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Related: Is there a "Canonical" Commander Shepard? I've recently discovered that there is a lot of Mass Effect material outside the Trilogy of games. I'm curious as to how these stories relate to events that are affected by decisions the player is allowed to make in the Trilogy? ...

mass-effect-series

he's removed all instances of "canon" now

basically moving the goalposts into another field in terms of the answer

SaintWacko

@fbueckert I guess I have my Zune HD I can do that with

OrigamiRobot

5:34 PM

@kalina Oh I already downvoted that.

And VTC'd

kalina

@OrigamiRobot I see no close votes :(

OrigamiRobot

Wait, no I didn't

kalina

WOO, it's reached -5

quick, give me 15 upvotes!

OrigamiRobot

I was thinking about it.

kalina

(you can even remove them afterwards)

;)

StrixVaria

5:35 PM

@kalina I can't figure out why I hate this so much.

But I just want to see it burn.

It feels like a SciFi question.

OrigamiRobot

Of course, I didn't see it since he added "non-game publications"

kalina

@StrixVaria He wants a full list of choices you can make in game that tie in with the canon of the story as presented in all of the Mass Effect media available

even though (a) there is no canon in Mass Effect, (b) the books aren't anything to do with Bioware

and every time that is mentioned he resorts to using BIG. BOLD. ITALICS.

like this:

@fbueckert That's just coming back to the point I apparently can't seem to get across, here: I. DON'T. CARE. WHAT. THE. EXECUTIVE. PRODUCER. SAYS. ABOUT. CANON. There either are decisions that the player can make which will conflict with other in-universe stories, or there are not. I want to know which it is, preferably from someone who's actually read some or all of those stories. While there's maybe nothing post-ME3, there are things post-ME1 and post-ME2. And ME2 had some really big player-affected things potentially happening. (e.g.: Possible near-TPKs) — Iszi 20 mins ago

OrigamiRobot

@kalina Why does it matter if it is canon or not?

kalina

@OrigamiRobot Read the original question before the edit

He specifically asked for it

LessPop_MoreFizz

@Fluttershy Thanks in advance.

user15026

5:37 PM

So much yelling.

OrigamiRobot

I know that.

I'm saying that is irrelevant.

kalina

@OrigamiRobot So ask yourself this, how do you provide canon when there is no canon?

OrigamiRobot

@kalina Who cares if it is or is not canon?

He is asking for a list of decisions to suit his personal tastes.

agent86

@Fluttershy what's The Cave? I feel like maybe I know this already.

Fluttershy

@LessPop_MoreFizz Ah. Thank you. While you're here, by the way, you're a pretty big fan of movies, yeah?

SaintWacko

5:38 PM

@kalina Write a quick story which conflicts with another existing story set in the ME universe so you can tell him that it's impossible to align with all outside ME stories

kalina

@OrigamiRobot Question title at the time of answering disagrees with you "What decisions must be made to stay with the "canonical" storyline?"

agent86

like... I feel like maybe Tim Schafer said something about it

OrigamiRobot

@kalina There is no canon, so it's his personal tastes.

Fluttershy

@agent86 A new metroidvania/adventure game from Double Fine and Ron Gilbert. I'm so excited!

LessPop_MoreFizz

@Fluttershy Yeah.

Ullallulloo

5:39 PM

@AshleyNunn WHAT?

kalina

@OrigamiRobot not what the question wanted

agent86

@Fluttershy ah, indeed, so I am correctly aligning my previous memories with this current information. score!

@Fluttershy this also sounds quite interesting. steam release?

Fluttershy

@LessPop_MoreFizz If you ever watch Cloud Atlas, I'd be interested in hearing your opinion on it. I've been geeking out about it pretty hard. <_<

OrigamiRobot

@kalina Is there canon? No. What else can it be other than his personal taste. He wants his game to be like a book he has read.

Fluttershy

@agent86 I can't see replies... The Cave sounds interesting to you?

LessPop_MoreFizz

5:40 PM

@Fluttershy I've heard the movie is a waste of time but I have the book sitting on my Kindle account way back in the queue.

WOOOOO 1k MSO rep.

kalina

@OrigamiRobot I want Quake 3 to be full of ponies, I'm never going to get it

LessPop_MoreFizz

I can see vote counts. My work there is done.

agent86

you can't see replies? that's weird. (@Fluttershy)

Ullallulloo

@agent86 store.steampowered.com/app/221810

OrigamiRobot

@kalina I don't know what you're getting at there.

Ullallulloo

5:41 PM

It comes with a hat.

Lazers

0

Q: How to delete a words with friends account

My Words with Friends account got hacked and someone else is starting games and playing current games with all sort of people. How can I delete my account? I don't want to just remove the app or change my name. I'd like to actually have the account deleted so that friends that I am already conn...

words-with-friends

Fluttershy

@agent86 Not on the mobile chat.

agent86

@Ullallulloo yeah, I found it in the entire two minutes it took for a response. gotta WORK FASTER, bridge!

SaintWacko

@Fluttershy I just saw it a week ago, and I've been considering seeing it again

@LessPop_MoreFizz The movie is not a waste of time

Fluttershy

@LessPop_MoreFizz =( Whoever told you that is wrong. It's an amazing movie.

user15026

5:42 PM

@fluttershy The Cave sounds awesome.

agent86

@Fluttershy ok, so you can see the message, but not what it's in reply to?

Fluttershy

@agent86 Correct.

It's also why I can't directly reply.

badp

Is The Cave the result of that kickstarter?

agent86

@Fluttershy gotcha. the game looks good, it's wishlisted

SaintWacko

@agent86 Well, you have to hover over it to see what it's replying to

Fluttershy

5:42 PM

@badp It is not.

agent86

@badp there was a "double fine adventure" kickstarter which is unrelated

I don't know that there was a kickstarter or other funding venture for this game.

OrigamiRobot

@kalina My entire point is that we can't be expected to help tailor an entire game's worth of choices to each person's taste.

kalina

@OrigamiRobot exactly, since it's not asking about canon, this question falls into the new category of story-path-identification

and I though all *identification questions were off topic

</pedantic>

Fluttershy

@AshleyNunn It's my most anticipated title of the month! <_< lol

OrigamiRobot

I'm not going to jump to off-topic, but it is a terrible question.

user15026

5:46 PM

@fluttershy it is on my wish list now!

OrigamiRobot

I'd call it NARQ (He is asking for too much in one question) or Too Localized (His specific story preference) before I'd call it off-topic

badp

The Indie Royale guys need to understand that if I don't know any game in the bundle and the games in the presentation video show poor framerate... I'm not going to buy the bundle!

Fluttershy

@AshleyNunn Woo!

@agent86 and @AshleyNunn It releases on the 23rd of this month.

Though Steam still just says "January 2013."

LessPop_MoreFizz

@OrigamiRobot I'd just call it another stupid question that points to why story questions are dumb and should be kept out.

user15026

@fluttershy impatient waiting

Fluttershy

5:53 PM

@AshleyNunn I know that feel.

OrigamiRobot

@LessPop_MoreFizz That too. I don't hate the thought of lore questions because the story is a big part of some games, but it can easily become a game of poke the plot hole and that is no good.

Ullallulloo

@OrigamiRobot It would be about the same amount of info as is in the current answer, right?

OrigamiRobot

@Ullallulloo I can't see the site from work, so I'm just imaginifying it.

fbueckert

@kalina We still allow identify-this-screenshot

Which I think is stupid, but that's another story.

LessPop_MoreFizz

Trying to shoehorn new arguments into the shape of old ones is the only thing dumber than the question at hand. Stop it.

kalina

6:04 PM

The thing I find funny, pretty much all of the books and comics avoid commenting on the events of the games that were released before them

and only really cover the backstories to events that happen in the next game

like Cerberus taking Omega

the attack on Grissom academy

LessPop_MoreFizz

@kalina Yeah, my understanding was that they were fairly careful to make the extradiegetic material very circumspect about the events of the main narrative.

kalina

oh god, now he's being condescending

"One would have to have read a fair amount of the other material to properly answer this - have you? If not, why are you bothering to argue a point you're not sufficiently educated to discuss?"

Obviously HE hasn't, so why is he in a position to judge any answers?

In that position he can't even accept the answer because he doesn't know

SaintWacko

@kalina So just write an answer giving him a list of random choices, and see if he accepts it :D

fbueckert

@kalina I'd say it's time to walk away.

Fluttershy

The fact that this question/answer has a rather extensive discussion, and debate, makes it pretty much the epitome of the nonconstructive close reason, yeah?

No offense, @kalina, I like your answer. I just think the question shouldn't be here.

fbueckert

6:10 PM

@Fluttershy I agree; there's far too much arguing back and forth to be definitive.

kalina

@fbueckert just putting this out there, I'm not arguing, I know I am right

@Fluttershy ye I said this about ~30 mins ago

@SaintWacko but that's just it, the books don't cover the choices

in fact the only thing I can remember from the books that is relevant in terms of choices in the games is that the council survived.

fbueckert

@kalina The fact that you keep hammering that point amuses me.

SaintWacko

@kalina So how will he know the difference?

kalina

@fbueckert I am right!

Fluttershy

Oh look. It got closed for the wrong reason.

kalina

6:14 PM

@Fluttershy disaster, now it needs reopening again

Fluttershy

@kalina I know it's not a huge deal. It just pings my OCD a bit. <_<

OrigamiRobot

Asking how to make every choice in one game conform to a specific model is asking too much. You are asking about an entire series. — OrigamiRobot 28 secs ago

fbueckert

@Fluttershy Eh. Either NARQ or NC will do.

OrigamiRobot

@Fluttershy That is NARQ

Grace Note

Closing for a right reason is rather important. Don't be bothered by being bothered by things getting closed incorrectly.

fbueckert

6:17 PM

@GraceNote Some questions don't fit neatly into a single category. There is some overlap.

Fluttershy

@OrigamiRob I still think NC would've been received with less animosity. Not that there has even been any.. I just wouldn't rule it out.

kalina

I agree on it being not constructive

OrigamiRobot

Prolonged discussion about the on/off topicness of a questions does not constitute discussion as outlined in the NC close reason.

fbueckert

@OrigamiRobot Read the comments on the answer, dude.

kalina

ok cool, let's have a debate about whether to use NC or NARQ now that we have me being correct out of the way

fbueckert

6:17 PM

If that doesn't count as debate and discussion, I dunno what does.

OrigamiRobot

@fbueckert I am not saying the question is not NC.

fbueckert

@OrigamiRobot Okay. Just clarifying, as that was the implication of that statement.

Fluttershy

@OrigamiRobot "This question will likely solicit debate, arguments, ... extended discussion"

OrigamiRobot

1 min ago, by OrigamiRobot

Prolonged discussion about the on/off topicness of a questions does not constitute discussion as outlined in the NC close reason.

Causing an argument about site policy does not make a question NC

kalina

38 secs ago, by OrigamiRobot

1 min ago, by OrigamiRobot

Prolonged discussion about the on/off topicness of a questions does not constitute discussion as outlined in the NC close reason.

Fluttershy

6:19 PM

@OrigamiRobot As @fbueckert said, read the comments on the answer. I wasn't referring to the arguing about on/off topic.

OrigamiRobot

1 min ago, by OrigamiRobot

@fbueckert I am not saying the question is not NC.

fbueckert

Ok, this discussion is going all sorts of circular.

Fluttershy

Then I fail to see the point you're trying to make about "discussions about on/offtopicness"...

kalina

@fbueckert pear shaped tbh

OrigamiRobot

@Fluttershy I am just making it clear what type of "discussion" the NC close reason is referring to.

@OrigamiRobot That's the first argument against this question (and not an entirely unreasonable one) I've heard that isn't centered around the debate over whether or not there is any "canon". Thanks. — Iszi 3 mins ago

BOOM SON

Fluttershy

6:22 PM

@OrigamiRobot I think we were all aware of that already, though. From what I could tell, no one was arguing about whether or not it was on or off topic. All I saw was arguing about what is or isn't canon, and what Iszi wanted vs what kalina gave.

@kalina Now I want a pear...

kalina

@Fluttershy nothing wrong with wanting a pear

they are tasty

Fluttershy

@kalina Our regional manager sent us a box of some pretty awesome pears. I actually have one. =3 It is my after lunch snack!

OrigamiRobot

@Fluttershy I have seen that argument used before and wanted to nip it in it's potential bud. If it is unneeded, ignore it.

Fluttershy

@OrigamiRob Noted.

user15026

I wish I liked pears.

kalina

6:24 PM

I eat more pears than I do apples

Fluttershy

@AshleyNunn I wish you did too! Then we could still be friends!

kalina

@Fluttershy harsh

Fluttershy

@kalina Pears are my favorite fruit. I can get pretty intense.

LessPop_MoreFizz

Pears are overrated.

Fluttershy

But, @AshleyNunn knows I'm joking. =P

kalina

6:25 PM

my favourite fruit is a banana

Fluttershy

@kalina I had one of those today too!

LessPop_MoreFizz

@kalina Agreed. Far superior.

kalina

om nom nom bananas

user15026

@fluttershy whatever. Maybe I don't want to be friends with a pear liker.

user15026

I like pineapple best.

Fluttershy

6:27 PM

@AshleyNunn Fine! You can keep your cake flavored vodka to yourself! I don't even like cake!

Ooh... I love pineapple. We're friends again! Yayy!

user15026

@fluttershy fine! I will! drinks it all

user15026

oh. Okay. Yay friendship!

Ullallulloo

My favorite fruit is pineapple as well!

user15026

@Ullallulloo yay!

Ullallulloo

Pears are a close second.

Fluttershy

6:28 PM

@AshleyNunn Friendship is......... magic.

Ullallulloo

@Fluttershy Wait, no. stahp.

Fluttershy

Lunch time. Back in a bit.

SaintWacko

Pears are delicious

user15026

@fluttershy you are my hero.

SaintWacko

So are peaches

user15026

6:29 PM

@saintwacko omg love peaches.

SaintWacko

Actually, most fruit is delicious

I wish they were in season

Oranges are in season, though, so yay!

I have two clementines in my lunch

badp

Do I get to ignore that Mass Effect question on the grounds that I've only played 30 minutes of the game?

user15026

@saintwacko I have no fruit or veggie that isn't canned or frozen. I need to go shopping at some point when I am not sick.

kalina

@badp you don't have the right to say "Mass Effect", on account of you only playing the game for 30 minutes.

joking of course, but WHY BADP WHY ONLY 30 MINUTES WHYYYYYYYYYY?

badp

30.

kalina

6:32 PM

I got it right first time

badp

Also because it told me to use Throw and I used Throw and nothing happened and then people died. meh

kalina

oh you've told me this before

you couludn't follow on screen instructions and it was too hard for you

yeah I remember

;)

badp

eye roll

Fluttershy

@BenBrocka or anyone else who plays BL2... Is the mechromancer worth the money?

kalina

depends what you mean by 'worth'

agent86

6:36 PM

@Fluttershy I've been wondering this same thing, having recently purchased it but not used it yet.

kalina

surely if you create one and play it for 100 hours then yes

if you don't, then no

Ben Brocka

@Fluttershy If you actually play, totally. I really like the Shock tree, and the Anarchy stuff is fun too

Fluttershy

@kalina Well, yeah... I just mean... Are her skills interesting enough to warrant playing through?

kalina

yeah, fun skills, lots of lines that she says, etc

Fluttershy

@BenBrocka Noted. I heard some complaints about her robot thing though.

Also, I need more people to play Chivalry with. =(

Ben Brocka

6:38 PM

@Fluttershy He's pretty useful, really. Especially for solo

Fluttershy

@BenBrocka More useful than Axton's turret? =P

Ben Brocka

He lasts much longer and moves around, so yeah, I like him much more

You can just summon him and let him do his thing, and with one of the skills the more enemies he kills the longer he stays and the more melee damage he does

Ullallulloo

Greenlight success

Fluttershy

@BenBrocka Is she included in the season pass? Or is that something else?

Ben Brocka

@Fluttershy I think Gaige's DLC is separate from season pass

Fluttershy

6:46 PM

Also, @AshleyNunn Conclave awaits! You too, @OrigamiRobot

Ben Brocka

Obama calls for more research into the alleged link into video games/violence because we need someone to point the finger at amirite

Fluttershy

@BenBrocka They've had 3 non-character DLCs so far, right?

agent86

@Fluttershy I have the season pass, and it does not come with the mechromancer

I had to buy it separate

Fluttershy

@agent86 Ah. Thank you. =)

agent86

@Fluttershy the third DLC just came out this week, there are 4 total in the season pass

Ben Brocka

6:48 PM

Gotta keep funding research until we get one study that says what we want to believe

agent86

although I believe gearbox is considering a second season...

which would probably be another $$$

Ben Brocka

I got the mechro for preordering :P

agent86

@Fluttershy there are also a couple of other pre-order bonus packs that just got released as separate DLC

Ben Brocka

@agent86 Just the mechromancer. The Creature Slaughter Dome DLC is only for gamestop(?) preorders

agent86

so, yeah. if you want it all I think it's $5*2=$10 for the preorder packs, $10 for mechromancer, and $30 for the season pass

@BenBrocka the creature slaughter dome and one other thing just got released as DLC for anyone who wants to buy it

Fluttershy

6:49 PM

@agent86 Maybe I'll just hold off for now... >_>

Ben Brocka

Oh, didn't see that. Doesn't sound worth it anyway

agent86

the other retailer specific bit of DLC... can't remember the name. I loaded up yesterday and they were there

@Fluttershy yeah, a GOTY/"complete" edition is certainly a smart option when it comes to borderlands games :P

Fluttershy

@agent86 Well, I already own BL2, so I'm not gonna buy it again for the GOTY. I'll just wait for the summer sale. =P I have plenty of other things to play.

Including my second playthrough of one of my favorite games.

agent86

@Fluttershy yeah, even on steam w/sales though, I've seen games where buying the GOTY again is cheaper than catching yourself up on DLC. don't know how it will go for BL2 though.

I was crazy happy when I saw that Civ5 had a "GOTY Upgrade" option, although I had already bought a couple of bucks worth of DLC for it

Fluttershy

@agent86 Good point...

Ben Brocka

6:53 PM

@Fluttershy except for the Mechro the preorder packs don't seem worth it anyway. The season pass is though

kalina

@agent86 Collector's Edition Pack

Fluttershy

@BenBrocka If I beat the main game before the summer, I'll likely pick up the DLC... Otherwise, I think I'm gonna wait. So many games on my backlog...

agent86

I play it on xbox 360 w/ the wife, so I picked up the season pass when it went on sale for $20, as MS doesn't hold as epic a sale as steam does :(

Fluttershy

Still need to beat To The Moon, Dishonored, Unmechanical, and 99% of the humble bundles I bought... >_>

agent86

they also had mechro on sale for $5 recently, and I grabbed it for the lulz

Fluttershy

6:55 PM

@agent86 Is she funnier than Tiny Tina?

agent86

EB and Rhino play BL2 on xbox, so at some point we might get a team together. I'll probably play mechro if nobody else has that dlc

@Fluttershy I haven't played her yet, so my actual lulz are currently 0 from this purchase.

Ben Brocka

@agent86 the season pass was only on sale like once

@Fluttershy Some of her quotes are pretty good

Fluttershy

Woo!

agent86

@BenBrocka yeah, but a steam summer sale is more likely to feature it than MS ever offering it again. I think they still charge $30 or so for launch titles in their marketplace. it's seriously sad :(

Fluttershy

Ugh... Trying to balance gaming with reading is going to be tough. I don't wanna fail my New Years resolutions. =(

fbueckert

6:59 PM

@Fluttershy Welcome to life. So much to do, not enough time to do it all.

Ben Brocka

I find it hard to fetishize reading anymore...play games with better stories :P

agent86

@Fluttershy unless your new year's resolution was to follow agent86's advice to the letter, I suggest you disregard it

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