User:DeldiRe/Sandbox/Mass Effect 3: Galaxy At War

Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War is an optional gameplay system in Mass Effect 3 that will allow the player to manage Commander Shepard's resources in the galactic war against the Reapers. Galaxy at War directly affects the state of the war effort in single-player, and can determine how the final confrontation of Mass Effect 3 plays out. Access to Galaxy at War requires an Online Pass which is included in new copies of Mass Effect 3.

Overview
Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War provides a strategic outline of the state of the galaxy in the midst of the war against the Reapers. A color-coded map displays the player's progress in the conflict. The goal of Galaxy at War is to prepare the galaxy for a counterattack to defeat the Reapers; the level of preparation will determine the outcome of that battle. Using Galaxy at War is optional and the same outcomes can be achieved by playing only the single-player.

War Assets
War Assets are the resources of the galactic war effort. Players can acquire different War Assets, including armies, fleets, and radar stations, and deploy them in the galaxy to increase the Galactic Readiness rating.

Galactic Readiness
Galactic Readiness measures Commander Shepard's influence and ability to utilize the galaxy's resources. The higher the Galactic Readiness level is, the more prepared Shepard's forces will be for the final confrontation against the Reapers.

Effective Military strength
The Effective Military strength (EMS) is a combination of your War assets and your galactic readiness (Total points of war assets * x% galactic readiness) which is calculated on the terminal of the War Room of the Normandy SR-2.

This EMS will influence the ending of Mass Effect 3 solo campaign.

Interfaces
There are multiple ways to interact with Galaxy at War that will affect the Galactic Readiness rating. Aside from cooperative multiplayer, additional interfaces on iOS and Facebook are planned, each with their own "hooks".

Cooperative Multiplayer
Mass Effect 3's cooperative multiplayer mode ties directly into Galaxy at War. Success in co-op rewards players with an increased Galactic Readiness rating. Typically, if a specific map is chosen, 8-9% readiness is added to that zone, while if "Unknown Location" is chosen, aside from the XP Bonus, 3-4% readiness is added overall. The readiness rating is averaged from the ratings of all the zones, meaning if "Unknown Location" is chosen, all zones will receive a 3-4% boost. If a multiplayer mission fails in the second half of the match (after Wave 5), 2% will be allotted to the player.

It is also possible to promote level 20 characters to become a War Asset in single-player (75 points for each promotion).

Mass Effect: Infiltrator
Mass Effect: Infiltrator is a third-person shooter for mobile (iOS and Android) devices. Playing the game give the opportunity to earn bonuses in Mass Effect's single-player :


 * Cerberus Escapees War Assets which increase the player's overall military strength by a maximum of 120 points :
 * Finishing the Main Campaign for the first time : 40 points.
 * Getting "Veteran" ranking on all main campaign checkpoints : 40 points.
 * Getting "Veteran" ranking on all turian bonus story checkpoints : 40 points.
 * Collect, trade and upload Intel Points to increase the Galactic Readiness rating. Like others similar bonuses, uploaded intels are a temporary bonus because Galactic Readiness will decay over time.

Galaxy At War mini-game
Mass Effect: Datapad is an app for iOS devices. It allows players to monitor the Galaxy at War system and deploy fleets throughout the galaxy for an increase to the Galactic Readiness rating and receive messages from Mass Effect 3 characters.

As of 6th June 2013, Mass Effect: Datapad is no longer available for sale through the App Store. However, a browser-based version of the app can be accessed via Bioware's N7 HQ.

In Galaxy at War mode users can view their Galaxy at War Readiness Rating as well as deploy fleets to various locations in the galaxy for credits and an increase in Readiness for the associated theater. Once a fleet is deployed the player must wait out the duration of the mission, after which the rewards can be collected. According to their shields level, the fleets have a probability to become unavailable for several times after a mission.

Missions take place on three different locations on each of the five main theaters. Each location is either a short (1 hour), medium (3 hours) or long (6 hours) duration and appropriately increases the readiness an increment amount. The theaters and locations (in order of duration) are:

Pinnacle Station: Command Center – Formerly a military training Facility, Pinnacle Station has been repurposed as a command and control center for Council forces.
 * Earth Alliance Space
 * Alliance forces repelled the enemy assault and kept Pinnacle Station functional. (Credits : 75)

Noveria: Research Labs – The frozen worlds of Noveria is home to some of the most advanced research facilities in the galaxy.
 * An Alliance strike force seized critical research intel. (Credits : 600)

Camala: Indoctrination Camp – The batarian colony of Camala is now controlled by the Reapers, who are using it as a spawning ground for more Reaper forces.
 * Alliance forces inflicted heavy damage and disrupted enemy production of new Reaper forces. (Credits : 1,125)

Gembat: STG Outpost – A Salarian STG outpost based in the former krogan colony of Gembat performs recon and sabotage operations against Reaper forces.
 * Inner Council Space
 * The fleet drew off enemy fire to prevent the outpost from being discovered. (Credits : 75)

Menae: Moon Base Firax – Palaven's largest moon is the spearhead of the turian effort to retake their homeworld from Reaper forces.
 * Alliance forces provided vital air support, enabling turian teams to reclaim lost ground. (Credits : 600)

Cherk Sab: Refugees – The gas giant Cherk Sab has the only He-3 fuel system in the system, making it a chokepoint for refugees fleeing the Reapers.
 * The fleet provided crucial protection that let civilian ships escape. (Credits : 1,125)

Cyone: Fuel Depot – A combined asari-turian fuel depot on Cyone supplies ships throughout Outer Council Space. This stronghold also protects access to the Citadel.
 * Outer Council Space
 * An Alliance strike force disrupted hostile activities in the sector, giving Cyone a chance to resupply. (Credits : 75)

Aequitas: Palladium Mines – Mining operations on Aequitas provide Palladium to allied ships for armor and shield enhancements.
 * Alliance forces disrupted enemy activity to enable mining operations to continue. (Credits : 600)

Thessia: Asari Fleet – Fast mass-relay access to the Citadel makes Thessia a vital military asset, and most of the asari fleet is stationed there to protect the homeworld.
 * Alliance forces bolstered asari lines, giving the asari the chance to recover and make fast repairs. (Credits : 1,125)

Trident: Iridium Mines – Trident is a storm-racked water world whose iridium mining operations are vital for Alliance ships sensors and infantry rapid fire weapons.
 * Attican Traverse
 * The fleet liberated Trident’s main spaceport, putting the mining operations back in Alliance hands. (Credits : 75)

Caleston: Element Zero Mines - Caleston’s fragile domed cities handle one of the largest eezo mining operations in the galaxy, supplying most of the Alliance fleet’s drive cores.
 * The fleet protected Caleston’s domed cities and kept element zero mining operations intact. (Credits : 600)

Ket'osh: Sensor Array – An ancient quarian colony abandoned during the geth uprising, Ket'osh has a massive sensor array that tracks ship movements across all nearby sectors.
 * Alliance ships disabled the enemy sensor array, enabling friendly forces to move undetected. (Credits : 1,125)

Garvug: Prothean Dig Site - Garvug contains well-preserved Prothean data artifacts, making it attractive for archaeologists and scavengers alike.
 * Terminus Systems
 * An Alliance strike team extracted key intel and Prothean resources from the area. (Credits : 75)

Hourglass Nebula: Corsairs – From Eclipse smuggling operations to Blue Suns prison ships, the Hourglass Nebula has many small but well-armed ships operating independently.
 * The fleet flushed out Reaper forces and recruited independent operators to assist Alliance efforts. (Credits : 600)

Omega: Captured Space Station - Omega controls access to ancient technology located beyond the Omega-4 relay. The station also markets countless black-market technologies.
 * The fleet attacked hostile forces and acquired previously unknown technology before withdrawing. (Credits : 1,125)

Credits earned during Galaxy at War missions can be used to purchase upgrades:

There are ten levels available for the Speed, Shielding, and Readiness upgrades and three levels of the Fleets upgrade, with each level both increasing the effect of the upgrade and costing more.
 * Speed reduces the time it takes to complete missions.
 * Fleets purchases additional fleets (up to five).
 * Shielding reduces the chance of a fleet being crippled.
 * Bonus Readiness Rating earns additional readiness rating per mission.

Once all basic upgrades have been purchased, advanced upgrades become available: There are three levels of Galactic Command Coordination available, with the first level costing 10,000 credits, 25,000 for the second and 40,000 for the third.
 * Galactic Command Coordination Earns significant additional readiness rating per mission.

With all of the Bonus Readiness Rating upgrades and Galactic Command Coordination upgrades, a single third level mission will produce 3.17% readiness rating increase.