Mass effect 3 - Page 54

Anyone else see their counters reset? My Veteran achievement counter just dropped to 4/5000 instead of the 2400/5000 that it was at yesterday.

So last night I got the hurricane all. Yay.

Quarian male infiltrator is hella fun btw

Fixed for you.

got my victory pack but no commendation pack yet, I promoted 5 over the weekend so I should get it hope it doesn't get messed up

Used the https://help.ea.com/contact-us chat (after nobody called) to get my Commendation pack. All they really seem to need is the linked email address.

Lucked out with a Valiant II...

Well, if I HAVE to start over, http://www.evilcontrollers.com/evil-d-pad-2.html looks like the one I should try. DAMN tired of D-pad errors. Might even finish The Simpsons with this one. Won't buy before more research, though...

thanks that got it done, Eagle II

"looks like the one I should try"

They also replaced the sticks with the retarded Sony design of rounded tops that your thumbs slip off of? Sounds like trading a minor problem for a much larger problem to me. Are they going to make convex triggers that your fingers slide off of too? I mean, if they're bringing over the terrible ideas from the PS3 controller, why stop at sticks?

http://www.evilcontrollers.com/produ...ler-parts.html Includes sticks that LOOK like they have a recessed top, but maybe they don't come with that controller.

I left questions for them about rebuilding my existing controller(s) with a new shell and their parts, but haven't heard back yet. Not sure if their sticks have their own centering hardware. Blue front and white back would be OK if the insides work better.

And, on-topic, I have a Revenant X now so another weapon I don't use is out of my way...

Nice to see they sell replacement thumb sticks in general. If worn through a couple tops and just might order some up for replacement.

How hard is it to take apart and replace parts on a controller? I have one that my daughter pulled on one of the joysticks with her teeth and she unseated it. I can't seem to pop it back into place but I think I could fix it if I took it apart.

BTW, I'm no longer sure this is a job for me, if you have to unsolder the the part with the spring...

http://www.amazon.com/Screwdriver-Se...dp/B004YUB6ZU/

Ordered one just so I have it around, since it was under $4. Complaints are that it doesn't last, but I'm not opening a repair shop...

Saw at slickdeals. Amazon has the X360 controller for $35:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...tag=slickdeals

That link led to the "for Windows" model, but the 360 one is almost that cheap.

Trick is, that 4-button D-pad has me psyched. Researched the Razer due to the way the D-pad looked and the non-slip grip but the revues sucked. Nothing else I found so far has what I want.

I am NOT going to spend a fortune getting a fully modded one. I could SEE using one with a macro recorder so holdlefttrigger-righttrigger-righttrigger-righttrigger-X-releaselefttrigger was automatic, since there are plenty of big things I could kill with repeated use of that, but that would get me in trouble in multiplayer. Insanity mode might get a touch easier, but I can buy two games for that money and get far more Achievements than the three I have left in ME3...

X360 wireless controller for Windows should be directly compatible with X360 console. All it comes with is the extra USB dongle for the PC.

I also own many different 3rd party controllers, mostly on PS3 because I prefer the X360 left analog stick layout and shaped like X360 controller. I have to say, not a single 3rd party controller work as smoothly as OEM. It's like the 3rd party engineers spent a lot of efforts in improving the shape and other functions of the controller but forgot the controller basics must work just as good as OEM. The most common problem is dead zone. Some 3rd party made controllers have the analog stick or button goes out quicker than OEM.

How to "freeze" Galactic Readiness percentage after stopped playing MP.

This trick requires multiple Gamertag accounts.

If you have more than one Gamertag account and all the accounts signed up for Mass Effect 3 to the same email linked to EA server, this trick may work if your 2nd or later Gamertag account has gone back to Silver.

In ME3, the Galactic Readiness percentage is shared across all the accounts using the same email address linked to EA server. So, if you have a group of friends playing ME3 but some don't like to play MP to raise the Galactic Readiness, other players can do it for you. Only the N7 ranking, unlocked characters and weapons are tracked individually on each Gamertag's account.

If you reached the Galactic Readiness to 100% but you hate it to decay by 1-3% per day if you don't play MP and have 2nd or later Gamertag accounts are in Silver, they will not be able to update the Galactic Readiness status. So, they will stay at whatever last percentage when the account had Gold Live. You also cannot play ME3 game on the 1st or primary Gamertag account because even it's Silver, it can still contact EA server and update the Galactic Readiness as it delays by 1-3% each day.

To be realistic, this trick isn't very useful because of the requirements but if you happen to have similar setup like mine, it's fun to be able to "freeze" the Galactic Readiness.

EvilControllers support got back to me: no, the sticks don't come with centering hardware, however I guess they do that kind of repair.

So I'm about to order. I'm leaning HEAVILY into buying pre-assembled, but if the cost of a new OEM controller plus their $30 Evil D-pad kit is tempting enough, the disassembly tool that shipped yesterday and I may be working on it soon. Decisions, decisions...

I did the EA help chat as well, finally got my Valiant II !

I'll ask here first since I don't always get 'nice' answers over at Bioware.

Is there a guide to how to equip for Gold?

See, my Valiant II puts down Bronze Guardians with two gut shots since it penetrates their shields (mod). On that Gold match that I just dropped into and died out in (like everybody else) I was putting at least 6 into some and getting no results. And my SMG was totally useless against an Atlas when the Valiant ran dry and the local ammo box was empty. I used it just like I do in Bronze and the Atlas' armor stayed steady like its regeneration rate was faster than my rate of fire.

I was using Cryo ammo because I thought it would be amusing to freeze some Bronze enemies, but I don't know if that really affected my poor performance.

Oddest thing though: the leaderboard had me at the top after we all died. I was watching them kill stuff fairly easily so I have NO idea what was up there. I was in during two objective waves so it wasn't a complete waste, but the medals seemed like a bug in the system...

An Infiltrator with max cloak bonuses to sniper rifles, Valiant, ammo, damage, and running armor-piercing rounds should drop an atlas in 12-18 shots (if that many).

Cloak - Energy Drain - 3 shots - repeat until shields dropped
Cloak - Proxy Mine - 3 shots - repeat until dead

I would prefer to stick with my GE, but adjust to what would work in Gold if I'm there.

The Valiant seems OK except for the headshots that bounce off of stuff like Phantoms. I just got the Vulnerability VI I mod which claims "Aim will be autocorrected to maximize damage" on the Manifest but just reads as 8% headshot boost in my inventory. I plan on carrying that a while to see if the autocorrect thing is even a bit true. I notice a tendency for the left trigger squeeze to not zoom me in on the target on which the reticule was centered, and I'm trying to keep from moving the left stick, so the snap-move to zoom and fire three times I've been doing isn't perfected yet. When it works, it's like the opening credits for The Rifleman and it's cool. When it doesn't, well, it's just embarrassing.

The Geth SMG? Well, it's almost weightless, although it's more weightless when carried alone than it is with the Valiant. That certainly makes it a close-quarters helper in Bronze and Silver, but if I need assistance to hurt an Atlas in Gold it's not exactly a lot of good. Anything heavier and I'd go for Overload and be sadly disappointed. Rock, meet hard place.

The biggest problem I have is Squishy Geth Syndrome (SGS) where I'm down more than I'm up. Perhaps I should never be more than 10 feet from my turret in Gold, but it's not a healer model and I don't plan on making it one. That means at best I get shields back every 8 seconds, and something has changed recently where I get staggered and they refuse to start regenerating for 2 or 3 seconds. The stagger part is ANNOYING: I tried to run left and on the screen I ran right. Nearby enemies LOVE that.

Zero guidance from the team hurts. I tend to focus on what's at hand, and miss when they run away. Not sure if they are in a Party or if they just don't talk. Since solo Atlas kills will be difficult in Gold, I'd like to know where they are for our mutual benefit. Just sayin.

Still haven't found a different class I play any better in, so I'll keep plugging along and hope for the best...

Do you have bad lag? Valiant headshots on Phantoms w/barrier down should be a one-hit kill, even on Gold.

Follow up.


Yes, yes they did. It's amazing what you notice when you start researching stuff.

http://www.xbox360digest.com/2010/12...ad-controller/ shows the convex tops on the sticks, as originally shipped anyway. http://www.evilcontrollers.com/evil-sticks-2.html says they are shorter and pressure goes more to the center than the sides due to the convexity. I'm thinking that'd be OK to try as long as I can get regular sticks to replace them if they do suck...

Ordered the black Evil D-pad. Twice the cost of an OEM (on sale, anyway) but I'm just fed up with them. Tonight I tried hitting Right to use an Ops pack and nothing happened. Didn't get the rocket launcher with an errant Up, but maybe this time it registered Down for a gel...

After playing a bunch of gold matches I have grown to love flamer. Skipping it was fine, but I was very weak against armor. I now do 6/6/3/5/6 on the vorcha sentinel and just use cluster grenades to stun, run away, or finish off kills so leaving it at 3 is fine. Using flamer against armor and the reegar for everything else is amazing. Up close and dangerous gameplay. Lots of fun.

This evening, there are a lot of very low N7 rated online players. Could be because Gold Live is free this weekend and ME3 was $30 last week. It's quite interesting trying to complete up to extraction wave with newbies since few of us have powerful weapons to take down the tougher enemies quickly.

Microsoft seems to be giving Japanese gamers more benefits since free Gold Live weekend is only for US and Japan. None of UK, Hong Kong or New Zealand has free Gold weekend.

Does anyone know how the servers pick the region players? I'm in US. My Japanese Gametag only lists the ME3 Leaderboard for US and the online players "appear" to be "US" from the style of the Gamertag names. I thought it would be fun to play the MP with Asia region online players.

No idea how the servers work.

Until you rank up weapons, focus on using powers as they're just as powerful as everyone else. The human sentinal can set off its own biotic explosions and its available at start.

There was that one game I played where the apparently Japanese guy swore at me in a voice message after it was over. The gamertag was a Japanese name, but maybe not his correct one. I have no clue where he was located when we ended up in the same game.

Given that I've also played with a guy from Norway, there's a possibility that if the ping time isn't bad anyone anywhere can be matched with you. Maybe just pick a time that isn't too late there...

Oh, and they don't match based on the language your game is running, based on people with sensitive mics and loud TVs...

Vulnerability VI I didn't correct my aim. Or, the amount of correction is so tiny I was still able to sail plenty of shots past targets despite it.

I do occasionally get damage credit for shots I've missed. Those happened before Vulnerability VI I was available to me and will probably continue. I sure HOPE they continue...

^ VI just increases headshot bonus. The text doesn't matter.