197 réponses à ce sujet

[ShadowLordXII]

Of all of the problems with the ending that still don't make any sense, Harbinger's beam is the most obvious.

 

Before that Beam Run, we'd seen the beams of Capital-Class Reapers (the 2 KM ones like Sovereign) tear through heavily armored and shield dreadnoughts with little effort. During the beam run, we had seen Harbinger pinpoint and evaporate troops, gunships and tanks with expert marksmanship.

 

So why didn't Harbinger kill Shepard? How did Shepard survive Harbinger's beam?

 

Now some will argue that Shepard wasn't directly hit by Harbinger and that's how he survived. But given Harbinger's previously shown tenacity for wanting to kill Shepard (including having already killed Shepard once at the beginning of ME2 and attempting to kill him again personally throughout ME2), what was stopping Harbinger from ensuring that Shepard was actually dead? Why didn't Harbinger hunt for Shepard's body and have it vaporized like everyone else that Harbinger killed? Why didn't it shoot the Normandy when it was within visual range? Wasn't there even a scene with Harbinger looking right at the ship when it took off after the heartwarming good-bye scene?

 

Why did he leave? Why did he only leave the 3 Huskateers and Marauder Shields behind to mop up any survivors? Survivors who would undo all of the reaper's plans by merely entering the Teleportation beam? Why not send a Banshee and more than one Marauder down? How about another Destroyer Reaper since Harbinger was previously shown in another cutscene to have been accompanied by several other reapers?

 

FTR: These questions operate under the assumption that the Indoctrination Theory is false (Nothing against it).

[Argolas]

I'd like to know why that beam was set up in the first place.

[themikefest]

What's funny about that is for fun I decided to walk to the beam instead of running. Harbinger hit me at least 10 times(I stopped counting after 10) and its only the last one that seriously injures Shepard. Go figure. 

[Ruadh]

Without going to the standard 'bad writings lolz' response, I guess you could argue that Harby and his collectors have been trying to get their hands on Sheps body for a while now, and that's why Harby set his laser to 'lightly done'. Still doesn't explain why he left straight after, or the evac scene that proceeds it, but that's my guess at least.

 

I swear, trying to make sense of a literal interpretation of the ending is just asking for a nosebleed. 

[AlanC9]

Does Harbinger have a sensor that

Now some will argue that Shepard wasn't directly hit by Harbinger and that's how he survived. But given Harbinger's previously shown tenacity for wanting to kill Shepard (including having already killed Shepard once at the beginning of ME2 and attempting to kill him again personally throughout ME2), what was stopping Harbinger from ensuring that Shepard was actually dead? Why didn't Harbinger hunt for Shepard's body and have it vaporized like everyone else that Harbinger killed?

Huh? There are plenty of un-vaporized bodies lying around after Harbinger leaves. Some are even moving. And who says Harbinger can recognize Shepard at that range?

[DoomsdayDevice]

Dat indoctrinationz.

[N0rke]

It's the same reason Harbinger flew away as soon as it looked like the ground beam was eliminated: He was running low on battery power.

[AlexMBrennan]

Now some will argue that Shepard wasn't directly hit by Harbinger and that's how he survived

Which is nonsense given the kind of energy we are talking about. 

 

 

But given Harbinger's previously shown tenacity for wanting to kill Shepard (including having already killed Shepard once at the beginning of ME2 and attempting to kill him again personally throughout ME2)

Actually, he didn't - he mostly tried to capture Shepard for unknown but likely completely stupid reasons. 

 

 

 

Why didn't it shoot the Normandy when it was within visual range? Wasn't there even a scene with Harbinger looking right at the ship when it took off after the heartwarming good-bye scene?

Two explanations: 1) Harbinger wanted Shepard to get to the beam, much like he obviously must have wanted Shepard to get to the Collector base in ME2 (he knew that Shepard had the IFF because that's how he tracked down and abducted the Normandy crew, yet he didn't even bother to the alert the defence fleet or change the codes or have them blow up the defenceless and essentially unmanned Normandy - the only vessel with an IFF - or do something) or

2) Bioware writers care more about melodramatic goodbyes than consistency. 

 

 

Why not send a Banshee and more than one Marauder down?

Same reason the Reapers hold back and only send out forces that can be defeated by a three infantrymen - the protagonist is an infantryman, and so obviously the armada of superdreadnoughts (i.e. ships impervious to dreadnought fire and capable of taking out our dreadnoughts with a single shot) will have to set their guns to "slightly annoying"

[SwobyJ]

I'd like to know why that beam was set up in the first place.

 

To make a Reaper.

[MafiaMonkey]

Why didn't it shoot the Normandy when it was within visual range?

 

 

Because Normandy had the Reaper IFF module, so Harbinger's systems identified Normandy as a 'friendly' ship.
 

[Mcfly616]

I don't think the Normandy was taken out because it wasn't an immediate threat. Harbinger's main priority was stopping anybody from getting to the beam. It was busy taking out the dozens of troops and makos that were charging the beam. That's how I look at it anyway. The only logical way maybe....

[themikefest]

Had Harbinger fired at the Normandy, the ship would've exploded wiping out everything.

 

There was no reason for the Normandy to be there. But we had to have the what-the-crap evacuation scene.

[Reorte]

Because Normandy had the Reaper IFF module, so Harbinger's systems identified Normandy as a 'friendly' ship.
 

You really think that Harbinger is that stupid that the only system he relies on for IFF is one transponder? No other sensors that might tell him anything different? I can buy the IFF system for dealing with an automatic response from a dumb machine, or a long-range detection across half a solar system where it might be possible to tell there's something there but not what it is (even that's pushing it a bit after spending half the game running around solar systems with Reapers on my tail), but not for something that's right in front of him.

[Han Shot First]

Harbinger might not have recognized Shepard. All those Alliance grunts must have looked like scurrying ants from Harbinger's perspective, and Shepard and Anderson might as well have been two ants in a sea of them. 

 

It is a bit convenient that those two are the only survivors of course. They probably should have thrown in a few red shirt 'survivors' just to make it more believable.

[ImaginaryMatter]

There's a few more questions too like why the Reapers didn't just turn the beam off. Also where did the rest of the Reapers that broke off go? Why didn't Coates renew the strike once Harbinger and the 4 ground forces left to protect the beam were dispatched?

[fhs33721]

He underestimated Shepards plot armor. The very fact that the fleets could even rally a earth after the reapers already had the citadel makes absolutely no sense. Why didn't they just turn the relays off after capturing it? Because.... reasons I guess. Had they done so the alliance and their precious crubcile would be stranded somewhere far away from the citadel.

But as almost all video game antagonists the poor reapers are no allowed to actually use their advanced intelligence and are forced to be stupid for the sake of the main character to win somehow.

And if they try to do something smart for once (Harbinger just vaporizing that annoyance called Shepard to hell) they fail for inexplicable reasons. Thus is the magic of plot armor.

 

I feel almost sorry for the reapers. They never had a real chance.

[DeinonSlayer]

While we're at it, what exactly is a "thanix missile?"

"Our thanix missiles do a f*ckload of damage!"
"But I thought Thanix systems fired a stream of molten metal at relativistic-"
"SHUT UP!!!"

[ImaginaryMatter]

While we're at it, what exactly is a "thanix missile?"

"Our thanix missiles do a f*ckload of damage!"
"But I thought Thanix systems fired a stream of molten metal at relativistic-"
"SHUT UP!!!"

 

I always wondered that myself. Is it like a normal missile only with molten metal inside?

 

Also, why couldn't they just fire the missile straight at the Reaper without using a guidance system?

[DeinonSlayer]

I always wondered that myself. Is it like a normal missile only with molten metal inside?

Also, why couldn't they just fire the missile straight at the Reaper without using a guidance system?

I guess the short answer is it's a missile that goes through Reaper barriers (don't ask how), kills reapers (don't ask how), and looks cool doing it.

[ImaginaryMatter]

I guess the short answer is it's a missile that goes through Reaper barriers (don't ask how), kills reaper (don't ask how), and looks cool doing it.

 

Must be one hell of a missile however it works. Two of them seems to be capable of more dishing out damage than the entire Quarian fleet.

[grey_wind]

While we're at it, what exactly is a "thanix missile?"

"Our thanix missiles do a f*ckload of damage!"
"But I thought Thanix systems fired a stream of molten metal at relativistic-"
"SHUT UP!!!"

It is a missile loaded with heroism!

[Supreme6789]

i got a scene where vega and liara died.i wish i can thank Harbinger personally for that.it was to know if how your squad made it out and appear in the jungle.but for me vega and lira exploded and shepard seem like she didn't care if they died.

[Han Shot First]

There's a few more questions too like why the Reapers didn't just turn the beam off. Also where did the rest of the Reapers that broke off go? Why didn't Coates renew the strike once Harbinger and the 4 ground forces left to protect the beam were dispatched?

 

I agree that not turning off the beam is a bit of a head-scratcher.

 

As for the other Reapers I just chalk that up to Hackett's forces managing to delay them (except for Harbinger) long enough for Shepard and Anderson to get aboard the Citadel. When some of the Reapers turn back for Earth Hackett can be heard giving an order to delay them.

[Argolas]

As for the other Reapers I just chalk that up to Hackett's forces managing to delay them (except for Harbinger) long enough for Shepard and Anderson to get aboard the Citadel. When some of the Reapers turn back for Earth Hackett can be heard giving an order to delay them.

 

Just how do you delay a Reaper? They can fly right through ships crossing their paths without even losing speed.

[themikefest]

Just how do you delay a Reaper? They can fly right through ships crossing their paths without even losing speed.

Yes they can. And depending on how low your ems is destroyers can  land on a ship and blow it up

 

i got a scene where vega and liara died.i wish i can thank Harbinger personally for that.it was to know if how your squad made it out and appear in the jungle.but for me vega and lira exploded and shepard seem like she didn't care if they died.