Spoilers ahead, by the way, if you haven't played the new ME2 DLC pack "Lair of the Shadow Broker"...
The new DLC kinda knocked a big chunk of story out of ME3. Some speculation about the Shadow Broker being Miranda's father is ... well, let's just say that ended up being wrong ;)
But I'm wondering about structure. With the new Shadow Broker in place, we're pretty well assured that Liara won't be a squadmate in ME3. But we're also given a potential new hub for activity. Rather than the Normandy, it was interesting to see the Shadow Broker's ship outfitted with, well, just about everything we need for missions. The video archive in particular is intriguing me, along with the "investment opportunities" kiosk. Will the SB's hideout be the new hub, with the Normandy taking on a secondary role? Any thoughts? It seems like some suggestions that Shepard send other operative out on missions might actually have some merit after all...
Mass Effect 3
Game » consists of 19 releases. Released Mar 06, 2012
When Earth begins to fall in an ancient cycle of destruction, Commander Shepard must unite the forces of the galaxy to stop the Reapers in the final chapter of the original Mass Effect trilogy.
What Lair of the Shadow Broker means for ME3...
I think ME3 will have a little more 'thought' to it. As you said, the investment opportunities could turn into an interesting side-game where you dispatch members of your team to complete missions and obtain bonuses(something we've they're adding to Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, no reason something similar would conflict with the ME universe). There almost has to be something like this planned - as you've developed or destroyed a TON of relationships along the way to the Reaper showdown - The final fight with the Reapers will be akin to the suicide mission in ME2 - only with your actions from both prior games being taken into account: Will the Krogan join you? If you saved the Rachni they will help, same goes for the Council and probably Cerberus too (though in my case I'd imagine Cerberus isn't gonna lend a hand).
Liara will no doubt provide you with vital intel or perhaps even take on the Illusive Man's role as Shepard's 'handler' if your choices have led to that. There's a lot of potential there and hope they do justice to everything Shep has done over the years.
I really like the idea of using the Shadow Broker's ship as a hub, but I have the feeling they won't give an ME game without a Normandy to pilot.
" I think Liara will end up being a villain in ME3. "Thank you. It seems so obvious; it's the become the very thing you hate and hunt plot device.
I never really thought about it tbh, however i'm sure she's going to help you in mass effect 3 defeat the reapers of course indirectly. There was an option to choose if you will salvage the alien ship in ME2 or not for cerberus, if you chose not to, hopefully liara would help. I don't know, i'm purely speculating here, I really haven't thought about it.
" I think Liara will end up being a villain in ME3. "She was kind of a Villian in ME1. She was doing what was essentially illegal research when Shephard rescued her. That's the great thing about the ME universe, everyone's dirty at some level.
She'll probably drop some side-quests on the main character which'll help fund the war effort against the Reapers.
I highly doubt that OPTIONAL dlc is going to have a massive influence on Mass Effect 3... Unless they assume that what happens in the DLC plays out even if you hadn't bought it - which would make it, redundant?
" who's the shadow broker again? Is he Martin Sheen? "Martin Sheen is the Illusive Man. The shadow broker is revealed to be an awesome badass in the new DLC. By the way, was his race or species ever mentioned before the new content?
" @blacklabeldomm said:Totally new content in this DLC. I've never read any reference to them in the books or the comics." who's the shadow broker again? Is he Martin Sheen? "Martin Sheen is the Illusive Man. The shadow broker is revealed to be an awesome badass in the new DLC. By the way, was his race or species ever mentioned before the new content? "
@NoXious said:
" She'll probably drop some side-quests on the main character which'll help fund the war effort against the Reapers.I highly doubt that OPTIONAL dlc is going to have a massive influence on Mass Effect 3... Unless they assume that what happens in the DLC plays out even if you hadn't bought it - which would make it, redundant? "It'll probably be like the ME1 -> ME2 transition in that there's a default state which is changed by importing the save. Like if you've saved Wrex in ME1 and the default is that he's dead in ME2.
I think Liara will be aiding Shepard in ME3, w/the Reapers et al, but it will probably drive a wedge between Cerberus and Shep, and a choice may have to be made during the game...maybe. Anyway, the new race presented as the Shadow Broker was awesome. Need more of them in ME3. And the DLC was just fantastic, and reminded me once more of the absolute greatness of the ME franchise, and specifically ME2. I'll go back again for the Hardcore/Insanity achieve. ME3 can't come soon enough, and I really hope another triliogy is in their plans.
" @blacklabeldomm said:No." who's the shadow broker again? Is he Martin Sheen? "Martin Sheen is the Illusive Man. The shadow broker is revealed to be an awesome badass in the new DLC. By the way, was his race or species ever mentioned before the new content? "
I am liking the idea that Shephard will finally get some help with the new Shadow Broker very much, meaning that in ME3 the player may have potentially amazing control in affecting the universe as a whole with the power of information (remember the quote where the new Shadow Broker states "I could start a war in ten minutes" I think was what was said).
Also, we need a Yahg squadmate for Shephard stat! The Yahg sound awesome.
" She'll probably drop some side-quests on the main character which'll help fund the war effort against the Reapers.I highly doubt that OPTIONAL dlc is going to have a massive influence on Mass Effect 3... Unless they assume that what happens in the DLC plays out even if you hadn't bought it - which would make it, redundant? "Kindof like how the books affect the game universe even if you haven't read them. Bioware has announced that they will release DLC to bridge ME2 to ME3, and the LotSB is the first in that series of "Bridge DLC." It's like the books, they're great if you read them and they add to the story, but they really aren't required to enjoy the mainstay Trilogy.
I dont think they will take the Normandy away from being the hub of the game, i think the Normandy is a character of its own.
There is no way the Shadow Broker ship will be used as the hub or as a replacement for the Normandy. The SB has to stay hidden, flying around in that electrical storm or whatever.
Hopefully they just make all the information on the SB's ship available to the player on the Normandy.
Spoilers:
I found it amusing (or really not, depends) that the original SB was overthrown by something that was intended to be a plaything of sorts. The myth behind the SB (him being untouchable and god-like) was pretty much destroyed with the DLC. However, I wouldn't say that I didn't anticipate that Shep and co could defeat him. At least we got to be with Liara for a bit.
Kind of makes you wonder what was the DLC all about - overthrowing the SB (good reason), getting it on with Liara (good, but not necessary), or something else (can't think of a good reason).
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