I've been thinking about this a lot, because I feel it's the one big area of the multiplayer that needs expanding. You guys have done a pretty stand out job of giving us several new maps, new unique classes to play, new equipment and weapons for greater customisation, additional 'objectives' for round variety, and now a new super difficulty for masochists among us. The multiplayer has come a long way, and the level of support has been admirable to say in the least.
However, if I had to express one gripe with the mode's current state, it would be the dire need for a new faction to fight. I feel this is an area of that game that needs improving now more than ever, largely due to the above: numerous other areas of the mode have been expanded quite thoroughlly. I do love fighting Geth, Cerberus and Reapers, each offering a unique challenge, but it would nice to get a new faction or two into the mix.
Thus I propose two: Collectors and Mercs. Canon? To hell with it. Fun is a priority, and both of these groups would mad sick to battle. I'll briefly explain why I feel this way.
I've been thinking about this a lot, because I feel it's the one big area of the multiplayer that needs expanding. You guys have done a pretty stand out job of giving us several new maps, new unique classes to play, new equipment and weapons for greater customisation, additional 'objectives' for round variety, and now a new super difficulty for masochists among us. The multiplayer has come a long way, and the level of support has been admirable to say in the least.
However, if I had to express one gripe with the mode's current state, it would be the dire need for a new faction to fight. I feel this is an area of that game that needs improving now more than ever, largely due to the above: numerous other areas of the mode have been expanded quite thoroughlly. I do love fighting Geth, Cerberus and Reapers, each offering a unique challenge, but it would nice to get a new faction or two into the mix.
Collectors: As it is, not many enemy units in ME3's multiplayer use barriers, and the Collectors are barrier heavy. Secondly, the units as they appeared in Mass Effect 2 were equipped with abilities that none of the existing factions have. Thridly, you guys have enough Collector units to already make up an entire faction!
- Drone: Generic grunt/cannon fodder. Armed with a Collector assult rifle.
- Assassin: Ranged unit armed with a Collector particle beam. Different from snipers in that the particle beam can lay down a stream of fire. Can cast Barrier.
- Guardian: Assault rifle enhanced with warp ammo. Can lay down shields usable by other units. Can cast Barrier.
- Harbinger/General: Power unit that takes 'control' of any of the above units, giving them heavy buffs to damage, knockback, health, etc. Different from usual power units in that they don't appear at spawns, instead able to enhance a unit already in battle.
- Scion: Heavy cannon unit. Similar to Ravagers, minus the swarmers.
- Praetorian: Toughest of them all. Boss style unit. Takes a lot of damage, hovers, beam attack, slam attack, etc.
- Something with
seeker swarms maybe?
Obviously a lot of re-tweaking and balancing would need to be done in order to get the above working. Praetorians probably couldn't work exactly as they do in ME2. But still, the selection of Collector units is quite unique. Assassin's pinning down squads over range with energy beams, Guardians deploying shields, and Harbinger/General buffing any unit already in battle offers gameplay different to what Cerberus, Geth and Reaper factions give.
Yeah they don't really fit at this point in the canon, but eh. They'd be much fun to fight, and be both visually and mechanically distinct from the other factions.
The other option I'd love to see is
Mercs, not unlike a miss matched mangle of Blue Suns, Eclipse and Blood Pack. While I haven't given much thought to unique units, what I feel Mercs could offer is a more toe-to-toe style battle than the existing factions. What I mean is, enemies equipped with abilities and powers not unlike what we are able to play as. It would be fun to fight biotic spewing Asari, blood raging Krogan, and regenerating Vorcha. Just say they're all indoctrinated or something
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So there's that. Wanted to get it off my chest on the forums, see what other people think, and maybe give BioWare some ideas for how to further improve the already wonderful multiplayer. Collectors and Mercs would be great factions to fight, in my opinion, even if they weren't exactly like I detailed above.
The only other thing I have to say is (and I know this will go against popular opinion), you guys should consider making the multiplayer F2P. Release the multiplayer client stand-alone, with all the free updates (and future free updates), with the same economy system. I say this because, in all honesty, there's no real reason not to do it. Multiplayer games thrive off people actually playing them. The bigger your market and audiance, the longer the multiplayer's life. And the most popular and busy the multiplayer is, the more inclined you guys and gals will be to continue supporting it. As it is, the multiplayer has an entry fee. Not just the price of the game, but the fact most people buying Mass Effect 3 are doing so primarily for the single player. Releasing a F2P client eliminates this gate keeper, and lets people who just want to play the multiplayer do so. It gives us more people to play with, you guys more money via the micro transactions, and greater incentive to continue supporting the mode.
Okay, that's it, I'm done. Now not to post for another four - six months
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