Coming up with ideas

I initially came up with about forty ideas for this assignment; to narrow it down, I've restricted myself to ship-based combat. Using the same criteria as my previous Star Wars assigment, I managed with some difficulty to narrow my options down to five six (I came up with another while writing this post!) which shall (in no particular order) be discussed below:

1. Mass Effect 1: Battle of the Citadel

The Reapers arriving at the start of this battle. It would definitely feature Sovereign, Geth transports (which, thanks to a very convenient plot, look like tiny Sovereigns, so would really require little changing besides ten seconds with the Scale tool), the Citadel itself, and the Destiny Ascension, the flagship of the Citadel Fleet. Optionally, it could also contain a couple of other ships that are at the Citadel, and the Mass Relay they arrive through - but these could easily be cut out.

Pros: It's a good plot-heavy clip, and it's a cutscene - thus giving me something to base this assignment off.

Cons: No Normandy!

2. Mass Effect 1: Battle of the Citadel (again)

The arrival of the Normandy SR-1 and the fleet saving the Destiny Ascension from the Geth ships.

Pros: It's a nice heroic moment as the Normandy saves the flagship. Other than this, see idea 2.

Cons: It would have to contain quite a lot of models: Citadel, Mass Relay, Normandy, Geth Ships, and at least a couple of ship designs from the fleet. Quite possibly this would be too many...

3. Mass Effect 2: Suicide Mission

The Normandy SR-2 arriving through the Omega 4 Relay, and the Oculus fight on the other side. The clip would end with the last Oculus breaking into the cargo bay.

Pros: The several Oculuses (Oculi?) in the cutscene can all be based off one model. It's also a fast-paced action scene, and is, if you cut out the scenes inside the Normandy which I obviously won't animate, just about the right length.

Cons: This cutscene requires a debris field. I do not want to model a debris field.

4. Mass Effect 2: Suicide Mission (again)

The Normandy SR-2 arriving at the Collector Base, and her victorious fight against the Collector ship that destroyed the Normandy SR-1 and killed Shepard (albeit briefly).

Pros: I always enjoy seeing that thing blow up. Animating it ought to be fun.

Cons: That ship is the least symmetrical thing I could imagine modeling. And that's not even touching on the base itself, which is only really seen from one angle. Quadruple my workload? No thanks.

5. Mass Effect 3: The Battle for Rannoch

This would mostly feature Geth and Quarian ships fighting in the battle, little of which is actually shown in the game.

Pros: Most of the ships would be very similar, thus allowing a largeish battle to be animated with relatively few models.

Cons: Difficult to explain in a proper way, but it just doesn't feel right doing a Mass Effect animation without the Normandy! Also, it'd be hard to find a good plot-related clip to animate, considering how long the battle is in the game.

6. Mass Effect 3: Battle for Earth

This would involve the Normandy SR-2 (repainted in Alliance colours) fighting in the final battle for Earth. I quickly discarded this idea as I don't like it as much as most of the others.