:13 .

[MrCairo]

Loved the locker scene in ME1.

ME2...

Grunt = "I know you died in vacuum and lost most of your crew, got resurrected in a battle, lost your lover on top of your own personal traumas, but i'm going through puberty so can we go do that?"

Shep = (Bored Monotone) "Yes."

[Estelindis]

I completely agree with Sable Phoenix's post as well.



For me, the biggest waste of character development potential was Horizon. Shepard was so wooden. Given the likelihood that Shepard would have shared the iconic locker scene with the person s/he met on Horizon, there was just so little emotion and vulnerability there. At least the pre-suicide-mission photo scene gave a glance at what could have been.

[catabuca]

sagequeen wrote...

I understand that many RP elements were stripped down for the sake of epicness, shooter gameplay, etc., and on the whole, I love both ME1 and ME2 in different ways. I've said this before, but ME1 reads like a novel (Shep's military "coming of age" story, as it were) and ME2 like a collection of short stories. It's just that in the short story collection, the recurring character that is Shep didn't get much time to star in a story of his/her own. He/She just wandered through everyone else's story - Garrus's, Tali's, etc., and occasionally had a line. The result was Shep didn't feel terribly real or nuanced. I hope that ME3 proves to be a little more novel-like and returns Shepard to the main-character and gives the player time and opportunity to develop that character.

Everything you said, especially the bit I quoted, hits the mark.

It worries me that these concerns won't be addressed in ME3, simply because ME2 was accused of being 'too referential' by someone or other.

I understand the need for the games to be able to be played independently of each other from a business point of view, but I've read the 3 ME novels, and each of them manages to elegantly draw you into the universe, explain enough about that universe that people new to it won't feel they're missing something, provide a new and fresh story, but make enough of a link to the games and the other novels that those who love the whole franchise can see them all working in tandem. A good writer can do both: cater for those who are already immersed in the universe; and seamlessly introduce it to those who are new to it. Drew's up to the job. But how much control does he have over the writing now?

ME2 was overhauled to such a degree that in the end it was the story and the story's integration into the gameplay that fell somewhat short (imo). I'm hoping that since ME3 won't be getting quite the same level of overhauling more attention can be paid to the story again. But I'm not holding my breath.

[Kerethos]

It would be nice if Shepard would have the opportunity to show some more humanity, and not just take it all. Kick a chair after Virmire, have a chat with Kelly or a friend about sending a "Hi Mom, I'm not dead!"-message, the paragon gets visibly sad when a comrade dies while the renegade gets angry. Express doubt about the mission, bit like with the locker scene. Have someone ask him/her "How are you, Shepard? Anything I can do for you?"



That'd be nice and make Shepard feel more human.

[sagefic]

@ awesome: "and he has to take it"

YES. so true.

I sort of sympathize with the squaddies - they really are in their own places of pain/dealing with stuff, so I guess if they can't stop the ask Shep about him/herself, that's realistic. It actually put them on par for me with the Horizon person, because Ash/Kaidan might walk away, but the team on the Normandy emotionally stays distant.

What's frustrating though is that Shepard gets almost no moment to hint at what's going on internally. Maybe some people's Shep really is an a-emotional strongman who deals with all that without blinking an eye. But even if Shep is playing strong, there is almost NO chance to hint at that. Post Horizon you can be pissed or "move on" - that's it. But the rest of the time, no hint to one's past at all. It's like the ads on Omega and the Citadel have more to say about Shepard than Shepard does.

[thespianicism]

Brodyaha wrote...


I want Shepard to cry (<---this is an ultimate request).  I just want Shepard to emotionally react to her friends and the universe around her.

This. I would love to see Shepard cry. Tali, Miranda, Jack, and Liara all cry and everyone else gets upset and emotional. I know Shepard is the 'fearless leader' but s/he as emotions too. I'm sure not everyone wants every Shepard to be so vulnerable, but there should be the opportunity to display some humanity. A conversation with a love interest is a logical place to display vulnerability. I feel like Kaidan would be really good at giving Shepard some encouragement.

When Chakwas asked how Shepard was doing after the two of them got drunk, I wanted to have the ability to tell her that Shep was upset and missed her LI and hated working for Cerberus. Alas, nothing. However, I was able to turn my canon Shep into a heavy drinker after the utter mess that was Kaidan.  Good times.

[Collider]

Modifié par Collider, 06 septembre 2010 - 02:48 .

[krownhunter07]

Joker and the doc both inquire about how shepherd is holding up, as well as certain crew.



Aside from that, shepherd's "development" is based on your choices in interacting with the people, situations and galaxy around you.



I've had vastly different experiences with his/her development based on my actions.



Would I enjoy a more personal mission that doesn't pigeonhole me, absolutely. But, I don't feel a lacking...

[InvisiShepard]

This is why a Mass Effect movie will fail. Shepard is an emotional husk. You have nothing to go on and have to make reactions off the top of your head, nothing to say about the different backgrounds no less



A perfect role for Sam Worthington

[CShep25]

ME3 is the perfect opportunity for Shepard to start taking in all the crap he's had to deal with as the reaper threat looms closer. Emotional breakdown for ME3. Make it happen BW.

[Chignon]

krownhunter07 wrote...

Joker and the doc both inquire about how shepherd is holding up, as well as certain crew.

And yet when Joker asks you after Horizon, you can only be pissed off or have moved on as sagequeen pointed out. You can't tell Chakwas how you feel, only what motivates you; you can either tell her you want revenge or you want to save everyone. Jacob only asks how you are doing if you are in a romance with him. Same goes for Thane, and here Shepard automatically replies that she is fine.

I wouldn't call those great options to show Shepard's feelings or state of mind.

Modifié par Chignon, 06 septembre 2010 - 03:43 .

[TRISTAN WERBE]

shepards been trhough a lot

[WarLorD BoVaTRoN]

shep takes alot of pain, even dying! its bound to all come loose in me3. there might even be an unwinable mission that puts him over the edge, and then you have to bring him back? or go mega-renegade and be crazy!!! MWA Ha ha ha ha.....

[Destroy Raiden_]

Hey that'd be fun actually to see my para shep hit all new lows! I mean she became an alcoholic before Garrus and Tali came on board so why not?



But I think the future DLC they plan to do can experiment and incorporate some of what this board and the wish list boards are stating in LOTSB you seem to be able to be able to re start your relationship with Liara it's a good sign, I know several people on the wish list boards wanted this option so they may make a few more w/ Shep beginning to show emotion better or delving more into developing Shep as a person rather then the hero and if the results are positive then they'll most likely add features to 3 like we want.

[Terastar]

The really one great thing I LOVE in DAO was the NPC banter. I was hoping for more of this type of stuff in Mass Effect. I really love the Banter. My only wish would be that my character could join in some of the banter once in awhile. I feel that the interactions between your character and the NPC's is what makes a role playing game so awesome. The facial expressions along with dialog is great. Keep up the great work Bioware.

[GMulryan]

SithLordExarKun wrote...

Ok, i am sure many players should have noticed this... but i think Shepard is a shallow character in both games with very little character development.

One example is in ME2, he/she goes around solving squadmates issues... but what about his/her issues?? I don't know how to explain this further.

My Shepard's "issue" was hunting down a rogue spector and after resurrection stop aliens from abducting humans for their own designs.

My Shep's crew did not have issues. They had problems. One wanted to get their Gramp's old armor. Another needed something to take back home to help their people. Another of the crew wanted to have closure on an unresolved case. Problems solved, everyone is focused on the mission. More problems and more solutions.

Issues? Emotional issues? Deal with emotional issues in a game? And role play a brooding depressed military veteran in denail of their PTSD? I am sorry, I cannot stop laughing.

[Ziggy]

There was a little glimpse behind sheppards apparent machine like focus and confidence in lotsb... seems like there's more going on than we see... I think it'd really deepen sheps character if they showed more of that.