Help me play the Mass Effect series

if you're not going to replay I think you made a mistake. Every one of them carries over into ME2 and personalises your universe. Some also feature interesting dialogue dilemmas, especially the space missions.

It's fucking terrible, ignore this man. The DLC you want for ME2 is:

Zaeed
Stolen Memory
Overlord
Lair of the Shadow Broker
The Arrival

Of these only Lair of the Shadow Broker is a must have, though I would strongly recommend the others if you have the funds. Except The Arrival, it's not very good, but it is the bridge between ME2 and ME3.

Mirriam, these people are ruining ME2 for you.

Overlord *is* vehicle DLC.

Well, there are two vehicle DLCs in ME2. The first is the Firewalker Pack and it is indeed terrible. Don't bother with it.

The second is Overlord. It uses the same vehicle from Firewalker, but it's actually rather decent. The vehicle bits only make up a small portion of the content; it's mostly a decent ME story featuring minor characters who may or may not return for cameo appearances in ME3 depending on your decisions.

No it's not, it features a vehicle section. This is not the same thing.

That is the exact moment I went FUCK YES MASS EFFECT. <3

Anyone not recommending the Zaeed DLC should be set on fire. He's my favorite character in ME2. Garrus-bro in ME3 barely overtakes him overall.

Um, if you say so. Regardless, when I said "the vehicle DLC is pretty good!" Overlord is the part I was thinking of. The other stuff is forgettable, yes.

I really liked Zaeed a lot. Liked him better than Kasumi for sure, plus I liked his mission better (because I got a full group instead of just me and Kasumi).

Zaeed's problem is that he's only loosely stitched onto the plot. Not a bad character, but definitely felt like an afterthought.

Zaeed was at the bottom of my list for character personally, in terms of story and combat usefulness. He just seemed like somebody's cranky grandfather. "Hey Shepard, did I ever tell you how I got kicked out of my own merc group?" "Oh hey, Zaeed, that sounds awesome but I really need to go mine for platinum right now."

Zaeed was ok, but I don't think you're really missing anything if you don't have that DLC. At least Kasumi's level was somewhat unique; Zaeed's level was just a straight-up combat mission.

Kasumi's level is interesting precisely once, after that it's boring. Zaeed's is fun every time.

Yesssss. MUST GET ALL THE THINGS!

By the way, I don't think you're really missing out that much by skipping the side quests. I would say that I did a second playthrough (that was much more thorough) as a DudeShep before going into ME2, and I am glad I did, partly because, for some reason, the Mako was SO HORRIBLE it wrapped all the way around to hilarious for me, so I actually didn't mind the Mako bits as much the second time through. :P But! More importantly because the combat was SO much better in ME2, it killed all desire for me to ever go back again.

For a while, anyway. I am soooort of thinking of giving it another whirl because of this thread.

Yes, me too! It's so nice to play a strong, capable woman in a video game :D

Yes! Yes, exactly. I will always treasure that moment of FUCK YES.

His level is the primary reason to get his DLC, because it's awesome.

Yes. I did that (contacting support), but I actually found a forum post on the Bioware forums which contained 3-4 different keys for BDtS. One of those worked for me, so it seems that they replenish the activation limit from time to time.

I think it is worth it, though. Bring Down the Sky has IMO one of the best non-party NPC in the first game and also the only occasion in the game where I felt that the game poses a solid moral question; i.e., where they've done a minimum of character work to at least make you care about the consequences and don't allow you to just superpower your way out of the dilemma (as tends to be the case in almost all "moral choices" in RPGs). It's a pity that they did not do more with that particular decision in latter games.

There are a few sidequests that affect warscore in ME3 (I've been checking, in order to be sure that I don't miss any).

Very minor spoilers:

The big choices in ME1 with respect to later seems to be the choice made in the finale, as well as getting your party members to survive to fulfill their in-game roles later.

...which is why he was the best sidekick in ME2. That, and he was always the least Mary-Sue of all the NPCs: you can't sleep with him (if you're a Femshep), he's not a Brogan, he's not all Smoove B like Garrus, or emo like Thane... he's just this tough, experienced, somewhat mean-spirited WWII vet trope.

Re your spoiler:

Re your spoiler:

Yeah, he's probably my second or third favorite squadmate in ME2 precisely because of his crusty old veteran pragmatism, mostly delivered through mission banter. I was surprised by how much the guy grew on me after initially only bringing him along because of his convenient skillset, but grow on me he did. I also really liked Sten in DA:O so maybe I'm just overly fond of unapologetic tough guys.

Quitch question:

Hahahahaha no. :)

on higher difficulties, I always found cloak to be much more of a "cover blown, retreat!!!" button.. Anytime you are exposed you are getting shot, and the ability gives you the time it takes reposition your self into cover.

I have a Destroyer build named Ventura for the chain gun scene in Predator. I just ignore the missile system and buff ammo/shields and drop a brute with a single magazine.it makes the extraction wave fun.

In the citadel, talk to admiral Kahoku. He lines up a bunch of side quests that introduce you to Cerberus. This will pay off in 2 and 3. As will going to the moon and meeting a rampant VI. It's also the best Moon Patrol joke in the history of video games. Kahoku, Moon. Do it.

What bago said. Also. Anyone who claims you can waltz through ME2 without the awesomeness that is Zaeed Massani should be set on fire with Incendiary Grenades and Revenant-gunned with Inferno ammo given a stern talking to. Since this is a no-spoiler thread I'll just say that listening to Zaaed reminiscing about past missions is probably my favorite passive parts in ME2.

My first few times through ME2 (DON'T JUDGE ME) I sort of ignored him. Then I decided "OK, I should REALLY bring this dude along more often, just for variety's sake." And then I realized what a terrible mistake ignoring him had been.

I also really liked Sten, though, so I guess I have a fondness for crabby people? I don't know. Zaeed isn't really even that crabby (not like Sten-crabby), just sort of ... crusty. Or something.

I really liked Zaeed, never understood those who dislike him. Great stories, interesting personality which stands out from the general chummy optimism, etc.

I didn't like Sten. He had a code. Having a code in an RPG is the writer's way of telling you that character is going to be boring as fuck.

I guess in this thread I've probably come closest to saying "I dislike Zaeed" although I don't really, I just don't see the draw. A cranky old guy who kills people and tells long, rambling stories without a point? Sure, sign me up for that.

Finally finished the first game, and just started ME2.

I honestly thought that the first Mass Effect was a pretty average game. I wasn't particularly attached to any of my companions (Joker was my favourite character in the game). The storyline was great near the end, but the side missions define the word 'tedious'. That might be because I completed every single one I received except the collectibles (and I was only missing around 6 of those heavy metals), and did a loooooot of exploring.

Choices I made:

I kept my Infiltrator class and face, and started up ME2 today.

It sure looks a lot nicer. I am impressed so far (just barely past the beginning sequence). The menus and pop-ups are aesthetically pleasing, especially compared to the old ones in the first game. The characters are a little easier to talk to. I'm still getting used to having the new controls (I keep hitting 'E' and sending my companions everywhere instead of interacting), and so I am blaming my horrendous combat skills on that even if it's not the real reason. I am a huge fan of the ambiance. A little dialogue between random people in the background, a comment here or there, and a couple of extra rooms and accessories like flowers and books can really make a difference.

And Joker is still my favourite character.

Stories that always end with everyone else dying horrible violent deaths are the best stories.

Throughout the series, the way you treat Wrex, Tali, Legion, and the Rachni queen wind up informing how potential genocides play out. ME3 is rather good at putting you into a corner with some of the decisions you have to make, especially since some of the decision branches can be removed by the choices made in 1 and 2.

Always talk to Joker.

I disagree, they are the worst. I'm still bitter about NWN2's ending, I want my endings to be happy dammit!
I can't stand losing people or unhappy endings, which is why in ME2 and 3 I'll make use of all those spoilers kind people posted to prevent me from getting unhappy endings as much as possible. Each to their own I suppose.

Wait, what, we're dropping NWN2 story spoilers in here? WTF?

The lows are what make the highs. If it's all highs then it's no highs. My most memorable moment of ME3 was when things didn't go according to the happy plan, and it was amazing.

I personally like the "it's always the darkest before dawn" approach better. Obviously the whole game doesn't have to be butterflies and kittens, but I like the ending to be good, that way I feel the sacrifices and bad things that happened were worth it in the end.

They are perfectly fine, as you yourself is not in them. Which is the case with Zaeed's war stories, which all have one thing in common.