Replaying Mass Effect

Obviously, Mass Effect 3 came out this week. Over the past month or two, I decided to play through the entire series again to prepare a Shepard. Obviously spoilers for ME1 and ME2 follow.

Mass Effect 1:
Replaying ME1 reminded me that there were two "hard" decisions in the entire game. Whether or not to kill the Rachni Queen, and whether or not to save the Destiny Ascension. Everything else just felt trivial. As though it existed only to influence the Paragon/Renegade scores. And, outside of the Destiny Ascension, none of them had any particular emotional investment. And I suspect the Destiny Ascension only had an impact because it was Seth Green leading the charge, and who doesn't like Seth Green?

Mass Effect 2:
For the most part, ME2 did a much better job. While there weren't too many particularly hard decisions (I am sure there were a few, but I can't think of any even a few hours after finishing the game), the story was told with much more character.

That being said, ME2 probably contained the single most powerful moment in the entire series up until ME3 (and possibly beyond, but I will know that in a week or two).
During Lair of the Shadowbroker, Shepard has the option to talk with Liara in her cabin. Eventually, Liara asks Shepard (and I paraphrase) "How do you really feel about the Reapers?" And, in that one moment, Shepard is able to give her honest opinion. Not her strong facade, but her actual thoughts. And, in that moment, the player is able to define the true essence of the character. The response only lasts one or two lines, but for the opportunity to admit that he/she is worried and unsure adds a new dimension to Shepard. A human one.

Suvudu Cage Match: Ray Lilly VS Kellhus

Kind of late, but I only got around to starting this an hour or two ago.

There has recently been a big hooplah regarding the Suvudu Cage Match of Anasrimbor Kellhus VS Ray Lilly. First, full disclosure: I am a big fan of Twenty Palaces (although, I only learned about it shortly before it died). And I have never read whatever Kellhus was involved in.

The controversy regarding this match boils down to:

1. Harry Connolly, the writer of Twenty Palaces, provided a battle description to Suvudu. And Ray won
2. Ray represents the badass-normal. Kellhus is your standard fantasy ubermensch.

As for the first bit of controversy: Gasp, shock, and amazement. An author writes that the character they created wins a battle for what is basically a popularity contest. It really should not surprise anyone, but apparently it does.

The more interesting bit is the second point. Ray is a badass normal (well, not so normal after Circle of Enemies, but it is the thought that counts). Kellhus is a master swordsman and mage. Ray's schtick is that he always fights out of his weight-class and manages to win through determination and being underestimated (or overestimated). Kellhus's schtick (based off of the comments thread) is that he never underestimates anyone and is nigh unstoppable to anything short of the big bads of his universe. Going by the "Batman VS Superman" approach, Kellhus is a Superman who actually keeps his eye on Bats.

Both obviously have aspects of Mary Sue to them, but Ray is definitely well written and I am going to assume Kellhus is too, based upon the support by fans.

Ignoring that this is a popularity contest, I decided I would ramble a bit about my thoughts on it. Clearly Connolly wrote this as post-Circle Ray. And clearly Ray has been given permission to cast a few of the spells he learned throughout the series. So that gives Ray:

• A meat-powered healing factor
• A (paper) knife capable of cutting through magic and dominating those it slices. It also has the ability to be a telepathically guided missile.
• Basic mental and physical shields across his upper body and forearms.
• Disposable shields capable of absorbing a lethal amount of magic or physical damage.
• It is also safe to assume that Ray has access to some of Annalise's weaponry in the form of ribbons that detonate in magic fire
• If he is lucky, a pistol
• One or two other (summoning) spells that he would never use and that aren't worth mentioning

Kellhus has:

• The ability to throw magic at will
• Very good swordsmanship (and a very good sword to go with it)
• Apparently some way to properly size up his enemies

Based upon this, I would give Kellhus the point. I love Ray, but most of his abilities have to do with surviving the aftermath of a fight or taking out magic mooks. And Kellhus's ability to not be tricked kind of takes out most of Ray's street smarts. So a fireball takes out the Ghost Knife, and repeated sword strikes to points other than the upper torso and forearms blasts the disposable shields to shreds. That leaves Annalise's ribbons.

But the thing that made Twenty Palaces so much fun to read (and that is true of just about all sci-fi/fantasy) is that Ray is ALWAYS outmatched. I can't name a single fight (that mattered) In the entire 3.25 book series where I wouldn't have given Ray's opponent the point. But he always managed to find a way, and that is what made it interesting.

So yeah, ignoring the popularity aspect of it, Kellhus should win. But everyone can make mistakes, and maybe Ray does get lucky with a curved throw of his knife. Or one of those ribbons burns Kellhus to death while he is beating Ray to within an inch of his life. Or maybe, as Connolly wrote it, he gets lucky and catches Kellhus off guard.

Introduction

This is just a general blog for me to list the various ramblings, (pseudo-)reviews, and rants related to things I have read or played and the like.

The "Ramblings" aspect of this should be obvious by now. The "Less than Sane" will become obvious soon enough, but as a simple example: I actually thought footnotes and citations in a declaration of infatuation was a smart move. Yeah...