Mass Effect 3 (360/PS3/PC) [NB: DO NOT POST UNTAGGED SPOILERS!]

[Damien]

Is it true you need to do the multi-player to get enough war assets to get the best ending?

[Matt D]

Originally Posted by v0id

Does Android not exist for some of these companies?

They are apparently working on Android versions.

Originally Posted by Damien

Is it true you need to do the multi-player to get enough war assets to get the best ending?

Nope, not AFAIK.

From what I've read, there are more than enough War Assets in the game for you to be able to get the "best" ending, even if you only have a Galactic Readiness of 50% (the base level).

Playing the MP to increase your Galactic Readiness just means that you don't need as many War Assets, as a higher %age GR means a higher Effective Military Strength for the same Total Military Strength.

[cimt]

Originally Posted by Damien

Is it true you need to do the multi-player to get enough war assets to get the best ending?

Apparantly, but then you'd also need the iOS apps as well wouldn't you?

[Matt D]

Official word on it:

BioWare: A note about multiplayer in relation to the endings

Originally Posted by BioWare's Jarrett Lee via BSN

Hi everyone,

I've seen some posts where there is a bit of confusion about the ability to get the best endings by only playing single-player, because if you don't play multiplayer (or the iOS game, Infiltrator) your Galactic Readiness stays at 50%.

You do NOT have to play multiplayer to get the best single-player endings.

Here's a bit of clarification:

Your ending(s) are determined by your "Effective Military Strength" (let's call it EMS for now) bar. Focus on that bar - that is your indicator of how well you will do in the end-game.

You can maximize your EMS just by collecting War Assets in the single-player game. There is a certain threshhold of these you would need to exceed (I can't get too specific) but I can tell you there are MORE than the required amount that can be gathered in the single-player campaign.

"Galactic Readiness" is a modifier you can improve by playing multiplayer. That is to say, if you play a lot of multiplayer, you will need less War Assets from single-player to fill up your EMS bar (ie it will balance out the requirements to account for you playing in both modes). Single-player game play does not impact that bar.

EMS = success. EMS can be maximized via collecting war assets alone, even if your Galactic Readiness is 50%.

UPDATE: changing post title, "perfect" ending may create confusion. This post indicates how military strength, war assets and galactic readiness affect the endings.

Now, I have seen many posts on BSN and elsewhere by people moaning about having to play MP because they couldn't get enough War Assets with a Galactic Readiness of 50%... but that may just be their playthroughs. BioWare has said that there's enough WA in the game even if your GR is only 50%. So I guess it all depends on the missions you do and the choices you make (and previously made!).


I'm going to do *everything* I can find. N7 missions, Citadel fetch quests, etc., scanning, etc. But, I think I will also give the MP a go just in case. Probably give it a shot before I reach the point of no return in the SP.

[Damien]

Yeah the GR can effectively double your war assets....

[cimt]

Matt be careful with some of those fetch quests. When you get the item, sometimes the person doesn't show up on the map. Another problem I had was that I had to take some pictures but when I took them all the guy kept telling me to come back when I had them.

[Matt D]

Yeah, I've already encountered the odd bug. Not had that issue yet though. Thankfully I save repeatedly, so can hopefully just reload if something screws up.

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You guys are both playing on 360 yeah? Fancy some MP later in the week? I've not tried it yet, and didn't bother with it on the demo.

[cimt]

Well I should be playing it later on. If you do decide to play it though, send me an invite. It is good fun when you have a good group going.

[v0id]

Originally Posted by Matt D

....Thankfully I save repeatedly, so can hopefully just reload if something screws up.

That 'quick save' back button is getting some hammering from me.
Is that a new feature? I don't seem to recall it in the previous games.

[cimt]

yeah it is, in the old games that was for grenades(ME1) and put your gun away(ME2).

[Damien]

Originally Posted by Matt D

Yeah, I've already encountered the odd bug. Not had that issue yet though. Thankfully I save repeatedly, so can hopefully just reload if something screws up.

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You guys are both playing on 360 yeah? Fancy some MP later in the week? I've not tried it yet, and didn't bother with it on the demo.

I'll do some MP later in the week.

BTW I have done some missions on the Korgan DMZ including the one where...

Spoiler: 

You cure/don't cure the Korgans

How far am I into the game?

[Matt D]

Quicksave is awesome. I manually save very often, especially before any kind of decision, but I also spam quicksave regularly.

Damien - You're almost at the halfway mark for the Priority missions, although of course there are many side missions, N7 missions, and scan & fetch missions too.

---------- Post added at 13:41 ---------- Previous post was at 13:38 ----------

Oh, my FemShep had a shower last night... Her fancy dress got all wet but I don't think she minded

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Anyone with an iPhone or iPad really should get the Datapad app.

1) The entire Codex for the trilogy, complete with the voice overs for the Primary entries.

2) Regular messages from characters, related to where you are in the SP. Lovely little touch that adds to the game.

3) It helps increase Galactic Readiness. Not as quickly as the MP, but easily and it's free.



It's worth having for the Codex alone, but the other features definitely add to it.

[Damien]

Originally Posted by Matt D

Quicksave is awesome. I manually save very often, especially before any kind of decision, but I also spam quicksave regularly.

Damien - You're almost at the halfway mark for the Priority missions, although of course there are many side missions, N7 missions, and scan & fetch missions too.

DOH! I don't want it to end, on the other hand avoiding spoilers is getting difficult. I have done pretty much all the scan and fetch missions that are available, some systems don't allow it but the ones with the red things sticking out are all at 100%. Really don't want to miss content but that's hard in Mass Effect.

I currently only have one thing to upgrade in the sheep, should probably go speak to more people on it just in case. What are the N7 missions, when do I get to the Miranda mission which I presume is coming?

[Matt D]

You'll be back on

Spoiler: 

the Citadel after Tuchanka

, and gain loads more fetch quests while there. Probably another set later too. As you go through, more clusters will open up too, giving more areas you can go to and scan.

N7 missions - special ops side quests for Admiral Hackett, e.g. "N7: Cerberus Lab". They're prefixed with "N7" in the mission log. I think there's half a dozen or so. There are also other side missions, including ones where you meet up with ME2 survivors.

Miranda:

Spoiler: 

You get an email from her asking you to meet her on the Citadel. I think this is quite early, maybe after the first "Priority: Citadel" mission.

After that...

Spoiler: 

You get another email from her after a couple more story missions, I think after the one after Tuchanka. That should then be the actual mission with her. Not done it yet, but I have the second email.

[Damien]

Which one is Tuchanka? I have the quests telling me to go to the Citidel again having done the Krogan mission...