David Hingtgen

Well actually, the REAL name would be "The adversary camo worn by F-14A 161869, while painted up as Black 20 for NSAWC in 1999/2000". NSAWC based theirs on the Ukrainian splinter camo, but it's certainly "their own" and Dobber followed that one (AFAIK), not a Ukrainian pattern. But he "splintered" the camo more than it was, and even more than the Ukrainians do. So it's like "super splintered". I posted several camo diagrams and links on the first page of the thread, check my posts on the first page. Second pic is a different plane in similar camo, but shows the colors better.

Mr March--expanding on that, Dobber based his off of one of the NSWAC F-14 schemes. That NSAWC F-14 scheme was itself (apparently) based off of Ukranian Flanker splinter camo. Ghostkiller based his off of Dobber's version of NSAWC's version of the Ukraine's splinter version of the standard Flanker camo. Which IMHO ended up looking mostly like Ukranian splinter camo pattern in standard Flanker colors. Regardless, it "looks like a Flanker scheme".

If there's many players (7 or more), F-15E with XMAA. Sheer numbers---fire a lot, hope something hits. (once and only once, I got all 6 to hit 3 different players--took out the entire opposing team) Fewer players--dogfight Su-33 w/QAAM.

Currently leaning towards Sony 32S3000. It's 200 more than the 32M3000, but there's quite a few reports of issues with the M series, and it seems the black levels aren't as good, and simply has fewer shades of black/grey. If not, second choice currently Panasonic's 32XC700 or whatever, not sure of the exact model name, but it's 700 I think. Current biggest/issue worry: Humming/buzzing. Seems a LOT of sets do it this year, especially Sonys. But it's set by set. You can buy 5 and exchange 5, and every one makes a buzzing sound. Or you can luck out and get a dead-silent one.

Posting this in two threads because it's appropriate to both: http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1286859/L/ Even cooler than a vapor shockwave, is a sheer distortion shockwave (also much harder to photograph). And no, this ISN'T photoshopped. So yes, AC6's "warp waves" that "peel off" the plane are somewhat correct, it's not purely a "heat waves for the engines" thing.

Posting this in two threads because it's appropriate to both: http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1286859/L/ Even cooler than a vapor shockwave, is a sheer distortion shockwave (also much harder to photograph). And no, this ISN'T photoshopped.

Still waiting for a MP Thundercracker, but only if he's very G1-colored. And that means G1 toy dark *metallic* blue (best TF color ever), not dull pale blue. Anyways---finally found 08 movie BB.

That's what I'm wondering. The trilogy will die if we have to wait like 3 years for part 2. Or even 2 years. I expect 18 months. Kinda depends---will they use the same engine and models (hey, if they use the HDD next time and sacrifice just a bit of environment texturing for smoother framerate, it'll look very nice), and just new plots/scripts/planets? Or will ME 2 be made from scratch? Still, 2 will take less time to make, as they don't have to think up the aliens, backstory, and science all from scratch. I bet a lot of pure backstory you find in the codex etc---like "Salarian political history"---while not seen at all here yet still has an in-depth article, will be seen in the future. Heck, you can spend an hour just reading how the ship's stealth system works. And there is the whole "how soon after" issue? A week later? 5 years? Can't be too much, as AFAIK it's supposed to be the same Cdr Shepard through the whole trilogy, and you probably won't want to play them if they're 60...

I was a pure soldier, and the armor quality starts going up exponentially at the end. Like all RPG's--you are (relative to the enemy)weakest early, and strongest at the end. Final boss is a big jump though! Way longer fight than anything before. Don't know if it was due to high defense, super-high HP, or a low hit rate. (It moves fast, a lot of my shots missed---I pretty much just sprayed randomly at points and hoped SOMETHING hit----biotics might do better, due to area effects) Veteran and Hardcore make big changes---enemies start actually using the special abilities and have immunities/effects. As in, don't try to burn a geth, or poison "the most common organic enemy in the N-planet". (spoiler-free description). You will need to ALWAYS take cover on anything past "normal" and frequently change weapons and ammo (and armor upgrades) to deal with different enemies. Even playing just a few minutes on the harder ones, it's a BIG jump in difficulty. It's no longer "soldier can just plow through without even losing shields" it's "soldiers now live 0.3 secs longer than an adept due to their heavier armor". Anyways---I'm going to stop playing ME for a while, until I have an HDTV. Going through again will be overkill I think. Better to take a break, and enjoy it all over again. I've seen people post pics of ME with the TV I'm most likely going to get, and it looks like a whole new game. I'm going to wait a few more weeks, month, etc until I can afford it and then will play my second game (which will be my "master" game where I do EVERYTHING and max out levels/stats--renegade female, of course) I started another character, but a "throwaway" one I never intended to play long, just to try out some stuff. Also found out (after wasting an hour) that the singularity achievement cannot be gained by simply spamming it--it has to hit something. Maybe if I find an indestructible crate or something, otherwise it's not at all worth the time it'd take to unlock it for my future Vanguard. It's not THAT much better of a move, but I'd sure like to have it for my "master" playthrough. But not if it'll take hours and hours to get. Barrier is the only biotic that can simply be spammed to get the achievement. All others need actual contact, with either an enemy or "interactive part of the environment"--of which there's not much that I found, and much of it goes away after one good hit. I don't think there's any quick way to get singularity for non-adepts, just have to play the entire game basically.

The more I see, the more I keep thinking they're ripping off Sin from Final Fantasy X...

Mass Effect. Why? Spoilers. The longer you wait, the more people will post spoilers all over. If the story's spoiled, there's not much left of the game.

Nora's heatshield is bare. Nora has her markings on the "head". Ivanov's only has a small "cross" there. Based on location, my money's on the cross being the Anti-UN logo, or the Anti-UN Air Force. So Ivanov has his big personal logo on the heatshield, Nora's has hers further back.

A new VF-11 should definitely come with FAST packs---the -11's are very simple, just 2 boxy boosters and 2 "leg clips". Though, I'd prefer a "not M+" VF-11. There's plenty to do, if Yamato can get the license. Heck, I'd even take a non-canon one. I'm just sick of grey with orange stripes, I've owned two.

Depends on speed of monster. Iowa class is good for 35+ mph if it has to run away. Godzilla's never moved very fast IIRC.

I think he's referring to the armor.

Real warfare vs monster: I'd use a battleship. (Because giant monsters ALWAYS attack cities on the coast, because they're usually from the ocean, or hatched in a lab in a big city). If the ship's only a few miles offshore, then the flight time for the shells is only a few seconds and you won't have to worry about trying to lead your aim much, if any. (a big ship shell goes roughly 20-25 miles per minute)

Just a few more ME notes: 1. 30:28 in. (yes, I played every spare waking hour yesterday and today---definitely not going shopping today) Have done first chunk of 2nd-to-last place. Got the "did everything "achievement" despite having 1.5 places left. It was apparent you wouldn't need EVERY sub-plot complete to get it (which'd be imposssible) but I figured it'd take like 98% or something. So you really don't have to do TOO many "extras" to get it. My advice--skip hunting for minerals. I never completed it (close though) but it takes a LOT of time. Actually, if you do everything but the "get 10 of these" missions, I think that should be enough. 2. I encountered a big spoiler posted in the non-spoiler ME forum, though the poster didn't say exactly who or when, just mentioned it happened. Well it turns out said event happened very soon after I saw the spoiler, and it's an optional/plot point. Actually, I think you have to intentionally cause it to occur, as I re-loaded several times to see what else could happen and almost no dialogue options/choices lead to said spoilery event, besides the single obvious one. 3. If you aren't going for completion/exploration, I bet total time is cut in half. You could probably play a "core quest only" male and female, or dark and light set, in the time it takes to do one "do every little sidequest" play. 3. Neat little hint. Each weapon, tech, and biotic has a "mastery" achievement. Once it's unlocked for that specific weapon or ability, it is then available to ALL classes in ALL future games you play. So if you want a sniping biotic, you can--just have to use the sniper rifle a lot in a previous run-through. Also, you can only choose one "bonus" ability. No sniping bio-master stealth tech soldier... If your first run-through is as a soldier, you have enough time and skill points to unlock 2 weapons easily, maybe even 3. Though I found out too late to make it worth switching to, so I'll just have 1 unlocked for the next time. 4. I'd suggest keeping the same 2 party members for the whole game. They have a lot to say, and there's achievements for always having the same person in the party. (You don't have to ALWAYS have them, just the vast majority of the time). Almost everyone has unique dialogue for every mission, plot, encounter, etc. Heck, I know there's stuff I still haven't seen in KOTOR. But next time, I'm having a completely different party, all the time, to see what the OTHER people have to say.

I think it's hilarious that Graham saw this thread, replied, yet didn't comment about the actual main subject.

Nitpicky comment: Bending wingtips and tailfins on a YF-21 aren't really a "feature" nor optional---it's part of the transformation. A YF-21 toy HAS to be able to do "high-speed mode" to be able to transform.

I think "includes FAST packs" is the biggest news, regarding the YF-21.

I though NMM was dead? Or if not, "so comatose because he's locked in his own mind" that he's effectively dead.

Oh yeah something I miss: Controlling the other party members directly. Heck, I think I once played almost all of KOTOR as the other party members, just because I could. I'd really like that in this game. Hey, it'd be the only way to play as a non-human. ::re-read ME forums to get things straight:: OK, since it was in KOTOR, people expected it in ME. And apparently the E3 video from '06 made it really look like you could, but it was just the camera angle. A thread from July '07 said they were investigating doing it like that 2.5 years ago but decided to go with how it is now. So it's not a "cut feature" like lots of people claim. It was never past the "idea on a napkin stage", but it LOOKED like it was there in a much-seen E3 vid.

I don't think I ever actually used it, just looked to see what it was.

Shin--do you have other ace schemes? I'm surprised they "allow" you to go in expert mode and free mission and get them, without winning hard or expert campaign. As for Pasternak---use your radar. He always uses ECM when he "decloaks" (hey, that's what it seems like) and that paints a nice big blip on your radar. That's how to find him. Also--ALLIED ATTACK. I've taken him down many times without firing a shot. I've taken him down in 15 secs----because of allies.

Are you using the CFA-44? If you're just hunting for the Ace, the -44 makes everything go faster. Also, I think I found her by doing the ship part of the mission first. Some say she appears on the carrier just before or after it sinks, but I think she just "teleported in" at 15,000ft in the vicinity. Operations B and C take the longest by far. I usually do A-D-E-F in about that order. Or D-E-F-A.