*email notification pops up on phone*
"Ooh, maybe it's a new review or something"
*checks inbox, sees 10 new emails*
"Not again..."
Heh, I know the feels. Still, I will soon give your story a proper read. When that happens I will review the heck out of it, lol!
Now, I must endeavor to maintain my definition of "soon" to this month! 
Thank you for the confirmation!
Good luck with your story and remember the door is always open (basically because we can't find the key anymore )
*email notification pops up on phone*
"Ooh, maybe it's a new review or something"
*checks inbox, sees 10 new emails*
"Not again..."
You can get email notifications on a phone now? 
[grumbles about kids, the Good Ol' Days, and the cost of beer nowadays] 
Anyway have to say I'm the complete opposite. Once I've posted I go off and hide somewhere, it takes me a couple of days to get the nerve to even check for reviews. 
You can get email notifications on a phone now?
Indeed. Though that's only been the case for me since the end of 2012. I think all the cool kids had smartphones waaaay before me.
My FF.net account is linked to a separate email I don't really use for anything else, which is linked to my phone, so whenever I get a notification it's usually for something related to the site.
p.s. I thought I was old, how old are you?
Indeed. Though that's only been the case for me since the end of 2012. I think all the cool kids had smartphones waaaay before me.
My FF.net account is linked to a separate email I don't really use for anything else, which is linked to my phone, so whenever I get a notification it's usually for something related to the site.
p.s. I thought I was old, how old are you?
Old enough to - a: Complain about the price of beer and - b: not answer questions like that!
Now in an attempt to get the thread back on track...Has anyone started writing a scene, decided that you're probably going to end up ditching it - then found you just can't seem to get past it? That you have to finish that first scene before you can really move on? Because if you have, and if you've found a way past it, I would really appreciate it if you would share! 
Ditch it. Find a new way to get across what's in the scene.
Blunt advice, but it's what I think works.
Or, in other words, if you're not excited to be writing the scene: you're writing the wrong scene. With my Miranda story, there were a lot of things I didn't like in there, but was keeping things in-line with the game or the machinations of the plot I'd created so far, which meant I didn't really have much wiggle room. Surprise, surprise, those chapters always seemed to be the least well-received or simply garnered no opinions either way. They were functional, just not interesting, and I knew it.
So, if you have the freedom to scrap something and do it all over again, I think it's worth it in the long-run.
Old enough to - a: Complain about the price of beer and - b: not answer questions like that!
Now in an attempt to get the thread back on track...Has anyone started writing a scene, decided that you're probably going to end up ditching it - then found you just can't seem to get past it? That you have to finish that first scene before you can really move on?
Ditch it. Find a new way to get across what's in the scene.
Blunt advice, but it's what I think works.
Or, in other words, if you're not excited to be writing the scene: you're writing the wrong scene. With my Miranda story, there were a lot of things I didn't like in there, but was keeping things in-line with the game or the machinations of the plot I'd created so far, which meant I didn't really have much wiggle room. Surprise, surprise, those chapters always seemed to be the least well-received or simply garnered no opinions either way. They were functional, just not interesting, and I knew it.
So, if you have the freedom to scrap something and do it all over again, I think it's worth it in the long-run.
I half agree here. First, I asked myself if I really NEEDED the scene. Then, I asked myself if it was a problem in the approach, or a problem of my mood. I'd sit on the scene a bit. Sometimes, I'd even leave notes, such as...
[fight scene here] or
[plot reveal: Liara is a Reaper doomsday device] or
[characterization: Shepard loves steak]
Then I'd move on. When the mood struck me for the scene I left behind, I'd revisit it. Oftentimes, I'd come back and have a different approach (and usually better/more fun). However, there were just as many times where simply killing the scene entirely lead to a much better story, IMO. Speaking for myself, I HAD to come back to it. Until I hit an epiphany, my mind sometimes isn't capable of envisioning certain scenes differently. It's much harder to revise my own head-canon as I am writing, but much easier to adjust it afterwards (like in the ME3 endings).
On the occasions where the segment was not usable for the story at hand, I would add it to my "cutting room floor" document. Often, I find use for such scenes in a different story. Indeed, there were quite a few scenes in my recently finished ME4 novel that benefited from the cutting room floor of other stories. Moreover, I could almost write a novel by stringing together scenes from those edits!
You have to feel it out for yourself, but give yourself some time to think on it.
Greetings and Salutations all!
Not here to contribute, since I am still trapped in the inescapable web a financial black widow. But while I was here updating the fanfic list, I thought I'd drop in an leave a greeting for all you fine ladies and gentlemen. Fare thee well, and have a glorious day.
Thanks hot_heart & Seracen!
Anyway, I kind of threw myself into writing over the weekend and just kept driving at the scene that was giving me grief 
; so it's kind of 
done now. I think I needed to get it written out, just so I could say to myself, "Look it's done. Now get back to work!" (That sounds crazier outside of my head...isn't that weird? )
Admittedly it's taken roughly a week out of my intended schedule - but I'm already behind anyway. So... 
Greetings and Salutations all!
Not here to contribute, since I am still trapped in the inescapable web a financial black widow. But while I was here updating the fanfic list, I thought I'd drop in an leave a greeting for all you fine ladies and gentlemen. Fare thee well, and have a glorious day.
Hello again Dru! Nice to see you are still alive, lol! Hope all goes well for you.
Thanks hot_heart & Seracen!
Anyway, I kind of threw myself into writing over the weekend and just kept driving at the scene that was giving me grief
Admittedly it's taken roughly a week out of my intended schedule - but I'm already behind anyway. So...
Know exactly what you mean: laboring through a scene that you just HAVE to get past, so that you can start writing the FUN STUFF! For me, I generally don't like to force things too much, hence my earlier advice. Glad to hear you got through it though, and looking forward to the finished product!
I've had those scenes I had to get through... UGH! That's when I've had the sit down with the characters. "Okay, I'm not having fun, and I know you're not having fun. What do you guys want to do?"
"Let's go blow up something."
"You always want to blow up something."
"Do not."
"Do too."
"You got a better idea?"
"Well maybe."
"Okay, let's hear it if it's so good."
"How about a little B & E?"
"Could we blow up something?"
"Maybe later."
"Yeah, I got it now. We could ...."
Well, you just know you're gonna have a ****ed-up weekend when you head out to the laundry room to take your clothes out of the dryer, run into one of the neighbors there, and he informs you that a week ago he caught a kid pissing into one of the dryers. That's how my Saturday started, and yes, it really did set the tone for the rest of that day and the next. D:
At least I was still able to keep writing before the weekend weirdness, and finished another chapter of the GI Joe fic I'm working on for the Kindle Worlds thing. So, a small victory, and I'm hoping to take advantage of my next couple days off work to make some progress on my other stories....
But, what has me thinking I'm going to be getting more flak is that... well I have it so that Shepard has all the backstories. Meaning, her family(except her mom, because of Spacer and such.) are dead. Killed by batarians on Mindoir. Anyways, I just revealed that I had a pretty important OC(A guy from before the time the Reapers were around.) has Lazarus'd back her father and her two dead sisters. And, I'm thinking that people are going to be irked that I decided to do that.
And, I'm not sure how to react if what I think is going to happen happens. Part of me wants to say, "Hey, it's my story. I like things being happy. And I love the interaction/general storytelling possibilities open up." But another part of me thinks I should say, "I know that it may seem lame to bring back the people who died in Shepard's past, since it was a big formative moment for her. But, I wanted to find a way to work these characters into the story in a larger role since the Butcher arc. I felt that, especially after how traumatized she was by seeing their memories and such it would be really cool to be able to show her reaction to learning they've been brought back to life."
So, yeah. I'm just rambling. But what I was going to ask is, do you guys think it's silly of me to have brought back Shepard's dead family? Because, the cynical part of me is saying that. While the non-cynical part of me is saying, "Oh come on. You started writing this to give Shepard a happy ending. Go whole hog on it!"
Like you said, it's your story. You need to tell the story that's forming in your head, and like I said regarding that one negative reaction to my story, if it's not some readers' cup of tea, there are other stories they can move on to. Just write a good story, and it'll attract readers who can appreciate it.
I've seen people get irked over things like bringing dead characters back, or anything else that brightens the story up a little bit. Years and years ago, I did something similar with another fanfic series, and remember someone saying that bringing certain characters back "cheapened" the tragedy of their loss. I did it just because I thought it was an interesting idea and wanted to see if I could make it work, and it had the benefit of giving me a bunch of new characters I could develop. The flak I got stung a little of course, but you have to accept that there are some readers who just don't know what they're talking about. And if they hurl insults at you or otherwise try to bully you over it, well, **** 'em in the neck till their noses bleed. XD
And there's nothing wrong with liking things in a story being happy. I can certainly enjoy a dark and dramatic story, in which the heroes are backed up against a wall and all that stuff, but for me, there has to be at least a faint light at the end of the tunnel. A story that's relentlessly dark and brutal and depressing is just not for me. It doesn't necessarily have to have a completely happy ending--in fact, there could be plot points in the story that prevent a 100% happy ending--but I definitely like the story to end on some sort of positive note, or at least a hopeful one. I dunno, I guess some people just think a story isn't worthwhile unless all the characters are either suffering constantly or are at each other's throats all the damned time.
That's one of the reasons I hated Mass Effect 3, by the way. Not just the ending, though the whole "rocks fall, everyone dies" crap in the original ending (not to mention the whole thing simply not making any sense...but that's a whole other rant) was the worst part of it. Just the relentless bleakness...blecch. I could've been okay with all that stuff if the ending had made it worth going through...but yeah. 
And then seeing some people reacting to complaints about the ending by making comments about how we just wanted a Disney ending or prancing unicorns ejaculating rainbows or whatever the hell. As if the story is only deep and meaningful if the hero dies at the end, or all the main characters die and the galaxy is reverted to the stone age. Meh.
Yeah. In the neck. Till their noses bleed. XD
Always amused to hear your rants. It makes me feel better about my own occasional tome-sized posts!
As for my own little tidbits, I amused myself by putting in a few colloquialisms, such as "Mexican standoff," then having Shep explain it to a bunch of Batarians. I also had Zaeed knock a code against a door (Shave and a Haircut), which completely befuddled Garrus, who'd never heard the song, and was unfamiliar with the joke.
I feel that things like that add character and heart to a story, when used appropriately. As for hate for the particular couplings...there's no shorting of bile when discussing such things in the forums. However, I can't help but feel like all the sheer choices in the ME series mitigates the hate somewhat.
After all, it's hard to be angry when fully 70% of the fanbase disagrees with you, no matter what choices you made. "Disagrees" is too strong a word, but still, no two people made EVERY choice the exact same. I admittedly rag on the Virmire Survivor, but that doesn't mean I will automatically hate a story in which they are the LI (indeed, my next ME story will have the VS as an LI).
Glad I'm able to entertain. And I love stuff like the "Mexican standoff" and all that you mentioned. It's perfect for injecting a little humor when needed, and reminding readers that aliens have vastly different cultures. I like to put stuff like that in here and there, too. And I'm having a bit of fun by putting a slight spin on it, with a couple of alien characters geeking out on human pop-culture...and what'll really amuse me is when one of them will inevitably make a reference and then have to explain it to their own people. XD
One bit that just popped into my head while typing that....
Computer: "Please enter passcode."
Chula: "Khaaaaaaaan!"
Sidonis: *nearly jumps out of his carapace*
Computer: "Passcode accepted. Access granted."
Sidonis: *stares and backs away slowly*
As for hate for certain couplings...yeah, that's definitely true. One of the cool things about Mass Effect is that there's a pretty good range of options in the games. For my story, I'm pretty much basing it on the choices I made during 1 & 2, so if I bring up the LI thing at all, it'll be Tali. But I'm thinking about just not mentioning it unless there's a specific reason to. Since most of my characters are OCs, it might not even come up.
Though I did notice in the games that Dr. Michel and Kelly Chambers appear to have crushes on Garrus, so I'm planning to have a little fun with that later on.
*email notification pops up on phone*
"Ooh, maybe it's a new review or something"
*checks inbox, sees 10 new emails*
"Not again..."
Heh, I've had that happen, but my reaction is usually something like, "Oh, cool. 
." Which is one of the reasons I 
technology. My previous job was so stressful and the town I lived in made me so miserable, I'd take whatever I could get that would distract me from it all. I could just look at my phone and see new reviews, and be cheered right up. Without that, I'd have to slog through the whole day and wait until I got home to see them.
Always takes me a while to reply to them, though, and I always kick myself for not doing it sooner.
Now in an attempt to get the thread back on track...Has anyone started writing a scene, decided that you're probably going to end up ditching it - then found you just can't seem to get past it? That you have to finish that first scene before you can really move on?
That happens to me a lot, and I haven't found one specific solution. Rather, there are several things that work, depending on what the scene is. Sometimes I have to ditch it and write a completely different scene. Sometimes I just have to start the scene over from scratch and see if it works this time. Sometimes I realize the scene needs to be there for the story to progress, but there's something about it that causes my brain to hang up, so I put a new character into the scene and just have him/her start talking to those already present (sometimes just a normal conversation, and sometimes just coming in to antagonize the others), and sometimes that launches the scene at a slightly different angle that allows me to work through it and move on with the story.
That might be one of the reasons why I keep adding new characters all the time, now that I think about it. Part of it is just an idea popping into my head and throwing it into the story, and part might be me liking the new character I added just to alter the flow of the scene and deciding to keep him/her around.
Anyway, I kind of threw myself into writing over the weekend and just kept driving at the scene that was giving me grief ; so it's kind of done now. I think I needed to get it written out, just so I could say to myself, "Look it's done. Now get back to work!" (That sounds crazier outside of my head...isn't that weird? )
Admittedly it's taken roughly a week out of my intended schedule - but I'm already behind anyway. So...
Cool. Yeah, sometimes a scene needs to be in the story and you just have to keep at it until it comes together and you get past it.
I'm actually dealing with that problem in the current chapter of my story. Having trouble getting a handle on it, but the scene is kind of a big deal and really needs to be there because there's been some build-up to it in previous chapters. It's the first time Shepard and his team have appeared, and the scene is a meeting between them, Admiral Hackett, Anderson, Tevos, and Lidanya, discussing some new info about the Reapers, among other things. It's a long scene with a lot of talking, and I keep getting stuck, but I feel like it's important to the story. So, all I can do is keep poking at it and see if the mental blockage shakes loose...but if I can't get past it, I'll probably just delete the scene and start over with a different approach, and hope that actually works.
Now, something I forgot to mention the last several times I posted. A while back I was reading the thread but not actually posting anything yet, and saw a mention of the Citadel Epilogue mod. Here's how out-of-the-loop I was--the mod came out something like nine months ago, and I'd never even heard of it until I saw it mentioned here a few weeks ago. That's how completely I'd washed my hands of Mass Effect 3.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I looked it up. And liked what I found. Between this mod and MEHEM...well, goddamn it, now it looked like I'd have to reinstall ME3 and buy the Citadel DLC. I'd sworn I would never give BioWare any more of my money after being burned so badly...but damn it, I paid $80 for that game, and couldn't enjoy it at all. There's just no replay value. And you know what? After not only spending all that money on it, but being so emotionally invested in the series, I just want to be able to enjoy it again, and be able to play it over again at least a few more times to get my money's worth. And it looks like I can do that if the entire Catalyst BS is removed and the Citadel DLC can be played as an epilogue (which is what it should've been in the first place).
It won't fix all the problems that come up throughout the story (like taking Bakara down to Tuchanka before the Reaper forces are dealt with, while her health is still fragile), or Shepard acting like a moron, or the very existence of Diana "Battletits" Allers...but I can get through all that if I know there's a light at the end of the tunnel.
So, I reinstalled ME3 and bought Citadel--and immediately felt like I needed a shower afterward. Then I downloaded the mods, and once I finish my current playthrough of ME2, I'll be ready to give this a shot.
I did not, however, buy the Leviathan or Omega DLCs. I might get Omega someday, since it should've been part of the game in the first place, but only if it ever goes on sale at a drastic discount. Leviathan, as far as I'm concerned, doesn't even exist. Just muddies the waters and tries to retcon the story to make the Catalyst look like it was planned to be there all along. Screw that.
Bah. Had one other thing I was going to bring up, but naturally I forgot what it was. I wouldn't be surprised if it's brain damage caused by seven and a half years of working in the one-hour-photo lab at Hellmart. And the stories I could tell you about that. O_o Someday I should write a book detailing the whole twisted journey. But it'd probably turn into a ten-volume series. I'd call it Encyclopedia Stupidica.
Oh well. This post is probably long enough already. O_o
Yeah, that's what I did. After ME3 launch, I only did one complete play through and ditched it. ME 1 - 10 + rounds. ME 2 - 20 + rounds. Me 3 - 1 round. I knew about MEHEM but decided to wait until those kind and talented ME fans improved on it. The initial versions were a hassle to install. I recently did ME 3 again with MEHEM and bought Citadel. I've no intention of getting Omega or Leviathan.
This time, the play through was more acceptable and I have to say I'm satisfied. 
In a way, it also refreshed my memory; I kinda forget how things go sometimes (dialogues) and I think I may have made some mistakes in my fanfic. But the main thing is; I enjoyed playing ME 3, despite all the other bugs that couldn't be stamped out.
Another interesting point about railing against an author's writing choices...ME was built around choice. That the characters MUST do ANYTHING is, in itself, a fallacy. Good/Bad endings, romanced/unromanced (the origin of that one "cut" dialogue from Anderson only occurred with an unromanced Shep, IIRC), dead/alive...and anything in between is all fair game.
So, in such a vast multiverse of possibility, asserting that anything had to happen, or that certain people are wrong for feeling it should have been different, kind of undermines the point of ME. I think that's what people often forget when rambling on forums, or sending aggro to fellow fans (who happen to be writers). As for the endings, I felt there needed to be more range, going from "the dragon wins in the end," to "bittersweet," to "saccharine-filled diabetes."
Nor is any of this wrong. After all, nothing is canon, except what you want to be. As such, there should be room for any range of stories. Hell, I left the "romance plot" of ME3 unresolved in my fanfic, leading to the love triangle that ended in...a consummated triangle. And while it felt awkward considering such a resolution, I refuse to apologize for making that choice. Criticism is all well and good, but derision is neither.
For instance, I don't generally read ME stories that are predominantly OC, but that doesn't mean I hate them. Moreover, good writing, and well-planned plots, will generally allay any concerns a good reader should have. Bah, I am rambling again...off to do some homework!
Yeah, that's what I did. After ME3 launch, I only did one complete play through and ditched it. ME 1 - 10 + rounds. ME 2 - 20 + rounds. Me 3 - 1 round. I knew about MEHEM but decided to wait until those kind and talented ME fans improved on it. The initial versions were a hassle to install. I recently did ME 3 again with MEHEM and bought Citadel. I've no intention of getting Omega or Leviathan.
This time, the play through was more acceptable and I have to say I'm satisfied.
I understand why some people disagree with the Leviathan storyline and have chosen to boycott that DLC. but just out of curiosity, why boycott Omega? I have all the DLCs, and Omega didn't strike me as being particularly objectionable in any way. *ponders* in fact, it was pretty much in-keeping with Cerberus activities all the way back to ME1. human supremacy? check! experimenting to create super soldiers? check! experiments escape and become a danger to everyone? check! *smiles*
of course I'm on record as being more accepting of ME3 than most, so it's totes possible I missed something. but I thought Omega was a pretty good DLC. not quite Lair of the Shadow Broker good, but better than some.
and one question to help spruce up my military communications in my story:
can anyone give me some pointers on military radio shorthand and stuff? I've heard some in games and movies but I don't quite get the meanings of some of it. like "charlie mic" or when/how to use some of the other terms. any pointers would be awesome.
*waves*
"Charlie, Mike, etc." is the phonetic alphabet so as to avoid confusion ("did you say B or V?!").
So, Alpha for A, Bravo for B, Charlie for C, and so on.
In with that, you're looking at 'voice procedure' for terms like "Roger", "Over", "Affirmative", etc.
Also things like "LZ" for landing zone, "op" for operation, and familiar terms for rank (LT, sarge, skipper, brass, grunts).
As for Omega DLC, more people who had problems with it said that it took one out of the experience of the Galactic War. For most folks, they played Omega right before taking on the Cerberus Base. As all you really gain is more "War Assets," there was no concrete evidence as to why you would divert to Omega. In the time you spent there, the Reapers will have taken several more systems, so it seems like an unbalanced decision.
I never really had a problem with the Omega DLC. I can certainly see the points against it, plot-wise. However, it was extremely enjoyable. If done early enough in the campaign, it seems more reasonable. I will admit, if there was some superweapon that was destroyed (or some larger connection), it would have made more sense to divert resources, or if Aria hadn't already committed resources from an earlier questline.
As for Leviathan, that DLC DID tie back into the War much better, but we never really saw the ramifications of it (barring a few numbers added to "War Assets"). On the whole, the lack of any concrete fallout is what hampered the impact and pissed people off. As pure missions and lore, I enjoyed the hell out of them, and am able to head-canon a more viable resolution.
I think Omega is an oddball DLC. I've heard the plot line was supposed to be another in between ME2 and ME3. I think it's best played immediately after the coup to get the war assets and the upgrades as soon as possible. Also I found it to be a lot of fun especially for a renegade Shepard.
Leviathan DLC ties into the ending better, but since I hate the ending I see no point in getting it. However if you want to watch it like a TV show this is the version I'd recommend. Make a bowl of popcorn, sit back and enjoy.
W00t! I finally finished that big meeting-on-the-Normandy scene I mentioned in my last post. It only took me something like a week and a half to get everything to click into place. 
Finally managed to figure out the last few paragraphs and put a nice little button on the scene...and it gives the main characters a better reason to be a little more involved in the coming conflict.
Yeah, that's what I did. After ME3 launch, I only did one complete play through and ditched it. ME 1 - 10 + rounds. ME 2 - 20 + rounds. Me 3 - 1 round. I knew about MEHEM but decided to wait until those kind and talented ME fans improved on it. The initial versions were a hassle to install. I recently did ME 3 again with MEHEM and bought Citadel. I've no intention of getting Omega or Leviathan.
This time, the play through was more acceptable and I have to say I'm satisfied.
Yep, that's how it went for me. I played through ME1 a dozen or more times. ME2, I loved so much that I kept playing it over and over for more than a year. Probably did at least a couple hundred playthroughs. 
ME3? I pre-ordered the special edition, which arrived on release day. Spent the next several days (luckily, I was on vacation, so I had the time for it) playing it, then I got to the end. I had to wait a few days for the rage to subside, then I tried playing it again. That time, however, because I knew what was coming at the end, I just couldn't. Playing that game was like suffering through a long, straining, painful bowel movement. That was before MEHEM, so I waited to find out how BioWare would respond to the backlash. As soon as I read the description of the EC, (and the condescending "you're obviously not smart enough to understand our artistic vision, so we're going to spell it out for you" crap) I knew it was over. I didn't bother playing through to the end, but watched the EC on YouTube, and I gave up on the whole thing. Eventually, I realized I didn't even want that thing on my hard drive, and uninstalled it.
Then I heard about MEHEM...and it just wasn't enough. But MEHEM combined with the Citadel Epilogue? Okay, my interest has been aroused.
I'm relieved to hear that those two mods make the game actually satisfying. I was really worried that I'd just blown fifteen dollars on another disappointment. But now I'm eager to start another playthrough of ME3 and see how it turns out.
Another interesting point about railing against an author's writing choices...ME was built around choice. That the characters MUST do ANYTHING is, in itself, a fallacy. Good/Bad endings, romanced/unromanced (the origin of that one "cut" dialogue from Anderson only occurred with an unromanced Shep, IIRC), dead/alive...and anything in between is all fair game.
So, in such a vast multiverse of possibility, asserting that anything had to happen, or that certain people are wrong for feeling it should have been different, kind of undermines the point of ME. I think that's what people often forget when rambling on forums, or sending aggro to fellow fans (who happen to be writers). As for the endings, I felt there needed to be more range, going from "the dragon wins in the end," to "bittersweet," to "saccharine-filled diabetes."
Nor is any of this wrong. After all, nothing is canon, except what you want to be. As such, there should be room for any range of stories. Hell, I left the "romance plot" of ME3 unresolved in my fanfic, leading to the love triangle that ended in...a consummated triangle. And while it felt awkward considering such a resolution, I refuse to apologize for making that choice. Criticism is all well and good, but derision is neither.
For instance, I don't generally read ME stories that are predominantly OC, but that doesn't mean I hate them. Moreover, good writing, and well-planned plots, will generally allay any concerns a good reader should have. Bah, I am rambling again...off to do some homework!
I agree completely. That's exactly what I was expecting from ME3 before it came out--a full range of possible endings from galactic extinction to a happy ending with all the main characters alive and well. And what we got instead... But yeah, such a huge deal was made about the choices in ME, and that's something a lot of people seemed to forget.
As for things like the "consummated triangle," hey, why not? If it makes for a good story, I'm all for it. To me, it seems reasonable that such things would probably happen in 2186, anyway. And if anyone thinks you shouldn't have made that choice, or should apologize for it, they're the ones with a problem. They can go sit on a cactus if they don't like it.
I understand why some people disagree with the Leviathan storyline and have chosen to boycott that DLC. but just out of curiosity, why boycott Omega? I have all the DLCs, and Omega didn't strike me as being particularly objectionable in any way. *ponders* in fact, it was pretty much in-keeping with Cerberus activities all the way back to ME1. human supremacy? check! experimenting to create super soldiers? check! experiments escape and become a danger to everyone? check! *smiles*
of course I'm on record as being more accepting of ME3 than most, so it's totes possible I missed something. but I thought Omega was a pretty good DLC. not quite Lair of the Shadow Broker good, but better than some.
Well, for me, the problem with Cerberus in Omega was the same problem I had with Cerberus in ME3 itself--it seemed like I spent more time fighting Cerberus goons than I spent fighting Reaper forces. In the first two games, Cerberus seemed like a pretty small operation compared to various military forces and mercenary companies. But in ME3, suddenly, we're supposed to buy into the idea of Cerberus becoming a galaxy-spanning evil empire in only six months. Also, ME3 turned the Illusive Man from a nuanced character into a one-dimensional mustache-twirler.
Another problem I had with the Omega DLC is that finally, finally, we were going to see a badass female turian character (voiced by Sumalee Mantano, which automatically makes the character awesome)...and then...well, before the DLC was released, I saw one of the BioWare writers in an interview, and he mentioned that Nyreen wouldn't become a squad member "for story reasons." I pegged it right then and there--"Yep, she's gonna be killed off by the end." And that's exactly what happened. To me, it just felt like one more insult.
Also, and this is probably kind of nit-picky, but I can't stand the female-turian design used in Omega. Not nearly as awful as the half-assed picture of Tali, but still. Barely even looks like the same species as male turians.
Having said that, the whole Omega thing should've been in the main game from the beginning...just like certain things started in ME2--the subplot with Daro'Xen, particularly--should've also been in ME3. And if Omega adds some fun gameplay, then fine...I'd be willing to buy it someday, but only if it ever goes on sale for really cheap. And I mean, five dollars or less. Because after getting burned so badly with ME3 and then the insulting mess that the EC was, I'm never paying full-price for anything else BioWare ever produces. Getting the Citadel DLC at full price was the last time.
Same goes for ME4--if it turns out to actually be a good game, I'll only buy it at a bargain-bin price.
As for Omega DLC, more people who had problems with it said that it took one out of the experience of the Galactic War. For most folks, they played Omega right before taking on the Cerberus Base. As all you really gain is more "War Assets," there was no concrete evidence as to why you would divert to Omega. In the time you spent there, the Reapers will have taken several more systems, so it seems like an unbalanced decision.
I never really had a problem with the Omega DLC. I can certainly see the points against it, plot-wise. However, it was extremely enjoyable. If done early enough in the campaign, it seems more reasonable. I will admit, if there was some superweapon that was destroyed (or some larger connection), it would have made more sense to divert resources, or if Aria hadn't already committed resources from an earlier questline.
As for Leviathan, that DLC DID tie back into the War much better, but we never really saw the ramifications of it (barring a few numbers added to "War Assets"). On the whole, the lack of any concrete fallout is what hampered the impact and pissed people off. As pure missions and lore, I enjoyed the hell out of them, and am able to head-canon a more viable resolution.
Yeah, that's one of the things that bugged me about Omega--it doesn't really affect anything. Just seemed kinda pointless. Sure, it's worth playing if it's fun, and it gets points in its favor just for having Sumalee Mantano voicing one of the characters...but given what ends up happening to said character...eh. It'd have to be dirt-cheap for me to even consider buying it. And Leviathan...ugh. From everything I've heard about it, it's just a massive retcon. Anything that even tries to legitimize that gigantic steaming pile of crap that was the Catalyst is not something I'd ever be interested in. I wouldn't get that DLC even if they were giving it away.
Heh. Sorry if I came across like I'm frothing at the mouth, everybody. The subject matter tends to get me a little cranked up. I probably should stop here, before I start channeling Malcolm Tucker....
Can't really comment on Omega or Leviathan haven't touched either. Thought Omega sounded lifeless and drab 'team up with Aria and shoot more Cerberus mooks!' - it didn't sound like it brought anything new to the table. Leviathan is apparently tied into ME3's 'Main Plot' 
which I really can't stand. I enjoyed the party variations in Citadel though - it's probably the only reason I'll ever play ME3 again. Then again I'm about the only person I know, in the outside world, who enjoyed Alpha Protocol - so my opinion ain't worth much!
As for MEHEM or other mods as a lowly 'console peasant' I'm never going to have the opportunity to try them. Curse You, PC Master Race!
@YurigirlzCrush: I wouldn't worry too much about the military radio talk. From what I understand most of it is contextual - it's not supposed to make sense to outsiders! I would add to hot_heart's & Seracen's advice and suggest - don't use Names, use Call-signs - part of the whole 'confuse eavesdroppers' motif. 
Here's a link for writing military science fiction: http://www.military-sf.com/
It'll kind of give you an idea. When I wrote "The Lost Asari," I tried to stay as close to this as I could, even though it may have broke canon in some places. You really can't go wrong with reality. Also know a few things about weaponry in closed spaces. Understand suppressors. MEU weapons are supposed to be like mini railguns. They're hand held weapons firing supersonic rounds and they're stabilized with mass effect fields otherwise the kick would blow the weapon out of your hands. Also they're going to be loud as hell. They're going to make today's modern firearms seem quiet. Any suppression is going to decrease the velocity of the round as well as eliminate the muzzle flash, and rail guns have a muzzle flash even though they use no powder or explosive charge. Helmets and hearing protection are going to be essential equipment. All communication in combat zones will be by communicator. These weapons are too loud.
W00t! I finally finished that big meeting-on-the-Normandy scene I mentioned in my last post. It only took me something like a week and a half to get everything to click into place.
Congrats! It's always nice to get past a sequence like that, esp if it adds flavor to the characters/story.
Then I heard about MEHEM...and it just wasn't enough. But MEHEM combined with the Citadel Epilogue? Okay, my interest has been aroused.
I'm relieved to hear that those two mods make the game actually satisfying.
Can't really comment on Omega or Leviathan haven't touched either. Thought Omega sounded lifeless and drab 'team up with Aria and shoot more Cerberus mooks!' - it didn't sound like it brought anything new to the table. Leviathan is apparently tied into ME3's 'Main Plot'
As for MEHEM or other mods as a lowly 'console peasant' I'm never going to have the opportunity to try them.
Heh, youtube is your friend. But yes, the fan creations add quite a bit, more so with all the fanfic out there. For myself, I was able to replay the ME series with little qualm simply due to the nature of my own headcanon. Years ago, I made myself apply headcanon to crappy anime endings, or I'd have gone insane in a fit of rage, lol!
Incidentally, here's my playlist of fave alternate endings on YT...
https://www.youtube....2AFBBF545B6CB07
As for things like the "consummated triangle," hey, why not? If it makes for a good story, I'm all for it. To me, it seems reasonable that such things would probably happen in 2186, anyway. And if anyone thinks you shouldn't have made that choice, or should apologize for it, they're the ones with a problem. They can go sit on a cactus if they don't like it.
[snip]
Heh. Sorry if I came across like I'm frothing at the mouth, everybody. The subject matter tends to get me a little cranked up.
Thanks for that, haha! As for relationships in the future, I also used another validation for this particular triangle. Considering that various individuals have cheated death multiple times, I can imagine their states of mind might be a bit fragile. They really wouldn't have the patience for drama, and may even have turned the triangle into a coping and support mechanism. But yeah, I usually don't criticize others' romance choices (obvious taboos are obvious).
As for elements that were better left out/in for ME3...it really feels as if budget and gameplay design began to hamper storyline decisions, which is never a good thing. Again, I can headcanon the Omega DLC to right before the Reaper War starts in earnest, which renders it okay. The Leviathan DLC is...well...interesting. It DID provide an interesting hook for me to use in my fanfic. As for an addendum to the original ending...such a thing helps nobody, lol.
Considering the Citadel DLC as anything other than epilogue is as jarring as Omega. Honestly, Shep going out to battle his/her clone, then throwing a party, is as far removed from the war as going off on a raid with Aria. However, headcanoning that bit into an epilogue makes for a poignant send-off to the characters and story.
Don't feel bad for being so passionate about it, so long as it doesn't become abusive, haha! After all, here we are, nearly 2 years after the game came out, and we're still talking and writing! The ME universe is rich, ripe for exploration, as is any proper fandom (anime, comics, sports, discussion about various genres of novels, etc...)
thanks for the replies! it wasn't any sort of earth shattering necessity that drove me to ask about the radio thing. I just had a scene I was writing where a character was listening in on enemy transmissions and I wanted to put some authenticity into it.
a friend from school actually gave me a few pointers as well. he's into military movies and shooter-style games and had a bunch of notes for me. using "how copy?" at the end of important transmissions, for example. and Charlie is definitely used as a phonetic in some cases, but my friend said that "charlie mic" in the context I was asking about means to turn off the radio. *shrugs*
so, thanks again for all the pointers! now when I actually wake up, maybe I can use them! but for now... I'm so tired... *waves*
I'm back again. Sorry for so frequently being gone. It seems like lately I have abandoned every forum I was a part of. Don't know why. Anyways, that's beside the point. I have a question for you guys. Do you have a specific length you aim for with your chapters? Personally I aim for at least 5000 words. I'm just asking, because earlier I put up a 2800 word chapter of Crucible Effect, and I'm feeling kinda bad about 1, taking so long to put out the latest chapter, and 2, putting out an extra-short chapter after all that time. Should I feel bad about putting out a shorter chapter? I wasn't really working on anything else, I was just playing Titanfall because when I tried to write, I'd just stare at the screen and be like, "Uhm.. what happens now? Do you bake cupcakes or do you punch a chimpanzee in the balls? Hellooooooo what do I put down?"
So, that wasn't happening. Anyways, to leave this on a more positive note, I'm now working on the latest chapter of Meus Mundus, and it looks like it's going to be a chapter with the Beyond the Light and the Dark problem of being delayed not because the actual writing of the chapter is not coming up, but because I end up having five thousand words of Jessica just chilling with her now not-dead family, and no clue what to call the chapter.
Also, since it's been a while since my previous post, little story time. Basically, I had a plan for the last chapter of Beyond the Light and the Dark.It was gonna be called Search and Rescue and they were gonna be looking for some missing Republic marines. It was also gonna have a scene where Revan does some stuff that scares the living **** out of everyone around her. (awesome stuff, but terrifying.) But, that ended up not happening because... I was at five thousand words when they were about to get ready to go to the shuttle to get down to the planet. So, that chapter ended up delayed like three days because I didn't have a chapter title.
And, it's after midnight and I need to be up in the morning so good night guys. I'll try to be more active in the future.
my friend said that "charlie mic" in the context I was asking about means to turn off the radio. *shrugs*
I think your friend might be wrong. Firstly, it's 'Charlie Mike', and from what I can tell that means 'Continue Mission' which is much the same thing as 'Wilco' meaning 'will comply'. I believe the command for turning radios off or 'going silent' is just "Impose radio silence".
I'm back again. Sorry for so frequently being gone. It seems like lately I have abandoned every forum I was a part of. Don't know why. Anyways, that's beside the point. I have a question for you guys. Do you have a specific length you aim for with your chapters? Personally I aim for at least 5000 words. I'm just asking, because earlier I put up a 2800 word chapter of Crucible Effect, and I'm feeling kinda bad about 1, taking so long to put out the latest chapter, and 2, putting out an extra-short chapter after all that time. Should I feel bad about putting out a shorter chapter? I wasn't really working on anything else, I was just playing Titanfall because when I tried to write, I'd just stare at the screen and be like, "Uhm.. what happens now? Do you bake cupcakes or do you punch a chimpanzee in the balls? Hellooooooo what do I put down?"
So, that wasn't happening. Anyways, to leave this on a more positive note, I'm now working on the latest chapter of Meus Mundus, and it looks like it's going to be a chapter with the Beyond the Light and the Dark problem of being delayed not because the actual writing of the chapter is not coming up, but because I end up having five thousand words of Jessica just chilling with her now not-dead family, and no clue what to call the chapter.
Also, since it's been a while since my previous post, little story time. Basically, I had a plan for the last chapter of Beyond the Light and the Dark.It was gonna be called Search and Rescue and they were gonna be looking for some missing Republic marines. It was also gonna have a scene where Revan does some stuff that scares the living **** out of everyone around her. (awesome stuff, but terrifying.) But, that ended up not happening because... I was at five thousand words when they were about to get ready to go to the shuttle to get down to the planet. So, that chapter ended up delayed like three days because I didn't have a chapter title.
And, it's after midnight and I need to be up in the morning so good night guys. I'll try to be more active in the future.
No worries about lurking, I do it plenty! Nor is it a sin to take some time away from writing, it's another hobby, after all.
As for chapter word count, as I have stated before, my chapters can vary from 800 to 6000, depending on the chapter. Generally, my minimum is 3 pages, and my cutoff is 10. If I could edit things better, it'd likely be more uniform. As it stands, bullet points in the plot dictate the length of my chapters. As for chapter names, I never bothered. I save my terrible naming convention for the story title, haha!
Sometimes, I end up merging or splitting chapters. However I plan for these things, each story tends to surprise me now and again, even as I write it!
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