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[Alchemy]

Alright guys, say it truly is the indoctrination theory.

After Shepard starts breathing after the Destroy ending, how would YOU end it?

My problem is that if Shepard is indoctrinated, you don't have a character to play as anymore. It would feel extremely awkward to switch characters outside of a sequel or expansion, so DLC doesn't really cut it for continuing the story.

If he beats indoctrination, he is a beat up corpse in need of severe hospitalization and the Reapers are still busy kicking everyone's ass. The best thing here would be to have one of the two crew members you took with on the final assault make it to the Crucible and succeed, but we'd still need some sort of definition on what the Crucible/Catalyst actually is and what it does.

Easy route is it wipes out all Reaper tech, but then what is the conflict that the DLC needs to answer? Are we dealing with some internal conflict as all the stranded races in the Sol system try to figure their shit out? There is no obvious bad guy anymore unless one of the friendly races turns or magically a Reaper or two survives. Its going to feel really forced depending on the outcome of the Crucible/Catalyst.

And if the Crucible/Catalyst plan fails, its going to require some universe punching power for the allied species to win this.

 

[Minion101]

Find a way to kill the reapers without completely ending galactic civilization and sending everyone back hundreds or thousands of years.

You just want a "happy" ending?

 

[BannedEpisode]

All in! Anyone else want in? A quick confirmation of who is anti-ending/pro-ending and who is pro-indoctrination/anti-indoctrination would be helpful too.

Sure.

End was fucked. Unless the Indoctrination theory is true.

In which case it is a brilliant move acted out in a bafoonishly horrible way.

 

[dragonelite]

A very special video for the thread~

No problem with that.

 

[Alchemy]

All in! Anyone else want in? A quick confirmation of who is anti-ending/pro-ending and who is pro-indoctrination/anti-indoctrination would be helpful too.

Anti-ending/anti-indoctrination unless BioWare trolls the shit out of us and makes it for cereal.

 

[hao chi]

All in! Anyone else want in? A quick confirmation of who is anti-ending/pro-ending and who is pro-indoctrination/anti-indoctrination would be helpful too.

Anti-ending, pro-indoctrination

 

[Derrick01]

All in! Anyone else want in? A quick confirmation of who is anti-ending/pro-ending and who is pro-indoctrination/anti-indoctrination would be helpful too.

Anti-ending

Uhh I don't really care if he was indoctrinated or not. Whatever excuse Bioware wants to give us a better ending.

So uh...pro indoctrination I guess?

 

[duckroll]

But I'm still struggling to think of how that would fit in the ending? Shepard would wake up... and then what?

Here's what will happen after you buy the True Ending DLC:

- Shepard talks to the Catalyst Boy aka Bioware God.

- Instead of the shitty dialogue options he has normally, they have added Paragon and Renegade "special" options on the left of the tree.

- PARAGON: "Chaos is not a real problem."

- RENEGADE: "What gives you the right?!"

- Picking either decision will pre-empt the presentation of the "new solutions", and instead result in everything around Shepard phasing out, Matrix style.

- The environments changes to some Hell looking area, with Harbinger's voice telling Shepard that he cannot escape and that indoctrination is inescapable.

- You run around the area and evade Harbinger's attacks until your party members appear one by one to "give you strength to carry on".

- Powered up by the hope that all his companions have in him, Shepard runs up to Harbinger and destroys him with a super QTE event.

- The entire illusion shatters and Shepard continues running to the transporter beam along with the army. The Alliance forces enter the Citadel, and find Bailey leading the Citadel Defense Force fighting back the Reapers. After fighting through the Citadel (recycled maps from ME1 finale), you reopen the flaps and the Crucible docks.

- Shepard controls the Crucible weapon and targets the Reapers on Earth one by one, destroying them all. Harbinger flies up into space to take out the super weapon, and you defeat him in the final rail shooting sequence.

- 15 minute epilogue plays showing the celebrations across the galaxy, the fates of the surviving characters, and Shepard settling down with his romantic interest, or being surrounded by all his comrades if he has none.


Cost: 1200 Bioware Points

 

[aku08]

don't know if its been mentioned in this thread, but vega did keep on asking shepard if he hears that humming sound inside the normandy throughout the game. that's probably them getting indoctrinated the whole time.

 

[Derrick01]

You just want a "happy" ending?

Yes. I didn't put 100 hours into this and all of the characters to see it end like this. That was some bullshit.

 

[XANDER CAGE]

Pro Mass Effect 3 Overall Experience

Anti Ending

Pro Indoctrination Theory

I'm aware they track user data, but it says it's for network purposes. They did that with ME2. However, this person said that they track the player's last choice.


I'm okay with the endings, but dissatisfied.

I'm anti-indoctrination.

Put me in as anti-ending, but neutral on indoctrination.

Otherwise, everyone quickly go through the ending again while online and pick destroy. It'll make things go faster....

Wait a second. This reminds me of the facebook-esque "like this for pre-order bonuses" campaign and shit.

Sure.

End was fucked. Unless the Indoctrination theory is true.

In which case it is a brilliant move acted out in a bafoonishly horrible way.

No problem with that.

Awesome, thanks guys. Anyone else who wants in, let me know and I'll hopefully see it before I finish.

EDIT

Anti-ending/anti-indoctrination unless BioWare trolls the shit out of us and makes it for cereal.

Anti-ending, pro-indoctrination

Anti-ending

Uhh I don't really care if he was indoctrinated or not. Whatever excuse Bioware wants to give us a better ending.

So uh...pro indoctrination I guess?

Got y'all too.

 

[Moaradin]

All in! Anyone else want in? A quick confirmation of who is anti-ending/pro-ending and who is pro-indoctrination/anti-indoctrination would be helpful too.

put me in the indoctrination camp.

 

[sleeprockss]

don't know if its been mentioned in this thread, but vega did keep on asking shepard if he hears that humming sound inside the normandy throughout the game. that's probably them getting indoctrinated the whole time.

YOU WIN!!!

 

[BigJonsson]

So uhhhh why are people so mad about the ending?

And how many endings are there?

 

[Freeza Under The Shower]

Alright guys, say it truly is the indoctrination theory.

After Shepard starts breathing after the Destroy ending, how would YOU end it?

pull the plug.

On myself. Dream in a dream in a

 

[Tess3ract]

All in! Anyone else want in? A quick confirmation of who is anti-ending/pro-ending and who is pro-indoctrination/anti-indoctrination would be helpful too.

I'm pro-"No fuck you reapers, leave and never come back" ending.

 

[squidyj]

Errbody who wants their username in the video, let me know.

Sounds cool. Use my name.

 

[Zomba13]

Errbody who wants their username in the video, let me know.

Sure. As long as it's pro-indoctrination ending.

All hail BioGod.

 

[Banana Kid]

All in! Anyone else want in? A quick confirmation of who is anti-ending/pro-ending and who is pro-indoctrination/anti-indoctrination would be helpful too.

Fuck the ending, but I think indoctrination is crazy talk.

I loved the rest of the game to death, though!

 

[hateradio]

Here's what will happen after you buy the True Ending DLC:

- Shepard talks to the Catalyst Boy aka Bioware God.

- Instead of the shitty dialogue options he has normally, they have added Paragon and Renegade "special" options on the left of the tree.

- PARAGON: "Chaos is not a real problem."

- RENEGADE: "What gives you the right?!"

- Picking either decision will pre-empt the presentation of the "new solutions", and instead result in everything around Shepard phasing out, Matrix style.

- The environments changes to some Hell looking area, with Harbinger's voice telling Shepard that he cannot escape and that indoctrination is inescapable.

- You run around the area and evade Harbinger's attacks until your party members appear one by one to "give you strength to carry on".

- Powered up by the hope that all his companions have in him, Shepard runs up to Harbinger and destroys him with a super QTE event.

- The entire illusion shatters and Shepard continues running to the transporter beam along with the army. The Alliance forces enter the Citadel, and find Bailey leading the Citadel Defense Force fighting back the Reapers. After fighting through the Citadel (recycled maps from ME1 finale), you reopen the flaps and the Crucible docks.

- Shepard controls the Crucible weapon and targets the Reapers on Earth one by one, destroying them all. Harbinger flies up into space to take out the super weapon, and you defeat him in the final rail shooting sequence.

- 15 minute epilogue plays showing the celebrations across the galaxy, the fates of the surviving characters, and Shepard settling down with his romantic interest, or being surrounded by all his comrades if he has none.


Cost: 1200 Bioware Points

Cue: I DON'T WANT YOUR FANFIC

Awesome, thanks guys. Anyone else who wants in, let me know and I'll hopefully see it before I finish.

Sounds fun.

 

[Vamphuntr]

I leave for 1 hour and when I come back I don't understand what is going on anymore. Did you see a yellow explosion that changed everything?

 

[lefantome]

I want Shepard asking for power from all the lifeforms of the universe t destroy the reapers

 

[hao chi]

I'm aware they track user data, but it says it's for network purposes. They did that with ME2. However, this person said that they track the player's last choice.

If they do this, I wonder if we can redo our last choice and continue from there. I originally said, "Fuck it, these choices suck so I'm just gonna run straight." and got the Synthesis ending.

Then I went back to get the Destroy/Shepard lives ending.

I feel like I should have to continue with my original ending choice, as much as I don't really want to.

 

[mercenar1e]

Bioware never said how the illusive man became indoctrinated right?

 

[Minion101]

I'm anti-lazy FMVs.

 

[Banana Kid]

Bioware never said how the illusive man became indoctrinated right?

I think it's implied that sticking all that reaper tech inside himself did it.

 

[hateradio]

I feel like I should have to continue with my original ending choice, as much as I don't really want to.

I wish they would have given the other option of picking "These choices suck."

Bioware never said how the illusive man became indoctrinated right?

He had implants.

 

[LiK]

I think it's implied that sticking all that reaper tech inside himself did it.

Yup

 

[duckroll]

Bioware never said how the illusive man became indoctrinated right?

He was indoctrinated the moment Sheen agreed to read the lines Bioware gave him without asking any questions.

 

[Vamphuntr]

Bioware never said how the illusive man became indoctrinated right?

They did. He chose to get reapers implant by himself. You see it in a video during the assault on Cerberus base.

 

[BannedEpisode]

So uhhhh why are people so mad about the ending?

And how many endings are there?

Just the one with different color cues.

Oh and the random party members that emerge from the Normandy.

(Liara and Garrus came out in my game... Troubling considering they were on the ground when Harbinger went buck nasty on me)

 

[lastplayed]

Can you imagine Earth's extranet after everything blew up... probably wouldn't be as entertaining as this thread. ^_^

 

[CorrisD]

Someone who helped make the Live-action trailer. Dunno if it means anything.

https://twitter.com/#!/HollyConrad/status/179714134651305984

Would be crazy if it were true, but I think too many people are getting their hopes up.

Just the idea of a developer changing an ending depending on what a consensus of people did in their games without knowing would be awesome on its own, let alone adding onto a terrible existing ending.

 

[Freeza Under The Shower]

I'm aware they track user data, but it says it's for network purposes. They did that with ME2. However, this person said that they track the player's last choice.

'network' could mean anything. EA accounts? Origin? (hidden) Achievement system?

I am somewhat paranoid in that regard. Don't know what they track.

 

[Lima]

I leave for 1 hour and when I come back I don't understand what is going on anymore. Did you see a yellow explosion that changed everything?

Mine was next-gen brown. BROWN!

 

[Zomba13]

Someone who helped make the Live-action trailer. Dunno if it means anything.

https://twitter.com/#!/HollyConrad/status/179714134651305984

That'd be pretty interesting.

 

[Minion101]

I think it's implied that sticking all that reaper tech inside himself did it.

The kid said TIM could not control them because they already controlled him.

 

[hateradio]

Can you imagine Earth's extranet after everything blew up... probably wouldn't be as entertaining as this thread. ^_^

Isn't the extranet galactic? All of Joker's porn. What will he do?

 

[duckroll]

Just the one with different color cues.

Oh and the random party members that emerge from the Normandy.

(Liara and Garrus came out in my game... Troubling considering they were on the ground when Harbinger went buck nasty on me)

It's not random is it? I think the two party members are the exact two you take with you on the final mission. I had EDI and Tali with me, and they were the ones who came out. Jeff and EDI were even being all... romantic. Lulz.

 

[lastplayed]

Isn't the extranet galactic? All of Joker's porn. What will he do?

Yeah, I just assumed the "galactic" part of it is borked like everything else. But there I go assuming again!

... and all of Shepards bookmarks, I wonder if they're still on the Normandy.

 

[LiK]

It's not random is it? I think the two party members are the exact two you take with you on the final mission. I had EDI and Tali with me, and they were the ones who came out. Jeff and EDI were even being all... romantic. Lulz.

It's random except for EDI and Joker. Everyone has a different member pop up.

 

[hateradio]

It's not random is it? I think the two party members are the exact two you take with you on the final mission. I had EDI and Tali with me, and they were the ones who came out. Jeff and EDI were even being all... romantic. Lulz.

If you picked the synthesis ending Jeff and EDI appear together with one of your party members.

 

[Jintor]

Yeah, that is the problem, for me anyhow. I'm okay with Shepard dying to save everyone. I'm okay the relays being destroyed to establish an interesting new future for the franchise. I'm even okay with the surprise super weapon, especially if it requires the energy of all the relays to activate and spread their Reaper killing signal. It's tack and silly, but I already consider much of the series' lore and major plot points as pure sci fi cheese, so I'd be okay with it.

I'm okay with TIM being indoctrinated. I'm okay with the confrontation. I'm okay with the entire climax of the game. I'm even okay with the idea behind a confrontation with an advanced, super AI linked to the Reapers and their cycle.

I'm not okay with how it was ultimately presented, as three button choices. I'm not okay with the lack of exposition. I'm not okay with the new, unexplained plot threads sourced to a god child that can do whatever it wants with space magic, even with my already extremely high tolerance to the cheese. I'm not okay with the lack of any kind of epilogue or exposition for what might be in store for the series future. Something as simple as what you suggested would have been sufficient. And I'm not okay with the synthesis ending for the aforementioned god child random plot thread reasons. I still feel Machines Vs Organics was a prominent theme throughout the entire series, but the way synthesis was handled made no sense, especially given the Geth/Quarian resolution. Lastly, the random Normandy crash made no sense, but I'm used to BioWare's deep, gaping plot holes by now.

I'm on board with this largely

 

[Karak]

Alright guys, say it truly is the indoctrination theory.

After Shepard starts breathing after the Destroy ending, how would YOU end it?

Shepard and his team would do what they have done for the past 2 games in my playthroughs. Come from behind despite loss and difficulty to grab victory out of the jaws of defeat and become the bone that chokes the beast.

I want one of 3 endings where Shep lives because that's not a happy motherfucking ending after billions have died. That is a Shepard ending. I want to stand atop the rubble and the bodies of the dead reapers and have Shepard open a comms to all the other races as his remaining comrades surround him and state:

"See what we have all lost, see what this cost us. Thane, Miranda, Jack, all the others. Remember them. Remember this day, remember the dead, remember the loss and never ever forget it. It is on the memories and the sacrifice of the dead that we rebuild ourselves as one galactic race."

But that's just me.
Somewhere in there Wrex would open a comm and say, "This is for Mordin, champion of the Krogan, this is for Shepard Champion of the Krogan lets get to building and humping!"

There is no one who can sell me on the fact that Shepard has to die in every single save. In fact looks like Bioware couldn't even sell themselves on it. No reason there can not be many endings just like the leaked bits a couple pages ago. Everyone wins. Its not like a ending that Shepard lives through artificially threatens the lives or livelihoods of those who want him dead.

 

[dragonelite]

Im pretty sure Bioware can pull this off.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPruGs4IyK4&feature=player_detailpage#t=53s

 

[bigace33]

But I'm still struggling to think of how that would fit in the ending? Shepard would wake up... and then what?

In the true ending (destroy), he actually defeated the Reapers at the cost of a lot of things, but he survived. The other two choices were obviously indoctrinated choices to keep shepard from once and for all ending the Reaper threat. I must believe this or I will have a nervous breakdown.

 

[squidyj]

I want Shepard asking for power from all the lifeforms of the universe t destroy the reapers

So... he wants to make a reaper to fight the reapers?

 

[rozay]

Would be crazy if it were true, but I think too many people are getting their hopes up.

Just the idea of a developer changing an ending depending on what a consensus of people did in their games without knowing would be awesome on its own, let alone adding onto a terrible existing ending.

Wait I'm confused. What exactly is the significance of tracking everyone's choices?

 

[lastplayed]

It's not random is it? I think the two party members are the exact two you take with you on the final mission. I had EDI and Tali with me, and they were the ones who came out. Jeff and EDI were even being all... romantic. Lulz.

I had Liara, Joker and EDI but my party members were Javik and Kaidan.

 

[BannedEpisode]

It's not random is it? I think the two party members are the exact two you take with you on the final mission. I had EDI and Tali with me, and they were the ones who came out. Jeff and EDI were even being all... romantic. Lulz.

Random or not it doesnt make a ton of sense.

Top that with the fact that Garrus will starve to death because he can only process certain foods.