Thread title says it all, how would you defeat the Reapers with a weapon or a plan that isn't a giant Deus Ex Machina or something?
My plan is as follows: We know the Protheans can build one way Mass Relays from Ilos and the Conduit from the entire plot of Mass Effect 1, so with the Prothean squadmate or something we have some knowledge of Mass Relays. We know the galactic core is incredibly unstable from Mass Effect 2 (exploding stars and black holes). We know the Citadel is a control unit for all the other Relays, and probably the Reapers main target since they can shut down the Relays and divide and exterminate from the Citadel.
Therefore a logical "superweapon" to defeat the Reapers would have them all going to the Citadel to take control of the Mass Relay network. Somehow a Mass Relay could be reprogammed to send all of the Reapers into the Galactic Core where they are trapped or all blow up or something. I'm pretty sure they can't survive black holes and suns.
How would you defeat the Reapers without a Deus Ex Machina?
Débuté par
lyleoffmyspace
, févr. 25 2012 11:42
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#6
Posté 25 février 2012 - 11:48
Aimi
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ITT: misusing the term deus ex machina
just like every other plot thread on BSN
just like every other plot thread on BSN
#7
Posté 25 février 2012 - 11:50
InsaneAzrael
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I posted a similar idea as OP elsewhere.. Only, using Ilos as the charge and the relays (all co-ordinated from the citadel) as the prime. Then lure all Reapers to a Relay, open a channel to activate all relays, activate the conduit. Big-Badda-Boom.. Dead reapers.
#8
Posté 25 février 2012 - 11:50
Chewin
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daqs wrote...
ITT: misusing the term deus ex machina
just like every other plot thread on BSN
Sadly, most people here don't even know the definition for deus ex machina.
#9
Posté 25 février 2012 - 11:50
lyleoffmyspace
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daqs wrote...
ITT: misusing the term deus ex machina
just like every other plot thread on BSN
"god out of the machine"; plural: dei ex machina) is a plot device
whereby a seemingly unsolvable problem is suddenly and abruptly solved
with the contrived and unexpected intervention of some new event,
character, ability, or object.
Seeming unsolvable problem - the Reapers
Unexpected intervention of some new event,
character, ability, or object. - a random superweapon which hasn't been foreshadowed or hinted at by any other games in the series.
#10
Posté 25 février 2012 - 11:54
jeinasindorei
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lyleoffmyspace wrote...
daqs wrote...
ITT: misusing the term deus ex machina
just like every other plot thread on BSN
"god out of the machine"; plural: dei ex machina) is a plot device
whereby a seemingly unsolvable problem is suddenly and abruptly solved
with the contrived and unexpected intervention of some new event,
character, ability, or object.
Seeming unsolvable problem - the Reapers
Unexpected intervention of some new event,
character, ability, or object. - a random superweapon which hasn't been foreshadowed or hinted at by any other games in the series.
All depends on how it's introduced. If it's talked about and worked on throughout the whole game, it doesn't qualify. Not to mention, it might only be a part of the solution.
If Saren pops up at the end with it, then it does.
Modifié par jeinasindorei, 25 février 2012 - 11:55 .
#11
Posté 25 février 2012 - 11:55
Aimi
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IT IS A BAD PLOT DEVICEChewin3 wrote...
Sadly, most people here don't even know the definition for deus ex machina.
...and that's basically it. So sad. I mean, it's obviously too much to hope for a reference to Euripides, let alone Aristophanes' Thesmophoriazousai, but they could still have the grace to know that it's a completely unforeshadowed, literally last-second divine intervention that has no precedence whatsoever in the plot.
Side note: how've you been liking Crusader Kings II? I've been following it, but I'm afraid I won't buy it until somebody comes up with a decent mod to fix the Byzantine Empire and its ridiculously ahistorical adhesion to the general Western European quasi-feudal mishmash social system that apparently everybody in Europe seems to go along with.
#12
Posté 25 février 2012 - 11:56
jeinasindorei
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daqs wrote...
IT IS A BAD PLOT DEVICEChewin3 wrote...
Sadly, most people here don't even know the definition for deus ex machina.
...and that's basically it. So sad. I mean, it's obviously too much to hope for a reference to Euripides, let alone Aristophanes' Thesmophoriazousai, but they could still have the grace to know that it's a completely unforeshadowed, literally last-second divine intervention that has no precedence whatsoever in the plot.
Side note: how've you been liking Crusader Kings II? I've been following it, but I'm afraid I won't buy it until somebody comes up with a decent mod to fix the Byzantine Empire and its ridiculously ahistorical adhesion to the general Western European quasi-feudal mishmash social system that apparently everybody in Europe seems to go along with.
Yes, a deus ex machina is a bad plot device, but that doesn't mean it'll be in this plot.
#13
Posté 25 février 2012 - 11:58
Aimi
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The point is that you don't need to bring Athene Alkis into the Sol system on a winch to have a shot at beating the Reapers. It's not a deus ex machina.jeinasindorei wrote...
Yes, a deus ex machina is a bad plot device, but that doesn't mean it'll be in this plot.
#14
Posté 25 février 2012 - 12:00
Arppis
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I'd propably just blow up the Mass relay on the earth if nothing else worked. Or armed every ship with those canons I used to oneshot collector ship.
#15
Posté 25 février 2012 - 12:00
Chewin
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daqs wrote...
IT IS A BAD PLOT DEVICE
...and that's basically it. So sad. I mean, it's obviously too much to hope for a reference to Euripides, let alone Aristophanes' Thesmophoriazousai, but they could still have the grace to know that it's a completely unforeshadowed, literally last-second divine intervention that has no precedence whatsoever in the plot.
Glad to see that there are people like you here.
Side note: how've you been liking Crusader Kings II? I've been following it, but I'm afraid I won't buy it until somebody comes up with a decent mod to fix the Byzantine Empire and its ridiculously ahistorical adhesion to the general Western European quasi-feudal mishmash social system that apparently everybody in Europe seems to go along with.
Eh, if you were referring to me and my avatar, then it's Foltest from The Witcher 2, not Crusader Kings II.
#16
Posté 25 février 2012 - 12:00
jeinasindorei
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daqs wrote...
The point is that you don't need to bring Athene Alkis into the Sol system on a winch to have a shot at beating the Reapers. It's not a deus ex machina.jeinasindorei wrote...
Yes, a deus ex machina is a bad plot device, but that doesn't mean it'll be in this plot.
It is if Saren pops up with an awesome bomb he got from Heaven and blows up the Reapers.
#18
Posté 25 février 2012 - 12:02
Aimi
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oh god my badChewin3 wrote...
Eh, if you were referring to me and my avatar, then it's Foltest from The Witcher 2, not Crusader Kings II.
Very true!jeinasindorei wrote...
It is if Saren pops up with an awesome bomb he got from Heaven and blows up the Reapers.
#19
Posté 25 février 2012 - 12:28
hawat333
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Installing Win 3.1 on them should do the trick.
#20
Posté 25 février 2012 - 12:30
Justicar
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It's going to be a MacGuffin, not a Deus Ex Machina.
Unless the trinket from Sha'ira is a super-special-awesome nuke.
Unless the trinket from Sha'ira is a super-special-awesome nuke.
#21
Posté 25 février 2012 - 12:36
BrookerT
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you don't mean a Deus Ex Machina, you mean a MacGuffin right?
Deus Exs are bad plot devices
MacGuffins are only as good or as bad as the writing that surrounds them
Deus Exs are bad plot devices
MacGuffins are only as good or as bad as the writing that surrounds them
Modifié par BrookerT, 25 février 2012 - 12:37 .
#22
Posté 25 février 2012 - 12:50
Drake-Shepard
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It is difficult to define if a convenient weapon is a deus ex machina or a macGuffin in mass effect 3.
Should it of been available from me1 to be defined as a macguffin or is that start of me3 enough time.
Depends if it was planned from the start
superweapon killed a reaper and made a hole in a planet millions of years ago...its part of the codex and history
protheans had secret projects...watched earth
could of made sure our evolution was not on the reaper path-they figured this out at the end
could of purposely frozen the local relay so we would be free to evolve technology without relay influence
Therefore it may not be a standard terrible annoying deus ex machina. If it isn;t i am sure they will join up these dot for us to prove to us that it isn't cos no1 likes a deus ex machina
Should it of been available from me1 to be defined as a macguffin or is that start of me3 enough time.
Depends if it was planned from the start
superweapon killed a reaper and made a hole in a planet millions of years ago...its part of the codex and history
protheans had secret projects...watched earth
could of made sure our evolution was not on the reaper path-they figured this out at the end
could of purposely frozen the local relay so we would be free to evolve technology without relay influence
Therefore it may not be a standard terrible annoying deus ex machina. If it isn;t i am sure they will join up these dot for us to prove to us that it isn't cos no1 likes a deus ex machina
#23
Posté 25 février 2012 - 12:54
UserForFun
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Invest of all of the available resorces/funds within Normandy-class Frigates, and upgrade their weaponry/shields and stealth system past anything has yet before seen.
Strategy A - Divide and Conquer using guerrilla tactics.
The Reapers fleet obviously need to divide in order to attack systems simultaneously in order to prevent for one system to reinforce another, I'd use that to my advantage; At the end of the day, no Dreadnaught or Carrier have a chance to defeat a Reaper, in a toe-to-toe battle, instead I'll use this small army of frigates to launch guerrilla attacks upon divided Reapers.
We'd use maneuverability, evasive-maneuvers, and pin-point attacks with deadly-accuracy, no matter how resilient their shields are, constant concentrated fire on only one portion of the shields will eventually penetrate.
In order to reach this range, we'll use the upgraded stealth systems mentioned above to gain as much proximity as we're able to get, obviously the Reapers would eventually make a visual-contact, but by the time they'd see us, we'd already had the surprise + opened fire.
The Reapers only have one main-gun, incredible powerful, but it can be easily avoided, as long as the ship's size is limited to a frigate, we'll literally dance around the Reaper, always striking from the blind spot, due to cover of stealth.
I'll also deploy fighters for additional damage, since the Reapers do not seem to have any other vessels at their disposal to counter-attack small figthening vessels.
Strategy B strategy -- Infiltration.
As the strategy above unravels, some Reapers, may be simple too tough for our weapons ( We all know that Reapers vary in size/strenght ) and we cannot keep the stealth systems/constant maneuverability going indefinitely.
If a Reaper seems too large, I'd alter the pattern of the strategy from above, instead of approaching the Reapers I'd exit stealth a few miles away and begin firying -- Naturally, the Reaper would be focused on the front-cover of assaulting frigates, while secretly, another Stealth frigate would deploy fighters from behind.
Kinetic Barriers are capable to withstand fast moving objects and energy, not small vessels, we'll equip these small fighters with nukes and dock them on the Reapers, or inside them ( We know that the Reapers are capable to be docked by ground forces, such as Husks, Salen, etc.. ) and detonate the nuke on the surface or inside. Obviously if we manage to get one inside, the damage would be devastating, possible one-shot.
Even if is damage from the surface ( Cause we may assume that they close their hanger-doors, unlike the Collectors ) it is past the kinetic-barriers -- It may not one-shot a Reaper, but it would inflict significant damage.
Also, these small fighters would be controlled wireless by EDI, or another AI/VI.
Strategy A - Divide and Conquer using guerrilla tactics.
The Reapers fleet obviously need to divide in order to attack systems simultaneously in order to prevent for one system to reinforce another, I'd use that to my advantage; At the end of the day, no Dreadnaught or Carrier have a chance to defeat a Reaper, in a toe-to-toe battle, instead I'll use this small army of frigates to launch guerrilla attacks upon divided Reapers.
We'd use maneuverability, evasive-maneuvers, and pin-point attacks with deadly-accuracy, no matter how resilient their shields are, constant concentrated fire on only one portion of the shields will eventually penetrate.
In order to reach this range, we'll use the upgraded stealth systems mentioned above to gain as much proximity as we're able to get, obviously the Reapers would eventually make a visual-contact, but by the time they'd see us, we'd already had the surprise + opened fire.
The Reapers only have one main-gun, incredible powerful, but it can be easily avoided, as long as the ship's size is limited to a frigate, we'll literally dance around the Reaper, always striking from the blind spot, due to cover of stealth.
I'll also deploy fighters for additional damage, since the Reapers do not seem to have any other vessels at their disposal to counter-attack small figthening vessels.
Strategy B strategy -- Infiltration.
As the strategy above unravels, some Reapers, may be simple too tough for our weapons ( We all know that Reapers vary in size/strenght ) and we cannot keep the stealth systems/constant maneuverability going indefinitely.
If a Reaper seems too large, I'd alter the pattern of the strategy from above, instead of approaching the Reapers I'd exit stealth a few miles away and begin firying -- Naturally, the Reaper would be focused on the front-cover of assaulting frigates, while secretly, another Stealth frigate would deploy fighters from behind.
Kinetic Barriers are capable to withstand fast moving objects and energy, not small vessels, we'll equip these small fighters with nukes and dock them on the Reapers, or inside them ( We know that the Reapers are capable to be docked by ground forces, such as Husks, Salen, etc.. ) and detonate the nuke on the surface or inside. Obviously if we manage to get one inside, the damage would be devastating, possible one-shot.
Even if is damage from the surface ( Cause we may assume that they close their hanger-doors, unlike the Collectors ) it is past the kinetic-barriers -- It may not one-shot a Reaper, but it would inflict significant damage.
Also, these small fighters would be controlled wireless by EDI, or another AI/VI.
#24
Posté 25 février 2012 - 01:03
Dave Exclamation Mark Yognaut
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Mass effect fields.
#25
Posté 25 février 2012 - 01:08
Phaedon
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Mc Guffin =/= Deus Ex Machina.
At least in the original definition of DEM. A lot of good ancient tragedies have DEMs, though, they are just not tolerated as much as Mc Guffins today.
At least in the original definition of DEM. A lot of good ancient tragedies have DEMs, though, they are just not tolerated as much as Mc Guffins today.
