The ending sucks!

[mcv]

Death by stupid dialogue options. All blacked out because of spoilers:

Spoiler

I went for the independent ending. I want nothing to do with the stupid politics of LA, I just want to kill the people who are trying to get me killed, and stop the people who want to destroy or unbalance the city. So, independent ending.

I kill Ming Xiao -- not a problem. I kill everybody in the Venture Tower, including the Sheriff/Behemoth (not a particularly dangerous fight, but that thing is really hard to hit), and end up in LaCroix' office. I want to kill him straight away, but despite just having laid waste to his entire tower, I can't use weapons or disciplines here. So we talk. And this is what I can say to him:

1. Here's the key, you go open the box
2. I keep the key and go open the box for myself
3. I win, LA will bend to my will! Muahaha!

I don't want to open the sarcophagus. Everybody except LaCroix believes something bad will happen if it's opened, and in particular, Beckett, just about the only guy other than Jack that I still respect, the only one who might possibly know what might be going on, tells me not to open it. So the first and second option are obviously bad. The third option is completely stupid and not what I want to say at all, but at least the box won't be opened, so that's the one I choose. What happens? I walk to the box, open it, and get blown up. Why?

And more than that, if Jack has managed to replace the mummy with explosives, why didn't he tell me about it? And how can he possibly have gotten to the sarcophagus in the first place? On the Elizabeth Dane, before anyone else got there? Or did he get help from Beckett? If so, then why did Beckett also betray me? I thought he at least was someone I could respect. Count on, even. Is there really no-one I can trust? (I admit that is what I told the driver, so perhaps I deserve to be betrayed by Beckett?

Even so, this wouldn't have happened if the game had given me some sort of choice here. I had big expectations of the grand finale of this otherwise brilliant game, but despite the freedom to choose from 5 different endings, I still don't get any choice as to what I actually want to do.

In short, I'm slightly pissed right now.

[Jhereg]

*** Spoilers ***

Death by stupid dialogue options. All blacked out because of spoilers:

In short, I'm slightly pissed right now.

OK, spoilers blacked out.

Spoiler

You said it yourself. You don't want to open it, and you've found out why you don't want to open it. So why not give the key to Lacriox?

Oh, and you can't attack him openly, but the right dialog options will allow you to use something that *is not* a weapon to attack him.

The independent ending is actually far and away my favorite. But you have to do it right.

[mountain_hare]

mcv:

So the first and second option are obviously bad.

No they aren't. As the previous poster pointed out, if the sarcophagus is full of explosives, don't you want LaCroix to open it?

And more than that, if Jack has managed to replace the mummy with explosives, why didn't he tell me about it?

Because you're just a patsy, and he doesn't know whenever he can trust you. And even if you were loyal to Jack, there's always the chance that you would fail to deceive LaCroix.

[quote
And how can he possibly have gotten to the sarcophagus in the first place? On the Elizabeth Dane, before anyone else got there?[/quote]

I'm guessing Jack and his cab driver buddy massacred the crew on the Dane, opened the sarcophagus and planted the explosives.

Or did he get help from Beckett? If so, then why did Beckett also betray me?

Beckett didn't know. He was one of the two main characters you could trust (the other was Mercurio).

Is there really no-one I can trust? (I admit that is what I told the driver, so perhaps I deserve to be betrayed by Beckett?

Remember that chick on the beach? You trust the man on the couch (Mercurio) and the lone wolf (Beckett). All others are suspect.

[themaelstorm]

One thing I couldn't really understand:

Spoiler

How does Beckett know about the Sarcophagus? Does he know what's really inside?? Becouse he just says it will be "bad for everyone" if you open it or something like that. So, if he knows it's a bomb, why would it be bad for everyone? If he was camarilla, I'd understand; I'd say, he's thinking there'll be chaos if prince dies. But he wouldn't give a damn. I'm really confused about Beckett warning us.


By the way, I heard the drivers files are named after Cain. Is he Cain? Becouse when I got on the taxi and he talked I said "Oh my, this guy is either Cain or an Antedulivian (mispelled I think=P)" due to his charisma, choice of words and all. Malvian Theory is interesting too. Is there an official word on him?

[forgedude]

The gypsy on the beach...

...tells you not to open the box. Beckett, who is one of the folks that she said you could trust, told you not to open it. Your email told you not to open it. If, after all that, you opened it....

[mountain_hare]

BEWARE, SPOILERS

How does Beckett know about the Sarcophagus? Does he know what's really inside??

I don't think Beckett knows about the explosives. I suspect that after he learnt about the origins of the sarcophagus, combined with getting that sense of dread every other vampire has felt, he probably started to think it likely that the antediviluan myth was true.

By the way, I heard the drivers files are named after Cain. Is he Cain?

I very much doubt it, simply because of his wording at the end of the game while talking to Jack. He says something along the lines of "Remember vampire, where ever we go, it is the blood of Caine which decides our fate." Why would Caine refer to himself in third person?

Jack seems pretty independent, but it's clear that the cabbie was the one who planned the debacle, and ordered Jack about (Jack: "It worked out just as you said it would.") So I'm guessing that the cabbie is Jack's sire, and possibly an antediviluan, which would allow him to inspire a feeling of dread amongst the vampire community.

[themaelstorm]

Makes sense alright. I wasn't sure why he would refer himself as third person as well. Another reason of my suspection was Malkavian lines when talking with him. There a few like "Is it? no. no no.. Is it?" or "Are you? No. You.. Are you?" I don't remember but it was something like that. However, I was told he was Caine when I was playing Malkavian so I may have bent the meanings in a case of selective attention.


Speaking of endings, I love how Prince reacts in the independant ending (only done independant and Kuei-jin so far), heheh. Li'l Sebastian.

[Wesp5]

BEWARE, SPOILERS












I don't think Beckett knows about the explosives. I suspect that after he learned about the origins of the sarcophagus, combined with getting that sense of dread every other vampire has felt, he probably started to think it likely that the antediviluan myth was true.

I don't think that, rather on the contrary. I think Beckett learned as much from the sarcophagus to guess it belonged to a powerful ghoul, but no more. He then probably wondered who spread all the mysterious rumors it might be something else and why. So he suspected foul play.

So I'm guessing that the cabbie is Jack's sire, and possibly an antediviluan, which would allow him to inspire a feeling of dread amongst the vampire community.

As far as I know there is a Malkavian in the PnP game who thinks he is Caine and who is a close friend of Jack. I guess this would be the most reasonable explanation.

[Minalkali]

I've played the game through a couple of times, but I'm not sure I got all the endings.

SPOILERS

Spoiler

Are there any options other than taking your own side or siding with the anarchs (and obv not opening the sarcophagus) that won't result in your death?

[mountain_hare]

WARNING, SPOILERS!














Wesp5:

I don't think that, rather on the contrary. I think Beckett learned as much from the sarcophagus to guess it belonged to a powerful ghoul, but no more. He then probably wondered who spread all the mysterious rumors it might be something else and why. So he suspected foul play.

Then why, when he warned you, did Beckett mention that he had an 'inexplicable sensation' (that may not be his exact words)? It sounds to me like he was admitted that he was feeling the same 'discomfort' all of the other vampires native to L.A had felt since the arrival of the sarcophagus, and had started to suspect that the myth was true.

As far as I know there is a Malkavian in the PnP game who thinks he is Caine and who is a close friend of Jack. I guess this would be the most reasonable explanation.

But the wording at the end implies that the taxi driver is not Caine, unless he enjoys speaking in third person and has poor grammar. Added to which, I can't see an independent like Jack taking orders from a nutty Malkavian (witness his reaction if your PC is a Malkavian!) And that doesn't explain how a Malkavian could inflict terror on all of the vampires in L.A.

Mina:

Are there any options other than taking your own side or siding with the anarchs (and obv not opening the sarcophagus) that won't result in your death?

Yep. Stay loyal to the Camarilla.

[Minalkali]

Mina:



Yep. Stay loyal to the Camarilla.

Really? I seem to remember doing that and getting blown up, thought it has been a while. Care to share? I don't mind spoilers.

[themaelstorm]

Afaik, although never done

Spoiler

, it is possible to stay by Camarilla's side but NOT lackey of prince. Your main guy will be Strauss, the Tremere guy.

[mountain_hare]

Really? I seem to remember doing that and getting blown up, thought it has been a while. Care to share? I don't mind spoilers.

You need to talk to Strauss at some point in the game, and persuade him to tell you about his opinion of LaCroix.

In the taxi at the end of the game, mention that you support LaCroix. The taxi driver will then question your logic, and you can say something along the lines of "OK, LaCroix sucks, but the Camarilla is essential for Vampire society". You can then tell the taxi driver to take you to Strauss.

The Camarilla ending was the first one I played through. Overall, it's a good ending, although a bit unsatisfying. Try it, and find out why.

[Minalkali]

I found all the endings to be somewhat unsatisfying tbqh. Except maybe the Anarch ending, but that's mainly just because I <3 Jack.

[Hematic]

Really? I seem to remember doing that and getting blown up, thought it has been a while. Care to share? I don't mind spoilers.

No, you stayed loyal to the prince. Try staying loyal to the camerilla.:mischief:

[ahs]

I loved the ending, everything, everyone, everywhateva occured to be a hoax.
If you didn't like the idea of being a victim of the Jack's joke you shoul have listened to all the hints during the game.
The endings I like the most are a lonely wolf and Camarila ones.

Ahs, if you have a new question or topic, first check to see if it's covered in the forum database using search. If it is, post there. If it isn't, start a new thread. The site owner's not big on what's called "thread-napping." So your new topic has been removed. --Fable, moderator

[][_aVey]

I found the "Solo Ending" very satisfying just the first time I finished the game, but the next time I realized it was kinda corny. To make things worse, I was playing with a female Tremere, and she looks like a real dumba$$ when the camera makes a closeup on her.

I found allying with Ming Xiao was way more funny! Just how at Downtown she seems to be like a real pal, and at the ending she bet......... hrotes.... the... er.... uh.... better forget what I said. The bad thing about taking this approach is that you won't play one of the most intense levels in the game.

Anyway, it doesn't matter if you decide joining with the Anarchs, the Camarilla, or whatever, the only important decision you make to change the ending is what you say to the cab driver.

[Duskey]

SPOILER below

Spoiler

How can you assume that Jack planted explosives in it and what happened to the original contents then?

[Jhereg]

SPOILER below

Spoiler

How can you assume that Jack planted explosives in it and what happened to the original contents then?

Spoiler reply follows:

Spoiler

Up front, you can't really know for certain what is in the box. You do get clues, though. E. tells you that the gypsy warned about the "jack coming out of the box". That's the first clue that Jack's involved somehow, and he makes no bones about hating Lacroix' guts. That's why I eventually gave the key to Lacroix (independent ending). You're the hero in this piece, so there has to be one way to get out with your hide intact.

Work with Lacroix? I'd sooner eat skin with Pisha. I had to work for Lacroix for awhile, but with is asking a bit much. He's a political animal, and you don't go to bed with one of those unless you're prepared to wake up with a knife in your back.

Take over LA? Why would I want to? I wouldn't even want to in Real Life. Besides, as a Tremere, that kind of thing would be totally out of character. Tremere are insular, not political or socialites.

So handing over the key was the obvious solution. It could shake out any number of ways. Whatever is in there could wake up hungry, and if so, you don't really want to be on the apertif menu. If you're not already dead, you at least have a fighting chance. It might be the Mesopotamian King. I hate zombies, and I can't imagine a mummy would be much more fun. It might be an elaborate ruse - if so, the jokes on Lacroix. It could be an elaborate plot - if so, better Lacoix than me, be it a bomb or something so humble as a cruel practical joke. Or maybe it is an antedeluvian, and Lacroix does get his little bit of diablerie in. If so, one more bad guy whose behind desperately needs a kicking, and this time, every vampire in LA would have your back.

So there's not much to lose, either way.

As for what happened to the original contents, play it out right, and you'll get a chance to see it. Hint: The archaeologist was right.

[Wesp5]

I really loved that this was for once not the usual ending with another final boss turning up to get killed. Instead after the end the whole game made sense from the very beginning...