Mass Effect 3

I figured someone would pothole that. And I laughed. Well played, sir.

But yeah, High Men as in Five Races. The superior humans, rather than the mundane humans.

So boring. And in this context, illogical.

I think humans are already way too illogically overpowered in the Mass Effect universe. Yeah, they're so badass that they become stronger than all other species despite the fact that every other species has been using the same technology the humans just found for thousands of years and are already densely populated across the galaxy. And they're so remarkable that they become a Council race in 40 years while it took others hundreds of bloody years. Give me a break.

edited 9th Oct '12 6:40:34 PM by CPFMfan

OH BOY HERE WE GO

...I don't remember this being one of "those" subjects.

It is with Zephyr.

Well it's true. Humanity is second only to the geth in being the Creator's Pet species. Every other line is about how awesome humanity is compared to the other races, and everyone who doesn't heap praise on humanity is a racist murderer or dead now.

edited 9th Oct '12 6:42:58 PM by CPFMfan

OH BOY HERE WE GO

As it should be.

With the other half being about how much humanity sucks.

As far as humanity joining the Council goes, that's not really as big a deal as it seems. The asari and salarians formed the Council not too long after they met. The turians were brought in shortly after showing up, after they helped beat the krogan. The humans were brought in after stopping the Reapers from being brought back - or, as I'm sure the propaganda goes, after stopping the geth from taking the Citadel. Also, humanity either forced itself in after letting the Council die, or was invited in after saving the Council's lives.

Couple that with humans having a reasonably strong military and economy, both of which are necessary for Council membership. None of the other non-Council races have strong militaries, hence why they haven't been asked to join.

As for humanity getting so comparatively strong, they're the new kids on the block and have a lot to prove, while the other races have been around long enough to grow complacent. So while the other races have probably been easing up on military spending, while Earth has been throwing as much money as they can at it.

edited 9th Oct '12 6:52:29 PM by Tiamatty

@Medicus: The problem with that idea is that with the extended cut, none of that happens.

I thought you were into reading against the grain, Crimson Zephyr?

I am. The grain just happens to be "why can't humans be friends with alien races?"

I say, "Because killing them is more fun."

FOR THE EMPEROR!!!

BURN THE HERETIC, PURGE THE XENOS, ERADICATE THE UNCLEAN!!!

"Ask yourself not 'why kill the alien?'" Instead ask, 'why not?'"

Have I mentioned how tired I am of all this Warhammer shit?

CPF: You know saying that is like throwing chum in the water right?

Seconded. Fuck Warhammer.

Yeah, I said it.

The reason humanity is so powerful in the setting is because of human culture. Humans aren't afraid to bully their way into getting something they want. Where other races avoid doing something because they're culturally not supposed to (Turian becoming a CEO since Turians are supposed to be public servants, Salarian becoming a miner because Salarians are supposed to be smart, Volus becoming a police officer because Volus are supposed to be greedy, ect), no such limitations are imposed by human society.

Human culture actively encourages people to go off and do what they think they're good at. You think you're a good businessman? Start your business. You think you would be a good cop? Join the force. You want to be a soldier? There's always a place for you.

As a result, humans gained the reputation of being good at pretty much everything. There are no stereotypes that limit them. Society doesn't say "No, you can't do this." On the contrary, society actively encourages ambition in all fields of life. This is what separates humans from everyone else.

Humans aren't the best scientists.

Humans aren't the best diplomats.

Humans aren't the best soldiers.

Humans aren't the best businessmen.

But they can do all of those things just good enough to compete. They're The Mario, so to speak.

This is what bothers the other races. They realize that right now, humans are still slightly below them. But what about in a few hundred years? By then, it's entirely possible that humans could completely outclass every other species in all fields. As mentioned in the books, they're scared.

This means that humans naturally have detractors, especially those who pose a threat. The Asari and the Turians are the ones most commonly seen doing this, because they have the most to lose if humans become as powerful as they fear.

Humans have the potential to dethrone the Asari as the top race in the galaxy, something the Asari pride themselves on. Humans also could potentially become a greater military power than the Turians, which is what Turian society is all about.

Bottom line, humanity is OP because they're good at everything. With time, they could become so good as to make the other species irrelevant. This is what everyone fears.

Heretic!

edited 9th Oct '12 8:11:27 PM by TheProffesor

This is what I hate. There is no logical reason for every other race to be inferior to humanity other than that Most Writers Are Human. Since they've only been around for 40 years, humanity's power should be tiny. Everything in the games points to humanity being inherently superior. They have better 'genetic diversity'. They have a military as strong as the turian one- which has been around for thousands of years and should logically be much larger and much better equipped. Certain humans somehow managed to become: the two richest men in the galaxy, the leader of all the Terminus pirates, and the leader of the most powerful two N.G.O. Superpower groups in the universe. The local Eldritch Abomination loves them the most. They were chosen to make the next Reaper because they're OMGSOSPESHULUGUYS. They're just great at everything, and every other species fears them. Et cetera.

edited 9th Oct '12 8:13:22 PM by CPFMfan

They're not as strong as the turian military, though. The turian military is canonically much stronger. In a straight-up fight, they would get wiped out by the turians.

Canonically, they're almost as strong. They shouldn't even be close.

edited 9th Oct '12 8:15:29 PM by CPFMfan

As they say, close but no cigar.

And okay so a human is the leader of the Blue Suns. You know who makes the Blue Suns her bitch? An asari.

The other NGO superpower is only like that because they explicity break all moral and ethical laws everyone else plays by. So they get an edge by being criminals not bound by limitations.

The Reapers originally wanted the turians. Then a human killed one. It's as simple as that.

edited 9th Oct '12 8:34:21 PM by Spirit

And in a few years, her monopoly could easily be toppled. In fact, I find it a miracle she hasn't been killed already. Close, but no cigar, but given time humans are going to get that cigar or die trying.

Also, that doesn't really help the argument against human superiority.

edited 9th Oct '12 8:33:19 PM by TheProffesor

I was talking about Henry Lawson, the Illusive Man, Elanos Haliat, and Cerberus. Not the Blue Suns. Though they're an example too.

And once again, they shouldn't even be close.

edited 9th Oct '12 8:34:03 PM by CPFMfan

Elanos Halliat? The guy who led the Skillian Blitz?

I believe I read somewhere that he was originally going to be a batarian, but they didn't have time or something.