Mezinger
Game Owner
 NWN
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Mass Effect
Joined: 26 Feb 2002 |
 Posted: Friday, 04 January 2008 12:59AM |
I searched the forums couldn't find this discussed any where... though I am sure it must have been... hopefully not recently ;0)
Ok is it just me? or is a Solider Shepard way stronger than other classes... it seems to me with the use of the Assault Training Talent and First Aid I can keep my squad mates alive during nearly all fire fights... with out this skill combo we perish constantly (on insane)... am I just not very good at playing the other classes or does the ability to use 1 then 2 omni gels on demand make a solider the best tank and the best field medic available? |
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zombie flayer
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 NWN
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Mass Effect
Joined: 09 Nov 2007 |
Posted: Friday, 04 January 2008 01:02AM |
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Soldier perhaps is imbalanced but not for that reason, immunity skill <-- the key to everlasting life. |
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Pale Jackal
Joined: 28 Dec 2007 |
Posted: Friday, 04 January 2008 01:51AM |
Yeah, 30 second (or less) Adrenaline Rush, letting you pop gels more often, coupled with Unity, and constant 80% immunity makes the Shock Trooper Soldier the best class for playing on tough difficulty levels, I suspect.
They might lose to a Bastion Adept, in theory, but that's never going to occur in ME1 without some crazy DLC.  |
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Imperator34
Game Owner
 Mass Effect
Joined: 28 Nov 2007 |
Posted: Friday, 04 January 2008 02:29AM |
Quote: Posted 01/04/08 01:51 (GMT) by Pale Jackal Yeah, 30 second (or less) Adrenaline Rush, letting you pop gels more often, coupled with Unity, and constant 80% immunity makes the Shock Trooper Soldier the best class for playing on tough difficulty levels, I suspect. They might lose to a Bastion Adept, in theory, but that's never going to occur in ME1 without some crazy DLC.
*MGS Voice*
TIME PARADOX. |
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digitalares
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 NWN
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SW: KotOR PC
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Mass Effect
Joined: 10 Jun 2002 |
Posted: Friday, 04 January 2008 02:34AM |
No ... Soldier is sick but it's definately not the sickest at high levels. There's a ton of battles trivialized by Biotics. I was also amazed with how much of a joke an Infiltrator made the game. When you are able to use dampening, sabotage, etc. plus take advantage of pathing issues with a Sniper Rifle ... well lets just say you really are cheating. Made Hard as easy to beat as my first run through Normal.
Soldier is easy but not the most powerful.
Infact I'll go so far as to say Bioware has done an insanely good job of game balance. I've never really thought any single combination was truly more powerful then another. I found some more effective in specific fights or more enjoyable for my play style but that's it. |
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Mezinger
Game Owner
NWN
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Mass Effect
Joined: 26 Feb 2002 |
Posted: Friday, 04 January 2008 07:47PM |
*epiphany* I just had an idea how to fix this... as I still think it's an issue. ;0)
If you could command squad members to use first aid through the special ability window then this would be a non issue... (assuming it had cooled down) just like how you don't really need to be a biotic because you can do the special ability targeting for your npc team mates... but you can't, or at least I can't see, how you can heal your team mates with out doing it your self.
So if I could use Ashley's Adrenaline boost, to cool down the omni gels for first aid and then have her use one on demand, I wouldn't feel the need to play a solider on insane...
Interesting.. anyway thanks for the thoughts people.
As it is I will continue kicking <insert preferred youthanism for rear here> and taking names as Solider Shepard. |
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Berethrof
Game Owner
SW: KotOR PC
Mass Effect
Mass Effect PC
Joined: 18 Jul 2003 |
Posted: Friday, 04 January 2008 08:09PM |
Quote: Posted 01/04/08 19:47 (GMT) by Mezinger
As it is I will continue kicking <insert preferred youthanism for rear here> and taking names as Solider Shepard.
You mean "euphemism"? Although youthanism might be a good word to refer to the l337 speak. 
So, from what I understand, since I've only played Soldier heavily and didn't pay attention when I played Engineer... if your Shepard doesn't have First Aid, you can't use medi-gels? |
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Grakz
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Jade Empire
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Mass Effect
Joined: 04 Nov 2006
From: Vancouver |
Posted: Friday, 04 January 2008 08:11PM |
I think you'll find with a class like adept for example that it actually get's EXTREMLY powerful later.
There was no need for immunity once you get lift and singularity (as a nemesis). You could pretty much CC everything without taking any damamge. That seems more powerful than immunity IMO.
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"The formula 2+2=5 is not without it's attractions" - Dostoevsky |
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king of seals
Game Owner
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Joined: 28 Jun 2005
From: Italy |
Posted: Friday, 04 January 2008 08:16PM |
If you're interested in being hit, Soldier is the best class for you.
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ILLUSIVE MAN FOR PRESIDENT! VOTE NOW! |
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Mezinger
Game Owner
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Mass Effect
Joined: 26 Feb 2002 |
Posted: Friday, 04 January 2008 08:24PM |
Quote: Posted 01/04/08 20:09 (GMT) by Berethrof
(quote)Posted 01/04/08 19:47 (GMT) by Mezinger
So, from what I understand, since I've only played Soldier heavily and didn't pay attention when I played Engineer... if your Shepard doesn't have First Aid, you can't use medi-gels?
Not exactly... a couple of things..
First aid, makes it so when you use a medi-gel it heals your team members x amount. So if you don't have first aid the medi-gels aren't as effective. (I think this is safe to say, also as an aside first aid skill is cumulative across the party as opposed to the highest rank)
The Solider only Assault Training talent, allows you to recharge all your special abilities (including omni-gels which seems sort of weird as it's not in the special action menu, and not really a "combat" skill, though that's clearly debatable.) So that you can immediately use your omni-gels again if needed.
I found that this "combo" is essential to keeping my squad alive on insane difficulty, and haven't been able to figure a way to do with out it.
Hopefully this helps clarify what I am honking on about?Edited By Mezinger on 01/04/08 20:25 |
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Mezinger
Game Owner
NWN
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Mass Effect
Joined: 26 Feb 2002 |
Posted: Friday, 04 January 2008 08:38PM |
Quote: Posted 01/04/08 20:24 (GMT) by Mezinger Quote: Posted 01/04/08 20:09 (GMT) by Berethrof
(quote)Posted 01/04/08 19:47 (GMT) by Mezinger
So, from what I understand, since I've only played Soldier heavily and didn't pay attention when I played Engineer... if your Shepard doesn't have First Aid, you can't use medi-gels?
Not exactly... a couple of things.. First aid, makes it so when you use a medi-gel it heals your team members x amount. So if you don't have first aid the medi-gels aren't as effective. (I think this is safe to say, also as an aside first aid skill is cumulative across the party as opposed to the highest rank) The Solider only Assault Training talent, allows you to recharge all your special abilities (including omni-gels which seems sort of weird as it's not in the special action menu, and not really a "combat" skill, though that's clearly debatable.) So that you can immediately use your omni-gels again if needed. I found that this "combo" is essential to keeping my squad alive on insane difficulty, and haven't been able to figure a way to do with out it. Hopefully this helps clarify what I am honking on about?
In addition I should point out, that using a squad mates Assault Training talent skill (I think its called Adrenaline Rush) does NOT recharge Shepard's ability to use omni-gels.
And I don't think your Squad mates use omni-gels or grenades for that mater, though I could be wrong here and it may just be infrequent or poor use.
I should also point out that when I am talking about insane difficulty I am also talking about starting a new level 1 character, this is probably a less of an issue if your playing a level 35+ character, which I get the feeling is what a lot of people are doing when they replay at higher difficulties.Edited By Mezinger on 01/04/08 20:47 |
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OnyxVulpine
Game Owner
 Mass Effect
Joined: 02 Jan 2008 |
Posted: Friday, 04 January 2008 09:27PM |
So, everyone keeps saying Omni-Gels..
Medi-Gels?
Soldier is a good class to use for higher difficulties due to the immunity etc.
Get access to Sniper Rifle too 
But maybe its just the way I play, to others it may depend on how they like to use their skills and what squad members they use.
-Onyx |
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Pale Jackal
Joined: 28 Dec 2007 |
Posted: Friday, 04 January 2008 11:30PM |
Playing with Kaiden and Liara, high level biotics are pretty nice. However, in I think it might be most effective to simply be a soldier and bring along Kaiden and Liara. They trigger their abilities, you get to aim with your assault rifle, and you also get to use Adrenaline Rush every 30 seconds for medi-gels and Unity, if necessary.
Also, you're the only one who needs to stay alive. Hence, immunity is better for you than others...
I occassionally find lift/singularity annoying... I mean, sure, it incapacitates the enemy, but it's not as if I was taking damage anyways! It can be annoying to shoot those folks when they're flying around!Edited By Pale Jackal on 01/04/08 23:31 |
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rancidking
Game Owner
 Mass Effect
Joined: 03 Jan 2008 |
Posted: Saturday, 05 January 2008 12:02AM |
I've only played soldier and adept so far but i have found that at higher levels both make the game trivial. Soldier has a virtual god mode that you can keep up 100% of the time if you have the gear and (bastion at least) adept can lockdown any mob in the game while you destroy them completely safe from harm.
It's way more fun to start on hardcore or insanity as lvl 1 as you don't have these cheese abilities and have to employ some deft tactics to get around fights. |
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Pale Jackal
Joined: 28 Dec 2007 |
Posted: Saturday, 05 January 2008 01:26AM |
I suspect that's the truth of the matter: at high levels, most any class can own... though whether that's due to excellent game balance, or ME is just a really easy game... well...
I've not yet played on Insane, but I'm torn: I want to try it out with my high level soldier, but I fear that's just going to make the game too easy.
On the other hand, do I really want to play through Insane from Level 1, only to have the game become too easy later on? I mean, having fun for a while (at low levels) is a good thing, but I also really want there to be opportunities for my sick combos (constant immunity, Unity/30-second Adrenaline Rush/medi-gel) to be "necessary."
I think there should be a difficulty level beyond insane, where trying to play it with a level 1 character isn't going to fly. The combat system in Mass Effect isn't great, but I've always been a huge fan of games that allow you customization (like the Mechwarrior series)... really, my second and third play throughs aren't going to be for the plot (though I will get to see a few variations, by taking new party members, if nothing else): it's going to be for the combat.
And the combat needs to be tough to be fun.Edited By Pale Jackal on 01/05/08 01:29 |
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