Mass Effect 3: Happy N7 Day Everyone! and Multiplayer Balance Changes Nov 7

Well, as you may or may not know, today is N7 day!  Bioware has a bunch of special things planned for today – you can check them out here.

The thing that I am most excited about is that we will automatically get an ultra-rare weapon and two consumable items as part of the limited edition N7 Day Loyalty Pack!

Anyway, expect more updates as the day goes along … Bioware probably won’t release the new stuff til afternoon my time (EST).  If anyone wants to play some ME3, I’ll be popping into random lobbies all day :)

Update 1:  The new Omega DLC will be livestreaming at 8am PST (less than an hour from now!) here: http://www.twitch.tv/bioware

Update 2: The in-game challenge for N7 day is about to go live in 30 minutes!  (1pm EST)

Update 3: The in-game challenge is up – extract 3 times with a human character … so easy.  Also, grab your Loyalty Packs while they’re hot! :)

There are a lot of balance changes for this week, mostly new challenges.  The best changes I’ve seen are the caps for Dragoons, Praetorians, though it doesn’t apply to Platinum:

Geth Trooper Soldier kit now available as a new Rare card

New hazard maps available this week are Firebase Reactor and Firebase Giant

Challenges
– New N7 Valkyrie Assault Rifle challenge under Assault Rifle Mastery (140,000 point requirement)
– New M-55 Argus Assault Rifle challenge under Assault Rifle Mastery (140,000 point requirement)
– New AT-12 Raider Shotgun challenge under Shotgun Mastery (140,000 point requirement)
– New Collector Sniper Rifle challenge under Sniper Rifle Mastery (140,000 point requirement)
– New Collector SMG challenge under SMG Mastery (140,000 point requirement)
– New Smash challenge under Biotic Mastery (50,000 point requirement)
– New Biotic Orbs challenge under Biotic Mastery (50,000 point requirement)
– New Barrier challenge under Biotic Mastery (50,000 point requirement)

– Point reward for completing Solo Mastery decreased from 300 to 100
– Point reward for completing Biotic Mastery decreased from 300 to 140
– Point reward for completing Tech Mastery decreased from 300 to 140
– Point reward for completing Squad Elite increased from 130 to 200
– Point reward for completing Resurgence Mastery increased from 130 to 170
– Point reward for completing Rebellion Mastery increased from 130 to 170
– Point reward for completing Earth Mastery increased from 130 to 170
– Point reward for completing Commando Mastery increased from 160 to 200
– Point reward for completing Machine Mastery increased from 140 to 170
– Point reward for completing Outsider Mastery increased from 130 to 170
– Point reward for completing Shotgun, Assault Rifle, or Sniper Rifle Mastery increased from 140 to 175
– Point reward for completing Pistol Mastery increased from 130 to 155
– Point reward for completing Combat Mastery increased from 170 to 255
– Point reward for completing Cerberus Mastery increased from 220 to 250
– Point reward for completing Reaper Mastery increased from 200 to 250
– Point reward for completing Geth Mastery increased from 200 to 250
– Point reward for completing Collector Mastery increased from 200 to 250

– Fixed a bug where the Arc Grenade challenge for Male Quarian kits was not working
– Fixed a bug with the Survival Medal challenge not completing

– Title for completing the Halloween Challenge changed from “Halloween Challenge” to “Hallowed Hero”

Batarian Brawler
– Now moves at the same speed as other Batarians when carrying objectives

Cerberus Wave Data
– (Bronze) Wave 6, 7, 9: Maximum number of Dragoons per wave capped at 2 (there was no cap before)

– (Silver) Wave 4, 8, 9: Maximum number of Dragoons per wave capped at 5 (there was no cap before)
– (Silver) Wave 5: Maximum number of Dragoons per wave capped at 3 (there was no cap before)

– (Gold) Wave 4: Removed 1 Dragoon and added 1 Centurion
– (Gold) Wave 7: Removed 1 Dragoon and added 1 Engineer
– (Gold) Wave 3: Maximum number of Dragoons per wave capped at 3 (there was no cap before)
– (Gold) Wave 4, 6, 7: Maximum number of Dragoons per wave capped at 6 (there was no cap before)

Collector Wave Data
– (Gold) Wave 3, 5, 9: Maximum number of Praetorians per wave capped at 3 (there was no cap before)
– (Gold) Wave 6, 8, 10: Maximum number of Praetorians per wave capped at 6 (there was no cap before)

How are you celebrating N7 day?  Let me know in comments!