Mass effect

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chitwood

Golden Member
Aug 21, 2008
1,208
59
91
I have a relatively noob question about first aid.

My squad members can learn it, and the tool tip implies that they can deploy first aid to all party members just like I can. So... how does that work? We share the same pool of med gel, but all three of us share the 1 cooldown for it? I can't go into a squad member ability list and use their first aid skill as well? Since that appears to be the case, what is the point of increasing npc party member first aid skill?
 

Pheran

Diamond Member
Apr 26, 2001
5,740
35
91
Originally posted by: chitwood
I have a relatively noob question about first aid.

My squad members can learn it, and the tool tip implies that they can deploy first aid to all party members just like I can. So... how does that work? We share the same pool of med gel, but all three of us share the 1 cooldown for it? I can't go into a squad member ability list and use their first aid skill as well? Since that appears to be the case, what is the point of increasing npc party member first aid skill?

The healing provided by first aid is determined by the SUM of the first aid skill ranks of all the members of your party, so there is some benefit to increasing it on multiple party members. You cannot have different characters use the skill, it's one global use.
 

chitwood

Golden Member
Aug 21, 2008
1,208
59
91
another question:

Health bars. Red = healthy. Green = poison. What does white mean?

Also, is there any way to cure poisons? I've just been letting them run out, but my guys don't regenerate health while they're poisoned, I've noticed.
 

imported_hopeless

Senior member
Oct 29, 2004
777
0
0
Originally posted by: chitwood
another question:

Health bars. Red = healthy. Green = poison. What does white mean?

Also, is there any way to cure poisons? I've just been letting them run out, but my guys don't regenerate health while they're poisoned, I've noticed.
From what I've noticed, when I use Immunity my health bar turns white.

I'm not sure about curing poison, I've been doing the same thing and just waiting it out.
 

imported_hopeless

Senior member
Oct 29, 2004
777
0
0
I'm really liking the renegade path.

No need for diplomacy, just intimidate or shoot'em and sometimes both. My renegade meter is either maxed or very close to it.
 

Pheran

Diamond Member
Apr 26, 2001
5,740
35
91
Originally posted by: hopeless
I'm really liking the renegade path.

No need for diplomacy, just intimidate or shoot'em and sometimes both. My renegade meter is either maxed or very close to it.

Some of the renegade voice responses made me laugh out loud after Shepard said them. It was fun, though I did feel a little bad about some things (killing off colonists, etc.).
 

R Nilla

Diamond Member
Jul 26, 2006
3,835
1
0
Originally posted by: Pheran
Originally posted by: hopeless
I'm really liking the renegade path.

No need for diplomacy, just intimidate or shoot'em and sometimes both. My renegade meter is either maxed or very close to it.

Some of the renegade voice responses made me laugh out loud after Shepard said them. It was fun, though I did feel a little bad about some things (killing off colonists, etc.).

I think one of the best moments is cold-cocking the mentally disturbed scientist on the first mission.
 

imported_hopeless

Senior member
Oct 29, 2004
777
0
0
Originally posted by: R Nilla
Originally posted by: Pheran
Originally posted by: hopeless
I'm really liking the renegade path.

No need for diplomacy, just intimidate or shoot'em and sometimes both. My renegade meter is either maxed or very close to it.
Some of the renegade voice responses made me laugh out loud after Shepard said them. It was fun, though I did feel a little bad about some things (killing off colonists, etc.).
I think one of the best moments is cold-cocking the mentally disturbed scientist on the first mission.
Smacking the scientist took me by surprise, I didn't have any idea my dialog choices would have that outcome. At some point there is a reporter wanting an interview that you can smack down also.

As much fun as it's been going renegade, I'm hoping that when I do try for paragon that it isn't boring by comparision.
 

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
I just finished Mass Effect on Monday. Good game. I enjoyed it much better than Fallout 3. I played Paragon and going to play it through as Renegade.
 

AstroManLuca

Lifer
Jun 24, 2004
15,628
5
81
One of the best parts about Renegade is that you still accomplish the same thing, it's just you take a different attitude towards it. And yeah, sometimes you let innocent people die. But it's not an all-out evil storyline. I find it a lot easier to play as a harsh, "take no prisoners" guy than as a character who's just straight up evil.
 

imported_hopeless

Senior member
Oct 29, 2004
777
0
0
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Originally posted by: hopeless
Originally posted by: Pheran
One note - I do not recommend using Ashley and Kaidan together for the long term.
Why is that?
Don't worry, you'll find out, even if you don't use them both.
I just found out what you meant last night and hit lvl 50.

Now if one of the vendors would ever have some higher level Colossus armors I'd have something to spend some money on.
 

cpacini

Senior member
Oct 22, 2005
712
0
76
Originally posted by: hopeless
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Originally posted by: hopeless
Originally posted by: Pheran
One note - I do not recommend using Ashley and Kaidan together for the long term.
Why is that?
Don't worry, you'll find out, even if you don't use them both.
I just found out what you meant last night and hit lvl 50.

Now if one of the vendors would ever have some higher level Colossus armors I'd have something to spend some money on.

You probably wont find any, you're much more likely to find those or Predator L/M/H armors in looted crates or item drops. I've only seen Colossus armors at vendors once or twice.

One of the few things I didn't like about ME is the broken financial system, You don't have enough money early to buy any thing useful, until later in the game when you have a shit ton on cash and the only thing worth buying from any of the vendors are the Spectre weapons.
 

Gooberlx2

Lifer
May 4, 2001
15,381
6
91
I'm running through on hardcore now with an Adept/Bastion + Assault Rifle. I can't believe I never finished hardcore or insanity difficulties after so many characters and completions. I guess I always got carried away with class and bonus skill combinations. The challenge is definitely more fun, and I'm just breezing through the main story line, avoiding all the side quests and 'B'-skipping all the dialog. I'll do a final "real" run through on insanity, completing everything and making more serious plot choices to prep for ME2.
 

imported_hopeless

Senior member
Oct 29, 2004
777
0
0
Originally posted by: cpacini
Originally posted by: hopeless
Now if one of the vendors would ever have some higher level Colossus armors I'd have something to spend some money on.

You probably wont find any, you're much more likely to find those or Predator L/M/H armors in looted crates or item drops. I've only seen Colossus armors at vendors once or twice.

One of the few things I didn't like about ME is the broken financial system, You don't have enough money early to buy any thing useful, until later in the game when you have a shit ton on cash and the only thing worth buying from any of the vendors are the Spectre weapons.

I hear you on the money.
My guy has all spectre weapons.
Ashley & Garrus have spectre assult rifles.
Wrex has a spectre shotgun.
I'm pretty sure Kaiden has a spectre pistol.
I haven't used Liara or Tali so I'm not sure what weapon(s) they can train for otherwise I'd have bought them something also.

Even after all that my money is maxed, it will not move if I sell anything. Here lately I've just been converting loot to omni-gel if the vendor doesn't have anything I want to buy.
 

imported_hopeless

Senior member
Oct 29, 2004
777
0
0
I finished my first playthrough last night. At one point I was starting to think something was wrong as I wasn't getting anymore XP past level at 50, but after clearing it one of the achievements said levels 51-60 were unlocked.

I must say I really did like this game. The only real problem that I really didn't like at all was the controls for the Mako & how excessively bouncy it was.

Now to decide if I want to do another round with my soldier at a higher difficulty or start over with a different class. I'm leaning more towards going again to get him to lvl 60 and to try a couple different teammates.
 

cpacini

Senior member
Oct 22, 2005
712
0
76
Originally posted by: hopeless
I finished my first playthrough last night. At one point I was starting to think something was wrong as I wasn't getting anymore XP past level at 50, but after clearing it one of the achievements said levels 51-60 were unlocked.

I must say I really did like this game. The only real problem that I really didn't like at all was the controls for the Mako & how excessively bouncy it was.

Now to decide if I want to do another round with my soldier at a higher difficulty or start over with a different class. I'm leaning more towards going again to get him to lvl 60 and to try a couple different teammates.

You will need at least 2 more play throughs to get to lvl 60 with that character.
 

imported_hopeless

Senior member
Oct 29, 2004
777
0
0
Originally posted by: cpacini
Originally posted by: hopeless
I finished my first playthrough last night. At one point I was starting to think something was wrong as I wasn't getting anymore XP past level at 50, but after clearing it one of the achievements said levels 51-60 were unlocked.

I must say I really did like this game. The only real problem that I really didn't like at all was the controls for the Mako & how excessively bouncy it was.

Now to decide if I want to do another round with my soldier at a higher difficulty or start over with a different class. I'm leaning more towards going again to get him to lvl 60 and to try a couple different teammates.
You will need at least 2 more play throughs to get to lvl 60 with that character.
What??? I hit 50 part way into Virmire and they made the level spacing that wide for the last 10 lvls.
 

Pheran

Diamond Member
Apr 26, 2001
5,740
35
91
Originally posted by: hopeless
Originally posted by: cpacini
Originally posted by: hopeless
I finished my first playthrough last night. At one point I was starting to think something was wrong as I wasn't getting anymore XP past level at 50, but after clearing it one of the achievements said levels 51-60 were unlocked.

I must say I really did like this game. The only real problem that I really didn't like at all was the controls for the Mako & how excessively bouncy it was.

Now to decide if I want to do another round with my soldier at a higher difficulty or start over with a different class. I'm leaning more towards going again to get him to lvl 60 and to try a couple different teammates.
You will need at least 2 more play throughs to get to lvl 60 with that character.
What??? I hit 50 part way into Virmire and they made the level spacing that wide for the last 10 lvls.

The last few levels are pretty big. My second game was my Adept starting at level 1 on Hardcore. I did everything and wound up at level 57 at the end. Then I went again on Insanity (but without all the side quests), I didn't hit level 60 until Ilos. I found the Adept to be much more interesting, and you can still get yourself an assault rifle assuming you got that achievement. Hardcore is a little difficult starting out at level 1, but it gets pretty awesome around level 20 or so.
 

cpacini

Senior member
Oct 22, 2005
712
0
76
Originally posted by: hopeless
Originally posted by: cpacini
Originally posted by: hopeless
I finished my first playthrough last night. At one point I was starting to think something was wrong as I wasn't getting anymore XP past level at 50, but after clearing it one of the achievements said levels 51-60 were unlocked.

I must say I really did like this game. The only real problem that I really didn't like at all was the controls for the Mako & how excessively bouncy it was.

Now to decide if I want to do another round with my soldier at a higher difficulty or start over with a different class. I'm leaning more towards going again to get him to lvl 60 and to try a couple different teammates.
You will need at least 2 more play throughs to get to lvl 60 with that character.
What??? I hit 50 part way into Virmire and they made the level spacing that wide for the last 10 lvls.

The XP requirements increases substantially as you approach the highest levels. It takes more XP to get from lvl 56-60 then from 1-56. You should need another 600,000 xp to get to level 60 (level 50 is 238K).

Here is a breakdown if you are interested. Text