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[Lone_Prodigy]

Got a Hurricane III.

Challenge was pretty easy: specced out a human soldier with full weapon powers and AR gear. Used Adrenaline Rush with a Mattock.

 

[Dany]

Can't connect to ea server?

 

[Lyonaz]

Can't connect to ea server?

Yeah it seems you can't go online with Origin.

 

[X-Frame]

Apparently all EA games are down. <3 EA.

 

[PBalfredo]

Got something new with the last Commendation Pack: the N7 Valkyrie (assault rifle). It's pretty rad! Shame it's among the heaviest rifles though, so only my soldiers are going to be using it most the time since for other classes I generally prefer to go for faster power recharge.

 

[disillusion386]

Been playing MP for a while, and I was wondering when I should move on to Gold games. I'm currently level 410, and Silver PUGs have been getting easier. Should I try out Golds now? Is it hard to play without a mic?

 

[StalkerUKCG]

Okay so what's the deal with Hazard maps. I have not played in ages jumped on the other day and I could only play giant or the one with the prefab rooms set in the taris underground.

 

[Sajjaja]

Okay so what's the deal with Hazard maps. I have not played in ages jumped on the other day and I could only play giant or the one with the prefab rooms set in the taris underground.

Only 2 are available per week.

 

[Stantron]

Finally got my first level X ultra rare, the Scorpion.

 

[Phat Michael]

Been playing MP for a while, and I was wondering when I should move on to Gold games. I'm currently level 410, and Silver PUGs have been getting easier. Should I try out Golds now? Is it hard to play without a mic?

Thats more than acceptable. More important than your N7 level is that you have a decent loadout (i.e. Gold weapon on X) and some consumables on V etc. the way i see it, if someone can stick with me or in a group of 2 with the other guy and hold choke points and know how to revive and provide support then theyre welcome on my team.

EG last night i had a group of 3 guys N7 level 2000 to 6000. All UR weapons on X. I know that i was playing with guys who were going to just destroy people (im N7 level 710) - so i went my volus. I set up choke points with Recon mines, debuffed with proxy mines and revived and shield boosted and stuck near them. We all full extracted and i kept playing with them. It was amazing playing with a team who knew EXACTLY what they should be doing.

Atlasas went down so quickly with recon mine + proxy mine debuff, Black Widow X, Cerberus Harrier X and Typhoon X. It was insane.

I play without a mic - its not ideal but even more annoying are people talking about BS during the game and not coordinating or my Volus being called "That little fat n1gger" over and over.

 

[Phat Michael]

invisible enemies glitch ffs. wasted 2 level 4 consumables for no fucking reason. get your shit together bioware!!!!

 

[Effect]

In the end I said screw it. Instead of trying to mess around with the Wii U version of the game I've decided to just get the 360 version even though I felt I was done with buying 360 games. I have ME1 and 2 on the system already. ME3 was bought for 21 so why not. Will have to wait for it to arrive now. It will also be the first time I get a gold subscription. Will try out the three month one once I get to ME3 as I still have ME2 to play through. That is if it doesn't come with a valid code as it will be a new copy. I'm at the end of ME1 so I just hope I remember enough from where I was to finish it and move on to ME2.

I assume the 360 population is just fine right? Easy to get matches on the lower tiers or is the game very top heavy?

Hell if this works out it might lead to me getting Halo 4 and possibly looking forward to next Xbox when I thought the Wii U and my PC would be enough. Should have known better but that's a ways off and don't want to get ahead of myself.

 

[Fruitster]

The ME3 population on the 360 is probably the largest of the platforms you can play the game on. I play 360 and never have any trouble finding a game so you should be ok there. Certain times of the day can be a bit quiet though.

 

[Melchiah]

The ME3 population on the 360 is probably the largest of the platforms you can play the game on. I play 360 and never have any trouble finding a game so you should be ok there. Certain times of the day can be a bit quiet though.

Never had problems finding people to play with on PS3 either, if I join a game, but creating a game and getting people to join can take some time.

On a side note, I got Hurricane IV in the commendation pack, like in the couple of past ones as well. I wonder whether it's because I've used it lately, although I haven't received any level-ups to the Geth Pulse Rifle VII, eventhough it's the weapon I use the most.

 

[disillusion386]

Thats more than acceptable. More important than your N7 level is that you have a decent loadout (i.e. Gold weapon on X) and some consumables on V etc. the way i see it, if someone can stick with me or in a group of 2 with the other guy and hold choke points and know how to revive and provide support then theyre welcome on my team.

Here's my loadout. When I first started playing, I made the mistake of playing a bunch of games to save up money, and then bought PSPs. I realized later that I wasted spots on the packs with common and uncommon items. I'm working to max out my uncommon stuff now by buying up veteran packs. I definitely do not have any gold weapons on X, and my highest consumable is the medigel at IV.

 

[Phat Michael]

Here's my loadout. When I first started playing, I made the mistake of playing a bunch of games to save up money, and then bought PSPs. I realized later that I wasted spots on the packs with common and uncommon items. I'm working to max out my uncommon stuff now by buying up veteran packs. I definitely do not have any gold weapons on X, and my highest consumable is the medigel at IV.

just use your particle rifle and keep spamming veteran packs in the mean time.

see how you go on gold and if u can extract and you arent dying too often then stay with it...of not then keep with silver till u have some better weapons and consumables.

 

[disillusion386]

just use your particle rifle and keep spamming veteran packs in the mean time.

see how you go on gold and if u can extract and you arent dying too often then stay with it...of not then keep with silver till u have some better weapons and consumables.

I haven't used that weapon yet, actually. What sort of builds can I make with the particle rifle?

Also, would you advise I use an asari adept? Use stasis bubble, pick off enemies, and even trigger biotic explosions? I guess the low level consumables is still an issue.

THanks for all the tips by the way.

 

[Phat Michael]

I haven't used that weapon yet, actually. What sort of builds can I make with the particle rifle?

Also, would you advise I use an asari adept? Use stasis bubble, pick off enemies, and even trigger biotic explosions? I guess the low level consumables is still an issue.

THanks for all the tips by the way.

asari adept was my favourite of the first series of characters.

I use her with an acolyte x or carnifex x. keep your cooldowns low.

stasis is invaluable against phantoms and nemeses.

stasis then warp or throw for biotic explosion

also warp then throw for biotics.

stasis plus headshots for everything else.

shes a glass cannon build. make sure u use a shield mod or cylonic modulator if ur going to go on gold.

great build but you will go down quickly.

 

[Phat Michael]

particle rifle is the one UR I don't have so I only have it in SP.

I use it with armour piercing and extra ammo capacity mods with my human engineer. set up fire explosions with incinerate plus overload then finish off with the particle rifle. you will never need an ammo box either.

also..im in love with the collector smg. ive finally worked out how to use it now. its great with a volus engineer.

 

[X-Frame]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 11, 2012
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unlocking Turian Saboteur Engineer and challenge

New hazard maps available this week are Firebase White and Firebase Glacier

Tactical Cloak (Asari Infiltrator only)
- Note: the Asari Tactical Cloak damage bonus only applies to powers and melees
- Base damage bonus increased from 40% to 60%
- Evolution 2 damage bonus increased from 40% to 60%
- Evolution 6 power damage bonus increased from 25% to 40%

Quarian Defender Passive Power (Male Quarian Soldier only)
- Base weapon damage bonus increased from 2.5% to 7.5%
- Evolution 6 weapon damage bonus increased from 10% to 12.5%

Vorcha Hunter Engineer
- Starting encumbrance capacity increased from 30% to 40%

I played a couple games with someone who was using the new TSab and he was wrecking things pretty good. Throw the flamethrower turret into a group of enemies and have it burn everyone then fire a Homing Grenade for a fire explosion. Or Sabotage someone and then fire a Homing Grenade for a Tech Burst. Run with Grenade Capacity Gear and since he has jetpacks like the others he's pretty good.

And they are looking to buff Sabotage in next week's balance changes.

The Huntress now has something like a 170% melee damage bonus if someone wants to go that route, or now Dark Channel and Warp will do huge amounts of damage.

 

[Phat Michael]

I played a couple games with someone who was using the new TSab and he was wrecking things pretty good. Throw the flamethrower turret into a group of enemies and have it burn everyone then fire a Homing Grenade for a fire explosion. Or Sabotage someone and then fire a Homing Grenade for a Tech Burst. Run with Grenade Capacity Gear and since he has jetpacks like the others he's pretty good.

And they are looking to buff Sabotage in next week's balance changes.

The Huntress now has something like a 170% melee damage bonus if someone wants to go that route, or now Dark Channel and Warp will do huge amounts of damage.

Ive always been unsure of Sabotage - are you supposed to use it on something and then kill everyone else around them OR focus attacks on them since they arent attacking you?

I notice when i use it on Geth that most people attack the person im sabotaging..i thought it would be the opposite and let them do some damage to their team mates?

 

[Phat Michael]

Here's my loadout. When I first started playing, I made the mistake of playing a bunch of games to save up money, and then bought PSPs. I realized later that I wasted spots on the packs with common and uncommon items. I'm working to max out my uncommon stuff now by buying up veteran packs. I definitely do not have any gold weapons on X, and my highest consumable is the medigel at IV.

For reference here is mine.

http://social.bioware.com/n7hq/home/inventory/?name=IAMBLEST&platform=xbox

 

[X-Frame]

Ive always been unsure of Sabotage - are you supposed to use it on something and then kill everyone else around them OR focus attacks on them since they arent attacking you?

I notice when i use it on Geth that most people attack the person im sabotaging..i thought it would be the opposite and let them do some damage to their team mates?

You can spec it for synthetic hacking or backfire+tech vulnerability. Since Sabotage was nerfed to hell in the first week, the AI hacking route is pretty poor. Most people have been speccing for Backfire, Recharge Speed, Tech Vulnerability.

And you can use it on organics just fine. Hit someone with it and then 1.5 seconds later the backfire damage kicks in and does a lot of damage -- at least with the QFI. It also staggers so it's great for headshots since they get staggered and frozen in place for a couple seconds.

With Tech Vulnerability, cast it on a boss as well and all tech damage from teammates do 100% damage. That's a lot, especially because of all the tech classes and the tech fire/cryo explosions being more common.

Here is a thread on BSN on how Sabotage works if you're still interested

I may be off on a couple things about it. I never play as a class with it.

 

[Phat Michael]

thats really helpful thanks. I thought it was for AI only...

 

[Effect]

just use your particle rifle and keep spamming veteran packs in the mean time.

see how you go on gold and if u can extract and you arent dying too often then stay with it...of not then keep with silver till u have some better weapons and consumables.

So that's pretty much how you determine if you're ready for higher tiers. Just trial and error? No other indicator?

 

[yankeehater]

So that's pretty much how you determine if you're ready for higher tiers. Just trial and error? No other indicator?

Even trial and error doesnt really work if you play public matches. I get in with some groups that breeze through gold, and other groups where we cant even get past the 1st wave. It is a huge amount of luck.

 

[Melchiah]

Even trial and error doesnt really work if you play public matches. I get in with some groups that breeze through gold, and other groups where we cant even get past the 1st wave. It is a huge amount of luck.

Definitely. Even Silver can be hard if your team doesn't work together, like during the weekend when I had to do some of the objectives by myself, while the others were busy getting their kill scores. I really hate when people don't participate in the hacking and escort objectives, and end up getting killed when they're soloing somewhere else. Funnily enough, some of them rage quit the game, when no-one goes reviving them. Serves them right, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Phat Michael]

So that's pretty much how you determine if you're ready for higher tiers. Just trial and error? No other indicator?

well if I see someone with a vindicator I on level 30 with no consumables im fairly sure he wont survive on gold.

a good weapon loadout to me combined with an n7 ranking of 400 plus is usually a good sign the guy can hold his own on gold.

 

[Melchiah]

well if I see someone with a vindicator I on level 30 with no consumables im fairly sure he wont survive on gold.

a good weapon loadout to me combined with an n7 ranking of 400 plus is usually a good sign the guy can hold his own on gold.

It doesn't necessarily guarantee anything. I got N7 rating at 539, and have some above average weapons at relatively good level, with a decent supply of gear and consumables, yet I can't handle Gold if I'm not packed up by a more experienced team.

 

[Phat Michael]

It doesn't necessarily guarantee anything. I got N7 rating at 539, and have some above average weapons at relatively good level, with a decent supply of gear and consumables, yet I can't handle Gold if I'm not packed up by a more experienced team.

hence I said usually a good sign. nothing is written in stone.

however...if someone joins my game with a typhoon x and a n7 rating of 1000+ im going to have to trust that he can carry his weight.

 

[Oblivionmancer]

Maxed my manifest yesterday! Just a few challenges to wrap up, and then... the empty space in my soul from the 750+ hours I put into this game will consume me from the inside.

 

[Effect]

Interesting system setup then. Should make for a unique experience.

 

[Melchiah]

Maxed my manifest yesterday! Just a few challenges to wrap up, and then... the empty space in my soul from the 750+ hours I put into this game will consume me from the inside.

Goddam! And to think I was kinda ashamed of putting 150h to the game.

 

[exYle]

Maxed my manifest yesterday! Just a few challenges to wrap up, and then... the empty space in my soul from the 750+ hours I put into this game will consume me from the inside.

I put 300 hours in and I was like "what the fuck", but man...

 

[disillusion386]

The multiplayer for this is so addicting though. I've only put in 50 something hours, and I feel like I have barely touched the surface of enjoyment.

I'm hoping to try out those gold matches soon.

 

[Lyonaz]

Any good builds for the Asari Huntress?

 

[An-Det]

OPERATION: ALAMO

Operation: ALAMO (Dec 14th-16th)

Event Description: The Reapers are taking advantage of our forces being spread thin and are making a push for Menae. Alliance Intelligence predicts that the Reapers are luring us into committing large-scale defenses to the moon that they will wipe out. Our counter-strategy is to insert small, stealthy units to conduct disruptive offensives and hold the firebase during their hopefully weakened attacks.

Team Goal: Earn the &#8220;Survived 5 Waves&#8221; medal on the Firebase Condor map at any difficulty. Extraction not required.

Reward: Commendation Pack

Easy enough, different style this time though.

 

[astroturfing]

yea that's a bit more interesting than some of the previous challenges which have been 100% boring.

maybe this one will actually take more than 1 match (not gonna resort to bronze)

 

[Bisnic]

Meh, take a "tanking" class, Kroguard or Batguard preferably, play Bronze with a full team and there you go. If you can't survive 5 waves with that, i'm sorry but you suck at this game.

 

[X-Frame]

Does anyone have any builds or advice for the Phoenix Vanguard?

I tried speccing him for power damage and melee strength and he is just so squishy and there doesn't seem to be any sort of damage reduction in his melee unlike the Krogans or Batarian's but his heavy melee lash sweep is AOE and staggers. Smash is powerful but the cool down nerf hurts him compared to his previous self, and Lash just exposes him too much and is pointless now that we have an Acolyte to strip shields so at most 3 ranks is all that is needed.

I committed already 70 waves to him so I might as well finish the 200 and like to be a benefit to my Gold team.

 

[exYle]

Does anyone have any builds or advice for the Phoenix Vanguard?

I tried speccing him for power damage and melee strength and he is just so squishy and there doesn't seem to be any sort of damage reduction in his melee unlike the Krogans or Batarian's but his heavy melee lash sweep is AOE and staggers. Smash is powerful but the cool down nerf hurts him compared to his previous self, and Lash just exposes him too much and is pointless now that we have an Acolyte to strip shields so at most 3 ranks is all that is needed.

I committed already 70 waves to him so I might as well finish the 200 and like to be a benefit to my Gold team.

6/6/0/6/6 (or whatever it is, DON'T build into Lash). Typical Charge choices, bottom row all the way. Smash for pure damage, and Armor Damage. Racial go for power damage. For Fitness, it's up to you, I chose Heavy Melee.

Now this is my usual battle plan: see if you can Smash first. It's SUCH a great power. The best part is hiding around a corner and smashing enemies through walls. If there's a lone enemy that's decently strong, Charge -> Shoot while enemy is staggered -> Heavy Melee -> Smash. That should take out the guy you charged and maybe some guys nearby.

 

[Oblivionmancer]

6/6/0/6/6 (or whatever it is, DON'T build into Lash). Typical Charge choices, bottom row all the way. Smash for pure damage, and Armor Damage. Racial go for power damage. For Fitness, it's up to you, I chose Heavy Melee.

Now this is my usual battle plan: see if you can Smash first. It's SUCH a great power. The best part is hiding around a corner and smashing enemies through walls. If there's a lone enemy that's decently strong, Charge -> Shoot while enemy is staggered -> Heavy Melee -> Smash. That should take out the guy you charged and maybe some guys nearby.

I basically agree, though I feel smash is pretty situational, if you've got a wall between you and a boss or some mooks, go for it, otherwise, acolyte+charge on anything unarmored (standard vanguard play in other words). Bring a hurricane or collector smg for backup against bosses that you can't get good position on to smash. Heavy melee has sex appeal, but taking the shields might be the smarter play unless you have a lot of extra Cyclonic modulators. He's pretty cool, smash gives him something worthwhile to do when charging isn't an option, but he's not really one of the better vanguards. (Melee slayer is probably the coolest if you have the stones and the connection to keep him alive, Krogard/Batguard are the guys to roll with if you want to heavy melee, and the Asari Vanguard has great synergy given that lift grenades will nuke the spawns you charge into without disrupting your charge cooldown).

yea that's a bit more interesting than some of the previous challenges which have been 100% boring.

maybe this one will actually take more than 1 match (not gonna resort to bronze)

Can't trust randoms on this one though, and I don't much like the idea of trying to solo condor on gold. Hate that map, but I do need 2 more extractions on it for one of the challenges.

 

[Tsukumo]

Does anyone have any builds or advice for the Phoenix Vanguard?

I tried speccing him for power damage and melee strength and he is just so squishy and there doesn't seem to be any sort of damage reduction in his melee unlike the Krogans or Batarian's but his heavy melee lash sweep is AOE and staggers. Smash is powerful but the cool down nerf hurts him compared to his previous self, and Lash just exposes him too much and is pointless now that we have an Acolyte to strip shields so at most 3 ranks is all that is needed.

I committed already 70 waves to him so I might as well finish the 200 and like to be a benefit to my Gold team.

6/6/3/5/6
the evolutions for charge are additional targets, power damage, 33% chance for no cooldown. The no cooldown is essential because after the balance changes charge can stunlock groups and spawns while dealing increasing amount of damage thanks to its own power buff. The percentage must be calculated with a non-sensical rng because you get the no cooldown quite frequently.
evos for smash are damage, damage , damage to armor. tech dmg on the 4th evo is also very good to take bosses shields faster and to get a devastating DoT, which compensates for the character squishyness. if you spec for dmg buffs all the way, area buff on the last evo is valuable since the no cooldown evo will give you a chance to charge into a spawn and smash immediately with 40% bonus dmg activated. Smash can be cancelled into anything at any point of its animation: melee, roll, reload.
lash needs to be there for removing guardians shields, protect teammates who are about to get stomped and to stagger everything (1200 n of force as base stat). phantoms always bubble up for incoming lashes, which means free shot for your acolyte and then a barrier-less phantom.
power dmg all the way for the class tree.
fitness should be shields on 4th evo then 75% bonus on heavy melee and then power sinergy on the last evo. Full shields on fitness and full barrier evo on charge won't save him, so it's better to play aggressively and make the most out of the no cooldown.
Strategies with him are to roll, heavy melee and charge constantly in order to keep an ongoing dmg reduction. Charge then heavy melee to stunlock opponents in case the no cooldown doesn't kick in. Spamming heavy melee and charge will turn smash into a biotic nuke.
Another thing I have found out recently is his melee deals more damage than his heavy melee: it's also slower and doesn't apply any dmg reduction, as you already noticed.

 

[Ji66a-Man]

Commendation Pack - Crusader V get. meh.

 

[Chocobro]

N7 Valkyrie IV, meh.

Anyway I found time to play after finishing yesterday's finals. Unlocking characters left and right: Volus Engineer, Volus Mercenary, Geth Trooper, Turian Ghost (finally!) and Asari Huntress.

 

[X-Frame]

Thanks for all the tips re: Phoenix Vanguard. Another thing I realized is that with the Biotic Combo on Rank 4 of Smash I can Smash to prime and the charge to detonate, stagger, and clean up with a shotgun to the face.

I'm thinking a melee build might not be viable for Gold. I'll go full Fitness instead I think.

 

[Bisnic]

I remember hearing the Phoenix classes had bugged health/shield and that there was no difference between putting 0 points into Fitness or 4. Did they ever fix that or was it ever confirmed?

 

[Melchiah]

Had to do the Alamo by myself, as someone getting killed from the team apparently prevented me from getting it done.

 

[X-Frame]

I remember hearing the Phoenix classes had bugged health/shield and that there was no difference between putting 0 points into Fitness or 4. Did they ever fix that or was it ever confirmed?

I heard that too when they were released but haven't seen any proof. I remember people debunking that but I'll check again before I play another 130 waves with them.

 

[Stantron]

My Valiant has caught up to my Hurricane, level VIII.