Mass Effect 3 SPOILER THREAD: LOTS OF SPECULATION FROM EVERYONE

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From what I got from the story, the game implies there's a more powerful force then the Reaper / Catalyst since they are control by the cycle. Some "Master" entity design the cycle.
If you wanted to extrapolate, we could assume that a highly-advanced group of aliens created a powerful AI. Once the AI noticed the cyclical and universal imbalance between organics and synthetics (creator/created), it realized or decided it had to intervene. After the Reapers were created, they harvested organics in order to let new organics exist.

We could also assume that the aliens who created that AI/Reapers tried to resist, and they were probably responsible for a blue print of the Crucible.

No one designed the cycle. It just naturally occurs because synthetics are destined to fight their creators.
You mean the created fight the creators. Eh.

What evidence is there for it other than the catalyst's saying-so? Javik goes into an example similar to the quarians, yes, but other than that, what evidence are we given that this always happens?
Probably just the dichotomy of the upper and lower class. Those with power and those without.
 
What evidence is there for it other than the catalyst's saying-so? Javik goes into an example similar to the quarians, yes, but other than that, what evidence are we given that this always happens? I'm not saying the precedent isn't possibly there, but it suddenly being the END-ALL BE-ALL of the culmination of a series was kinda silly.

I can't comment on Javik because I don't own him, but you're right, I'm trusting the catalyst is telling the truth.
 
From what I got from the story, the game implies there's a more powerful force then the Reaper / Catalyst since they are control by the cycle. "Master" entity design the cycle for what? Answer in next ME trilogy?

im with you, the prothean vi on thessia discusses this

the reapers are a tool to enable the extinction cycle, and the catalyst ai/vi/whatever the fuck controls them

no one could figure out who the master of it all was tho

Encountering a Prothean VI named Vendetta on Thessia, it explains that the patterns concerning the cycles of extinction are too well connected to be coincidence. It infers that the Reapers are servants of this pattern but can't identify their true master.

According to the Catalyst, the Reapers were created for the sole purpose of ensuring the existence of organic life in the galaxy, through the assumption that all synthetic creations will eventually turn on and destroy their organic creators.

i mean just as easily the catalyst could simply be their master in every sense and somehow lead to their creation as well as their actions

but this really doesnt explain jack or shit

which means its probably bioware's number one choice for the ending -_-
 
I really disliked that Cerberus ended up getting indoctrinated, i liked their role in ME2 as the rogue group that got things done by reasonable, but still questionable methods. Here they were just straight up evil. The Illusive man didn't deserve to be used the way he did, it would'vr been awesome if he were forced to begrudgingly work together with Hackett since he has the limited resources and jurisdiction to do what the alliance can't. Plus I really liked his character in ME2, disagreeing with Shepard at times but having a ton of respect for him/her. I always enjoyed the scene before you go through the relay and talk to TIM because it was a good culmination of their relationship.

I HATED Cerberus in this game until I found out they got indoctrinated.

I thought they just turned TIM into a generic bad guy for no reason. I wasn't 100% thrilled that he got indoctrinated, but I thought it made sense.
 
I can see you point of view, but mine can be plausible too. Who or what made the Reapers / Catalyst to keep the balance?

Yes, someone built the Citadel and the Catalyst, thus that civilization turned into the Reapers. The conversation with the Catalyst is like 2 minutes and isn't that helpful other than telling you to die in 3 ways.
 
I can see you point of view, but mine can be plausible too. Who or what made the Reapers / Catalyst to keep the balance?

I think we should try to define what the cycle is. Is it referring to synthetics constantly trying to kill their organic creators? Or is referring to the reapers harvesting everyone every so often so organic life can survive?
 
I think we should try to define what the cycle is. Is it referring to synthetics constantly trying to kill their organic creators. Or is referring to the reapers harvesting everyone every thousands of years so organic life can survive?

The cycle is the 50,000 year timeline which is apparently the magical number in which the non-space faring races have been given enough time to evolve both physically and technologically to become true space-faring species. Thus, they are on the verge of being able to create sentient AIs that will inevitably turn on them, and if left unchecked, destroy all organic life.

The reapers are thus designed/ordered/made to come around every 50,000 years and wipe out all organic life that had found the citadel and is capable of space-flight and true AI creation. Then they use the organic materials to create new reapers with genetic material from the organic races, thus preserving the races in the reaper shells.

They then retreat back to dark space and wait for the next set of species to evolve.

edit: Which is why it is odd that all of the damn reapers look the exact same, yet the Reapers are supposedly made in the image of the fallen organic races.
 
I don't think the adapted-image theory fits at all because of their unique look. They were testing the human reaper, but that didn't go anywhere.

Is it referring to synthetics constantly trying to kill their organic creators? Or is referring to the reapers harvesting everyone every so often so organic life can survive?
Yes.



It means both things. The organized Reaper cycle happens so that the disorganized creator/created cycle doesn't.
 
edit: Which is why it is odd that all of the damn reapers look the exact same, yet the Reapers are supposedly made in the image of the fallen organic races.
i assumed the reaper is inside the squid like shell

im pretty sure i read somewhere that their real body is just housed in there for protection

at least i think i read that somewhere, but now that i think about it, i dont remember it from any in game source
 
More and more I think the indoctrination theory has merit.

Think about the "synthesis" option that the Catalyst suggest to you, and reflect on what Saren said in ME1

"The relationship is symbiotic. Organic and machine intertwined. A union of flesh and steel. The strengths of both, and the weaknesses of neither. I am a vision of the future, Shepard. The evolution of all organic life. This is our destiny. Join Sovereign and experience a true rebirth."

Synthesis is the Reaper solution all along, how can that possibly be the new solution? Basically control is the TIM's solution, Synthesis is Saren's solution, and Destroy is Anderson's solution, the one the Catalyst least want you to take.
 
More and more I think the indoctrination theory has merit.

Think about the "synthesis" option that the Catalyst suggest to you, and reflect on what Saren said in ME1

"The relationship is symbiotic. Organic and machine intertwined. A union of flesh and steel. The strengths of both, and the weaknesses of neither. I am a vision of the future, Shepard. The evolution of all organic life. This is our destiny. Join Sovereign and experience a true rebirth."

Synthesis is the Reaper solution all along, how can that possibly be the new solution? Basically control is the TIM's solution, Synthesis is Saren's solution, and Destroy is Anderson's solution, the one the Catalyst least want you to take.

Whoa.
 
whats the bet in me4 we are 50000 years into the future

and some dark energy shit is going on or something who cares

and some alien bloke is going around searching for answers

he comes across harbingers body

and the ghost of shepard appears and telepathically communicates to him prothean style

and hes all I HAVE COME TO TELL YOU OF THIS CREATURES... COURAGE

and the reapers were just corrupted good guys all along, trying to fight off a larger threat but being forced to do bad things

wouldnt that be really creative and amazing
 
Thank you all for clarifying the cycles. I don't think whoever created the reapers will be present in any future games though. I assumed they turned into reapers or they would be massive hypocrites.
 
Yeah. The Dark Energy explanation also accounts for why they didn't 'archive' the Protheans and were only trying to make a Reaper out of humans and not every other race in ME2.
Links, please? I've been trying to figure out the human Reaper but I can't find anything about it.
 
More and more I think the indoctrination theory has merit.

Think about the "synthesis" option that the Catalyst suggest to you, and reflect on what Saren said in ME1

"The relationship is symbiotic. Organic and machine intertwined. A union of flesh and steel. The strengths of both, and the weaknesses of neither. I am a vision of the future, Shepard. The evolution of all organic life. This is our destiny. Join Sovereign and experience a true rebirth."

Synthesis is the Reaper solution all along, how can that possibly be the new solution? Basically control is the TIM's solution, Synthesis is Saren's solution, and Destroy is Anderson's solution, the one the Catalyst least want you to take.

I don't get this(lots of people try to do the TIM/Saren/Anderson categorization). Synthesis is not Sarens solution. Saren was simply indoctrinated. If his plan would have succeeded then the reaper would have restarted the cycle. You could argue that he was misled and his own "plan" could have been synthesis but the reapers wouldn't let him.

Synthesis is however the final stage of the catalysts plan, if the organics choose to accept it. The reapers don't want it, they're tools to execute the cycles and will continue to do so until another option is forced upon them.
 
Links, please? I've been trying to figure out the human Reaper but I can't find anything about it.

It was in the old script, but essentially, the influx of dark energy into the universe was becoming more and more potent through organic meddling throughout time.

The reapers in this scenario were designed to prevent organic life from blowing up the universe as we know it by destroying organic life.

Essentially, the Human Reaper was a last ditch effort by the Reapers to prevent the Dark energy from overflowing and wiping out all life, due to 'human genetic diversity'.

The paragon ending had you telling the reapers to shove off, we'll succeed or fail on our own merits, but I can't remember the renegade option.

I don't get this(lots of people try to do the TIM/Saren/Anderson categorization). Synthesis is not Sarens solution. Saren was simply indoctrinated. If his plan would have succeeded then the reaper would have restarted the cycle. You could argue that he was misled and his own "plan" could have been synthesis but the reapers wouldn't let him.

Synthesis is however the final stage of the catalysts plan, if the organics choose to accept it. The reapers don't want it, they're tools to execute the cycles and will continue to do so until another option is forced upon them.

Saren was directly synthesized by Sovereign/reaper tech though. It's how Sovereign was able to reanimate Saren's organic tissue and turn him into that crazy red glowing thing. It was also mentioned multiple times that Saren had recieved cybernetic implants and upgrades, as well as the dialogue that was pointed out.

But it was just another control mechanism by Sovereign, not true synthesis as is shown in the ME3 ending with cybernetic leaves. But who's to say that isn't what Saren thought would happen?
 
Links, please? I've been trying to figure out the human Reaper but I can't find anything about it.

1. reapers identify the most advanced race of a cycle (picking the humans because humans are clearly the best and sovereign had his shit kicked in by shepard)
2.they harvest it to make a new reaper in the shape of the species
3. ???
4. reapers stop dark energy

thats about it

in the 'leaked' ending, the reapers were working all along to stop whatever the fuck dark energy was meant to be doing and you could choose whether to destroy them and hope the galaxy figures it out or let them harvest humanity in order to stop whatever the fuck
 
It was in the old script, but essentially, the influx of dark energy into the universe was becoming more and more potent through organic meddling throughout time.

The reapers in this scenario were designed to prevent organic life from destroying the universe as we know it by destroying organic life.

Essentially, the Human Reaper was a last ditch effort by the Reapers to prevent the Dark energy from overflowing and wiping out all life, due to 'human genetic diversity'.

The paragon ending had you telling the reapers to shove off, we'll succeed or fail on our own merits, but I can't remember the renegade option.



Saren was directly synthesized by Sovereign/reaper tech though. It's how Sovereign was able to reanimate Saren's organic tissue and turn him into that crazy red glowing thing. It was also mentioned multiple times that Saren had recieved cybernetic implants and upgrades, as well as the dialogue that was pointed out.

Renegade was letting the Reapers complete the cycle, I believe.
 
1. reapers identify the most advanced race of a cycle (picking the humans because humans are clearly the best and sovereign had his shit kicked in by shepard)
2.they harvest it to make a new reaper in the shape of the species
3. ???
4. reapers stop dark energy
I know they thought that about humans, but the reason behind them was unclear. They never showed any other species of Reaper though. I mean, unless there was only one cycle before the Protheans, there should be more.

Because Saren's argument is the same as the Catalyst's argument, that combining machine and organics is the "pinnacle of evolution".
But, Saren was only used into thinking that. Once the Reapers came, they would have probably stored him with the other Turians. His biology was altered by one Reaper, not the catalyst.

Synthesis was presented as a legitimate way to completely end the cycle because it removed the need for the Reapers. There are no organics and synthetics, but only one synthesized biology. Therefore no more cycle.

It was in the old script, but essentially, the influx of dark energy into the universe was becoming more and more potent through organic meddling throughout time.

The reapers in this scenario were designed to prevent organic life from destroying the universe as we know it by destroying organic life.

Essentially, the Human Reaper was a last ditch effort by the Reapers to prevent the Dark energy from overflowing and wiping out all life, due to 'human genetic diversity'.
That doesn't make any sense to me. What?

Dark energy is influenced by genetic diversity?

Sorry, Dark Energy endings?
The leaked endings talked about dark energy. Whatever that is.
 
Sorry, Dark Energy endings?

See below.

It was in the old script, but essentially, the influx of dark energy into the universe was becoming more and more potent through organic meddling throughout time.

The reapers in this scenario were designed to prevent organic life from blowing up the universe as we know it by destroying organic life.

Essentially, the Human Reaper was a last ditch effort by the Reapers to prevent the Dark energy from overflowing and wiping out all life, due to 'human genetic diversity'.

The paragon ending had you telling the reapers to shove off, we'll succeed or fail on our own merits, but I can't remember the renegade option.



Saren was directly synthesized by Sovereign/reaper tech though. It's how Sovereign was able to reanimate Saren's organic tissue and turn him into that crazy red glowing thing. It was also mentioned multiple times that Saren had recieved cybernetic implants and upgrades, as well as the dialogue that was pointed out.

But it was just another control mechanism by Sovereign, not true synthesis as is shown in the ME3 ending with cybernetic leaves. But who's to say that isn't what Saren thought would happen?
 
That doesn't make any sense to me. What?

Dark energy is influenced by genetic diversity?

Sorry, should have been more clear. The reapers apparently thought that because of the high level of diversity, there was a chance this new human reaper would be able to succeed in finally stopping the growth of dark energy once and for all, since this level of diversity would lead to a more advanced reaper, since reapers are made from the organic materials of fallen races.

Yeah, it's equally silly if you actually think about it, unless all organic life is no longer made from carbon.

Edit2: Eh, will leave it.

As for what dark energy is, it's the "fifth force of the universe" of which biotics are based.

See Here for more info.


But in any case, Dark Energy is foreshadowed on Haestrom in ME2 of being a highly powerful destructive force.
 
I know they thought that about humans, but the reason behind them was unclear. They never showed any other species of Reaper though. I mean, unless there was only one cycle before the Protheans, there should be more.

like i said earlier, im pretty sure all reapers have the protective shell put over them, and look different on the inside

human reaper was never finished

i mean either that or bioware is completely retarded, so i give them the benefit of the doubt on this
 
Saren was directly synthesized by Sovereign/reaper tech though. It's how Sovereign was able to reanimate Saren's organic tissue and turn him into that crazy red glowing thing. It was also mentioned multiple times that Saren had recieved cybernetic implants and upgrades, as well as the dialogue that was pointed out.

But it was just another control mechanism by Sovereign, not true synthesis as is shown in the ME3 ending with cybernetic leaves. But who's to say that isn't what Saren thought would happen?

Yep Sarens claim to the synthesis option is muddy at best. Especially as the catalyst says that the cycles will continue until the organics can break them and start synthesis(the other options lead to cycles again sooner or later).

And there is probably a big difference between what Saren thought he could do and what he actually did. He was a champion for continued cycles but in his own delusional mind perhaps he thought something else. Who knows what lies he'd been fed.

I'm pretty sure he didn't know about the catalyst and real synthesis at least.

In some weird way the synthesis ending, although being a bit short and lacking in closure, fits my paragon Shepard the best. Never did he really choose one civilisation over another, always looking out for the greater good(whats good for the universe as a whole), brokering peace between quarians/geth never doubting the machines right to exists and being half machine himself. The champion of life itself in whatever form it chooses to manifest itself.
 
...that's the Tengen-Toppa Gurren Lagann Spiral Nemesis Heat Death of the universe ending, only with no logical link between 'genetic diversity' and dark energy.
 
But, Saren was only used into thinking that. Once the Reapers came, they would have probably stored him with the other Turians. His biology was altered by one Reaper, not the catalyst.

Synthesis was presented as a legitimate way to completely end the cycle because it removed the need for the Reapers. There are no organics and synthetics, but only one synthesized biology. Therefore no more cycle.

But how do you know the argument that the Soverign used to convince Saren isn't the exact argument that the Catalyst is using now on Shepard now. Maybe Saren thought if he could convince everyone to voluntarily synthesize the Reapers would go away. Can you trust the Catalyst that the Reapers will go away? Synthesis is the only option where the Reapers retain their strength. Maybe they'll just start harvesting that much faster because now their can control the organics.
 
But how do you know the argument that the Soverign used to convince Saren isn't the exact argument that the Catalyst is using now on Shepard now. Can you trust that the Reapers will go away? Synthesis is the only option where the Reapers retain their strength. Maybe they'll just start harvesting that much faster because now their can control the organics.

Their mission has been fulfilled(or made void). No reason to believe that they will continue it. Who knows what they will do instead, it's pure speculation at this point.
 
Sorry, should have been more clear. The reapers apparently thought that because of the high level of diversity, there was a chance this new human reaper would be able to succeed in finally stopping the growth of dark energy once and for all.

As for what dark energy is, it's the "fifth force of the universe" of which biotics are based.

See Here for more info.
So they needed found humans to be the solution to the problem? I guess I could have been okay with that kind of a presentation/ending since it would have connected to ME2.

I don't think we'll ever know the fine details, but it was foreshadowed in ME2 on Haestrom.
But they left that story stranded somewhere.

How unsettling.
 
Is BioWare HQ still standing from all the raging?
 
The cycle is the 50,000 year timeline which is apparently the magical number in which the non-space faring races have been given enough time to evolve both physically and technologically to become true space-faring species. Thus, they are on the verge of being able to create sentient AIs that will inevitably turn on them, and if left unchecked, destroy all organic life.

The reapers are thus designed/ordered/made to come around every 50,000 years and wipe out all organic life that had found the citadel and is capable of space-flight and true AI creation. Then they use the organic materials to create new reapers with genetic material from the organic races, thus preserving the races in the reaper shells.

They then retreat back to dark space and wait for the next set of species to evolve.

edit: Which is why it is odd that all of the damn reapers look the exact same, yet the Reapers are supposedly made in the image of the fallen organic races.
The whole idea is rather jarring because there's no precedent for it in the series that we see aside from the Geth/Quarians, but the Geth weren't causing any trouble until Sovereign showed up.
 
But how do you know the argument that the Soverign used to convince Saren isn't the exact argument that the Catalyst is using now on Shepard now. Maybe Saren thought if he could convince everyone to voluntarily synthesize the Reapers would go away. Can you trust the Catalyst that the Reapers will go away? Synthesis is the only option where the Reapers retain their strength. Maybe they'll just start harvesting that much faster because now their can control the organics.
I think Saren's synthesis is more like the control ending. Because if you could join the reapers they will let you live.

And in fact, if you choose the control end Shep joins/becomes a Reaper, right? Then s/he leaves forever.

Is BioWare HQ still standing from all the raging?
Hopefully they've written themselves a few options.
 
...that's the Tengen-Toppa Gurren Lagann Spiral Nemesis Heat Death of the universe ending, only with no logical link between 'genetic diversity' and dark energy.

The link was that while the Reapers had been contemplating the problem for something like 40+ million years without being able to solve it, "genetic diversity" (which from here on out can be taken to mean "humans are special") would have given the human Reaper (which would then be special) a better shot than the others at being able to make some sort of breakthrough that would help them solve the problem.

It's still incredibly dumb if you think about it, but really only because "humans are special" is inherently kind of dumb. If you take it for granted that it's just an immutable fact that humans are special (which was pushed pretty damn hard in both Mass Effect 1 and 2), then it's at least consistent with the rest of the series.


I mean, at the very least, it's not as ridiculous as the synthetics versus organics explanation, if only because synthetics versus organics is directly refuted by all three games to one degree or another.
 
I'll post this again since it's buried. The Dark Energy ending post.

http://www.ign.com/boards/threads/s...ly-big-big-spoilers.250066288/#post-251405543

"The Reapers' goal was to find a way to stop the spread of Dark Energy which would eventually consume everything. That's why there was so much foreshadowing about Dark Energy in ME2.

The Reapers as a whole were 'nations' of people who had fused together in the most horrific way possible to help find a way to stop the spread of the Dark Energy. The real reason for the Human Reaper was supposed to be the Reapers saving throw because they had run out of time. Humanity in Mass Effect is supposedly unique because of it's genetic diversity and represented the universe's best chance at stopping Dark Energy's spread.

The original final choice was going to be "Kill the Reapers and put your faith in the races of the galaxy in finding another way to stop the spread with what little time is left" or "Sacrifice humanity, allowing them to be horrifically processed in hopes that the end result will justify the means."

The SomethingAwful guy then goes on to say that all the foreshadowing about dark energy in ME2 (including Haestrom) is never brought up again in ME3.

The Reapers new motivation is as follows.

(Most of this paraphrased from what a guy on BSN said)

The Reapers new goal is that they are working to prevent a technological singularity. The quick definition of a "technological singularity" is basically a point when the machines of a civilization become more advanced than their creators and they are able to outdo their creators in pretty much every way imaginable.

The game attempts to justify the Singularity Motivation because all it takes is ONE incident with A.I. to bring about an apocalyptic war that would destroy all organics. Project Overlord was a very, very clear example of this: Cerberus nearly destroyed the entire galaxy. Organics lucked out big time that the Geth were so understanding and that A.I. like EDI are tame (and even then, EDI did something in the past before ME2 that may make you view her in a very different light: Mass Effect 3 reveals this).

The Reapers aren't hypocrites (in concept) in the Singularity Motivation because they don't perceive themselves as machines wiping out organics. They see themselves as immortal vessels that preserve a civilization forever that just happens to be synthetic. They see themselves as the saviors of organics for letting them grow and prosper and then harvesting them before they evolve to the point of singularity. "Imposing order on the chaos of organic evolution" as Sovereign said.
 
I would have preferred a dark energy --> harvesting is the way to save the universe style outcome/reveal than trying to make the synthetic/organic thing the main focus of the story.
 
Is BioWare HQ still standing from all the raging?

Honestly it's one of the most civil times I think I've ever seen on the BSN forums.

The whole idea is rather jarring because there's no precedent for it in the series that we see aside from the Geth/Quarians, but the Geth weren't causing any trouble until Sovereign showed up.

There are rogue incidents that are brought in with sidequests, but that's about it. It is, I believe, mentioned on the Luna Mission that this is why no space-faring race allows VI's to evolve into AIs, due to their apparent evolution-no-matter-what turning into organic-hating ways. But I could be wrong.

But yes, as an overall plot-ending device, it's rather un-foreshadowed, and even opposed by story elements in both ME2 and 3.

But they left that story stranded somewhere.

How unsettling.

There's more info on the IGN boards Here

edit: Beaten above ^^.
 
Their mission has been fulfilled(or made void). No reason to believe that they will continue it. Who knows what they will do instead, it's pure speculation at this point.

That assumes the Catalyst was telling you the truth. We know Soverign lied to Saren to indoctrinate him, why should I believe Catalyst isn't doing the same to indoctrinate Shepard.
 
The original final choice was going to be "Kill the Reapers and put your faith in the races of the galaxy in finding another way to stop the spread with what little time is left" or "Sacrifice humanity, allowing them to be horrifically processed in hopes that the end result will justify the means."
I can see the Evangelion ending right now.

Singularity option is most definitely forced in this game. I would have liked the DE ending a lot more.
 
I'll post this again since it's buried. The Dark Energy ending post.

http://www.ign.com/boards/threads/s...ly-big-big-spoilers.250066288/#post-251405543



The Reapers new motivation is as follows.

Even that first one doesn't make sense.

OH MY GOD DARK ENERGY IS COMING IN N MILLION YEARS, LETS CEASE TO ADVANCE AS A SOCIETY AND ALL BECOME A REAPER SLUSHIE TOGETHER. This will clearly provide the best chance of solving the problem.

Wat.

I mean from the point of conflict with current races it makes sense but from a 'why the hell do the reapers exist in the first place' it more or less completely falls apart.
 
Even that first one doesn't make sense.

OH MY GOD DARK ENERGY IS COMING IN N MILLION YEARS, LETS CEASE TO ADVANCE AS A SOCIETY AND ALL BECOME A REAPER SLUSHIE TOGETHER. This will clearly provide the best chance of solving the problem.

Wat.
Dark energy makes more sense than colors*. And you could actually say GTFO to the Reapers, which would have been nice.

*By that I mean they actually have a real goal to achieve, not just clean-up duty.
 
That assumes the Catalyst was telling you the truth. We know Soverign lied to Saren to indoctrinate him, why should I believe Catalyst isn't doing the same to indoctrinate Shepard.

Because the game shows you the outcome. I'm not subscribing to the Shepard indoctrination theory. Bad or good, the ending is what it is. Saying that the Catalyst lies just makes it more vague.

Until Bioware makes it canon that the ending is a big lie the only logical conclusion is that the three options are real(with all their requisites).
 
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