18 réponses à ce sujet

[Imperius]

Shouldn't he have had to go through the other ranks first? I mean what about N1-N6? It's probably just an inconsistency that games often do. What do you guys think?

[themikefest]

All he got is a recommendation from someone. I would say it means that someone felt James would be a worthy candidate to enter the program. Its possible the person who sent it to him wasn't too familiar with the program and just wrote N7. 

[ChronosTachyon]

It just means he got an invite to "N-school", a.k.a. "the villa".  All candidates have to work their way up from N1 to N7, or to the point where they can't hack it (whichever comes first).

[Imperius]

He got an N7 tattoo. They said N7 training not "N" training.

[fraggle]

He got an N7 tattoo. They said N7 training not "N" training.

 

He got the tattoo because it's his ultimate goal. The term N7 training, I always took it as the whole process too, there's no other way except starting to do it from the start. I agree with themikefest and ChronosTachyon here.

 

Likely it was just an unfortunate term in the writing department, but we can always imagine the whole process is meant. I have no problem with it.

 

Another possibility is maybe that someone was so impressed by what James did on Fehl Prime that they immediately found him worthy for N7. I mean, he got a promotion for that and all and it was a damn tough situation to get out of alive. I'm fairly sure what he did there was a lot more extreme than anything the N7 program can offer, so he is at least experienced in this field. Plus he also took command there.

I'm not sure if it can work like that though, I doubt it, but who knows.

 

However, there's also this interesting piece about Team Delta from the wiki, and James was a part of Delta Squad in Paragon Lost, but it's unclear if the two of them are actually related. The description would fit perfectly however:

Half of team Delta's officers have an N5 designation, with a few N6 soldiers in the ranks. They specialize in conflicts outside Citadel space. Delta is known for strict admission standards, professionalism on high-stakes missions, and the Alliance's loudest parties.

 

If they're the same thing, then Vega could've actually gone through the ranks already, and it's just never stated or said anywhere.

[Undead Han]

It just means he got an invite to "N-school", a.k.a. "the villa".  All candidates have to work their way up from N1 to N7, or to the point where they can't hack it (whichever comes first).

 

This. 

 

I just took it as he was accepted for N-School.

[StarcloudSWG]

Vega already has N-level qualifications, probably an N-6. An N designation in and of itself means the Alliance marine has attended and passed the ICT course at Vila Milatar. Further numerical designations indicate participation in multiple additional special operations training courses at ICT.

 

N-7 is the top designation. To achieve this, you need not only to have passed N-6 level training, but been observed *in the field* by an N-7 training officer and recommended for the ranking.

 

http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/N7

[SwobyJ]

What others said. And N7 is a very particular sort of status. And the war brought on N7 as its own thing, possibly partially due to Shepard's N7 identity being popularized, and due to teams across the galaxy getting informal N7 identity for morale.

 

James may not be going through the precise hoops that would have normally been jumped through pre-war, but ME3 softens the specifics as long as you're of the most capable sort and you're recommended. The immediate demands of war itself brings training.

 

We can imagine that post-ME3, James gets the N7 completely formalized.

[Imperius]

If Vega was already say an N6. Pretty sure that would have been mentioned. James dialogue in the game suggest he doesn't know what to expect. If he was already in N training he should have a better idea. I still think it's an error in writing. The qualifications and training are pretty specific. The error in writing is further proved with his N7 tattoo. Many have failed N training it would seem. It wouldn't make sense until you're actually N7 or about to become one to get the tattoo.

[RanetheViking]

In the Codex in the first game iirc it said that the N designation was for the Special Forces and N7 was the pinnacle ranking only if, you passed out of the Villa.

 

So I always thought it's something like the selection process for the SAS, where someone from either the regular army, Royal Commandos, a Guards Regiments or Paratroopers (all top line outfits) etcetera, can apply to try out. In other words those units I named would be like N5's or N6's and the SAS would be N7.

 

Vega was wearing a special forces shirt (from memory)  so I thought he was an N5 or so already, plus I'm sure the Alliance has Recon units and other strike teams with the designation anywhere from N1 to N6.

[fraggle]

If Vega was already say an N6. Pretty sure that would have been mentioned. James dialogue in the game suggest he doesn't know what to expect. If he was already in N training he should have a better idea. I still think it's an error in writing. The qualifications and training are pretty specific. The error in writing is further proved with his N7 tattoo. Many have failed N training it would seem. It wouldn't make sense until you're actually N7 or about to become one to get the tattoo.

 

James is scarred by what happened with his squad on Fehl Prime, he doesn't have faith in himself and the ability to be a leader again, that's why he really talks with Shepard about it. You can even push the dialogue into the "all soldiers are expendable" direction, which makes clear to James that if he doesn't accept that fact, he's not N7 material.

However, I agree he's probably not N6 yet, maybe not even N5.

 

As for the tattoo, I'm pretty sure there plenty people in the real world that get something like that prematurely James has nothing in his life but the military, so he will give 200% if need be to succeed at this. I took it for him to be an additional incentive, and imo it fits James's character.

 

 

Well, in the end we will never know for sure which N rank James has, or even if he has one yet, but it's true, as Rane said, James is wearing a Special Forces shirt already, SF-03 (maybe James is N3 ).

 

I really don't fret too much about the term N7 program, why can it not be the whole or parts of the path to N7? I've not seen anything that suggests there's a different official term, but if there is, please correct me.

[StarcloudSWG]

Yeah, James is an O3. It's the designation on his armor and his Alliance issue shirt.

 

However that's not really an indication of whether he has an N ranking or not. The only N ranking allowed to be displayed is N7. If you're an N6, you don't get to put that on your armor.

 

Also, the Vila has a number of courses. Every time you are recommended for an N ranking, you get to go through the Vila. N1 is the basics. N2 and up cover increasingly specialized scenarios and training. N7 is the capstone as it were, where you put all that together.

[SwobyJ]

Yeah James isn't officially N7; he's just going through the paces of training and then some (you know, galactic war at the tip of the spear), as though he is an N7, and tattooing himself for extra motivation, telling himself it must be a thing to happen. Being placed with Shepard, staying on the Normandy, and getting the support of Shepard and company makes him all but an official N7 - I suppose unless you neglect speaking with him and keep him tinkering in the basement on his own.

 

And on similar note, the MP 'N7' teams will likely, in my opinion, after the war be also included in a newly galactic N7 program. At the very least, they won't be letting go of the N7 label any time soon, no matter what any government or military says.

[Imperius]

I actually just discovered something in the game. You actually get N5 and N6 war assets in the Alliance section. So James getting possible N7 training further proves my point with the error in writing. As was already said. You can only wear N7 clothing. You can't display N6 or below. James has been around for more than just the game. You would think that if he was in the N program it would have been mentioned somewhere. Being an N anything is basically one of the biggest things an Alliance marine can hope for. Even an N1 is a major accomplishment.

[SwobyJ]

I actually just discovered something in the game. You actually get N5 and N6 war assets in the Alliance section. So James getting possible N7 training further proves my point with the error in writing. As was already said. You can only wear N7 clothing. You can't display N6 or below. James has been around for more than just the game. You would think that if he was in the N program it would have been mentioned somewhere. Being an N anything is basically one of the biggest things an Alliance marine can hope for. Even an N1 is a major accomplishment.

 

Sorry, I'm not understanding what you're seeing wrong there. He hasn't done the training yet. N7 training just means N training with intent to reach N7. Since James has already been in the deepest Reaper combat scenarios, he's likely to skyrocket there. His questions to Shepard have less to do with whether he'll succeed in any official tests, but more to do with how he'd be with such a high rank in the Alliance and obviously with people under his command again.

 

James is N7 in all but the rubber stamp. And even then, he unofficially does that through his symbolic tattoo.

[Imperius]

He calls himself an "N7 recruit". There is no such thing as an N7 recruit. Once you're N7 you're N7. In the game it's called the N7 program. It should instead be called the N program. People in the N program have to go through the Interplanetary Combatives Training school. James has not done that yet. Which means he isn't even an N1 yet.

[StarcloudSWG]

It wouldn't be the first time that a writer for a Mass Effect game has skipped reading the codex and gotten the details wrong.

[SwobyJ]

He calls himself an "N7 recruit". There is no such thing as an N7 recruit. Once you're N7 you're N7. In the game it's called the N7 program. It should instead be called the N program. People in the N program have to go through the Interplanetary Combatives Training school. James has not done that yet. Which means he isn't even an N1 yet.

 

Yes there is. You're invited for N training that is to full extent and expected to outperform everyone else, basically.

 

And that some rules about this are bent in the middle of galactic war shouldn't be a big sticking point.

 

I mean, Rio is covered with husks ATM, there's no N training happening there, at least not yet. James just got a special circumstance.

 

And Shepard is part of making N7 into a figurehead status. Like it or not, the narrative has it become a special designation for the best of the galaxy, beyond official rank.

 

'N7 Program' = Taking N training and being expected to perform the best, especially since upper levels require field command. Don't blame people for shorthand. IMO it only means that James is being encouraged to join the N7 when it makes official sense. There's no N-Villa and no Arcturus Station so being on the Normandy is his damn training for now, and a recommendation of a living Commander Effing Shepard would sure help in it, for example.

[Turbo_J]

I know this is a little old but I thought I should chime in... This could explain why some things in this trilogy are just simply overlooked by so many. Too much meta-fiction can make gathering needed info to come to accurate conclusions... problematic.

 

If we have all the info on Vega, things are much clearer - both in regards to him and his nature, and the nature of the games... starting with Paragon Lost. Watching the craptastic cartooning would be worth it for the story that it tells, if you know you should be looking a little bit beyond the narrative. The continuity, lore and logistics problems are KEY... like 16 foot tall collectors - and that's just the regular prothean husks.

 

Vega not only KNEW full well who recommended him for the N7 Program... They (yes more than one person) presented him with the paperwork (data card) in person - it was Hackett and Anderson. He was also promoted during this scene in the movie and this new rank was never recognized by ME3 or Vega himself - he was promoted from Lieutenant to Lieutenant Commander (O-4) - making him and Ashley the same rank. And all this took place just before he met Shepard and was put on 6 months of babysitting duty... minus the time he was on Omega trying to kill himself of course. Vega went bat crap crazy - and never made it past his version of ME2. He had to ride on Shep's coattails for the last leg of his crucible.

 

Even if you hate anime or just the tooning of this movie, watch it. It's an eye opener to how Vega interprets the MEU, Collectors, and even what happened to Sovereign and where the citadel is within the galaxy during his adventure.

 

- Turbo_J