Yahoo! Two Hundred reviews to Into The Unknown! Thanks to everyone that has read this story.
Mass Effect 3: Into the Unknown and other ME fanfics By Fainmaca
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fainmaca
, oct. 04 2011 03:36
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#27
Posté 15 mars 2012 - 05:09
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Mass Effect: Resistance has a new chapter! Please head on over and give me your thoughts.
Link: www.fanfiction.net/s/7435463/4/Mass_Effect_3_Resistance
Link: www.fanfiction.net/s/7435463/4/Mass_Effect_3_Resistance
#28
Posté 16 mars 2012 - 10:48
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Poll is now closed. Vote result:
Save the Rachni eggs: 17
Leave the Rachni eggs: 2
I'll get to writing this next interlude Chapter now. I have the first Side Mission ready to post, so that'll go up immediately after chapter 44.
Save the Rachni eggs: 17
Leave the Rachni eggs: 2
I'll get to writing this next interlude Chapter now. I have the first Side Mission ready to post, so that'll go up immediately after chapter 44.
#29
Posté 19 mars 2012 - 10:07
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I now have a Facebook page that you can follow me on! You can find me at: www.facebook.com/Fainmaca
Be sure to drop by and say hello!
Be sure to drop by and say hello!
#30
Posté 20 mars 2012 - 01:01
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This endings fiasco has had me thinking a lot about how I plan to end my story, particularly the wide variety I'm offering to you, my readers. Because of this, I have decided to post a little something here to allow you a glimpse at the inner mechanics of my story.
*First of all, this will contain MODERATE TO HEAVY SPOILERS for my fic. You have been warned.*
The first and foremost facet that I felt (and still, to a degree, feel) was central to the Mass Effect franchise was the idea of choice and consequence, cause and effect, morals and responsibility. To that end, my story needed to have a variety of endings that gave very clear indications of consequence. Not just a different feeling to the ending, a different message or a different set of choices, but an actual, huge variance between the endings an individual Shepard would get. To this end, I came up with a simple, although work-intensive, solution: 6 Different locations for the final confrontation, dependent on four important choices. Now, obviously I won't reveal the locations just yet, but I'll refer to them as locations 1 through 6.
Now, these endings, and which one you get is decided by five choices: Whether you Spare or Kill The Illusive Man in Chapter 35: The Heart Of Darkness, Whether you choose to Save or Destroy Omega in Chapter 23: The Cartels Gather, Whether you choose to Spare or Destroy Arcturus Station in Chapter 36: The Enemy Advances, Whether you choose to Preserve or Destroy the Collector Base (Mass Effect 2, obviously), and whether you choose to Save the Council or Not (Mass Effect 1).
These endings are sequentially worse for Shepard and the defending Galaxy, each representative of a lost advantage until you finally reach the last and most desperate situation. The endings flow like this:
Ending A: Location 1 (TIM Choice 1)
Ending B: Location 2 (TIM Choice 2, Omega Choice 1)
Ending C: Location 3 (TIM Choice 2, Omega Choice 2, Arcturus Choice 1)
Ending D: Location 4 (TIM Choice 2, Omega Choice 2, Arcturus Choice 2, Council Choice 1)
Ending E: Location 5 (TIM Choice 2, Omega Choice 2, Arcturus Choice 2, Council Choice 2, Collector Base Choice 1)
Ending F: Location 6 (TIM Choice 2, Omega Choice 2, Arcturus Choice 2, Council Choice 2, Collector Base Choice 2)
As you can see, it is possible to get the best possible advantage for the end battle through just one choice, but that choice may or may not be made depending on individual preferences. One thing I should point out about these choices is that choosing the best path does not mean all of the choices made are paragon/renegade. They are a mix of choices of varying morality, meaning you have to choose what feels right to you and then see where that takes you. This is the second point I feel is important to Mass Effect: Paragon does not equal the right choice. Morals don't necessarily mean assured victory.
Moving on, I'd now like to show you how I add further variance to these six distinct endings. I do this through the Mass Effect Organisations.
Throughout the narrative of the games, Shepard forms relationships with not only key individuals in the Galaxy, but also with the peoples, networks and organisations spread throughout galactic society. I've isolated a list of 19 of the key players in these organisations, incorporating them into the mechanics of the story. These organisations are:
1. The Systems Alliance
2. The Terminus Cartels
3. The Krogan Empire
4. The Turian Hierarchy
5. The Asari Republics
6. The Salarian Union
7. The Batarian Hegemony
8. The Quarian Migrant Fleet
9. The Geth Collective
10. The Rachni Swarm
11. The Vol Protectorate
12. The Hanar Illuminated Primacy
13. The Drell Remnant
14. The Elcor
15. ***SPOILERS***
16. Cerberus
17.The Shadow Broker Network
18. The Citadel Council
19. ***SPOILERS***
These organisations have a number of factors tied to them that decide net military strength as well as the future of the individual group. I track these factors by assigning points to them finally deciding the organisation's strength out of it's total potential. For example, The Krogan Empire is tracked like this:
The Krogan Empire
Clan Urdnot
Wrex
Alive: 2
Dead: 0
Grunt
Alive: 2
Dead: 0
Krogan Empire
Formed: 0
Not: -10
Genophage
Genophage Cure
Given to Krogan: 2
Kept away: 0
Mordin
Alive: 2
Dead: 0
Maelon’s research
Kept: 0
Destroyed: 2
Net strength: ten out of a possible ten. The Krogan Empire will donate its full potential to the War Effort. This means that, aside from the assets it gives to the War Effort, the Krogan Empire will also achieve the best possible ending available to it, depending on Shepard's level of success in the final battle.
In addition, the individual organisations add to the Galaxy's net War potential. To continue the Example above, the Krogan Empire presents 8% of the Galaxy's potential. Given the fact that 10 out of ten points were achieved, that means the full 8% is added to Shepard's War assets. If Shepard failed to secure the full potential of the Krogan, then the combat potential is reduced to scale (i.e. 5 points would net 4%). In addition, Technology upgrades represent 10% of the Galaxy's War potential, while also saving the lives of individual crew members in the ending sequence.
These little packets of War potential are added together to give me the total figure for Shepard's chances in the endgame. In total, there is 120% War potential available, although its impossible to get all of it as some choices will negate certain assets in favour of others, meaning the total attainable points are just over 100%. Once all of the points are decided, I add them together to decide Shepard's net readiness. This affects the outcome of the end battle, affected by the location (or desperation) of the endgame. The end potential gives you one of four possible endings, scaling with location as follows:
Ending A:
30 or less: Total failure. Reaper victory. Cycle continues.
30- 50: Victory with crippling losses. Shepard and Normandy lost in final battle
50- 70: Victory with acceptable losses. Normandy survives, Shepard dies.
70+: Total victory. Shepard + Co survive final battle.
Ending B:
35 or less: Total failure. Reaper victory. Cycle continues.
35- 55: Victory with crippling losses. Shepard and Normandy lost in final battle
55- 75: Victory with acceptable losses. Normandy survives, Shepard dies.
75+: Total victory. Shepard + Co survive final battle.
Ending C:
40 or less: Total failure. Reaper victory. Cycle continues.
40- 60: Victory with crippling losses. Shepard and Normandy lost in final battle
60- 80: Victory with acceptable losses. Normandy survives, Shepard dies.
80+: Total victory. Shepard + Co survive final battle.
Ending D:
45 or less: Total failure. Reaper victory. Cycle continues.
45- 65: Victory with crippling losses. Shepard and Normandy lost in final battle
65- 85: Victory with acceptable losses. Normandy survives, Shepard dies.
85+: Total victory. Shepard + Co survive final battle.
Ending E:
50 or less: Total failure. Reaper victory. Cycle continues.
50- 70: Victory with crippling losses. Shepard and Normandy lost in final battle.
70- 90: Victory with acceptable losses. Normandy survives, Shepard dies.
90+: Total victory. Shepard + Co survive final battle.
Ending F:
55 or less: Total failure. Reaper victory. Cycle continues.
55- 75: Victory with crippling losses. Shepard and Normandy lost in final battle
75- 95: Victory with acceptable losses. Normandy survives, Shepard dies.
95+: Total victory. Shepard + Co survive final battle.
As you can see, once Shepard reaches the endgame, he already faces a situation where he needs to be absolutely ready. If he's made the wrong choices and finds himself at Location F, he faces the amost impossible task of convincing a nearly perfect army to fight at your back.
In relation to this, the organisations' futures are affected by the ending Shepard secures combined with their individual scores. For example, if Shepard gets the best result possible (Location 1, 70+% War potential), then the Krogan Empire, with full war assets earned, gets the absolute best outcome, whatever that may be, but if Shepard onlt secures a mediocre outcome (Say Location 1, 30-50%), then the Krogan get a mediocre future, possibly with the loss of key named characters. Of course, if the Total Reaper Victory ending is achieved, then all races are wiped out, no matter what.
So, in actual fact, there are 24 different endings that can be achieved in this fic (6 ending battles x 4 outcomes). However, due to the fact that any combination of the 23 squadmates could be lost, either due to technologies not gained or through poor specialist choices in the endgame, and the 19 organisations have 4 unique possible futures, you could actually claim (if you use Bioware's logic) that there are thousands of possible different endings to the fic. So far, the reader votes haven't even secured anything beyond Total Reaper Victory, so there's a lot of work to be done.
Anyway, that's a little insight into how my fic is planned and structured. I'd love to hear any thoughts/comments. as you can see, I have a fair amount of work ahead of me, so I'd better get to it.
Fainmaca Out.
*First of all, this will contain MODERATE TO HEAVY SPOILERS for my fic. You have been warned.*
The first and foremost facet that I felt (and still, to a degree, feel) was central to the Mass Effect franchise was the idea of choice and consequence, cause and effect, morals and responsibility. To that end, my story needed to have a variety of endings that gave very clear indications of consequence. Not just a different feeling to the ending, a different message or a different set of choices, but an actual, huge variance between the endings an individual Shepard would get. To this end, I came up with a simple, although work-intensive, solution: 6 Different locations for the final confrontation, dependent on four important choices. Now, obviously I won't reveal the locations just yet, but I'll refer to them as locations 1 through 6.
Now, these endings, and which one you get is decided by five choices: Whether you Spare or Kill The Illusive Man in Chapter 35: The Heart Of Darkness, Whether you choose to Save or Destroy Omega in Chapter 23: The Cartels Gather, Whether you choose to Spare or Destroy Arcturus Station in Chapter 36: The Enemy Advances, Whether you choose to Preserve or Destroy the Collector Base (Mass Effect 2, obviously), and whether you choose to Save the Council or Not (Mass Effect 1).
These endings are sequentially worse for Shepard and the defending Galaxy, each representative of a lost advantage until you finally reach the last and most desperate situation. The endings flow like this:
Ending A: Location 1 (TIM Choice 1)
Ending B: Location 2 (TIM Choice 2, Omega Choice 1)
Ending C: Location 3 (TIM Choice 2, Omega Choice 2, Arcturus Choice 1)
Ending D: Location 4 (TIM Choice 2, Omega Choice 2, Arcturus Choice 2, Council Choice 1)
Ending E: Location 5 (TIM Choice 2, Omega Choice 2, Arcturus Choice 2, Council Choice 2, Collector Base Choice 1)
Ending F: Location 6 (TIM Choice 2, Omega Choice 2, Arcturus Choice 2, Council Choice 2, Collector Base Choice 2)
As you can see, it is possible to get the best possible advantage for the end battle through just one choice, but that choice may or may not be made depending on individual preferences. One thing I should point out about these choices is that choosing the best path does not mean all of the choices made are paragon/renegade. They are a mix of choices of varying morality, meaning you have to choose what feels right to you and then see where that takes you. This is the second point I feel is important to Mass Effect: Paragon does not equal the right choice. Morals don't necessarily mean assured victory.
Moving on, I'd now like to show you how I add further variance to these six distinct endings. I do this through the Mass Effect Organisations.
Throughout the narrative of the games, Shepard forms relationships with not only key individuals in the Galaxy, but also with the peoples, networks and organisations spread throughout galactic society. I've isolated a list of 19 of the key players in these organisations, incorporating them into the mechanics of the story. These organisations are:
1. The Systems Alliance
2. The Terminus Cartels
3. The Krogan Empire
4. The Turian Hierarchy
5. The Asari Republics
6. The Salarian Union
7. The Batarian Hegemony
8. The Quarian Migrant Fleet
9. The Geth Collective
10. The Rachni Swarm
11. The Vol Protectorate
12. The Hanar Illuminated Primacy
13. The Drell Remnant
14. The Elcor
15. ***SPOILERS***
16. Cerberus
17.The Shadow Broker Network
18. The Citadel Council
19. ***SPOILERS***
These organisations have a number of factors tied to them that decide net military strength as well as the future of the individual group. I track these factors by assigning points to them finally deciding the organisation's strength out of it's total potential. For example, The Krogan Empire is tracked like this:
The Krogan Empire
Clan Urdnot
Wrex
Alive: 2
Dead: 0
Grunt
Alive: 2
Dead: 0
Krogan Empire
Formed: 0
Not: -10
Genophage
Genophage Cure
Given to Krogan: 2
Kept away: 0
Mordin
Alive: 2
Dead: 0
Maelon’s research
Kept: 0
Destroyed: 2
Net strength: ten out of a possible ten. The Krogan Empire will donate its full potential to the War Effort. This means that, aside from the assets it gives to the War Effort, the Krogan Empire will also achieve the best possible ending available to it, depending on Shepard's level of success in the final battle.
In addition, the individual organisations add to the Galaxy's net War potential. To continue the Example above, the Krogan Empire presents 8% of the Galaxy's potential. Given the fact that 10 out of ten points were achieved, that means the full 8% is added to Shepard's War assets. If Shepard failed to secure the full potential of the Krogan, then the combat potential is reduced to scale (i.e. 5 points would net 4%). In addition, Technology upgrades represent 10% of the Galaxy's War potential, while also saving the lives of individual crew members in the ending sequence.
These little packets of War potential are added together to give me the total figure for Shepard's chances in the endgame. In total, there is 120% War potential available, although its impossible to get all of it as some choices will negate certain assets in favour of others, meaning the total attainable points are just over 100%. Once all of the points are decided, I add them together to decide Shepard's net readiness. This affects the outcome of the end battle, affected by the location (or desperation) of the endgame. The end potential gives you one of four possible endings, scaling with location as follows:
Ending A:
30 or less: Total failure. Reaper victory. Cycle continues.
30- 50: Victory with crippling losses. Shepard and Normandy lost in final battle
50- 70: Victory with acceptable losses. Normandy survives, Shepard dies.
70+: Total victory. Shepard + Co survive final battle.
Ending B:
35 or less: Total failure. Reaper victory. Cycle continues.
35- 55: Victory with crippling losses. Shepard and Normandy lost in final battle
55- 75: Victory with acceptable losses. Normandy survives, Shepard dies.
75+: Total victory. Shepard + Co survive final battle.
Ending C:
40 or less: Total failure. Reaper victory. Cycle continues.
40- 60: Victory with crippling losses. Shepard and Normandy lost in final battle
60- 80: Victory with acceptable losses. Normandy survives, Shepard dies.
80+: Total victory. Shepard + Co survive final battle.
Ending D:
45 or less: Total failure. Reaper victory. Cycle continues.
45- 65: Victory with crippling losses. Shepard and Normandy lost in final battle
65- 85: Victory with acceptable losses. Normandy survives, Shepard dies.
85+: Total victory. Shepard + Co survive final battle.
Ending E:
50 or less: Total failure. Reaper victory. Cycle continues.
50- 70: Victory with crippling losses. Shepard and Normandy lost in final battle.
70- 90: Victory with acceptable losses. Normandy survives, Shepard dies.
90+: Total victory. Shepard + Co survive final battle.
Ending F:
55 or less: Total failure. Reaper victory. Cycle continues.
55- 75: Victory with crippling losses. Shepard and Normandy lost in final battle
75- 95: Victory with acceptable losses. Normandy survives, Shepard dies.
95+: Total victory. Shepard + Co survive final battle.
As you can see, once Shepard reaches the endgame, he already faces a situation where he needs to be absolutely ready. If he's made the wrong choices and finds himself at Location F, he faces the amost impossible task of convincing a nearly perfect army to fight at your back.
In relation to this, the organisations' futures are affected by the ending Shepard secures combined with their individual scores. For example, if Shepard gets the best result possible (Location 1, 70+% War potential), then the Krogan Empire, with full war assets earned, gets the absolute best outcome, whatever that may be, but if Shepard onlt secures a mediocre outcome (Say Location 1, 30-50%), then the Krogan get a mediocre future, possibly with the loss of key named characters. Of course, if the Total Reaper Victory ending is achieved, then all races are wiped out, no matter what.
So, in actual fact, there are 24 different endings that can be achieved in this fic (6 ending battles x 4 outcomes). However, due to the fact that any combination of the 23 squadmates could be lost, either due to technologies not gained or through poor specialist choices in the endgame, and the 19 organisations have 4 unique possible futures, you could actually claim (if you use Bioware's logic) that there are thousands of possible different endings to the fic. So far, the reader votes haven't even secured anything beyond Total Reaper Victory, so there's a lot of work to be done.
Anyway, that's a little insight into how my fic is planned and structured. I'd love to hear any thoughts/comments. as you can see, I have a fair amount of work ahead of me, so I'd better get to it.
Fainmaca Out.
Modifié par fainmaca, 20 mars 2012 - 01:08 .
#31
Posté 20 mars 2012 - 02:08
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By The Way, I'd love to hear any opinions from Bioware on this kind of system for working out the endings. As some of you may know, I applied to work for them not too long ago, but was turned away when the position was closed. I'd be curious to hear if this kind of premise would have been accepted, or if it would have been dismissed as too complex. Given the fact that their marketing seemed to indicate abo****ely no fear of a complex ending sequence, seeing as the repercussions of wildly divergent endings shouldn't be something to worry about at the very end of Shepard's story, the single point we all get drawn to seems.... timid, to say the least.
I don't know.... would ME3 have benefitted from an ending generator like this?
I don't know.... would ME3 have benefitted from an ending generator like this?
#32
Posté 20 mars 2012 - 02:16
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One final note I neglected to add into the main post: On the matter of Organisations, you may have noted that not forming the Krogan Empire causes you to lose all points. This is done by not completing a mission, skipping it or not getting to it in time. This shows that only real completionist Shepard will get the best endings, doing everything he/she can in game to secure alliances. Missing key missions can severely hurt your chances. This adds variance between casual, main plot only Shepards and OCD Shepards that amounts to more than just a single post-credits scene.
Once again, widely varying endings.
Once again, widely varying endings.
#33
Posté 31 mars 2012 - 11:57
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Hey hey, guys! New chapter just in time for April. Enjoy.
Link: www.fanfiction.net/s/6601801/44/Mass_Effect_3_Into_the_Unknown
There's a huge Jack scene in this chapter, which I loved writing. I'd like to hear thoughts on it.
Link: www.fanfiction.net/s/6601801/44/Mass_Effect_3_Into_the_Unknown
There's a huge Jack scene in this chapter, which I loved writing. I'd like to hear thoughts on it.
#34
Posté 01 avril 2012 - 12:42
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...And here's the first Side Mission. Enjoy.
Link: www.fanfiction.net/s/6601801/45/Mass_Effect_3_Into_the_Unknown
Be sure to leave a review.
Link: www.fanfiction.net/s/6601801/45/Mass_Effect_3_Into_the_Unknown
Be sure to leave a review.
#35
Posté 02 avril 2012 - 03:48
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I'm going to take a day or two for a break from writing the fic. Absolutely exhausted, and I think I may be wearing out, so I'm on a brief holiday from writing.
For those of you who missed it, I have a new chapter out: www.fanfiction.net/s/6601801/44/Mass_Effect_3_Into_the_Unknown
Please feel free to leave any feedback you may have.
For those of you who missed it, I have a new chapter out: www.fanfiction.net/s/6601801/44/Mass_Effect_3_Into_the_Unknown
Please feel free to leave any feedback you may have.
#36
Posté 08 avril 2012 - 11:45
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Decided to do a few character-specific images in motivational form. Let me know if you like them! I found all of these images by doing a quick google image search, then using the Bighugelabs Motivational generator to put them with lines taken from Into The Unknown.
#37
Posté 13 avril 2012 - 08:25
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There's a new chapter to Ink, my spin-off series of one-shots about Jack. Please enjoy, and let me know what you think.
Link: http://www.fanfictio...s/7338562/2/Ink
Link: http://www.fanfictio...s/7338562/2/Ink
#38
Posté 22 avril 2012 - 11:39
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I'm just posting here with a quick update: Chapter 46 is well on its way, but is taking more time than anticipated. sorry for the delays. The ME3 debacle is sapping my enthusiasm for the franchise at the moment. Kind of hard to show enthusiasm after putting 2000+ hours into creating this fic about the franchise only to see the series allowed to hang itself like this.
But I'm not down and out yet! I will persevere, and give Mass Effect the ending it deserves! at least the one I think it deserves.
For those of you wondering, my headcanon is that Shepard wakes up after Starbrat's useless choice, only to find himself back at the Arrival asteroid. Cue reset, 'it was all a dream' moment, then he goes on to experience this plot. Think of it as what happens after he breaks free of the IT.
But I'm not down and out yet! I will persevere, and give Mass Effect the ending it deserves! at least the one I think it deserves.
For those of you wondering, my headcanon is that Shepard wakes up after Starbrat's useless choice, only to find himself back at the Arrival asteroid. Cue reset, 'it was all a dream' moment, then he goes on to experience this plot. Think of it as what happens after he breaks free of the IT.
#39
Posté 05 mai 2012 - 09:46
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So one thing that I've been wondering about is are there any of the missions I've written that really stand out? I'd like to hear from anyone who has read Into The Unknown, what's your favourite chapter? Do you prefer the combat-heavy missions to Tuchanka? The Investigation on Illium? or maybe the multi-tiered raid on the Lawson mansion on Bekenstein. Post your thoughts here!
I'd really like to see more discussion of what my readers think works, what they wish I would change, and even discussion between each other of what you expect to happen or even what you don't want to see happen. Please, let me know!
I'd really like to see more discussion of what my readers think works, what they wish I would change, and even discussion between each other of what you expect to happen or even what you don't want to see happen. Please, let me know!
#40
Posté 07 mai 2012 - 05:21
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The first part of Chapter 46 is now live.
Link: www.fanfiction.net/s/6601801/46/Mass_Effect_3_Into_the_Unknown
Link: www.fanfiction.net/s/6601801/46/Mass_Effect_3_Into_the_Unknown
#41
Posté 07 mai 2012 - 09:50
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WooHoo! Into The Unknown is now on the Favourites List of 100 people!
*Celebration Time!*
*Celebration Time!*
#42
Posté 08 mai 2012 - 12:52
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Decided to change the name of this topic. Figured this makes it clearer what it's about.
