I know, but FTL in Mass Effect is many times faster than that (roughly 12 light years per day). That's the whole idea behind using element zero to dramatically reduce a ship's mass.
This is getting really nerdy.
Giant Bomb Thread The Third: #TeamBrad
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I know, but FTL in Mass Effect is many times faster than that (roughly 12 light years per day). That's the whole idea behind using element zero to dramatically reduce a ship's mass.
This is getting really nerdy.
Have they actually used any of the mailbag stuff for content yet?
While I don't know about Mass Effects "science" fiction exactly: The 12 light years per day someone on this forum mentioned earlier still seem like a minuscule distance covered considering the sheer size of the milky way and probably wouldn't help all those folks stranded on alien planets after the great relay exodus.
Wasn't aware they had given a number for how quickly everything could travel, all I knew was that the Reapers were twice as fast as any known non-Reaper ship. In any case, that travel is inefficient without the Mass Relays is the basic idea of how the Mass Effect universe works. Being able to cross the galaxy in ~20 years is ridiculous in that premise and makes me wonder why they'd ever give out speeds. At this point you'd be arguing what kind of fuel reserves such ships would have (it is mentioned that the Quarians stop near planets and annoy people for fuel in the first (?) game) and that's entirely baseless speculation. Unless there's a codex entry for fuel consumption.
30 light years per day (Reaper speed according to some random wiki that may or may not be right) is around ten years to cross the average diameter of the galaxy.
EmCeeGramr
Member
Yeah, my quest lines that glitched out and required me to cheat in the console to complete the Thieves Guild were charming as fuck.
Brawndo Addict
Banned
Well if the Wiki page of Mass Effect is accurate and based on entries in the codex it could be possible. The radius of the galaxy is about 55,000 light years, so assuming the ship traveled at 12 light years per day it would take about 12.5 years to traverse between major zones.
That said, the codex also mentions that they cannot travel nonstop at FTL, and have to stop to discharge hull heat. Not sure how long that takes or how often it occurs, but it could add several years.
ED: I used radius because it's more relevant to the actual distances involved.
EmCeeGramr
Member
It's a Star Trek situation. Yeah they can use warp drives and shit, but what happens when your "Federation" and allies are spread out across an entire galaxy, and not just parts of two quadrants, the "dilithium crystals" run out fast and need mining from mining colonies that are kind of fucked over in the short term, and the ship needs to stop at a large planet or asteroid every few days to vent heat.
Felix Lighter
Member
Well based on the shitty mechanic they added in ME2. The Normandy requires refueling just after travelling at FTL to a few systems within a cluster. Honestly though, 12 years to traverse the Galaxy end to end is a much better scenario than I realized.
24, the radius is half the diameter. God damn it.
Brawndo Addict
Banned
Okay so based on the picture I'm estimating the distance from the Local Cluster to the Exodus Cluster is about 1/3rd of one galactic radius, or 18,333 light years. Let's assume they can travel as fast as Reapers, so 30 light years per day. It would take 1.67 years to travel between the two clusters. Assuming non reaper speeds are half, 3.34 years.
I doubt they have enough food on board most ships to last that long, or that they would have enough fuel and other associated supplies. You ran out of fuel really fast in Mass Effect 3 when exploring the local solar systems in a cluster.
ED: That said, there could be intermediate systems not mentioned on the galaxy map. Either for gameplay purposes of only showing places you can go, or in fiction reasons of only needing to display the most important places. Even if you assumed there was intermediate stops every third of the way from the Local Cluster to the Exodus cluster, you would still need food and supplies to last over a year. With Reaper travel speeds it's more like 5-6 months which is still doubtful.
I doubt they have enough food on board most ships to last that long, or that they would have enough fuel and other associated supplies. You ran out of fuel really fast in Mass Effect 3 when exploring the local solar systems in a cluster.
ED: That said, there could be intermediate systems not mentioned on the galaxy map. Either for gameplay purposes of only showing places you can go, or in fiction reasons of only needing to display the most important places. Even if you assumed there was intermediate stops every third of the way from the Local Cluster to the Exodus cluster, you would still need food and supplies to last over a year. With Reaper travel speeds it's more like 5-6 months which is still doubtful.
FTL / Mass Effect crossover for 2013.
slightconfuse
Banned
as EMC said it has to maintain that 12 contiously. which would be impossible. also that is 12 warth years. time dilation would kick in for the crew. so while the crew would get theire at a decent time. their destination will have moved on by a matter of years
slightconfuse
Banned
Diameter of milky way is 100,000 light years
slightconfuse
Banned
Getting away from nerd talk for a bit.
this is going to be good
this is going to be good
Haha. I would die if they did that. That'd be amazing.
Felix Lighter
Member
Though the distance they could travel at their sustained maximum speed is better than I realized.
This part I'll stand by:
This part I'll stand by:
Just before discovering the Mass Relay and entering the galactic stage in Mass Effect, mankind was only traversing the solar system. That was just decades prior. Remember, Anderson was born before man discovered their first Mass Relay. They were traversing the solar system and then, practically overnight, they were able to travel across the galaxy in seconds. There should be a massive gap left in technology for Mass Relayless interstellar travel.
Now that Polygon has changed gaming journalism forever, how could GB parody their documentary and not feel bad about themselves?
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
Jake Tower
Banned
oh hells yeah
Typographenia
Member
You're probably right, but I'm going to hope that it's an extravagant music video on the streets.
MrTroubleMaker
Member
:OGetting away from nerd talk for a bit.
this is going to be good
That mailbag edition with Jeff saying "don't pan over there" really wanted me to see what was over there lol
How I would have ended mass effect 3:
Holy shit threepanelsoul, you baller
Brawndo Addict
Banned
Well, since you spoiler tagged I guess I will too just in case.
But after discovering the Mass Relays we became connected with the entire galactic community. It stands to reason that we would learn, trade, and adopt the technologies of the most advanced Citadel races whom we had positive relations with. It would slingshot our tech so to speak.
If it is a Press Reset parody, I hope it goes well. It's a good idea rife with humor, but could be tricky to execute.
HamPster PamPster
Member
The one thing I don't like about this year's Giantbomb GOTY awards is that its almost too good
Felix Lighter
Member
God, I'm starting to feel bad about continuing the nerd talk but those societies should have that same technology gap. We followed a specific technological evolution that we were meant to follow and why the Mass Relays were created in the first place.
shamefully, I love these conversations but I guess this really isn't the place to get so deep into this whole thing
Beast Legacy
Member
Good point(s).
Now all Vinny needs to do is change his demeanor to "asshole" and he's got it!
It would be cool if they did a bunch of behind the scenes stuff for subscribers for their GOTY shenanigans...Getting away from nerd talk for a bit.
this is going to be good
BRADLEY
Gotta be Vinny parodying Arthur Gies. As videogame personalities go, he's the exact opposite.
Oh my God.
I believe they used my idea of modeling it aftet Tokyo Jungle.Getting away from nerd talk for a bit.
this is going to be good
Coldnoodle
Member
WHERE'S MY BOMBCAST
CBSi cancelled it, the return on investment wasn't high enough. Instead, we'll get short daily three minute clips that are ideal for the modern dynamic gamer that likes to listen to short snippets of news while brushing her/his teeth.
How I would have ended mass effect 3:
I don't get it....
"Should Lego People talk? Thats the question we have three minutes to answer on todays episode of Giant Bomb"
Hot Coldman
Banned
This GOTY wackiness is clearly more important than a podcast. Go listen to Idle Thumbs or something.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
Battlefield 3 aftermath DLC added crossbows! Unless we're only really counting bow and arrow...
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. Watch that and you'll get it.
Typographenia
Member
So, Ryan just posted this old picture of himself on twitter...
edit: dang, beaten
edit: dang, beaten
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