Yes.
I hope they never dump the relays. It helps set Mass Effect apart from other Sci Fi series like Star Wars or Star Trek.
Yeah I like them too. They certainly are iconic to the ME universe.
Although hypothetically I can't help thinking they leave the galaxy vulnerable to say, a new enemy (ME4?) who has true interstellar, or inter-galactic travel.
Shep already proved they can be taken out. No Relays and transport, communication, co-operation and co-ordination with the other races is crippled.
The Mass Relay technology is vital to the running of the entire known space-faring population. To remove the Mass Relays is to cut off everyone from everywhere. We can not have a continuation of the Mass Effect series without it. That was one of the things that caused revolt after the original ending - the spinning parts of the relays breaking off implied that the relays were broken and everyone was stranded where they were when the signal went out from the Citadel.
Until and unless you have a viable alternative for FTL travel, which, to date in the ME universe, mass effect fields and the mass effect relays are the only known form of FTL, the relays MUST exist. So yes, they are essential.
Even considering the possibility that BioWare could set the universe to any point in time when technology becomes advanced enough that the relays are no longer necessary, they are kind of the identity of the franchise. They're ingrained in the culture of the MEU, and are basically gateways into the unknown, since so many dormant relays exist and the vast majority of the galaxy is still unexplored.
So the consensus seems to be that the relays must stay because they are the only means of fast travel across the galaxy.
What if we have something with an analogous function but different appearance?
Like this:
I can't believe the number of people that are hung up on "how big the galaxy is, how much time it would take to travel." You do realize the Relays are pure fiction, yes? An author can invent any form a transport that he wants. FTL is simply not possible in the real world as far as we know. So any type of transport can be invented that accomplishes the goal of rapid travel across the galaxy. Reorte gets to the core function of the relays:
They're iconic but not fundamentally necessary themselves. However their use is in order to allow all the aspects of it that are necessary (e.g. the widely-scattered familiar races) to be in touch with each other. If that was achieved by some other means it would still be the MEU.
The question is not whether they are necessary from a "scientific point of view" since they are purely fictional, but whether they are necessary for the MEU to be ME. My feeling is that while they are iconic, they are not essential.
The reapers were able to travel twice as fast as any other ship in the galaxy. The galaxy could take what they learn from the dead reapers and add it to their ships to make them go faster. Still not as fast as using the relays.
They're essential as long as someone comes up with another means of overcoming galactic distances.
It depends on the path they want to take MEU to. Sure, they can make some new premises that make the relays unnecessary/obsolete. Personally, I would rather keep the relays as one of the cornerstones of ME lore even in the sequels.
Not even close. It took the reapers six months to travel from the Alpha relays location to the next nearest relay.The reapers were able to travel twice as fast as any other ship in the galaxy. The galaxy could take what they learn from the dead reapers and add it to their ships to make them go faster. Still not as fast as using the relays.
Not even close. It took the reapers six months to travel from the Alpha relays location to the next nearest relay.
And they were a billion years more advanced than anyone
What's not close?
Guest_alleyd_*
I always looked at relays as being MEU's equivalent to railways and commercial air travel; efficient ways of moving massive amounts of material etc efficiently. It would be as hard to imagine an advanced civilization operating without such a network.
I can't believe the number of people that are hung up on "how big the galaxy is, how much time it would take to travel." You do realize the Relays are pure fiction, yes? An author can invent any form a transport that he wants. FTL is simply not possible in the real world as far as we know. So any type of transport can be invented that accomplishes the goal of rapid travel across the galaxy. Reorte gets to the core function of the relays:
The question is not whether they are necessary from a "scientific point of view" since they are purely fictional, but whether they are necessary for the MEU to be ME. My feeling is that while they are iconic, they are not essential.
Based on the established universe and lore, however, this particular piece of 'pure fiction' (considering the WHOLE GAME is pure fiction) is a vital part of the functioning of things in the Mass Effect universe. Yes, if and when humanity achieves FTL travel, it's highly unlikely to be mass relay technology, but according to the rules established in the fictional world of Mass Effect, the relay technology is vital for FTL travel, and, as a result, is essential to continuing to tell stories set in that universe.
What's not close?
You completely missed the point. Dg explains the point to you in his post above. It has nothing to do with real life physics, it has to do with how the fictitious universe of mass effect is supposed to work. You can't just invent whatever the hell you want, then there is no point in attempting to construct a coherent, fictional universe and it goes from sci-fi to straight up fantasy where magic reigns supreme and you can create any plot device you want to make up for your shitty writing.I can't believe the number of people that are hung up on "how big the galaxy is, how much time it would take to travel." You do realize the Relays are pure fiction, yes? An author can invent any form a transport that he wants. FTL is simply not possible in the real world as far as we know. So any type of transport can be invented that accomplishes the goal of rapid travel across the galaxy. Reorte gets to the core function of the relays:
The question is not whether they are necessary from a "scientific point of view" since they are purely fictional, but whether they are necessary for the MEU to be ME. My feeling is that while they are iconic, they are not essential.
You said "still not as fast as the relays", I said "not even close" (as in I agree, they aren't nearly as fast as the relays) and further elaborated that it is literally the difference between instantaneous travel and months of travel.
Thanks for clarifying.
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