Rather than Variable wavelength lasers, could we get Advanced xenobiology instead? While advancing all this weapon tech, It'd be nice to throw a bone to the various citadel races so that they don't get all assassin-y about us. Plus, It'll give Mordin something to work on that he'll enjoy.
Variable wavelength lasers are more useful, I think. And they might lead to artificial eezo. Also, I'm pretty sure salarians will be quite scared if we study xenobiology, for fear of us healing genophage.
Also, a question @Esbilon , could Grunt be considred to be a "Peak Krogan"?
It is somewhat odd that Re-entry Shroud is listed as a separate feature when everything else is just folded into the "Mk. II Suit" tech. The 50 point addon for the Legionary makes sense, I don't think this does - either fold it in, or expand the suit tree with different functionalities (which I don't think is a good idea).
MESM. Aka "Mass Effect Space Magic". How does that fit into those equations? I mean, what happens if the suit has a mass-reducing field or something like that in effect? Wouldn't it reduce the kinetic energy also? I'm confused.
MESM. Aka "Mass Effect Space Magic". How does that fit into those equations? I mean, what happens if the suit has a mass-reducing field or something like that in effect? Wouldn't it reduce the kinetic energy also? I'm confused.
Put simply; Adding in Space Magic Eezo would almost certainly make it even faster. I don't really have the time to fiddle with the equations to say anything more specific but less mass means higher acceleration which will significantly cut down time.
As I said that was a very much worst case scenario. For instance I'm assuming the MkII is a solid block of iron (4 tons) but there are stats the various Iron Man armors listing them as way less (100kg in one example).
That 100kg example would boost the acceleration from 25m/s/s to 1km/s/s which basically cuts the response time from 10 minutes to under 2 minutes.
As I said yesterday; the heat shroud just doesn't make sense for the MkII.
Variable wavelength lasers are more useful, I think. And they might lead to artificial eezo. Also, I'm pretty sure salarians will be quite scared if we study xenobiology, for fear of us healing genophage.
Also, a question @Esbilon , could Grunt be considred to be a "Peak Krogan"?
Hmm. About the Advanced Neural Implant: has anybody mentioned the possibility of using it for removing the need for mnemonic gestures for using biotics?
Also, as biotic armor would probably be using an Arc Reactor as an power source to boost the power of an biotic to insane levels in addition of other things, would upgrading the Arc Reactor -tech also make the biotic armor stronger?
And what about later using Extremis on ourselves, implanting an Arc Reactor to ourselves in combination of that (and thus giving it a better power source among other things), studying Advanced Mass Effect Theory and then upgrading our "Magi" implant. The naming could be something like, I don't know... How would "Deus" sound?
And maybe upgrading Extremis later on from its canon level to something like this (especially if it too gets better / can be upgraded along with our Arc Reactor upgrades):
WARNING! Spoilers from Metal Gear Rising Revengeance Sam DLC (also available in the PC version if you enter the Konami Code):
Hmm. About the Advanced Neural Implant: has anybody mentioned the possibility of using it for removing the need for mnemonic gestures for using biotics?
Also, as biotic armor would probably be using an Arc Reactor as an power source to boost the power of an biotic to insane levels in addition of other things, would upgrading the Arc Reactor -tech also make the biotic armor stronger?
And what about later using Extremis on ourselves, implanting an Arc Reactor to ourselves in combination of that (and thus giving it a better power source among other things), studying Advanced Mass Effect Theory and then upgrading our "Magi" implant. The naming could be something like, I don't know... How would "Deus" sound?
And maybe upgrading Extremis later on from its canon level to something like this (especially if it too gets better / can be upgraded along with our Arc Reactor upgrades):
WARNING! Spoilers from Metal Gear Rising Revengeance Sam DLC (also available in the PC version if you enter the Konami Code):
Mnemonic gestures are a purely psychological thing. People use them as a memorization aid. It's possible for a standard biotic to perform just about any biotic power without the gestures; they're like incantation shortcuts. They make things easier, is all.
The only thing I can think of that would make Mnemonic gestures completely redundant would be to grant people perfect memory, Drell-style. And I'm not so sure that's a very good thing.
At some point, I'd imagine you need more eezo to make the biotic armor stronger. Given how much energy even the basic Arc Reactor puts out, we probably hit that point from the get go.
The lack of mnemonics is a good point though - can't think of any reason why that wouldn't be the case. I imagine there would have to be some calibrating for the individual, but that was there anyways.
Mnemonic gestures are a purely psychological thing. People use them as a memorization aid. It's possible for a standard biotic to perform just about any biotic power without the gestures; they're like incantation shortcuts. They make things easier, is all.
The only thing I can think of that would make Mnemonic gestures completely redundant would be to grant people perfect memory, Drell-style. And I'm not so sure that's a very good thing.
The only thing I can think of that would make Mnemonic gestures completely redundant would be to grant people perfect memory, Drell-style. And I'm not so sure that's a very good thing.
Mnemonic gestures are a purely psychological thing. People use them as a memorization aid. It's possible for a standard biotic to perform just about any biotic power without the gestures; they're like incantation shortcuts. They make things easier, is all.
The only thing I can think of that would make Mnemonic gestures completely redundant would be to grant people perfect memory, Drell-style. And I'm not so sure that's a very good thing.
Biotic abilities are activated using a technique called "physical mnemonics", in which the biotic uses a physical gesture to cause neurons to fire in a certain sequence, sending an electrical charge through their eezo nodules and creating the desired effect. A biotic may enhance certain aspects of his or her biotic abilities by installing implant upgrades called bio-amps.
It should be relatively easy to do this with the Advanced Neural Interface (which name I seem to have remembered incorrectly), even without the "perfect memory" bit. Just run "lift/move.exe" that works by sending electric impulses to target neurons (or just straight to the eezo-nodules), input target coordinates, the vectors and the force in a time a normal human would just start thinking about doing it (or just use some set values like "directly away from me at maximum force") and voilà! You have biotics without mnemonics/gestures.
Like meianmaru said, no reason we can't link the biotic amp's VI up to our Neural Interface and send it signals directly. I suppose there would be some trickiness in actually running electricity through the eezo nodes without moving, but the ANI should be capable of that.
I remember the original GM saying that we could remove the mnemonic gestures, but we will have to be careful because they also act as a guidance or safety system for the actual powers that Biotics have.
Makes sense really, if you want to 'throw' someone and have an 'inbuilt' system that triggers when you do a throwing action at someone it should hit that person and no-one else.
Remove that and you might end up with with biotics going in weird directions from your thoughts.
......I guess it's more of a question of whether or not the movement and pulsing of certain eezo nodes is actually needed in the creation of different effects.
A VI might be able to translate the pulses needed to trigger the nodes, but it becomes a question of whether or not it can translate the nerve signals that give biotic powers their 'targeting data'.....
Maybe Augmented Reality eye contact lenses can give the targeting data....
If you remember that the Mass Effect occurs by passing current through a chunk of eezo the mnemonics make perfect sense. They aren't just a tool used to help the mind trigger the right nerve clusters, they are also physically part of the act of using biotics, and messing up the mnemonics means that the biotic attack does not form the way it should because the generating eezo structures necessary for that weren't properly aligned.
Because the Eezo is grafted directly onto the nerves? At best you might be able to get it down to a twitch, but if you apply electricity to the nervous system, you're going to get movement.
Which raises an interesting question: If you hit a biotic with a taser, what happens?
Because the Eezo is grafted directly onto the nerves? At best you might be able to get it down to a twitch, but if you apply electricity to the nervous system, you're going to get movement.
Maybe? I figured the sheer control the ANI and Mass Effect medicine in general implied should be able to get around that. Besides, not every electrical signal transmitted results in movement, and we aren't talking about huge amounts of electricity anyways.
The wiki description is tripe:
They must then develop conscious control over their nervous system, which is a long, slow, difficult ordeal (except for the asari, who possess a degree of control naturally). Biofeedback therapy is commonly used to aid in this process. Once trained, a biotic can generate and control dark energy to move objects, generate protective barriers, or restrain enemies. Biotic abilities are activated using a technique called "physical mnemonics", in which the biotic uses a physical gesture to cause neurons to fire in a certain sequence, sending an electrical charge through their eezo nodules and creating the desired effect.
but it seems to imply you develop control first, aided by the implant which allows such a thing in the first place, and are using the physical mnemonic to have the implant's VI execute a program whereby the eezo nodules are activated in the proper sequence. That doesn't necessarily cause movement, though movement is probably the only way to trigger it in the absence of something like the ANI.
Of course, soldiers with the Adrenaline Implant manage to conciously trigger it just fine, so they clearly have some experience manipulating this sort of thing. Which is honestly kinda amazing.
What about abilities like Barrier or Annihilation Field, which aren't even directed? Barrier in particular we have seen activated with no physical trigger.
What about abilities like Barrier or Annihilation Field, which aren't even directed? Barrier in particular we have seen activated with no physical trigger.
I think it's probably tied to the concept of living beings generating a weak bio-electrical field around themselves.
The Biotic Barrier technique is probably generated by the actual Biotic simply boosting their 'bio-electrical field' to the point were the eezo reacts and generates an ME Field that spans the body.
Which would explain how Samara can use it to float from high heights and the Barrier doesn't slice the users head/legs/arms off or something.
The Annihilation Field is probably tied to the idea of personal space - the user basically goes "everything that's too close to me gets hit" and so it does.
Niether of those skills are 'refined' to the point were there is actual control over it, like you said: it's not directed. It's all AOE stuff.
I got to admit though....it would explain the Spartan training that Turian Biotics and human Biotics went through during BAATS, the level of mental focus it must take for the 'biofeedback training' for the older ones must be insane in order them to generate a field strong enough to deflect bullets.
Ironically, it's been more or less proven that six-ten year olds are better at biofeedback training because they treat it as a game and somehow they can get it to work within a much shorter time frame than older ones.
[X] Write-in: Do a background check. A few minutes with an omni-tool is not a comprehensive search. Get your security chief, Goto, to dig up more info, particularly whatever it was that got him fired time and again. Forewarned is forearmed. Try to get it done before you land on Earth, but if that is not possible, arrange to keep in contact with him, promising nothing, but you've got the entire time you're on Earth to make the decision.
-[X] Crappy ship or not those things cost big money, no one writes one off like that. Something stinks. See if it's possible to link to the computers remotely and strip them bare. Try and recover deleted files too.
-[X] Ask if the captain to take it under tow anyway as a 'good will gesture' without telling Laurence. During the trip have a couple of your security search it top to bottom, especially the cargo to see if it's legit. If he was writing that off as well.....
The Biotic Barrier technique is probably generated by the actual Biotic simply boosting their 'bio-electrical field' to the point were the eezo reacts and generates an ME Field that spans the body.
Which would explain how Samara can use it to float from high heights and the Barrier doesn't slice the users head/legs/arms off or something.
The Annihilation Field is probably tied to the idea of personal space - the user basically goes "everything that's too close to me gets hit" and so it does.
Niether of those skills are 'refined' to the point were there is actual control over it, like you said: it's not directed. It's all AOE stuff.
But you need more than a ME field to make a Barrier - is is very much a complex biotic skill like any other, it just isn't launched. I don't see Annihilation Field working that way either, since it is basically a distributed Warp field centered around the self. Both skills are very much refined, and I am pretty sure you have actual control over them.
Consider the Biotic Bubble from the Suicide Run - that is just an over-sized barrier being consciously controlled. We see barriers being moved and created away from the body on Thessia as well. There is also the Biotic Sphere from ME3.
But you need more than a ME field to make a Barrier - is is very much a complex biotic skill like any other, it just isn't launched. I don't see Annihilation Field working that way either, since it is basically a distributed Warp field centered around the self. Both skills are very much refined, and I am pretty sure you have actual control over them.
Consider the Biotic Bubble from the Suicide Run - that is just an over-sized barrier being consciously controlled. We see barriers being moved and created away from the body on Thessia as well. There is also the Biotic Sphere from ME3.
Look, ME pretends it's an ultra-hard scifi that has 1 conceptual break with reality (eezo and its properties) and generally speaking the universe does in fact work exactly like that would imply. Except when it comes to biotics. Where ME is quite a bit softer on the hardness scale because otherwise it becomes harder to create a varied and interesting skillset for biotics that's reminiscient of fantasy's wizard archetype.
So generally, while you can certainly try and figure out how it all works you'll eventually have to go with 'it's all a game, this is probably game mechanics, so let's roll with it and not poke it any further.'
Required in most cases, but there are certain biotic abilities that do not actually have any mnemonic associated with them, like the skin tight Barrier. Which doesn't mean that Barrier is easy, it might well require a lot of training and discipline to use properly, or as an example you could end up with using Warp on yourself.
As for technology; there is nothing that biotics can do that can't be mimiced with the right technology and engineering. Because biotics isn't magic and eezo and its traits are well enough understood.
After Lindsey had told you that there is lot of people who were looking for new armour for company guards and paramilitary forces, but can't pay the high price of Legionary, you notice that there is gap you need to explore.
One long night and many cups of highly caffeinate drinks later, you have done it.
Hologram of your latest product floats at front of you. While it doesn't have those massive shields of Legionary since it lacks arc reactor, it still have good defences thanks to the advanced materials you have used to build it.
There is two hardpoints on wrist where users can put omni-tool and various other wrist mount armament and there is even an option to replace the weapon holstering system at back with jetpack. Sadly that is underpowered because of the lack of arc reactor, so it can only be used for jumps and breaking high falls.
With good kinetic barriers, ecm systems and neural interface, it really is an top of the line armor.
While you were making the armour, you got the idea to make weapon to match it.
Your latest gun is an assault rifle with the option to extend the barrel to get semi-auto DMR. There is inbuilt laser sight/designator/range finder and option to use under slung weapons.
Smiling happily you send basic information of your latest products to Lindsey and attach note that she shouldn't sell any weapons attachments which can threaten Alliance military forces, like singleshot Pilum launchers, with the armor and weapon. Less heavy weapons pirates and mercenaries have, the better.
After saving your work, Cortana replace the hologram with Mk.II.
"Thank you Cortana, oh and could you do a favor and tell me if mom comes. She has been nagging about my all-nighters lately."
PAS-73-A1 "Velites" Light infantry armour
Armour
Advanced Materials
Hardpoints
2 wrist
1 back
Equipment
Neural interface
Ecm
Kinetic barriers
Upgrade spots
2
Weapons and systems
Omni-tool (with flashforging blade)
Wrist mounted SMG
Wrist mounted flamethrower
Wrist mounted singleshot Pilum launcher
Back weapon holster
Back jetpack
Mass-accelerator with extending barrel for longer range attacks
Hardpoints
1 under slung
Equipment
Inbuilt laser sight/designator/range finder
Upgrade spots
3
Weapons and systems
20mm grenade launcher
Flamethrower
Singleshot Pilum launcher
Shotgun
-------
So, comments, do I need to change anything, does it work, etc...?
