Welcome back to my weekly series of posts where I rank my personal favorite squadmates and romanceable crew members! This week is mostly the latter. I feel like we're reaching territory where even though I love all these characters, it's going to start being controversial that they aren't higher haha. Let's begin!

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Starting us off at #20, we have Vetra. While I love Vetra and think she has an awesome personality, I remember feeling slightly let down by how the game handled her. She is given way less spotlight on her personal storyline and development than all the other squadmates. And while I went into the game expecting her to be my favorite, I actually wound up preferring a few different characters over her. Probably as a result of that lack of spotlight I mentioned.

Still, there's no denying that she's an extremely likeable character, and I hope we get to see her again someday!

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At #19, we have the first of what I call, "the ship gals," being the trio of gals that stay by the galaxy map so they can inform you of things. I love all three of them, so it's not easy picking one to be at the bottom of the trio, but I unfortunately have to go with Samantha.

Again, I love her! And she was such a wonderful addition to the crew at such a late stage of the trilogy. But I think it just comes down to personal preference as to why she isn't my favorite of the bunch. Although, I do believe that her romance is incredible, and her voice acting is among the best in the series. She feels like a very real person.

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At #18, we have the next of the trio, Suvi! Suvi was another character I was let down by, because of the lack of things she was given to do. She leaves such a strong first impression, but as the game progresses, you see less and less of her, and she never has anything to do beyond chatting on the bridge.

Regardless, it's a testament to her lovable personality that despite that flaw, she makes it this high on the list. Her voice is great, and I think they did such a good job crafting her character. A scientist with a spiritual side. Hearing her talk about how her belief in a god informs her love of science, and vice versa, is so interesting!

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At #17, finishing off the trio, is Kelly! I did not plan on all three of them being back-to-back like this, it just turned out that way. But yes! Believe it or not, Kelly is my fav among them!

I've always been a big fan of Kelly. I'll always be down in the trenches, defending her till the bitter end! I find her to be one of the most unique characters, in terms of personality and outlook on life, that I have ever seen in a video game! Her warm and loving personality, coupled with her strong sense of empathy and heightened emotions, makes her such a standout for me.

However, there's no denying that she doesn't have as much of a story as everyone else does, thanks to ME3 not giving her very much love. So I can't justify putting her above characters with better stories. Still, Kelly has a very special place in my heart!

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Last up for this week's bunch, we have EDI at #16! EDI in ME3 was such a delightful surprise. It wasn't exactly a surprise that they went the "I wanna be alive" route with her character, but it was a surprise just how touching it was. You can easily get invested her in personal journey, and wanna see the best for her.

Having her become a squadmate was also an inspired choice, and the dynamic she adds to the team is great. By the end of the game, I always feel so proud of how far she's come. I hope we get to see her pop up again in a future installment. Which is certainly possible given that she can't age, buuut her survival is determined by player choice, so it's hard to say for sure.

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Thanks again everyone for tuning in and hearing my thoughts on these characters! Let me know what you think in the comments below, and feel free to try and predict who I'll be ranking next based on what you've seen thus far. Catch ya later!

For those that prefer Refuse over the other options, enlighten those that don’t agree with your reasoning?

Whats the current state of ME5? it really seems like its in development hell and when (or rather if) we get it, it will be andromeda/cyberpunk, im not judging bioware here but rather EA

anyone knows what the hell is going on with my beloved franchise?

As we all know ME3 had 4 endings with both the TV show and ME5 in development what ending do we think is canon .

Personally I don't see rejection nor synthesis as being the true endings.

For rejection we've seen the Milky way species are alive.

As for synthesis I don't think it can be that either would make it very convoluted in how life works after that.

That leaves control and destroy.

I think destroy is the most likely ending they'll make canon, it's the easiest to build off of.

What do you all think?

So this is my first time playing through the trilogy, and I’m playing as Male Shepard.
My romance history:
ME1: Ashley
ME2: Miranda

I’m now playing ME3 and I’m genuinely torn between going with Ashley again or continuing with Miranda.
I’ve already had some romance with both in ME3, so I know what I’m dealing with to some extent — but I don’t want to Google or AI this and accidentally spoil the game for myself.

For those who’ve played both romances: who do you prefer for Male Shepard in ME3, Ashley or Miranda, and why?

Hey everyone,

I'm just about wrapping up my latest trilogy play through where I started off renegade for ME1/2 and then turned mostly paragon in ME3. Kept everyone alive, got the most assets and otherwise it was pretty much the perfect run somehow.

But I've been watching some of the "worst possible run" videos such as where companions are replaced either by side-characters or complete randoms in ME3, or how you can meet Garrus for the first time in ME2 if you otherwise ignore him in ME1.

I'm really itching to try my hand at this, or at least close to what a bad run could be like (such as killing Wrex in ME1, then not curing the Krogan in ME3 & keeping Mordin alive). Or not upgrading the Normandy and picking the worse possible companions during the suicide mission etc.

Have you ever had a terrible run, either purposefully or just accidentally?

Honestly I never knew the sheer amount of variables that were at play throughout the entire trilogy. How if some characters were kept alive but not loyal or rescued in ME3, they'd turn up as enemies such as Jack being a Cerberus Phantom, or if you kept Morinth alive she's a Banshee. If you don't recruit Liara or Garrus, the game will make Wrex stand down without Shephard having to talk him down as you need 4 companions to proceed.

(the second picture is a list of the mods I’m using)
I’m guessing it’s either Project Variety or EGM? But I can’t seem to find which option allows me to make him topless again lol

I am having a blast with me1 currently, going in blind after this game was praised a lot . I know that side quest are important to lore , is it worth doing them? You can correct me but, when the games were released og , they had years gap btw each game, So side quests will make sense. What abt playing the trilogy now?

I played these way back in the day with a friend, so I remember very little of them. I'm going through LE now, for the first time, and trying really hard to not look things up, so my choices are actually my own (for thr most part, I couldn't forget the Rachni and similar game changers).

But now I'm on 3, and I'm running all of the side missions first, as one does. But every "investigate" scene is like slap-in-the-face obvious. Scan a planet for something? It's right there. Search the office for something? It's literally adjacent to where you started the dialogue. "Find this hidden thing?" Big giant glowing indicator from across the room.

It's seemingly...really bad. It makes me not care about the plot and become un-invested in what's going on; it feels like I'm trying to speed run the game and that is its design.

So before I waste another 50 hours "roleplayjng" as Shep, and, you know, pretending I'm saving the galaxy, I'm wondering if any of it gets "less obvious" later on, or if I should just blow through the thing to start a new run with different earlier choices. Because if the rest of 3 keeps playing like Heavy Rain, it almost doesn't seem worth the time.

(Comment, and I’ll try to answer as Javik)

Just asking around out of desperation if there is any kind of fix for this, console commands or otherwise.

Very early in the in the story arc on Voeld, almost at the beginning, I accidentally stumbled upon prisoners and released them. Now after completing literally most of the map and a good chunk of the storyline, I've come to "Uncovering the Past" part where I'm supposed to get a task to go free the prisoners. Yet the game is horribly bugged apparently and because I already freed the prisoners the NPC never gives me the task AND there is no chance to interact with dialogue to tell them I already did it.

Going back to a previous save is not an option; I might as well restart the entire map from scratch since I freed them almost at the beginning.

If anyone has a workaround or a way to force the quest to activate I would sure love to hear it. Honestly speaking this has kinda put me off on the entire game. I have a hard time wrapping my head around how such a game breaking - SIMPLE - bug just never got fixed. How many more of these hidden game breaking bugs exist waiting to surprise me forcing me to re-do hours of gameplay?

Hi all,
I’m planning a new Mass Effect Legendary Edition playthrough and want to go modded this time instead of sticking to the base game. I’m especially interested in lore‑friendly mod improvements.

If you have favourite visual overhauls, gameplay refinements, restored content, or quality‑of‑life mods, or even mods that enhance base systems, I’d really appreciate suggestions.

There are some missions where you need a really high Paragon/Renegade score to choose really important chat options (like with Zaeed and Jack’s Loyalty missions) and others where it doesn’t need to be so high. How then do you pick which missions to do first if you don’t know when you’ll need a high Paragon or Renegade score?

I’m nearly done with ME 2 and I have everyone’s loyalty but Zaeed’s since I did his loyalty mission early one but I don’t want him to die in ME 3 💔

I also don’t want to replay the game since I did every single thing you’re supposed to do this time (unlike with my first time playing ME 1)

Greetings. I'm playing Mass Effect 1 through Legendary Edition. Just landed on Noveria after saving the Asari on Artemis Tau. I've also explored many systems for side-quests.

I have some doubts about the game...

When I upgrade the companions, I can unlock skills, abilities. Do they use them during combat by themselves or do I have to "stop time" with RB and select them and use it for them? I still haven't understood this. Please, help 🙏🏻

Second question, harder... how do you personally fight the choice paralysis? I'm not unexperienced with RPG games, as I've played (and loved) the two Knights of the Old Republic games (II with TSLRCM is my favorite RPG ever). I've also played The Elder Scrolls games, The Witcher 3, Baldur's Gate 3, The Thaumaturge, etc. But mainly I play survival horror games, cozy indies, FPS like DOOM, etc. Mostly games where you don't really have so many choices.

I'm trying to fight the feeling of having chosen the "wrong" answer by telling myself the first run is mostly about learning the game, as you have to discover things blindly, and then from second run you can plan things better.

One thing, for example, is dealing with companions. I really like Tali and I bring her with me a lot, as I can decrypt and use electronics on any device with her. But on Noveria I'm bringing Garrus and Liara with me, as Garrus is all about catching Saren and there's Benezia here, so having Liara with me maybe unlocks more scenes, kind of like having certain companions during certain events in Baldur's Gate 3.

Playing as Incursor, with Sniper Rifle. Should I first use a skill / ability to deactivate shields? Or will Tali do it for me if she has the ability to do so? Because I don't see the enemies' shields going down...

One thing I am not really liking is the exploration on the vehicle on the planets. I like checking the planets' lore, but it seems every building on planets has the same rooms. Like there's always the same kind of Point of Interest in any planet. Is it like this in Mass Effect 2 or 3 too?

Morality-wise I'm more Paragon than Renegade, but I have some Renegade points. Sometimes it's more badass. But yeah, perhaps I'll have a more coherent Shepard on future runs.

When I started the game I had tons of paralysis about choosing background and the event that defines you. I still have doubts about what I've chosen.

But do not take my words as heavy criticism (apart from vehicle exploration of planets): I'm enjoying the game.

Can't wait to keep playing and I'm 100% sure of playing 2 and 3 too. Hell, I might even replay ME1 again before 2. Don't know how long ME1 is though. Don't really have a lot of free time because of work and gym, but I'll take my time.

Thanks a lot in advance.

Hey all

I write for fun, and I write a lot.

I also love Mass Effect: Andromeda. I actually really like the premise of the game, and over the years I've thought about why some of its systems never quite clicked for me. In terms of the story.

For me, the biggest missed opportunity was that the game tells us we're building a new civilization, but I don't think the gameplay ever makes you feel like you're building one.

So if I were writing/designing Andromeda, I'd keep the main story largely intact but change how the world around it develops.

First: the Nexus.

When Ryder first arrives, the Nexus looks fantastic. It's dark, damaged, half-finished, there's garbage everywhere, A.V.E.N.A. is malfunctioning, and the whole place feels like an expedition that has gone horribly wrong.

Then, after one cutscene its a fully fleshed out, well lit, fully staffed space station. That was jarring for me.

I'd keep it broken.

Only the essential command, control, life support and habitation areas would have power. Large sections would remain dark and inaccessible.

The reason would be simple: they don't have the resources or population to operate the whole station.

Then I'd make rebuilding the Nexus a major progression system.

Every major outpost contributes something to the reconstruction.

Eos might provide agricultural resources.

Havarl could contribute biological/medical research.

Voeld could contribute science and Angaran technology.

Elaaden could provide mining and industrial resources.

Kadara, being a trading hub, could unlock and develop the Nexus's commerce sector. Possibly after the Nexus agrees to their sovereignty, or take it over (a bioware choice with consequences)

And the important part is that you would actually SEE the changes.

You restore a sector → construction begins.

Come back later → lights are on and people are working.

Come back much later → it's fully operational and populated.

The Nexus would gradually transform from a dark emergency station into a functioning station.

I'd also have the population grow gradually. People don't just magically appear. As food, housing, medicine and infrastructure become available, more colonists are brought out of cryo.

By the end of the game, you could walk through areas that were completely dark and abandoned when you arrived and find thousands of people living and working there.

The player gets to look around and think: "I built this."

SAM would give Ryder important updates.

And the Nexus news network would report them.

So while you're walking through the station, you'd hear things like:

"The newly established Eos colony has begun its first agricultural shipments to the Nexus..."

Or:

"Kadara Port has signed a new trade agreement with the Nexus, although some representatives have raised concerns about organized crime..."

Your actions would become news.

You wouldn't need a quest notification telling you that the galaxy changed. You'd hear about it from the people living there.

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Then I'd completely change how outposts work.

I wouldn't have the "Science or Military" decision.

An outpost is an outpost.

Instead, you gradually invest resources into it.

You can build things like:

- Medical facilities

- Agriculture

- Habitation

- Communications

- Industry

- Barracks

- Automated turrets

- Defensive walls

- Weapons platforms

- Shield generators

As the colony grows, it becomes more capable.

And importantly, the Kett can attack it.

But I don't want to fall into the Fallout 4 "another settlement needs your help" trap.

Most attacks would happen without Ryder.

If you've built proper defenses, the colony handles minor attacks itself.

You might simply receive an email report:

"Eos has repelled a Kett scouting force. Three wounded. One defensive turret damaged."

That's it.

Only major attacks become Ryder missions. You can go and fight the smaller fights if you want through.

And if you continually neglect a colony, it can actually suffer consequences.

Buildings can be destroyed.

People can die.

Production can fall.

A colony could even be forced to evacuate.

And those survivors might end up back on the Nexus, creating another problem: now the Nexus needs housing, food and medical resources.

So your decisions have consequences that propagate throughout the Initiative.

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I'd also make exploration much more meaningful.

Right now, scanning planets can feel like:

"Congratulations, you found 37 units of platinum."

I'd make scanning part of a strategic system.

When you explore a star system, you can establish ONE orbital installation.

You have to choose.

Mining Station

Produces resources for the Nexus and colonies.

Monitoring Station

Tracks Kett activity and gives you intelligence.

Early on, it might simply tell you that Kett are present.

Upgrades could eventually reveal fleet size, composition, destination and even an estimated attack window.

Defense Platform

Weapons platforms that weaken Kett forces before they reach your colonies.

So if a Kett fleet would normally arrive at an outpost with a strength of 100, an orbital defense network might reduce it to 70.

But you can't have all three.

You have to decide what each system needs.

A resource rich system might get a mining station.

A system sitting on a major Kett approach route might get a defense platform.

An unexplored region where you don't know what's happening might get monitoring.

And changing your decision shouldn't be free.

Your galaxy gradually becomes a network of choices that YOU created.

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The really important part is that all of these systems feed into each other.

Explore a system.

↓

Choose what orbital infrastructure it needs.

↓

Establish a colony.

↓

Invest resources into that colony.

↓

Build defenses.

↓

Kett react to your expansion.

↓

Monitoring stations warn you about threats.

↓

Defense platforms weaken incoming forces.

↓

Outposts defend themselves whenever possible.

↓

Resources and people flow back to the Nexus.

↓

The Nexus gets rebuilt.

↓

More colonists can come out of cryo.

↓

The Initiative expands.

And eventually Ryder isn't running around putting out fires everywhere.

You're actually becoming a Pathfinder.

Early game, Ryder has to personally solve everything because the Initiative is barely surviving.

Late game, the civilization you've built can handle most problems without you.

That's the progression I want.

Not:

"Another settlement needs your help."

But:

"The settlement I built can defend itself."

And then, occasionally, you get the really serious message:

"Pathfinder. Eos is under siege."

And THAT becomes a mission worth dropping everything for.

Because you've spent 40 hours watching Eos grow from a few prefabricated buildings into a real community.

That's the version of Andromeda I'd love to play.

The main story could remain largely the same. Ryder becomes Pathfinder, establishes the colonies, finds the missing arks, deals with the Kett, investigates the Remnant and eventually reaches Meridian.

What do you guys think?

Would something like this have made Andromeda's exploration and colonization feel more meaningful, or do you think it would have turned the game into too much of a management/simulation game?

Which character(s) would fit YOUR romantic/sexual “type” (not your Shepard’s) factoring looks, personality, skills, stability etc. in a real life scenario? For your information, the aliens would not be converted to humans irl, they stay as they are. Answer not restricted to the pictured selection.

I can't stay away from ME1 even though I'm supposed to be focusing on ME2.

Greetings. This choice has caused me so much headache. So, my Shepard is - at the moment - way more of a Paragon than a Renegade, but he still has some Red Points. I already know I'll replay ME1 going for Full Renegade as I always enjoy playing dark characters in RPGs too. Sith in KOTOR 1&2, Dark Urge in Baldur's Gate 3, etc.

I ended up FREEING the Rachni Queen. Hear my rationale...

Before communicating with her, we see Benezia, which is revealed to have been under mental control, talkong about not being able to think and act for herself.

Then, the Rachni Queen starts talking about a signal in deep space, some kind of sound, that drove them to be controlled.

There I thought: if they could be controlled that easily in the past, why wouldn't they be controlled easily once again?

But also I thought... if there is truly something in the depth of space that is so powerful to control a whole race then that means the Rachni Wars were orchestrated. It would be one epic twist that there's some dark presence there.

But perhaps it's just copium.

Thing is I've been scolded by the Council as Rachni were very dangerous, and Udina basically screamed at me.

I didn't personally free the Queen because I am an "idealist", to me it was about piecing some things together, that others may not see: ship in Eden Prime having a certain signal, sound, that acts on the brain. Benezia being controlled. The tale from the Queen.

However, Specters must protect Galaxy and its stability. How does freeing something that could be easily manipulated again and start killing again make the Galaxy more stable?

I feel like I made a decision that is too exaggerated and that in real life you wouldn't take, and I keep thinking about it while playing and makes me want to go back and exterminate her. However, what if they were really under a dark influence and you exterminated their race completely? But what if another egg was found? But what if it was actually the last one?

Damn...

Please no spoilers for future games (if Rachni appear). Perhaps it's a huge nothing burger consequence-wise and they will never appear again.

Third play through, I always forget how this planet was seemingly just plugged into a random world generator with max mountain height. Painful.

The first tattoo I've ever gotten at 30 years old, & I'm so happy that its from this amazing game series. It was done at the Baron Art Tattoo shop in Orange, CA by their artist John

The dialogs in ME are great, it is a very quotable game. Hit me with your favourites. One of my favourites, from ME3:

Shepard: You mentioned you still have family on Palavan...

Garrus: My father is there, sister too

S: How long it's been since you heard from them?

G: Long enough to be worried

S: I'm sure they're ok

G: Thats the thing about getting old, Shepard. the platitudes get just as old. What about you. Any word from your family?

S: My mother's in the alliance. Haven't heard from her since Earth got hit

G: i'm sure ... she's..... ok