Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer Improvements

Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer Improvements
By Timothy Bettencourt


I have been a fan of Bioware since Knights of the Old Republic. I have found allof their games to be very fun and Mass Effect 3 is no exception. The muliplayer in particular I have found to be a very fun experience. However, I feel that some aspects need to be worked on if Bioware intends to make all their games multiplayer supported. Here is what I feel needs to be reworked.

1. In game economy
There are only three chances to earn credits during a match, the special operations. What's worse is when you finally have enough credits, you have to have random weapon item and character unlocks. You often times spend many hours earning credits in very difficult levels only to purchase packs and receive items you do not want, forcing you to play more and try again.
How to improve
A. Personal bounties
Every time a player kills an enemy unit, reward them with credits; the amount depending on the type of enemy.
(e. g. trooper=25-50 engineer=75-100 phantom=750-1000).
Also, Split credits evenly among players that took down an opponent together, thereby encouraging players to be more active ingame and providing easier income
B. Supply dealers
Replace random item packs with a service that allows players to purchase individual items
(e. g. Server for weapons, characters, items, mods, etc.)
Make the random item packs rewards for successfully completing a mission
(e. g. recruit for bronze, veteran for silver etc.)
2. Mission challenges
Only a limited number of objectives availablein game. Not enough variety to them, therefore can make gameplay somewhat redundant.
How to improve
A. Leader controlled objectives
Allow the party leader to decide what objectives to perform and when they happen.
B. Map specific challenges
Each map has their own challenge not available on any other.
(e. g. a sattelite base requiring an uplink console be defended, anti ship cannons requiring a recharge and target correction every other wave.)
C. Choice of command post game
Include a mode which requires players to to capture command posts until they are able to destroy the main enemy landing zone
3. Map layout
Every map is built around a military firebase, with only minimal differences between them.
How to improve
Build maps around more diverse locations
(e.g. Defending a starship from enemy boarding parties, in the deep jungle, the wreckage of a crashed ship, enemy or ally, during the evacuation of an allied world)
Include hazards such as explosive barrels or hackable automated turrets.
Difficulty
Enemies often have a very high or or sometimes unfair advantage. Units with instant kills such as phantoms and banshees, feel very cheap, executiuons are very infuriating.
How to improve
Remove instant kills and executions, immediately reducing a frustration facgtor from gameplay.
Have the option of A.I. controlled local militia allies for their respected territories
(e.g. Turian soldiers, Alliance marines, Krogan warriors, Geth troopers, etc)
Have larger teams than just 4 players, or allow a player to have a squad of A.I. units and assign their unlocked characters to them.
Give each map defenses that can be hacked and used against the enemy.
Character customization
Player are given set loadouts of characters with only color customization available.
How to improve
Unlock characters as blank slates and allow players to decide what powers and specializations to have.
(e.g. Turian that specializes in assault rifles and SMGs and uses biotic, Quarian that specializes in shotguns and sniper rifles and uses tech abilities, etc.)

I understand that now making big changes to the game is not a feasible option, however, there is still great potential for improvement in future games, especially on new consoles utilizing a more advanced engine, so I hope to see new and creative things in the future.