Mass Effect 2 *spoilers around pg 29/30*

[tmp]

I think the key is you have to do it immediately after getting Legion?

Yup; you can do Legion's loyalty mission without consequences because the attack technically triggers while you're on that very mission, but afterwards if you don't follow through immediately it's going to cost half of the crew per each delay you make, or smth like that.

[Quinton]

I did Legion's loyalty mission immediately after picking him up and didn't do anything else before going through the Omega Relay, so I'm not sure why I lost half the crew... unfortunate.

Re: Miranda -- I'm not particularly fond of either her or Jack (though Jack has a much better excuse for being annoying).  I was also expecting to be able to patch things up with Jack loyalty-wise before the endgame, but it didn't work out.  I did manage to talk Tali and Legion down from shooting each other and keep them both loyal.

Shepard has enough shit to deal with without her crew bickering all the time, really, it's maddening. ^^

Watching some youtube video clips of Legion being brought along on Tali's recruitment mission and her loyalty mission which are pretty priceless...


My primary away team was Garrus and Tali, alternately Garrus and Mordin.  Garrus has my back and I trust him absolutely.  Tali rocks.   Mordin has the best dialogue in the game.

Confession: I obsessively bought model ships and fish.   Sadly, I killed quite a few fish.  Luckily the model ships did not require feeding.

[Quinton]

I couldn't bring myself to min/max on the paragon/renegade thing.  I was mostly paragon-leaning, but there were times when the renegade choice (especially some of the interrupts) was *clearly* the only right decision.  I appreciate that -- the game clearly gives you rewards for pushing the meter hard in one direction or the other, but for me, doing things the way I wanted to in the context of the story was more important.

Some of the results, given non-optimal paragon/renegade levels, were far more interesting -- without blue or red options, the resolution to Tali's loyalty mission is non-ideal in a number of ways, but I simply could not go against her wishes and hand over the evidence implicating her father, even though the cost was so high.  It was sad, but in a way far more meaningful to not have a magic "make everything right" conversation choice.

[Sjofn]

Re: Miranda -- I'm not particularly fond of either her or Jack (though Jack has a much better excuse for being annoying).  I was also expecting to be able to patch things up with Jack loyalty-wise before the endgame, but it didn't work out.  I did manage to talk Tali and Legion down from shooting each other and keep them both loyal.

I guess I just don't get why you would side with Miranda in that fight. Tell Miranda to eat it and try to patch it up with her is how I would handle it is all (although I have always had the renegade or paragon "both of you shut the fuck up" option for that, luckily). I get it a little if you romanced her, though, as siding with Jack means Miranda won't make kissyface with you, even if you make up later (or so I hear).

Not saying you're a bad person or anything, of course. 


As for Tali's loyalty mission I totally rabblerabble the crowd in that scene every time. Tali and Kal'Reegar are totes soulmates, you guys.

[Arinon]

My most recent run-through I took Legion to Tali's loyalty to see some of the bits I heard were in there.  They were way cooler with it then they should have been!

That means a) Get Legion b) Turn him on, chat him up, and take him to Tali's mission, and c) Do Legion's mission before heading off.

I didn't lose anyone when I finished and I think the whole crew survived.  (Specifically Chambers lived and I think she's the first to go.)

Legion and Moridin are by far my favorites and I wish you didn't have to pay in dead crew members to use Legion more.

[Mosesandstick]

Check youtube, they've got tons of the Legion stuff there and it's awesome. If I remember the game's order was supposed to be different initially and you could have Legion along for everything. I think one of the reasons they changed it was because of space constraints on consoles.

[eldaec]

The original design let you do whatever in whatever order, but then someone remembered that consoles have shit for HD space and have to load things directly from disc, plus console players have to be protected from disc swapping apparently and so the whole thing had to be reduced to lowest common denominator.

*I* remember monkey island et al and the 14 floppy shuffle. Kids today etc.

[Quinton]

Sjofn: I think my Shepard would have to plead temporary insanity.  She definitely was not trying to get into Ms Creepy Smile's pants...

Also, the other epic bad decision Shepard made in my game was to hook up with Garrus for the Most Awkward Night Evar.  I imagine they will remain good friends and never speak of that event again.

Is DA2:DA as ME2:ME?  The original ME had potential and some good writing/dialogue, but the clunky game systems put me off a bit and I never finished it.  ME2 was much more engaging from the get-go, and I enjoyed the hell out of it.  I'm curious if DA2 is a similar step forward over DA (which feels a little too oblivion for my taste, but maybe I didn't give it enough of a chance -- there were things I liked about Oblivion, of course...)

EDIT: Alternatively, maybe I should give DA:O another go...

[luckton]

I finished ME2 myself last week.  For all the build-up leading to assembling a team and everything, it just seemed to abruptly end.  I was expecting to go through a bit more of the main story and some other fluff, but instead it was "oh, you got everyone and got their loyalty?  Ok, here's the end."

And no, don't give me the DLC line...like Yahtzee recently said in his review for Deus Ex: HR, developers that take that route of gaming should have their arms cut off and then resold to them for 20000 MS Points.   

Still, the game was quite good, and I always get a thrill to hear memorable sci-fi actor/actress voices.

[Mosesandstick]

ME2 seemed like a step up from ME in nearly everything apart from the plot and teammate interaction.

[Ingmar]

Is DA2:DA as ME2:ME?  The original ME had potential and some good writing/dialogue, but the clunky game systems put me off a bit and I never finished it.  ME2 was much more engaging from the get-go, and I enjoyed the hell out of it.  I'm curious if DA2 is a similar step forward over DA (which feels a little too oblivion for my taste, but maybe I didn't give it enough of a chance -- there were things I liked about Oblivion, of course...)

There are vast and angry differences in the fan base over this - DA2 isn't universally loved as a step forward the way ME2 is. (I think it mostly was an improvement, but among f13 people at least I think that is a minority viewpoint.) Part of it is the storyline; some people will simply not accept an RPG where the plotline doesn't have you saving the world in some sense, and DA2 is definitely not that.

[Sjofn]

The original design let you do whatever in whatever order, but then someone remembered that consoles have shit for HD space and have to load things directly from disc, plus console players have to be protected from disc swapping apparently and so the whole thing had to be reduced to lowest common denominator.

*I* remember monkey island et al and the 14 floppy shuffle. Kids today etc.

Actually earlier in the thread Stormwaltz explained how Legion came to show up when he did. Basically Legion's mission stuff was done, but they hadn't come up with when/where the MacGuffin to get you through the Devil Relay would happen. They decided Legion's mission made sense, plugged it in, and now Legion doesn't get the screen time we wish he would. :P

Sjofn: I think my Shepard would have to plead temporary insanity.  She definitely was not trying to get into Ms Creepy Smile's pants...

Also, the other epic bad decision Shepard made in my game was to hook up with Garrus for the Most Awkward Night Evar.  I imagine they will remain good friends and never speak of that event again.

Ha, well fair enough. And I keep TELLING Fordel that Garrus will never get into any of my LadyShep's pants because the man has no lips.




As for DA2, it ... seems to vary wildly from person to person. I would say I universally liked ME2 better than ME1, while there are things in DA:O I liked better than DA2. I still really, really liked DA2 though. The combat in particular was a lot more fun for me.

[Quinton]

Also, the other epic bad decision Shepard made in my game was to hook up with Garrus for the Most Awkward Night Evar.  I imagine they will remain good friends and never speak of that event again.

Ha, well fair enough. And I keep TELLING Fordel that Garrus will never get into any of my LadyShep's pants because the man has no lips.

Actually, the one good thing from that was talking to Mordin after the suicide mission, where he offered to send some instructional pamphlets to my terminal.  When Shepard asks if he's just messing with her, Mordin insists he's not, then makes a remark about going back to observing cellular reproduction which involves less alcohol and mood music.

As for DA2, it ... seems to vary wildly from person to person. I would say I universally liked ME2 better than ME1, while there are things in DA:O I liked better than DA2. I still really, really liked DA2 though. The combat in particular was a lot more fun for me.

How do they fit together storyline-wise?  Would it be advisable to give DA:O another look before just jumping into DA:2, should I not want to miss out on story related goodness?

[Ingmar]

It isn't a direct sequel in the sense that ME2 is; your main character is a new one, it takes place mostly after DA:O but in a different country, etc. There are a bunch of little callbacks and references, but nothing that would be really confusing, I don't think.

I'd still play them in order, but you probably won't experience anything horrible by not doing so.

[Reg]

Hmmm. What was it you didn't like about DA:O? Was it the game mechanics?  Maybe if you just zoomed through in easy mode for the story?  Although, you wouldn't be missing all that much if you didn't bother. DA2 isn't nearly as dependent on the results of DA1 as ME2 was on ME1.

But like someone said, DA2 isn't nearly the upgrade over DA1 that ME2 was over ME1.  You might not like it any better.

[Fordel]

Ha, well fair enough. And I keep TELLING Fordel that Garrus will never get into any of my LadyShep's pants because the man has no lips.

Racist!

[Quinton]

I think you mean, "You humans are all racist!"

[Sky]

If you have him as your LadyShep's bitch, bitch won't give you no lip.

[Sjofn]

I think you mean, "You humans are all racist!"

My Paragon LadySheps totally are, in that "Oh, I like them fine, but I wouldn't want to date one or anything" kind of way. I did let RenegadeLadyShep bang Thane, though. He has lips.

[HaemishM]

I also don't get you freaks siding with Miranda (unless you're humping Miranda). Jack is clearly in the right, I don't care how crazy she is otherwise. 

The truth points to itself. Also, if you hump her, she sides with you against the Illusive Man when he goes all "WE CAN MAKEZ REAPERZ TOOZZZ!"

[Merusk]

Why would you NOT hump Miranda?  I'm lost there.  You want the psycho or the child instead?

[HaemishM]

Some folks apparently dig Tali? I totally don't get it.

[Merusk]

She's cute in a little-sister sort of way but just screams "codependency."  I tried pursuing it one play though and decided it was a little too creepy and abandoned the idea.

[Mosesandstick]

Yeoman Chambers all the way. Y'all crazy. I know it doesn't count dammit.

[Rasix]

Ashley's butt kept my dudeshep honest, even if she's a dimwitted racist.

[Ingmar]

I think Miranda was plenty competitive in that department, and so did the cameraman.

[Shrike]

Why would you NOT hump Miranda?  I'm lost there.  You want the psycho or the child instead?

Firstly, there's that control chip thing. Shepard holds a grudge. Secondly, she's a font of bad advice and a weak link in the loyalty chain. Third, she has almost as serious issues as Jack, just polar opposite and not so readily on display. You don't stick your dick in crazy.

[Sjofn]

I also don't get you freaks siding with Miranda (unless you're humping Miranda). Jack is clearly in the right, I don't care how crazy she is otherwise. 

The truth points to itself. Also, if you hump her, she sides with you against the Illusive Man when he goes all "WE CAN MAKEZ REAPERZ TOOZZZ!"

She does that when you don't, too. Unless she secretly humped my LadyShepard and I didn't get to see.

My original MANSHEP did the Tali romance his first time through (I'm playing through with him again so I have a level 30 save with him), but he'll be giving it a pass this time. She's adorable ... that's that's part of why I don't wanna do that again. She's way, way, WAY too little sister for me, and she deserves better than to be my ManShep's beard. Besides, she and Kal'Reegar are clearly soulmates.

[Rasix]

Yah, the whole Tali thing, while adorable, just seems a little wrong.  Plus, she's totally going to be a frog person with that mask off.  My replay of my dudeshep was mostly to just get that off the books.  Plus, I wanted a finish without deaths (reaper smoothie and team).

Miranda just seemed to have a giant warning sign written on that lovely ass.  It seemed too easy and you just knew something bad was going to result.  /ackbar_its_a_trap Plus it would be a little awkward; a little too much like Picard sleeping with Riker (I'm sure that's been written somewhere (please don't link)). 

[Quinton]

My original MANSHEP did the Tali romance his first time through (I'm playing through with him again so I have a level 30 save with him), but he'll be giving it a pass this time. She's adorable ... that's that's part of why I don't wanna do that again. She's way, way, WAY too little sister for me, and she deserves better than to be my ManShep's beard. Besides, she and Kal'Reegar are clearly soulmates.

I want to see her re-instated in the fleet and promoted to Admiral in ME3...

[HaemishM]

Why would you NOT hump Miranda?  I'm lost there.  You want the psycho or the child instead?

Firstly, there's that control chip thing. Shepard holds a grudge. Secondly, she's a font of bad advice and a weak link in the loyalty chain. Third, she has almost as serious issues as Jack, just polar opposite and not so readily on display. You don't stick your dick in crazy.

I didn't realize you had a choice in Mass Effect. All the women are crazy in some way or another. The only way to win in that regard is not to play.

[Sjofn]

My original MANSHEP did the Tali romance his first time through (I'm playing through with him again so I have a level 30 save with him), but he'll be giving it a pass this time. She's adorable ... that's that's part of why I don't wanna do that again. She's way, way, WAY too little sister for me, and she deserves better than to be my ManShep's beard. Besides, she and Kal'Reegar are clearly soulmates.

I want to see her re-instated in the fleet and promoted to Admiral in ME3...

She wasn't exiled in my playthroughs (but I didn't tell them about her Dad either, RABBLE RABBLE saves the day!), but it would be nice to clear her name somehow. I kinda suspect that won't be happening, though. She does mention she's been a name mentioned for admiral if she's not exiled. I'm totally on board with that happening for her, yo.

[Merusk]

Why would you NOT hump Miranda?  I'm lost there.  You want the psycho or the child instead?

Firstly, there's that control chip thing. Shepard holds a grudge. Secondly, she's a font of bad advice and a weak link in the loyalty chain. Third, she has almost as serious issues as Jack, just polar opposite and not so readily on display. You don't stick your dick in crazy.

Passive-aggressive with Daddy issues is so common as to be considered normal, though.  Plus it means she'll be manipulative but not yank your arms off - unlike Jack.

As H said.. they're ALL bat shit in one way or another  so you don't get much choice beyond "none of the above" if you're worried about crazy.

[Ironwood]

Control Chip thing ??

[Ingmar]

In one of your very first conversations with her, she tells you she argued for putting a control chip in Shepherd during the rebuilding project but was overruled.