Do side missions matter in Mass Effect apart from Credits/EXP?

[Sniperexpert]

Hi all,
Do the side missions such as UNC:Asari Writings,League of One Medallions,Turian Insignias,Prothean Data Discs and Valuable Minerals effect War Assets in Mass Effect 3 or are they only good for Credits and EXP and the only side missions that matter are Tali and the Geth Data,Wrex's Family Armor and Garrus and Dr Saleon/R Heart?

 

[Casual Shinji]

Some get you war assets in Mass Effect 3, but it's kind of nominal. For the rest you might get a mention of it in the sequels, like the asari who sends you to rescue her sister.

 

[Joccaren]

In reference to the exact ones you asked about;

UNC missions do not get tallied at all for ME2 or 3. Asari writings, league of one medallions, turian insignias, prothean data disks and valuable minerals are all 100% forgotten about.

That said, companion side quests are not the only ones that matter. The Bring Down the Sky DLC side mission has an effect in ME3, and can alter war assets. Conrad verner has an effect in ME2 and 3, and can, if completed alongside a set of specific missions, alter war assets.

Going after the crime lord bosses and sparing the woman who sent you to hunt them down will net you a mention in ME2, but that's it. Same goes for scanning the keepers - do them all and get the two to cooperate and you get a little nod in ME2, but no effect beyond that.

Most side missions have no lasting effects, of the ones that do most only get a small nod with no real affect.

That said, increasing your money and XP in Mass Effect 1 will directly help when you import to ME2, giving you a boost to your starting money and minerals, which makes the grinding for upgrades less annoying and easier to do. Doesn't affect ME3 though.

 

[CaitSeith]

In Mass Effect 2, the minerals matter for upgrading the parts of the ship that keep specific members of the crew alive. The war assets from the main missions in ME3 aren't enough to unlock all the main endings (for what it's worth). The only one that has some kind of extra effect is The UNC:Asari Writings, which serve for a small Easter Egg with Conrad Verner in Mass Effect 3.