Mass Effect 3 leadup: What decisions did you make? Predictions?

[Daget Sparrow]

So in anticipation of Mass Effect 3, what decisions did you make in ME1 and 2, and how do you think they'll play out in ME3?

Off the top of my head; I've saved the Rachni Queen, went with Ashley Williams (Kaidan died), then got ditched by her and went with Tali, saved Wrex, and rewrote the Geth collective. Anderson is the councillor, lost most of my crew after the Collector's abducted them, and the Illusive Man owns the Collector base.

So, I assume...the Rachni are going to breed a huge army to help out (hopefully). Ashley's gonna hate me 'cause I went with an alien. I have a sneaking suspicion that the Geth might help out, but then stab us in the back with their now doubled army (even though me and Legion had such fun times together). The Illusive Man's going to take over Earth's government or something with his advanced tech. Oh, and Anderson dies. That's my guess.

What 'bout you?

EDIT: Also, everyone survived the suicide mission

EDIT: ...and the Council's still alive

 

[Erttheking]

I get this feeling that we're going to devise a way to kill the reapers in one shot...and surprisingly for many, I don't think that it will be an ass pull. Do you remember at the end of ME1 that the Alliance was having trouble against Sovereign and when Saren went down it's shields collapsed at the EXACT same time? And did you notice at the end of ME2 that Harbinger released control of the Collector General right before it died? I think if a Reaper is directly controlling someone, if said person dies, a neural shock gets sent back to the Reaper, leaving it stunned and open to attack. What if Harbinger is stunned and, as he is the leader of the Reapers, it trickles down to the rest of them and they are all stunned...right in front of a cross species fleet.

What do you think?

 

[Daget Sparrow]

I get this feeling that we're going to devise a way to kill the reapers in one shot...and surprisingly for many, I don't think that it will be an ass pull. Do you remember at the end of ME1 that the Alliance was having trouble against Sovereign and when Saren went down it's shields collapsed at the EXACT same time? And did you notice at the end of ME2 that Harbinger released control of the Collector General right before it died? I think if a Reaper is directly controlling someone, if said person dies, a neural shock gets sent back to the Reaper, leaving it stunned and open to attack. What if Harbinger is stunned and, as he is the leader of the Reapers, it trickles down to the rest of them and they are all stunned...right in front of a cross species fleet.

What do you think?

Maybe Shepherd will volunteer, heroically sacrificing himself to defeat the Reaper fleet.

Or something...

 

[Smeggs]

Spoiler: My Choices

Saved Rachni Queen, Chose Ashley, Sex'd Liara, then went with Tali as before Shadow Broker I thought Liara had become a bit of a *****, Wrex is the leader of clan Urdnott, Got everyone through the suicide mission alive, Saved the counsel, errm...pretty sure I destroyed the Geth Collective as I find the ethics of mind-controlling another race almost hypocritical when I'm fighting the Reapers who do the exact same thing, even though Legion's collective mind did side for rewriting them with something like 3%.

I saved the guy at the end of the Overlord DLC, saved the civilians and let the Blue Suns leader escape in Zaeed's mission, chose Samara over Morinth, kept Zaeed, Did everyone's loyalty missions, went mostly on the path of the Paragon not counting having to give the occasional bastard some lip or fist service, Chose to keep the Genophage Cure research, and I kept the Collector Base instead of blowing it up as I sided with the Illusive man as seeing it as our most powerful weapon against the Reapers.

NOTE: THIS IS ALL TOTAL GUESSWORK.

I already expected the Illusive man to either become indoctrinated or turn into a backstabbing asshole (which he does). I fully expect that at one point in the main campaign we will actually find his little hiding spot and Shepard will have the option of either killing him or sparing his life for some reason or another.

The Rachni will have to play a role as backup ground forces, I'm expecting something like the Archdemon battle in DA:O, where you select the armies you've amassed to attack. There will hopefully be a space version of the battle along with a ground version.

I have Wrex on my side, the Krogan are extremely powerful foot-soldiers, though I can see that I'll probably have to make the choice between the Rachni or Krogan as my ground forces. The Genophage Cure research from Mordin's loyalty mission will probably play a role in bargaining at some point.

Most likely if we are able to spare/save the Illusive man, we will be looking at the control of Cerberus' army and resources on our side again, though probably in direct conflict with Ashley/Hackett who will probably be leading the Alliance forces. Miranda would probably also get pissed off and leave if you killed the Illusive Man, but screw her, I never liked her that much anyway.

Killing the Geth Collective means they are not going to really be a threat now. If I had spared them I could see the choice between the Geth's battle tech for ground forces or the Quarian's Floatilla for a strong Space presence.

Having saved the Counsel will probably be quite a helpful boost to getting their races' help in the battle.

Blue Suns Leader guy might play a little side-mission part. Help Zaeed take him out and I can see Zaeed possibly gaining control of them again. Having already killed him may give you that option without needing to do the mission.

There's some more but I thibnk that's good for the moment.

 

[skywolfblue]

The Rachni will have to play a role as backup ground forces, I'm expecting something like the Archdemon battle in DA:O, where you select the armies you've amassed to attack. There will hopefully be a space version of the battle along with a ground version.

I do so hope for this, an absolutely massive space battle, with a tense ground war.

 

[Smeggs]

The Rachni will have to play a role as backup ground forces, I'm expecting something like the Archdemon battle in DA:O, where you select the armies you've amassed to attack. There will hopefully be a space version of the battle along with a ground version.

I do so hope for this, an absolutely massive space battle, with a tense ground war.

And the perspective switches between one and the other after each completed objective.

*Space-Destroying Reapers*
"Shepard! We got Harbinger! Move in to the Reaper construct!"

*View flies down to earth where we see Shepard and friends fighting in a wortorn landscape as they make their way to...whatever.*
"Roger that, Admiral! Come on, this is the final push!"

 

[x434343]

I'm guessing that the giant Prothean orb artifact from the first game, which was marked as a carry-over condition in the second game and had no effect on the world anywhere, will have some significance in the third game.

 

[Smeggs]

I'm guessing that the giant Prothean orb artifact from the first game, which was marked as a carry-over condition in the second game and had no effect on the world anywhere, will have some significance in the third game.

Wasn't there another mini-orb in ME2? Shepard places it on his table in his room.

 

[x434343]

I'm guessing that the giant Prothean orb artifact from the first game, which was marked as a carry-over condition in the second game and had no effect on the world anywhere, will have some significance in the third game.

Wasn't there another mini-orb in ME2? Shepard places it on his table in his room.

Right, from the Firewalker DLC. But it wasn't reliant on the orb from Mass Effect the first.

 

[Esotera]

I think you'll be given the choice on whether or not to let the Reapers continue harvesting the galaxy, as they're obviously hyper-intelligent, and seem to be the collective of every race in the galaxy so far. Plus there seem to have been lots of hints "we are your genetic destiny", etc by the collectors.

Shepard won't die because EA won't let Bioware kill a franchise. We'll get a crappy cliffhanger that means everyone has to get Mass Effect 4 to finish the fight. Then 5, then 6, ad infinitum.

 

[Zack Alklazaris]

I saved the Rachni queen and I told the Quarians to make peace with the Geth. So I'm hoping to have a large army for the Reapers. However, I also saved the Collector Base. Mostly because I am hoping that any technology recovered from it will help more than hurt. But I could be wrong. So I made two saved games, I'll play one then the other.

 

[Joccaren]

Ok. Here it goes:
-Wrex is alive, Krogans have focused on breeding and with the help of one last favour will join the fight
-Rachni saved, but like previously they are indoctrinated by the Reapers and turn on us
-The Geth come and help us, after we form an uneasy peace between them and their masters, likely involving the death of that crazed Quarian Admaril Xen or W/E. Afterwords, they go back to the Perseus Veil and live there in seclusion. Some Quarians decide to join them, others live on their new homeworld and for the first time in centuries their masks no longer need to be worn.
-The council is saved, and now finally believes me. After humans sacrificing all to save them, the Destiny Ascension and the Citadel, they send in the Council Fleet against the Reapers. It is lead by the Destiny Ascension, saved during the battle of the Citadel
-The data I recovered from that Salarian's research gives the Krogan a boost back to being fully fertile again.
-Aria needs help at Omega, and after what I've done for her decides to help me with intel and a few forces sent to Earth
-All Squadmates are alive and help in their own way to gather the galaxy and defeat the Reapers.
-Zaeed finds Vido again, and this time he's not giving an option of letting him get away.
-The Data in Kasumi's partner's Greybox is stolen, and used against the Alliance, and I have to clean that up with Paragon choices or something.
-That Batarian from Bringing Down the Sky is on the loose, and I need to bring him in. His subordinate that I didn't kill but told I'd kill his master is angry with me for not carrying that out. The Batarians I saved on Omega speak for me though for having helped them.
-The Quarians do not go to war with the Geth, instead having Xen lead a small rebellion to go to war. I have to stop that.
-Decisions made on colonies determines how much of the Alliance fleet is left to fight.
-TIM is indoctrinated and his agents work as the Reaper's strike force
-The colonists from Feros, and that Asari, are immune to indoctrination thanks to the effects of the Thorian and are out helping planets under attack by the Reapers.
-Ash and I team up as the kick-ass Spectre squad, and with Liara's friend sending us Shadow Broker intel, we make some progress fast.
-Ending is one large battle between galactic forces and the Reapers, during which Shepard has to infiltrate somewhere - maybe a Reaper - and learn their motives. Once that is done, he is given a choice that will result in the victory of one side or the other, or one that sacrifices himself but leaves both alive. Hopefully a Paragon/Renegade option to save self and all others.
-I'll get to punch that reporter in the face again.
-My media appearances and my helping of Emily Wong results in propaganda for me across Citadel Space
-Many pointless emails come to my inbox thanks to the other misc choices I made

I know I'll have missed a lot, but these are my guesses for the most part about what will happen. Note: I have not read the story leak, and have no idea how this corresponds to that.

 

[Fredvdp]

I have multiple Shepards but this will be my first import:

Male paragon

ME1:

Saved rachni
Charmed Wrex
Saved Kaidan
Shiala lives
Council lives
Anderson became councilor
No romance

ME2:

Shepard is still officially dead
Spectre status was not reinstated
Everyone survived suicide mission
Completed all loyalty missions
Kept the genophage cure
Tali was found innocent of treason
Garrus spared Sidonis
Jacob's father was arrested
Recruited Legion and rewrote the heretics
Destroyed the base
No romance except for fling with Kelly

Played Lair of the Shadow Broker
Played Arrival (attempted to warn the colonists)
Played Overlord (Shepard saved David Archer from Cerberus)

Possible impact on ME3:

I deliberately kept the geth faction strong so they could help me in the war with the Reapers. Should the geth-quarian conflict not be resolved peacefully, I will side with the geth.

In ME2 the rachni queen's message says their voices were soured by the Reapers. This means they're easy target for Reaper indoctrination and this could bite me in the ass.

Thought I agree with the genophage I kept to cure to secure peace with the krogan.

 

[Lilani]

I'm just now doing ME1 for the first time (sad, I know), and I'm playing as FemShep and I just got passed the part where you choose between Kaiden and Ashley. I saved Kaiden, because I couldn't stand Ashley from the start. I should have left her on Eden Prime...

 

[Grimbold]

I played a female shepard who always does the right thing but likes to hit and stab people or kicks them out of windows.
So I saved the Rachni queen because I am totally gullible.
Saved the council for it was my duty.
Fucked Liara for it felt like the right thing to do.
I kept the collectors base because destroying such a piece of enemy technology would be really stupid. But I guess this is gonna backfire somehow and Bioware will punish me for teaming up with cerberus to save the universe. Why was there no way to inform the council as well?
I told the Quarians to do whatever they want with the Geth. In the following mission I was then told that actually most of those Quarian murdering and Reaper worshipping Geth are pretty decent beings and nobody ever knew that and everything was a misunderstanding. I then hacked the evil ones and facepalmed about this forced story twist. I hope there is still a way to avert war. It would be quite easy in real life. You would just have to send the Quarians an e-mail.
Everyone survived the suicide mission. Because I am obviously a quite capable leader.
And I did not kill Wrex for he is a really cool guy.

 

[Adiona]

- Killed the Rachni Queen
- Chose Kaiden and did the under the covers dance
- Killed Wrex
- Stayed faithful in ME2 to Kaiden

Can't remember much else as I'm getting hungry and it's been a while. Looking forward to ME3 *preordered collectors edtion* ^_^

 

[AgentLampshade]

I haven't played or downloaded ANY DLC, so that means I have no Zaeed or Ka...Err the other one. The main choices I made are:

Misc:
Grew up on Earth.
Sole Survivor.
Vanguard (for both games.)
Went Paragon (yes, I never even punched the reporter in the face.)

Mass Effect:

Charmed Wrex.
Killed Ashley.
Saved rachni.
Anderson is the Councillor.
The rest of the Council is still alive.
Romanced Liara.

Mass Effect 2:
Shepard is still a Spectre.
Completed all loyalty missions.
Mordin died. Mordin goddamned died!
Kept the Genophage cure (although what happens now with Mordin dead is beyond me, maybe nothing?)
Tried to get the geth and the quarians to make peace.
Destroyed the Collector base.
Rewrote the geth.
Romanced Miranda (I look forward to the Miranda/Liara catfight.)

For ME3, I believe I shall have an army the likes of which the Reapers have never seen before. The Reapers have always had the element of surprise, now I've destroyed that and built up trust from all races in the galaxy, the Reapers stand no chance.

If there is a way, I'd like to get the chance to talk to a Reaper on my terms. The conversation with Sovereign was nothing but threats. I want to understand the Reapers more. EDIT: To expand on this more, we've only ever seen/talked to/heard of two named Reapers. Harbinger and Sovereign. Is Harbinger the big cheese of the Reapers, or was he just in control of the collectors? (considering his name/title, I doubt he's the big boss.)