Mass Effect 3 gets 'N7 Bounty' bonus XP weekend

Mass Effect 3 is hosting another bonus weekend, this time giving out 25% more XP across all platforms, enemy types, maps, and challenge levels.

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Last weekend's N7 Challenge in Mass Effect 3 was a success, granting bonus items for those who took down Reapers on Silver and a community item for collectively going full-genocide with a million Brute deaths. That was only the beginning of BioWare's multiplayer plans, as this weekend players are getting another opportunity for bonuses, this time in the form of XP with the "N7 Bounty - Operation Fortress."

Starting today at 5 PM PST and lasting until 5 AM PST on Monday, March 26, you'll get 25% bonus XP in the multiplayer mode. Unlike last weekend's promotion, this applies to all enemy types, maps, and challenge levels. 25% extra isn't much, but it doesn't take terribly long to reach the level cap in the first place.

We can see a kind of language emerging for these weekends. The "N7 Challenge" weekend gave out special packs for completing a task, while the "Bounty" moniker is used to signify bonus XP -- or maybe in the future, bonus cash. Personally, we're hoping for an "N7 Unlock a Character You Actually Want Instead of Spending Points and Crossing Your Fingers" weekend, but BioWare can probably come up with a better name.

Editor-In-Chief
From The Chatty
  • reply
    March 23, 2012 12:30 PM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, Mass Effect 3 gets 'N7 Bounty' bonus XP weekend.

    Mass Effect 3 is hosting another bonus weekend, this time giving out 25% more XP across all platforms, enemy types, maps, and challenge levels.

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      March 23, 2012 1:13 PM

      Perfect timing, I just finished my insanity run on ME2 and I'm starting ME3 this weekend. Are reapers or Cerberus more difficult / fun to play against?

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        March 23, 2012 1:24 PM

        I personally think that the Reapers are the hardest to go up against. It's those damn banshees....

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          March 23, 2012 1:27 PM

          [deleted]

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            March 23, 2012 1:28 PM

            Geth Hunters can ruin your day if you are not paying attention.

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              March 23, 2012 3:32 PM

              Phantoms would be good, but they're more reluctant to approach you in cover.

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            March 23, 2012 1:54 PM

            And they are really good at cornering you, then raping your ass ><

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          March 23, 2012 1:50 PM

          Banshees love it when I'm biotic charging everyone's shit up, just for them to eat me up in one go.

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            March 23, 2012 1:54 PM

            [deleted]

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            March 23, 2012 1:55 PM

            Yea, I try not to play a Vanguard when against the reapers. Banshee has a one shot kill when you are in melee range.

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            March 23, 2012 3:28 PM

            Roll IMMEDIATELY after charging and you won't get hit with the sync kill. The charge stuns briefly when it hits, so you should be safe doing this.

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          March 23, 2012 3:31 PM

          It's the combination of Banshees and Brutes forcing you out of cover and Ravagers with the near instant shield removal. The range and damage on Ravagers is frightening, and they're totally more of a threat unless you can put lots of walls in the way.

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          March 23, 2012 3:44 PM

          Have a few human sentinels on your team. Warp + Throw destroys everything. Or salarian infiltrators with maxed cloak and energy drain. It's a lot slower, but relatively safer than biotic explosions.

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          March 23, 2012 3:46 PM

          [deleted]

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      March 23, 2012 1:31 PM

      Shacknews is roughly on par with my local newspaper website for not posting links to external content. Seriously, you guys are a half-step removed from "mom discovers one easy rule for whiter teeth."
      http://blog.bioware.com/2012/03/23/operation-fortress/

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        March 23, 2012 2:39 PM

        Hi dabbs, We have relationships with the PR teams for the major publishers. This gets us their press releases directly when they are issued. Such was the case for this story. EA/BioWare sent out a press release--of which we receive several daily often referred to as "blasts"--with the info to get it out on the various reporting sites. They also cover their own news and so posted the same on their social site.

        About those white teeth, though, can you share the secret? Any tips for losing stubborn belly fat are also appreciated. ;)

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      March 23, 2012 1:35 PM

      Hah, the PR guy doing an informal analysis of Bioware's job in handling the ending kerfuffle hits right on the spot again.

      In case anybody else wants to read, http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/355/index/10084349/1

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        March 23, 2012 1:58 PM

        Apparently their site is down :(

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        March 23, 2012 2:00 PM

        Seems to be down.

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        March 23, 2012 2:03 PM

        They already said that they had these deals planned for weeks ahead of time.

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        March 23, 2012 3:11 PM

        Site's up again. That post is fascinating.

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          March 23, 2012 5:49 PM

          Yeah, it's interesting that most stuff seem to have been already in place before the game was released as fall-back resources, like XP bonuses to stimulate people playing the MP.

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      March 23, 2012 1:40 PM

      FOR TUCHANKA! again!

      I will be in the Shack TS looking for people to try a gold level challenge with tonight. Bring your A game!

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        March 23, 2012 1:56 PM

        ooo!!! Add meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee NinjaGam3rGirl!! I want to try out gold! (I should probably get 20 again. I just recently promoted my sniper ><)

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          March 23, 2012 2:16 PM

          Yep last weekend I'd just promoted my Soldier so I was derping around trying to stay alive during a silver.

          THIS TIME BITCHES.

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          March 23, 2012 2:22 PM

          How do you promote?

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            March 23, 2012 2:33 PM

            character has to be level 20, and then a button at the bottom says "promote" shows up.

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              March 23, 2012 3:44 PM

              Thanks, I have a level 20 Drell Adept, I'll try this out when I get home!

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            March 23, 2012 2:33 PM

            Get a class to level 20. Hit "promote" at the bottom of the character select screen

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        March 23, 2012 2:52 PM

        I will try some more gold, but I should probably level a toon up to 20 again. I think 16 is my highest right now. Pretty sure it's infiltrator though, so Gold Geth!!!!!

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        March 23, 2012 5:28 PM

        so has everyone moved onto gold? i've only started on the pc :(

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          March 23, 2012 5:31 PM

          I was playing Silver for a long time and I can't really say Gold is THAT much harder. To be successful at Silver, you needed some degree of team coordination; Gold requires more but the difference between Bronze and Silver is way less than Silver to Gold.

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            March 23, 2012 5:39 PM

            Bronze seemed pretty after a couple rounds. Haven't tried silver yet though.

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              March 24, 2012 8:31 AM

              i'm at the point where i MIGHT go down once during a bronze but always make it to the end. starting to get bored but i'm going to promote my only character to make things interesting

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            March 24, 2012 8:30 AM

            i did some silver with pubbies last night. got as far as wave 8 which was a record for me. people don't understand that the key to success is not to fucking split up or to not bother to head to objectives across the map.

            also the vanguard seems like a hard class to play on silver. i pretty much self neuter my close up charge and nova skills since it usually means instant death. I tried the asari vanguard and it was a lot better using stasis bubble constantly but the charge with no nova is nearly useless and the lift grenades suck and dont have much inventory or chance to get more ammo if you stick with your teammates.

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        March 23, 2012 5:38 PM

        Also, what's the Shack TS info?

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      March 23, 2012 1:53 PM

      [deleted]

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      March 23, 2012 2:06 PM

      Screw bonus xp. I want bonus drop rates so I can get the stuff I want.

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        March 23, 2012 2:17 PM

        yea, I wouldn't mind a better sniper rifle.

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        March 23, 2012 2:18 PM

        Same here, I'm happy playing the same guy, I just want better weapons!

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        March 23, 2012 3:40 PM

        Yeah, with all the packs I bought I don't have much in the way of new weapons. New assault rifles would be nice, the starter rifle is weak.

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        March 24, 2012 8:32 AM

        i've been buying the specialty packs this week. been getting lots character unlocks for 33000

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      March 23, 2012 2:34 PM

      I prefer a credit bonus instead of XP. I hate getting character training when they're already maxed out.

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        March 23, 2012 2:36 PM

        [deleted]

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        March 23, 2012 2:54 PM

        This is why I started promoting classes as soon as they hit 20. So all those worthless character cards could actually benefit me.

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          March 23, 2012 2:56 PM

          But I don't give a shit about that N7 or something number. :(

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            March 23, 2012 3:33 PM

            It gives you war assets as well at least.

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              March 23, 2012 3:43 PM

              lol. yeah, those are really useful.

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          March 23, 2012 3:42 PM

          I just want new weapons :( Getting character cards whether I'm level 1 or level 20 does not make me happy. Also. that Falcon nerf was unbearable. Tone down the damage or something, but not the fire rate!

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      March 23, 2012 3:29 PM

      BioWare can probably come up with a better name.

      We all said that about the last 10 minutes of the single player game, too.

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      March 26, 2012 5:39 AM

      I love how they've got Bioware now has gamers jumping through hoops for them, for treats! "Roll over! Buy DLC! Play our challenge and click our sponsors! Good boy!"

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