76 réponses à ce sujet

[Han Shot First]

I really hope we don't run into any living Protheans in the game, whether they are a squad mate or not. It works better from a storytelling perspective. I also prefer that the species remain extinct as an example of the future that awaits humanity should Shepard fail. Sure, there are countless other species who were wiped out before the Protheans, but we know much less about them. Their shadow does not loom over the Mass Effect universe like the shadow of the Protheans does.

Any help you get from the Protheans should be in clues or weapons theor species left behind, not in actual living Protheans that fight alongside you.

[Parion]

An actual prothean I feel would take away a lot of thier allure.
Look at Stargate for example. The pre-ascension ancients were a race of super-enlightened beings of awesomeness... untill we met them and discovered they were just a load of //redacted//-bags.

I'd like to see a dedicated combat drone, built purely to combat the reapers, with only vague information on the protheans. Aquisition would result from us finding it damaged and repairing it, perhaps with it having it's own dedicated weapons instead of standard squadie kit.

Perhaps even better would be finding a drone chassis lacking control software which we can upload EDI to. This would make me giggle.

dcal31 wrote...
As far as I know, machines can't use biotics at all as they require a central nervious system which machines obviously lack.

Biotics is simply the manipulation of mass effect fields, so there's no problem with a machine having biotics so long as the control software is sophisticated enough to control it properly.

Modifié par Parion, 06 juillet 2011 - 12:26 .

[Rahmiel]

Great post OP. I'm against an actual living prothean (surviving) in the game. 50,000 years is an awfully long time. I also find it improbable (again, not impossible) that the cryo bank would not have been discovered, even by duct rats. Then again, the protheans altered the keepers to not respond to the reaper's signal, so perhaps they altered the keepers to safeguard a stasis machine. <shrug>

The biggest knock I have against a prothean clone, or made from prothean dna is that... what does that get you? It won't give you the prothean knowledge. Unless bioware somehow explains memories being contained within dna/rna? Grunt is basically the result of what is suggested here, and he had the tank. If cerberus or any organisation understood a prothean cipher, then the "living" prothean wouldn't be necessary. If anything, a cloned prothean would be more along the lines of.. hey, we did it! We cloned a prothean! Now what? We raise it like a human?

It's also worth it to note, that the collectors are not protheans. They are highly repurposed/modified protheans. Much of their physical being has been replaced by tech, along with severe genetic modification. I highly doubt the collectors look like protheans. I always assumed the protheans looked like those beings sitting in chairs in those statues on Ilos, or that statue in Donovan Hock's vault (for those that came into the series in ME2).

I like this idea of a prothean AI however. It's a lot easier to explain why this AI has not activated, or been discovered, than a living prothean. I really miss Vigil. I hoped we could go back and talk with him more on Ilos in ME2, but alas, he is no more. Perhaps this prothean AI will activate once we find another prothean beacon. I'm excited for more beacon chasing.

I'm not sure what the last remaining prothean scientists got up to once they reached the citadel, but I've always thought that they only had enough time to alter the keepers so this "reaping" does not happen again (or at least delayed). Should BW expand on this pivotal frame of time, I would be excited. But at the same time, it really brings you into the story that you have no idea what they did. It's great that there is no record of what transpired, because of the urgency with what transpired.

Also el oh el to people reading the thread header and posting without reading the OP.

[spencer1519]

A Cerberus made Prothean clone could work, but only if they explain that they were somehow able to extract or copy the cipher from shepard's mind. It would essentially give you a blank slate (or pure) prothean, with all the cultural knowledge of its race. Sort of like Grunt in that respect.

This Prothean, if it were to join the squad, could also act as a mirror for shepard. Learning from him and modeling itself on his behavior. The more paragon shep gets, the more paragon the proth acts, and same for renegade.

As for a prothean AI, It would be interesting to find an AI in a mobile platform (like a geth, but prothean designed). Make it another robotic tech squadmate, with the twist being that it is techno-organic and has biotic powers as well.

[sympathy4saren]

THE PROTHEANS ARE EXTINCT.

The last remnant of that race died when the Collector base blew. The last surviving Prothean remnant, after Sovereign released control, looked almost relieved and peaceful as it watched not only its own personal demise coming, but finally the true and complete extinction of the Protheans, at last.

[Labrev]

Mark it down: we will finally see a Prothean in a vision similar to the Eden Prime/Virmire/N7 Blue Suns mission visions.

[Rahmiel]

How about this for a prothean squadmate. Shepard gets a permanent hallucination in his head (a la caprica 6 from BSG). He just sits there giving you insight or telling you what you should do. Would be pretty funny seeing Shepard shout at him to get behind cover during combat sequences.

Be even funnier if you got the choice to either clue the crew in, or hide your hallucination until it eventually gets revealed later on in the game. I dunno..

[wyk4wgary]

Protheans died out already
the research team in Illos were the last ones...
I believe even some are not released from cryo by the VI
they're dead due to energy shortage.
So no protheans!

[Malanek]

wyk4wgary wrote...

Protheans died out already
the research team in Illos were the last ones...
I believe even some are not released from cryo by the VI
they're dead due to energy shortage.
So no protheans!

Well a large number became the collectors, not sure how close they are to actually being considered Prothean. And a group of others did leave Illos and successfully arrived at the citadel through that relay. Although it is assumed they later died, we don't know for certain. Also can't rule out the possibility of others surviving beyond the knowledge of those on Illos as interstellar communications would be lost when they lost control of the relays.

[NNC FROSTY]

I like the cryo pod idea of one maybe being hidden on the citadel. I remember hearing something in ME1 on how there where parts to the citadel no one has been to, that only the keepers have been. If they could rewrite the keepers why not rewrite some to take care of their pods and keep them hidden? And also to reactivate them when the reapers come?

[wyk4wgary]

wondering if the survival of the collectors after ME
this is their only one base.
even some survive, they are engineered, notwithstanding indoctrinated.
so no collector ally

[Iakus]

 The only "Protheans" that I'd like to see in ME3 are 

Shepard
Liara
Shiala

They are the ones with the Cipher, and are therefore capable of thinking like Protheans and understanding Prothean language and perspective.  

[Lotto]

Vanguard Alpha wrote...

We learn near the end of Mass Effect 2 that a dozen or so of the best prothean scientific minds made it back to the citadel after the reapers left... Virgil did not know what became of them.

That gives many options, bioenginering, cyborg, stasis, incest.... so yeah prothean squad mate is both doable and 'fits' in with game lore.

No.

[Brand New]

What would make an awesome story would be that if you had a prothean teammate and he is alive because of Cerberus creation or cloning DNA and he held the secret to fighting the reapers and that was why Cerberus was after you. The Prothean project being what one of the other cells was doing.

[ilquaruxa]

A thanks to the author for their post. I think in the idea of encountering a Prothean either as a squadmate or as a N.P.C. is a fantastic idea, because it offers a lot of interesting possibilities for story arks. One of the primary reasons I love the Mass Effect universe is because of the lore and background story. The Protheans were the last species to fall at the hands of the reapers, they were also clever enough to delay a subsequent attack on future generations. One of the most interesting of all is that we still don't know what they look like. We can only speculate from the statues or collector husks.  I think it would be facinating to find another hidden prothean world--similar to Illos in isolation--one which has been preparing for another reaper attack.  The redemption of this scenario could be very powerful. Or I would simply be happy with extended conversations with a Prothean as an advisor role. 

I'm really having a hard time understanding some of the unimaginative posters on these boards. Why are so many of you so strongly opposed to the idea of encountering an alive Prothean? Mass Effect is a sci-fi universe, yet you can't think of ways that the Protheans might have survived that suits a rational explanation? Such perspectives are narrow minded in my opinion. Does the idea of a plastic universe frustrate you that much?  Some of you are reacting to such an ad hoc scenario as if the Pope decided to change Biblical scripture.

Modifié par ilquaruxa, 07 juillet 2011 - 08:29 .

[Lasien]

Malanek999 wrote...

I thought the collectors looked pretty cool, I wouldn't mind one of them. At the end of ME2 when Harbinger releases control, the collector general seems to return to his sense for a few seconds before betting obliterated. But what if there was a second collector ship out in the galaxy at the time the base was purged or destroyed? Having one of them free from indoctrination could work IMO.

Alternatively just a normal Prothean who was cyrogenically frozen somewhere vowing to return when the reapers arrived. Obviously something would have had to go wrong because he/she is very late in turning up.

This! a freed collector/collector general would be awesome. They could have the memories of past generation, something like racial memory. I think that the stasis pod with a scientist could work too. The entirety of the citadel hasn't been explored. No one knows any more about the keepers than in ME1 after all. And this could be connected to the keeper scans from ME1.

[Brand New]

ilquaruxa wrote...

A thanks to the author for their post. I think in the idea of encountering a Prothean either as a squadmate or as a N.P.C. is a fantastic idea, because it offers a lot of interesting possibilities for story arks. One of the primary reasons I love the Mass Effect universe is because of the lore and background story. The Protheans were the last species to fall at the hands of the reapers, they were also clever enough to delay a subsequent attack on future generations. One of the most interesting of all is that we still don't know what they look like. We can only speculate from the statues or collector husks.  I think it would be facinating to find another hidden prothean world--similar to Illos in isolation--one which has been preparing for another reaper attack.  The redemption of this scenario could be very powerful. Or I would simply be happy with extended conversations with a Prothean as an advisor role. 

I'm really having a hard time understanding some of the unimaginative posters on these boards. Why are so many of you so strongly opposed to the idea of encountering an alive Prothean? Mass Effect is a sci-fi universe, yet you can't think of ways that the Protheans might have survived that suits a rational explanation? Such perspectives are narrow minded in my opinion. Does the idea of a plastic universe frustrate you that much?  Some of you are reacting to such an ad hoc scenario as if the Pope decided to change Biblical scripture.

I agree with this very much. The Protheans communications were completley cut off. It isn't a unimagniable idea to think many of them from somewhere had gotten word of the attack and fled and started a civilization up somehwere else. The Protheans had little knowledge of the Reapers. How were they to know that they would leave soon or that this was the first time this whole thing happened. They could have went into isolation on some uncharted world that we've not explored.

[adlocutio]

Memmahkth wrote...

The biggest knock I have against a prothean clone, or made from prothean dna is that... what does that get you? It won't give you the prothean knowledge. Unless bioware somehow explains memories being contained within dna/rna? Grunt is basically the result of what is suggested here, and he had the tank. If cerberus or any organisation understood a prothean cipher, then the "living" prothean wouldn't be necessary. If anything, a cloned prothean would be more along the lines of.. hey, we did it! We cloned a prothean! Now what? We raise it like a human?

A cloned Prothean could receive knowledge directly from a beacon.  If they used beacon technology to transmit knowledge, that knowledge could be accessed.  That knowledge might lead to more Prothean artifacts, or whatever. The blueprints for a Reaper-killer. 

I don't think it was ever said that Cerberus could use the Prothean cipher, was it?  I can't remember. It doesn't matter either way, if it wasn't Cerberus who did the cloning.  I posited the theory in another thread that it's possible Protheans were on Noveria, since there was a mass effect relay there.  It's also plausible that a Prothean (or two, or ten) was stranded outside long enough to freeze to death.  If they flash-froze and remained that way for the entire 50k years, then it's plausible there would still be viable genetic material- perhaps even ova or embryos, depending on how they reproduce.  Say a company on Noveria was excavating for construction and found these bodies in a block of ice: they might consider cloning as a means to get access to Prothean technology, which they could manufacture and sell.

 I think a cloned Prothean is the most likely Squad member.

Modifié par adlocutio, 07 juillet 2011 - 08:59 .

[mineralica]

Nice idea, OP. I think this is the only way Prothean squadmate won't cause a constant eyeroll for me

[Nightdragon8]

The only "Prothean" squadmate I would want is Vigel. We don't know where he went after ME1. whos to say it didn't download itself somewhere. I mean having a VI with all the knowledge of the Protheans would be cool. Maybe have it inbed itself into the Shepard VI that you could have gotten.

And it could become EDI's plaything.

[ilquaruxa]

Brand New wrote...

ilquaruxa wrote...

A thanks to the author for their post. I think in the idea of encountering a Prothean either as a squadmate or as a N.P.C. is a fantastic idea, because it offers a lot of interesting possibilities for story arks. One of the primary reasons I love the Mass Effect universe is because of the lore and background story. The Protheans were the last species to fall at the hands of the reapers, they were also clever enough to delay a subsequent attack on future generations. One of the most interesting of all is that we still don't know what they look like. We can only speculate from the statues or collector husks.  I think it would be facinating to find another hidden prothean world--similar to Illos in isolation--one which has been preparing for another reaper attack.  The redemption of this scenario could be very powerful. Or I would simply be happy with extended conversations with a Prothean as an advisor role. 

I'm really having a hard time understanding some of the unimaginative posters on these boards. Why are so many of you so strongly opposed to the idea of encountering an alive Prothean? Mass Effect is a sci-fi universe, yet you can't think of ways that the Protheans might have survived that suits a rational explanation? Such perspectives are narrow minded in my opinion. Does the idea of a plastic universe frustrate you that much?  Some of you are reacting to such an ad hoc scenario as if the Pope decided to change Biblical scripture.

I agree with this very much. The Protheans communications were completley cut off. It isn't a unimagniable idea to think many of them from somewhere had gotten word of the attack and fled and started a civilization up somehwere else. The Protheans had little knowledge of the Reapers. How were they to know that they would leave soon or that this was the first time this whole thing happened. They could have went into isolation on some uncharted world that we've not explored.

I'm happy to hear someone agrees with me.

[Rahmiel]

adlocutio wrote...
A cloned Prothean could receive knowledge directly from a beacon.  If they used beacon technology to transmit knowledge, that knowledge could be accessed.  That knowledge might lead to more Prothean artifacts, or whatever. The blueprints for a Reaper-killer. 

I don't think it was ever said that Cerberus could use the Prothean cipher, was it?  I can't remember. It doesn't matter either way, if it wasn't Cerberus who did the cloning.  I posited the theory in another thread that it's possible Protheans were on Noveria, since there was a mass effect relay there.  It's also plausible that a Prothean (or two, or ten) was stranded outside long enough to freeze to death.  If they flash-froze and remained that way for the entire 50k years, then it's plausible there would still be viable genetic material- perhaps even ova or embryos, depending on how they reproduce.  Say a company on Noveria was excavating for construction and found these bodies in a block of ice: they might consider cloning as a means to get access to Prothean technology, which they could manufacture and sell.

 I think a cloned Prothean is the most likely Squad member.

See, I disagree with you there.  Just because the Protheans left beacons around does not mean we, or any "Prothean" infant can understand it.  Without a Prothean culture, or a Prothean upbringing, I highly doubt a cloned Prothean could be able to understand even a Prothean beacon!

That's why the Thorian was so important.  It contained all the knowledge/culture/experiences of Protheans.  The cipher that Shepard and Saren required to interpret the Beacon.

That's not to say the beacons would not be able to be "cracked" eventually, I'm sure they would.  The problem was the beacon ended up getting destroyed and the only "copy" the Council had access to was locked away in Shepard's brain.  As for Saren, he was kinda solo.. not sure if he shared what he found with Sovereign at all or not.  Anyway...

My point being.. just because a clone is a clone of a species/race, does not mean that clone will be able to instantly understand its culture/speech/tech from birth.  I believe it would need something like Grunt's tank, or better yet, raised by that actual culture.  So.. I have severe doubts about a clone.

All this aside.. if BW did give us a Prothean squadmate I may be disappointed, but it's a sci fi series.  I can suspend my disbelief.  You make due.  I think the biggest problem ME has, is that the first game no one had any expectations.  Every release after that, everyone has their own theories, their own ideas on characters, story, plots, combat, exploration, rpg.. you name it, everyone's got one.  As soon as BW comes out with a game, it doesn't match their vision, it's automatically crap.  And that's a shame.  People should experience it the way the designers/developers/writers want you to experience it.

[Rahmiel]

ilquaruxa wrote...
I'm really having a hard time understanding some of the unimaginative posters on these boards. Why are so many of you so strongly opposed to the idea of encountering an alive Prothean? Mass Effect is a sci-fi universe, yet you can't think of ways that the Protheans might have survived that suits a rational explanation? Such perspectives are narrow minded in my opinion. Does the idea of a plastic universe frustrate you that much?  Some of you are reacting to such an ad hoc scenario as if the Pope decided to change Biblical scripture.

I don't think it's being unimaginative.  I think it has more to do with the fact that.. these reapers have been reaping for a very long time.  They're good at it.  At every turn we've been told the Protheans are gone.  It just seems like a cheap gimmicky twist to say "oh but wait!  There's more!"

We owe a lot to the Protheans, and they're smart.  Why was the complex on Ilos not discovered?  Because the Protheans took great pains to construct it.  I find it highly improbable (but not impossible) that the Protheans managed another way of circumventing the reaping.  And if then why stop at two.  Why not go with 4 other plans?  Why wouldn't the Protheans come back to the citadel after 2 thousand years, or 3 thousand years?  Perhaps Sovereign is waiting, but how would they know that?

I don't think it's a lack of imagination that people are saying no Protheans can be alive.  There seems to be great imagination put out as to why Protheans were all wiped out.  It just seems like it'd be forced.  It would raise a lot of questions.  Ilos seemed like the perfect strategy, and look how that turned out.  I can't imagine there would be another or other strategies they tried, and pulled off in secret.

If you look at indoctrination and how the Reapers operate, with civilizations being solely dependent on Reaper technology.. the odds of survival are extremely low.  It just can't be as simple as.. "oh, bill and martha jumped in a spaceship and flew to a system or cluster no where near a relay and started populating a planet.  The end."  It's not so imaginative.

There are a couple of questions I'd like answered in relation to all this however.  What happened to that science team that made it back to the citadel from Ilos, AND, what civilization did the Protheans figure built the relays and the citadel.  Why have we found no traces of that civilization.

Considering the Asari found the Citadel 2000 years ago (thereabouts) and are as powerful as they are, could you imagine any surviving colony of Protheans?  The knowledge they'd have?  The advancements they could have, the knowledge of the Reapers and having 50,000 years to prepare!?  I'd be frightened of the Protheans if we came across a colony of them.  Although, they'd probably have their own relay system going by now and be expanding in another galaxy.  <shrug>

[CroGamer002]

Arcian wrote...

This thread takes me back to the days when everyone said Legion wouldn't be a squadmate and that the idea was stupid and groanworthy.

Remember how that went?

Really?

Thanks for bringing hopes on Prothean squadmate.