Well, considering that in ME2, you're capable of being merciful to Batarians, and they express surprise that humans are capable of mercy and honor, I'd say Bioware's starting to work on trying to shed some of the Hattedness of those Baterians found in the wild...

But that's neither here nor there for this discussion. ^_^

	Philip J. Moyer Contributing Writer, Editor and Artist (and Moderator) -- Eyrie Productions, Unlimited CEO of MTS, High Poobah Of Artwork, and High Priest Of the Church Of Aerianne -- Magnetic Terrapin Studios "I suspect they would've been MORE surprised to know they'd been talking to The Butcher Of Torfan... and less inclined to accept my word. Ahwell, I suppose that's an advantage to being dead for two years."

I dunno. Maybe they're just assholes. I mean, they claim that slavery is an intrinsic part of their culture and the Council ban on same is the Man keeping them down. That's like an outright declaration of species-wide dickery. :)

--G.
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Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Admin
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

I'm pretty sure that one newsreader on Omega was batarian ("To whoever [is attacking human colonies]: Keep doing what you're doing. Don't give those upstarts a moment's peace."). It sure makes renegade actions against them so much easier.

-- Slider
("You're working too hard." *BZZZZZTTTTT*)

As I've previously noted, I played Virginia mostly paragonical... but she would have to admit that that was deeply, richly satisfying.

--G.
also: "I'm through being nice to you. Tell me what I want to know or I'll cut your balls off and sell them to a krogan."
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Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Admin
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

[REDACTED -- Apparently I hadn't YouTubed "Commander Shepard is Still a Jerk" lately]

I'll definitely have to add that to my list of gotta-do-'em renegade actions, right up there with the previous example, plinking LOKI-class killbots with Garrus's sniper rifle, surprising the Eclipse mercs with Miranda, setting the Weyrloc clanspeaker on fire, and headbutting Uvenk.

-- Slider
Krogan headbutting: because my time, breath, and ammo are too precious to be spent insulting you thoroughly.

Batarians; Bioware's answer to Rodians.

------
Oh yeah? Your guys' species is 95% mob thugs? Our guys are 95% pirates slavers!
Jon Helscher

That thing you burned up isn't important to me. It's the fluid catalytic cracking unit. It made shoes for orphans. Nice job breaking it, hero.

GLaDOS- Portal

�They planned their campaigns just as you might make a splendid piece of harness. It looks very well; and answers very well; until it gets broken; and then you are done for. Now I made my campaigns of ropes. If anything went wrong, I tied a knot; and went on.�
-- Arthur Wellesley, First Duke of Wellington

Yeah, pretty much. I mean, her equipment alone is worth a lot more than that. Those encounter suits have some of the most advanced miniaturized atmospheric reprocessing technology in the galaxy in them. In some parts of the galaxy it's not at all unusual to see that kind of helmet on firefighters, which has led some people unaware of the actual cause-effect relationship involved to think that quarians dress like firemen for some strange cultural reason.

Also, I'm having to struggle very much not to pursue, Jack Aubrey-style, a half-formed witticism involving there being a surprise toy inside, so thanks very much for that. :)

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Admin
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

I'm reminded of a trick that Harry Houdini was supposed to have learned, where he could swallow small objects and cough them up later. He used it for keys and lockpicks, but I can see a cylinder-shaped holdout blaster being used that way.

Peter Eng
--
"That's some toy surprise."
"Cost me 65,000 cr to get it hotrodded that far."

At least he's not wearing sunglasses...

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Admin
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

...

Oh good lord. What the hell did those things evolve from, a starfish after a motorbike accident? Ruddy Nora...

---
"She's old, she's lame, she's
barren too, // "She's not worth
feed or hay, // "But I'll give
her this," - he blew smoke at
me - // "She was something in
her day." -- Garnet Rogers,
Small Victory

"It's difficult keeping up with the cross-continuity, but I think Cosmouse just gave The Saturnian Scraphunter his Ultimate Pacifier to use against Galactapuss..."

----
Now Playing:
Bit Shifter -- Hexadecimal Genome (Information Chase 2006)

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"It's difficult keeping up with the cross-continuity, but I think Cosmouse just gave The Saturnian Scraphunter his Ultimate Pacifier to use against Galactapuss..."

"An Asari in a pinstripe suit set tongues wagging among the younger male employees...so to speak."

--------------------------
CdrMike, Overwatch Reject

It's... well, it's the SPARTAN Laser. Or, if we're being formal, the ExoSalusia Heavy Industries Weapon, Anti-Vehicle, Model VI, Grindell/Galilean Non-Linear Rifle. It's a big honking shoulder-fired energy weapon. Very popular with both the SPARTAN-IIs of the Covenant War and some WDF Garland and Cyclone operators. It probably was derived from a vehicle-mounted weapon, though given its form factor, it's more likely to have been an aerospace weapon than a Destroid small laser.

And yes, the charging unit is legendarily uncommon, though like many such things, the problem has been magnified somewhat by the power of military myth.

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Admin
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

"It's difficult keeping up with the cross-continuity, but I think Cosmouse just gave The Saturnian Scraphunter his Ultimate Pacifier to use against Galactapuss..."

--------------------------
CdrMike, Overwatch Reject

Now that's interesting. It's an infantry weapon, why derive it from that techbase as opposed to a technology that operates in the same environment as the infantry?

�Navigare Necesse Est�-'Get me out of here!'

Because aerospace weapons are designed and built specifically to be as lightweight as possible, with the highest power-to-mass ratios in the field. Which is also something people tend to be looking for in man-portable weapons. Armored vehicle weapons, especially Destroid weapons? Not so much.

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Admin
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

See also: The Ma Deuce

	Chad Collier Smirking Kilrathi The Captain of the Gravy Train

"Would you mount it on a plane? How about a humvee, boat, or train?"

----
Now Playing:
Pantera -- Goddamn Electric (Re-Inventing the Steel, 2000)

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Ha! I like that a lot.

Also, wow, yeah, it's almost been that long. Next year will be the 100th anniversary of the M1911, too (though we're still 14 years out for what may be the more meaningful anniversary there, that of the M1911A1).

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Admin
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

I figure I'll have some decent bread in the pot when all of the various and sundry 1911 makers start rolling out their commemorative editions. If I can find one that'll serve as a daily carry without being too gaudy I'll take one. I mean, why shoot a perp when you can fling an ashtray at him?

----
Now Playing:
Queen -- I want it all (The Miracle, 1989)

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One does not argue with Ma Duce, or her cousin, Barrett.....

Craig

----------------------------
IAMTW-Nominated Author

Author of the Battletech Novels, Icons of War,
Elements of Treason: Duty, Elements of Treason:
Opportunity, and Elements of Treason: Honor

Co-author of Four Outcast Ops
novels -- African Firestorm, Red Ice, Watchlist, and
Shadow Government.

Author of the The Russia-Ukraine War Factbook (Vol 1)

Heh. I never got much into Heroes, but I've enjoyed several variations on that tagline over the last couple of years, and I think this one may be my favorite. (Doubly so since in the complete run of the first game that I did with Joe Shepard, Tali was the one who got in the very last shot of the game - Garrus was mostly dead for tax purposes and Joe's gun had overheated. "She helped me save the galaxy," for values of "helped" that include basically doing it herself. :)

I'm liking the way this piece is developing. Oftentimes I'll come up with a basic concept, a gimmick, for a story, like the one illustrated in the First Look, and then it won't go anywhere. This one's going somewhere. As it stands now, it's developing into a classic love story featuring all the usual hallmarks: ruthless mercenaries, emergency rations, forbidden desires, magnificent artifacts of lost civilizations, and the Shipping Forecast.

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Admin
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

"Star Trek movie: Spock and Uhura, three or four, becoming five. The X-Files: maybe, but interest lost by then."

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Admin
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

Y'know, kids, the internet is like a box of chocolates...Packed by a disgruntled factory employee.
----
Now Playing:
Sonic Mayhem -- Quad Machine (Quake II OST)

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That's not actually what it means; follow the link. I was just playing along. Calmly, now, calmly... :)

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Admin
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

Oh, I know that. but it was a terrible, wonderful segue.

----
Now Playing:
Deadsy -- Phantasmagore (Phantasmagore, 2006)

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Ashley's all "wah wah why are all those aliens running around here"? "Don't question my decisions." That nosy reporter? "I've had enough of your snide insinuations." The end result of the Noveria corporate intrigue? Both annoying people dead without me firing a single shot.

When it came to talk to Tali, though... I found myself picking the "neutral" options most often.

And then came that sidequest, you know the one, after which I found myself in possession of of some very interesting and rare data. The quest log prompted me helpfully that Tali might be interested in it.

So I went to see her. Talked until I exhausted all options. And it was down to this: give her the data or not.

I hovered over the bottom right option. Clearly this was what I wanted to do, right? It had been fun - catharic even - to be a bastard to everyone up to this point. I wanted to see the alternate outcome. But, Tali...

In the end, I just couldn't do it. And so the biggest bastard in known space met her match, in a teenaged quarian girl. I'd like to think she muttered "tell NO ONE of this" as she grudgingly let Tali make a copy of that data.

Hee. Yeah, exactly.

The first time you meet her in Mass Effect 2, you basically have the option of being really pleased to see her or yelling at her for pointing a gun at you. I accidentally picked the latter with Gin and was so crushed by her crestfallen reaction that I had to go start over. :)

Being nice to Tali in the first game fits in with my usual strategy, though, because I generally make a habit of only being a complete bastard to people who deserve it (Earthborn Joe, for instance, was always nice as pie to his shipmates but unhesitatingly shot that dude from his old street gang in the face, much to the turian cop's delight), and she just doesn't.

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Admin
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

I made a new game, no import character, mostly to see what details based off original game plots were left out and such. I decided to try an all-renegade approach... until I was rude to Tali at Freedom's progress and stopped :lol

Matrix Dragon, J. Random Nutter

"Tali'Zorah, you know what happens to people who threaten me! ... Oh, hell, I'm sorry, I didn't - look, I'm a little on edge, I was dead and, and Cerberus and you can see what a half-ass job they did on my face, and my shoulder still hurts and - aw, don't be sad, you know I didn't mean it, c'm'ere, who loves ya? This human right here. C'mon."

Sadly, not an option at that point, but a player can dream. :)

(Similarly, I always wished that in the first game, after cacking that ExoGeni dipshit on Feros, when the lady scientist says "Great, now we're shooting each other in the back!", I could say, "Uh, actually I shot him in the face. Now about the geth... ")

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Admin
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

Ah, Feros, land of a thousand replays, assuming you're going for the Paragon points. Or at least it seemed that way the first time around, when I ran low on grenades and hadn't yet figured out that melee hits were just as effective. If I never see another creeper, I'll die a happy man.

--------------------------
CdrMike, Overwatch Reject

It is fortunate for the galaxy that Quarians require their encounter suits; the power of their Big Sad Eyes is astonishing, even with a visor blocking the view.

If they could use this power without that restriction, they would control the galaxy...

Peter Eng
--
"...the power of this fully functional Death Star!"

*wibble*

"Um..."

*BigSadEyes*

"...or I could surrender..."

Wrex: (curious) "So, do your people ever talk about releasing AIs that exiled you from your home and are threatening the galaxy?"
Tali: (angry) "Do your people ever talk about starting a pointless war that led the Salarians to sterilize your species?"
Wrex: (matter-of-fact) "All the time."

I think I'm going to keep them as my squad mates. They're hilarious. ;)

>>In the end, I just couldn't do it. And so the biggest bastard in known
>>space met her match, in a teenaged quarian girl. I'd like to think she
>>muttered "tell NO ONE of this" as she grudgingly let Tali make a copy
>>of that data.
>
>Hee. Yeah, exactly.
>
>The first time you meet her in Mass Effect 2, you basically
>have the option of being really pleased to see her or yelling at her
>for pointing a gun at you. I accidentally picked the latter with Gin
>and was so crushed by her crestfallen reaction that I had to go start
>over. :)
>
>Being nice to Tali in the first game fits in with my usual strategy,
>though, because I generally make a habit of only being a complete
>bastard to people who deserve it (Earthborn Joe, for instance, was
>always nice as pie to his shipmates but unhesitatingly shot that dude
>from his old street gang in the face, much to the turian cop's
>delight), and she just doesn't.
>
>--G.
>-><-
>Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Admin
>Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
>Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

And who could forget Tali and Garrus in ME2 lampshading all those interminable elevator rides from ME1?

Garrus: "You ever miss those talks we had on the elevators?"
Tali: (annoyed) "No."
Garrus: (cajoling) "Come on, remember how we'd all ask you about life on the Flotilla? It was an opportunity to share!"
Tali: (still annoyed) "This conversation is over."
Garrus: "Tell me again about your immune system."
Tali: (nonplussed) "I have a shotgun."
Garrus: "Hmmmm, maybe we'll talk later."

-- Slider

Wrex and Garrus, though, are just comedy gold. It's like the heavily armed Odd Couple.

On November 13, Garrus Vakarian was asked to remove himself from his place of residence; that request came from the Council. Deep down, he knew they were right, but he also knew that someday he would return to them. With nowhere else to go, he appeared at the home of his friend, Urdnot Wrex.

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Admin
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

Heeee! I can hear the theme song in my head! This makes me a happy.

----
Now Playing:
Theme from the odd couple (Selections from the playlist in my skull, Volume II)

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