76 réponses à ce sujet

[djspectre]

...and I don't have Twitter, so I'm posting mine here. Anyone else who avoids Twitter like the plague feel free to contribute. 
This is not a survey or poll. I am simply posting ideas that came to me for the sake of the Bioware creative team.


Please no hate, no mention of the endings or of any technical short comings of the trilogy. 


Genre Suggestions:
--Horror/Survival (not like Dead Space though)
--D&D-style RPG
--Retain current Action-RPG



Setting Suggestions:
--No Direct Sequel
--**No Direct Prequel
--Set During Reaper War
--**Just before First Contact
--Set On a space station or fringe world (no fully developed worlds, thessia, earth, etc)
--time travel
--alternate realities (multiverse)
--extra-galactic travel (humans in a new galaxy!)



Plot Suggestions:
--**If set before First Contact, perhaps involve some kind of time travel experiment that goes wrong, resulting in a war between Humans and Turians instead of the peace, humans become galatic outcasts. Goal of the game is to eventually try and set the timeline straight. This plot could involve Dark Energy playing a part as it wasn't fully explored yet in the current trilogy.

The overarching goal of this trilogy is to find out who or what is manipulating the timeline and stop all of it.

--If set during the Reaper war, the horror/survival mode might work best. Goal of the game is to survive a small scale reaper assualt on an otherwise poorly outfitted outpost. Eventually, forming up with other survivors Battlestar Galactica-style and trying to escape the fight, rather than face it head on. 

The overarching trilogy goal would be survival of your rag-tag group and reaching a haven safe from the Reapers (perhaps extra-galactic

--if alternate reality option is used, it would be interesting to see different species at the head of the council, mutations on well known species occuring, and/or an entire rearrangement of galactic civilization which, I suggest, has humanity as an extinct species. When you and your ship/crew/family arrive, you are constantly on the run from various groups who want to capture you for scientific, political or other nafarious reasons. The games goal is to avoid capture until you can figure out how you got here and if it's even possible for you to get home.
 ------An alternative to this plot would be to have a "Sliders"-esque story where you hop from reality to reality, with similar goals of getting home and staying away from being captured. 

--if the idea of Extra-galactic travel is chosen, being the only Mass Effect-capable species (or ship) might be similar to the alternate reality plot. This would be similar to Star Trek Voyager where they were the only ship of their kind stranded in a strange place. Goal is to return home. 

Trilogy over-arching goal would be to eventually settle into the new galaxy and maintain peach with those after you. 

Mechanic's Suggestions:
--Tweak the paragon/renegade system slightly. Perhaps make it: Practical vs Maverick. Practical would give you a straight-forward choice whereas Maverick would yield more thinking-on-your-feet approach that sometimes doesn't always work out, but when it does, it nets a more advantageous outcome than practical. Your chances for success would be based on your characters personal history (similar to the Spacer, colonist and Earthborn options) along with what class you choose (stealth requires patience, brute force does not), and other factors.
 
--Bring back XP for the Single Player the way it was implemented in Mass Effect 1. This would make the game feel more RPG-like which is why we play these any way ;-)

--Introduce a crafting sort of weapon modding. Retain the ME3 style of modding weapons, but allow for basic materials (keep the list of these small) to be chosen to boost performance of various components. For example, you have a level 5 mod (max), but you found some scrap from somewhere. This scrap could be used to boost all mods to level 6, or be used all to boost a single mod to level 7. To go to level 8,  you'd need a ridiculous (almost unattainable) amount of that same scrap you found. 

** these ideas are all related to the same concept. Prequels would only be allowed if the timeline, reality or galaxy was shifted as a setting to keep the series fresh. 

NOTE: I fixed the formatting. 

 

Modifié par djspectre, 12 novembre 2012 - 05:29 .

[djspectre]

I can't be the only one without Twitter!

[Mathias]

Well writing a proper narrative this time would be a good start.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Is this for while they figure out how to fix the mess made by the ME3 ending?

[grey_wind]

IMO they should scrap the import mechanic (since they've shown they have no inclination to actually give meaningful consequences) and focus on making divergent, self contained games instead.

I honestly don't care if they pick a canon.

[mumba]

Less focus on combat.

[Archonsg]

I find it disturbing that Casey Hudson think twitter is the go-to social media of choice to discuss anything deep, complex and arguably meaningful sci-fi wise.

Unless of course you think 140 characters can get your ideas across.
Or, its not in earnest.

I am leaning towards the latter.

[TheScott1987]

Something akin to the first Dragon Age would be nice, with multiple races (species?) - each with their own little starting arc and small dialogue changes throughout the story. Fix ME3's ending and set it in the future as a Spectre facing a new threat. The splendor of ME (outside of Sheperd and co.) is the amazing setting and aliens. Use that to springboard a new game.

Wouldn't like First Contact (would limit us too much - MEs splendor is exploring the universe) or anything pre-ME, as we know how it would turn out.

And yeah, boo Twitter.

Modifié par TheScott1987, 12 novembre 2012 - 07:34 .

[ld1449]

Archonsg wrote...

I find it disturbing that Casey Hudson think twitter is the go-to social media of choice to discuss anything deep, complex and arguably meaningful sci-fi wise.

Unless of course you think 140 characters can get your ideas across.
Or, its not in earnest.

I am leaning towards the latter.

[BSpud]

They have a whole forum they own and pay for... and they ask for feedback/suggestions on Twitter. Fantastic.

[xsdob]

Cutting off an entire plot possibility(IE after the reapers) is a bad call, especially for the next installation in a game that's suppose to be a new story.

A prequel would be problematic becasue people would complain that it doesn't matter because of the ME3 ending and not buy it, since it won't change anything of the previous games.

A game set during the reaper war would be problematic becasue it has the possibility of becoming a cameo game, something akin to The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age, in which you play a captian of the gondor guard as he follows closey behind where the fellowship goes and does battle with all the monsters they fought, like the balrog, and the ringwraths after they get chased from the group by aragon, and the eye of sauron. Basically, a "Hey, remember that scene" game but from a different pov.

And an alternate reality setting might be too weird and seen as too big of a cop out move for people to take, even hardcore loyalist.

I say, make a distant sequal set a number of decades later and let that be that.

Modifié par xsdob, 12 novembre 2012 - 08:08 .

[djspectre]

I tried to state this in my original post, but I did request that no one 'bash' or hate on the current games and instead suggest content for the new game.

C'mon people! If you can't adhere to that little request, then dont post!

[Tyrannosaurus Rex]

Spygame.

[shodiswe]

A victory that's earned not given... The ME3 victory feelt given not earned, not really anyway... It was halfway earned and then when you lost it was given to you in an inconveient way..

The Catalyst could have stopped it at any point but it enforced the conditions.

I would have liked it much more if youre teammates and war assets could have provided you with additional options based on your choices and performance.

The ME3 ending as it is isn't horrible, it could have been worse but at the same time it could have been much better and far more interesting and the way to the ending in the london mission/s could have been more involving where you not only get from point A to point B but actaly got the chance to make choices and erhaps help people reach their objectives along the way.

Like on Vermire where you sabotaged the enemys communications, air force assets and so on. Or the collectorbase where you assigned teams according to skills and tried to prepare the teams. I actualy liked those parts. And have the game respond and those actions, and what "war assets" you bring. And ending that rewards good choices and planning and actualy changes according to your choices and what you've done and what you bring. It wouldn't have to be massive implementations to create the illusion of warassets mattering. Though the more the better imo  
While the Hordemode part was ok, and the Brute smashing through the wall was predictable and feelt liek it came from every horror movie and game ever made it was ok for hordemode. But the game needed more story telling in the end, it was too railroaded and as someoen from Bioware once up it, people got upset from the lack of player agency. It's also something that I think happend in DA2. I didn't react as strongly to DA2, but partialy that was because I feelt I had less control of the forces at work to begin with. In ME3 it feelt like a lot of things didn't matter and the end was just railroaded with just a few small changes based on massive differences in war asset scores.

Also, plz don't kill of the Geth, just make them change a little and become more individualistic so they start mixing more with the rest of the galactic population. And don't make them slaves to the "Shepard" if you make Control cannon... Don't even know what to say about synthesis, it looks good but I can't see how anyone can write a story in that environment..

Modifié par shodiswe, 12 novembre 2012 - 08:47 .

[Ieldra]

xsdob wrote...

Cutting off an entire plot possibility(IE after the reapers) is a bad call, especially for the next installation in a game that's suppose to be a new story.

A prequel would be problematic becasue people would complain that it doesn't matter because of the ME3 ending and not buy it, since it won't change anything of the previous games.

A game set during the reaper war would be problematic becasue it has the possibility of becoming a cameo game, something akin to The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age, in which you play a captian of the gondor guard as he follows closey behind where the fellowship goes and does battle with all the monsters they fought, like the balrog, and the ringwraths after they get chased from the group by aragon, and the eye of sauron. Basically, a "Hey, remember that scene" game but from a different pov.

And an alternate reality setting might be too weird and seen as too big of a cop out move for people to take, even hardcore loyalist.

I say, make a distant sequal set a number of decadescenturies later and let that be that.

I agree. Fixed the time frame though. A number of decades is not "distant". I'd go for an asari lifetime after the end of the Reaper War.

Also, if they're going to make another sequence of games, it would be good to have learned from what worked well and not so well in the original trilogy.

And it's time for a change of scope. No ancient evils and no god-like enemies this time. Standard conspiracies do very well. I'd like a spy/action story of the sort "Alpha Protocol in the ME universe", realized in a game that mixes RPG, action and stealth elements.

Modifié par Ieldra2, 12 novembre 2012 - 08:30 .

[xsdob]

I would say, set it in the future while the galaxy is still rebuilding from the reaper war.

Inner council space is mostly rebuilt, but it's still hard to get order back in the galaxy with the forces of most of the species severly weakened. To further complicate matters, some species are finding it increasingly difficult to work with others, and tensions are at their peaks. And to top it all off, most of the former territories that belonged to the old races, such as the traverse and outer council space, have become dominated by various outside factions, becoming as bad as the terminus systems.

When an attack occurs on the citadel that results in a large number of people killed, accusations and tensions soar through the roof, with full scale war on the horizon. Your character is part of the secuirty force on the citadel, and you are one of the only people to witness that there was an outside person who cuased the attack. You must investigate what really happened, who is behind this, and what they could gain from casuing such a war, and must travel the galaxy and search out various planets, even into the lawless sectures, in order to find your answers.

How does that sound? Sort of a geo-political mystery game with lots of potential for rpg elements, action, and exploration, and all that other good stuff.

[Predi1988]

TheScott1987 wrote...

Something akin to the first Dragon Age would be nice, with multiple races (species?) - each with their own little starting arc and small dialogue changes throughout the story. Fix ME3's ending and set it in the future as a Spectre facing a new threat. The splendor of ME (outside of Sheperd and co.) is the amazing setting and aliens. Use that to springboard a new game.

Wouldn't like First Contact (would limit us too much - MEs splendor is exploring the universe) or anything pre-ME, as we know how it would turn out.

And yeah, boo Twitter.

I had an idea some time ago for a Dragon Age-like origin story prologue, I'll just copy it here:



I had an idea for Mass Effect 4, that i wrote down on our own forum, I'll just translate it here:

Ok,so the 4th ME would follow the Synthesis ending, because as I see it, that's BW's favourite ending, it needs the highest EMS, and it will most likely be considered as canon. (I don't like this ending, I chose destroy [smilie]http://social.bioware.com/images/forum/emoticons/wink.png[/smilie]) What would be the effects of Synthesis? The better understanding between organincs and synthetics, for starters, and also every organic would be like a slightly augmented agent from Deus Ex. Every flaw in the body would be aided, or replaced by synthetic machines. Better eyes, hearing, etc. Also everyones memory could be accessed if he/she is willing to
share it, and uploaded into servers. Like the geth consensus. Furthermore, the infolink-like communications, that doesn't need verbal communications between friends, the can communicate by thoughts, even from great distances.

Then, the story. The Reapers left the galaxy, after Shepard's sacrifice changed everything to what was their goal. Understanding, and peace was achieved between the species, and the geth. But the basic nature of the species didn't change. They didn't became a bunch of hippies, sitting around a fire, singing Kumbayah [smilie]http://social.bioware.com/images/forum/emoticons/joyful.png[/smilie]. They could still have negative feelings, like anger, hatred, greed. And that could instigate a war.

As for the main storyline: this story takes place like 100-120 years after ME3. Everything were rebuilt, even Mass Relays (maybe by Reapers), and everyone lives their lifes just as before the war. There are still pirates, and mercs in the Terminus, raiding the Attican traverse, Krogans are still seen as brutes by most species, more so if you didn't cure the Genophage/Wreav leads them without Bakara. But the geth are accepted into society, if your Shep chose to save them, or they allied with the quarians. But it's almost to peaceful now. Nothing really changed for a hundred years. The organic species "reached" their evolutionary peak. And what did Mordin say about that: www.youtube.com/watch No limitations, culture stagnates, right? And that's why a group wants to instigate a war between the species. To stir up this motionless pond tha galaxy turned into. So they start to stage attacks, that would make every species suspicious at the other. Their work, their goal is a little ambigious, and that could work very vell with a paragon/renegade system.

Oh, and of course, as this takes place 100-120 years after ME3, you could see some familiar faces. Like Liara, Wrex, Grunt, Aethyta... Even an old Miranda (remember, at that time a normal human lifespan is 120-140 years, and she will live 1.5x as long, thanks to her genetic engineering)

Next up, the Characters: I was aiming for a Dragon Age: Origins-like character selection, with six different beginning, diferent views, and all. Let's see:

Turian:
You and your brother/sister are a member of the of the Turian Blackwatch - their most elite armed force. There is a real camaradery, and brotherly/sisterly love between the two of you, spiced with some jealousy by your brother/sister, because you are one of the very rare turian biotics.(could make up some nice conversation). But then someone detonates a bomb at your home town, and your family becomes casualties too. So you two quit the surprised and dawdling army, to find these terrorists, and seek revenge. And this is how you will drop into the main plot. (by investigating at a wrong place in a wrong time)

Asari:
You are a very young asari. You don1t know who your father is, but he/she was most likely did a very big impression on your organisms, because you have no biotic abilites. Then your mother dies in an accident/illness, and after that, you find some stuff at her personal belongings, you go on to find your father - instead of shaking your ass in some bar [smilie]http://social.bioware.com/images/forum/emoticons/joyful.png[/smilie] - to find out, why are you so special (in a wrong way). And that investigation leads you into the main plot.

Human:
You grown up admiring Commander Shepard's accomplishments. He/she is your role model, and that's why you joined the Alliance marines. You want to reach the N7 rank yourself, too. And your well on your way, everyone thinks you are the best marine in the regiment. And on one day there happens to be an attack. Alarms going off everywhere, you have to fight off misterious enemies. And in that battle, you accomplish something great. Something like what lead Shepard to his/her Spectre promotion. And after thet, your superiors sees you fit for the investigation into this attack.

Salarian:
You are an intelligence agent in STG. You are trying to piece togather the latest happenings (Explosion on Palaven, Attack on the Alliance...) and you realize, there is some connection between them. Someone tries to instigate a war between the species, who are already suspicious at each other. Of course, you superiors don't believe it, so you go around them, and to bring the evidence forward to the great government (the Councli,if that still exists), before things would escalate. You just only hope, you're not late already...

Vorcha: (Yes, a vorcha)
You were the only survivor of a plane crash on a planet, and at that time, you were still an infant. You were found, and brought up by a compassionate salarian-asari couple. And because that, you are more intelligent, and learned, then all other vorcha. Of course the other people in the colony exclude you because of your ancestry, which you don't understand, bacause you never have met another Vorcha... until now. A pirate gang attacks your colony, and you see for the first time, how your species live, and act. And after they kill most of the local populace - including your "parents" - you don't want to do anything with them. As do they, as they see that you're completely different from them. After you escape your captors, you manage to get to the Citadel, and you still won't find a friendly face. You are just another Vorcha for them. So what will you do next? Just go with the flow?

!!!The next option is only available to you, if you manage to get the quarians and the geth to work togather as allies.!!!

Quarian:
You are living on Rannoch, where the geth helped you rebuild, and re-adapt. (so no need for evironment suits there [smilie]http://social.bioware.com/images/forum/emoticons/wink.png[/smilie]) There's a geth, who "lives" at your place, helping you with your immune system, and with your everyday work. You are pretty good buddies. And then, at one day, a huge EMP explosion happens in the vicinity, wiping out every geth unit in the area. Only your "friend" survives, by saving itself in your suits systems/your implants. (this could make some
interesting conversations, especially if you are the only one who can hear this geth). This explosion affect you very deeply, and you'll learn, that this is not just an isolated incident. So you start to investigate.


And this is how your characters fit into the plot. I know it would be trmendous work to get them all fully voiced, so
I wouldn't mind a DA:O like voiceless protagonist. The only important thins is the great story here. Or they could invest as much money into it, as into SWTOR, but seeing the - justifiable -  negative feedback after ME3, I don't think they will.

So what do you all think of this? I hope the BW devs will think of something like this, where we could play as - mostly - any species.

Modifié par Predi1988, 12 novembre 2012 - 08:42 .

[xsdob]

^ Vorcha but no batarian option at all? Come on!

Here, let me make one.

Batarian- You are a smuggler and enforcer on omega trying to save up enough money to book a transport off of omega and back to your families homeworld of khar'shan. When the station is attacked by what seems to be cerberus, you and a small group are sent to find out whose done this and make them pay. Your investigation takes you to the ctiadel, where clues point that maybe the attack on omega is linked with the other incidents latley. You than decided to see this to the end, wanting to bring honor to your family name, and set out to uncover the truth.

[Predi1988]

Batarians could work too, but I think most of them were wiped out. Especially on Kar'shan. But good idea nontheless.

[xsdob]

Predi1988 wrote...

Batarians could work too, but I think most of them were wiped out. Especially on Kar'shan. But good idea nontheless.

Tis why I set the batarian on omega.

I figured that most of them were wiped out, so now they probably have the quarian species numbers of a few million. They probably aren't welcome much in council space due to their history and culture, and live in mostly colony areas outside  of the kite's nest and in various pockets of the traverse and terminus, omega being the biggest.

He or she would have grew up on stories that his father and grandfather would tell, about what they were like before the war, about when the reapers came and khar'shan fell to ruin. It's mostly become a barren planet now, the war and week long unimpeded assault maing most of the planets resources depleted. It's treated as a monument now, a solem reminder of what happened, and could even be something of a cultureally sacred place that people pilgramage to in order to give prays to the departed. Which is why the batarian could want to go there, to bury their father on the planet and fullfill their lash wishes or something like that, or maybe just for self-satisfaction of at least seeing it once in their lifetime.

[Predi1988]

Ok, I'm sold, That is a really origin story

[Pottumuusi]

My advice is to worry about the game mechanics only after you've written a coherent story.

Modifié par Pottumuusi, 12 novembre 2012 - 09:31 .

[SiriusXI]

My honest suggestion - really no hate intended - is for Casey Hudson to be involved as little as possible in ME4's writing. But it doesn't matter anyway, since even the best of the best writers on this planet could at max produce a mediocre plot that follows the ME3's endings in any logical sense.