Author: Smehur

Drew Karpyshyn [Allegedly] Talks ME3 Ending

Former Mass Effect Lead Writer Defends Series Conclusion

Contrary to what you might assume, I’m not interested in the “defense” of the endings. This is what got my attention:

The Reapers’ goal was to find a way to stop the spread of Dark Energy which would eventually consume everything. That’s why there was so much foreshadowing about Dark Energy in ME2.

The Reapers as a whole were ‘nations’ of people who had fused together in the most horrific way possible to help find a way to stop the spread of the Dark Energy. The real reason for the Human Reaper was supposed to be the Reapers saving throw because they had run out of time. Humanity in Mass Effect is supposedly unique because of it’s genetic diversity and represented the universe’s best chance at stopping Dark Energy’s spread.

The original final choice was going to be “Kill the Reapers and put your faith in the races of the galaxy in finding another way to stop the spread with what little time is left” or “Sacrifice humanity, allowing them to be horrifically processed in hopes that the end result will justify the means.”

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A New Elder Scrolls Fic – Report No. 1772

Well, take “new” with a grain of salt. I think I wrote this during 2009, before the first Elder Scrolls novel – which pretty much kills the point of this story – was published. Back at the day, there was still room for speculation about the true nature of the Landfall, and Report No. 1772 was a way to present my theory about it in the most indirect way possible. I considered submitting it to Temple Zero, but simply couldn’t, perhaps on account of excessive technobabble that doesn’t fit well with the mythopoetic atmosphere of that place. So here it is now, made public for the first time.

Image: tarnvogL @ DeviantArt

Let Us Leave Something Unsaid

Let some things remain unsaid.
Let some things remain unheard.
If you say eveything that’s in your heart
then what will remain inside?
If you have heard every word of the heart
then what will remain to be heard?
Leave a certain
hidden awkwardness.
Leave an unopened window
on the colourful
unmade world.

Munir Niazi
Image: rce-ordinary @ DeviantArt

I Like the Way Mass Effect Ends

There has been a huge shit-storm in Mass Effect fandom over the way ME 3 ended. I can’t say I’ve been on the forefront of these… discussions, but some of my friends have been affected by the depression and have kept me informed on the hopes and fears boiling within the community. Like I said elsewhere, I think the particular ending(s) have little to do with the high emotions; I think the fans are mourning the passing of the entire series.

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