Poll: I'm a little late to the Mass Effect party, but I need advice

[Auron225]

I'm assuming that most people here have played all three and so I can get solid advice from people who know rather than base my decision on rumours and such. Sorry if this an age-old question that I'm bringing back to life but;

Who to romance in ME1? Seems I can flesh out the story more in either direction by choosing Ashley or Liara. Neither of their relationships with Shepard (who is male btw, seems I'm mostly paragon as well) seem to be that developed... at all. Liaras especially seems a bit out of the blue.

Which one makes for a more interesting story? Why should I choose the one you recommend? Note that I plan on playing all 3 games and hopefully DLCs if I can.

P.S. In case it effects things, or if anyone is curious, the first main mission I chose was going to get Liara. The only other major thing I've done since is Feros. I still have Noveria and Virmire to do, and whatever else is after those.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

You don't have to romance either of them. If you don't think it's suitable, then don't go for either of them.


I personally chose Liara for my ManShep, but that was only because I liked her more than Ashley.

I won't spoil anything for you, so I'll just say that you have the chance of romancing different characters in the second game, or you can, again, choose not to pursue anybody.

There's no major 'benefit' from any of the relationships, so just pick who you like the most.

 

[King Billi]

I'd choose Liara personally but it really dosen't matter either way, the only thing they change is provide a little romantic subplot to the story.

I suppose the best advice would be just to follow your heart dude...

 

[Clowndoe]

Just pick whoever you want. Neither comes back for the second game so you can hook up with someone else afterwards if you like. Of course, I just couldn't do that, as right from the start I knew Tali was for me.

 

[MysticSlayer]

To tell you honestly, both Liara and Ashley are sort of...odd. Ashley goes into random recitations of poetry, but otherwise she seems more socially stable. Liara doesn't do anything nearly as unusual, but she is obviously not used to social interaction, not to mention her voice can get a little annoying at times.

Having done both, I can say that I personally preferred Ashley. Her backstory is more interesting (Hint: Liara doesn't have much of one), she tends to be more than an information dispenser (i.e. she's personally connected to and feels strongly about events, Liara tends to just give facts), and her character seems a little more dynamic. By ME3 it becomes a little harder, as the relationship between Shepard and Liara is naturally close, but I still found Ashley more interesting.

 

[BlackJimmy]

Stay single until ME2

 

[BrotherRool]

Given how far you are in the game, I'd recommend Ashley if you have to choose one because it might create quite a cool situation. (Although this will lead to you getting a bit shafted in 2 and 3). But in general I think they're both a bit bland and they both go through massive character changes in the sequels. You have a chance with Tali in 2 (and 3) and all round she seems like a much cooler choice

 

[Eclectic Dreck]

In the first game I personally found Ashely to be the more interesting character so I went with her. In the long run, Liara gets better fleshed out as a character and it honestly seems like she's the one they expected you to romance in the end. Her final romance sequence (and all interactions leading to it in the third game) were simply more fleshed out.

My first playthrough of each game was the one I carried forward because it was the only honest one. In that first playthough, I romanced Ashley.

liara for me. i found a couple of scenes.. the shadowbroker dlc and the moment with liara in ME3 both seem more personal and deep if you are romancing her. plus nerds are hot.. blue or not

Actually, Liara's actions between games and her vendetta against the Shadowbroker make relatively little sense without the romance. Shepard must have a hell of a lot of charisma when he's not on camera because the length people go through in his name are staggering.

Spoiler

I romanced Ashley and all she did is cry when I got myself killed. Liara started a one alien war against the Shadowbroker to reclaim my bones.

 

[Zhukov]

Personally I thought Ashley was better characterized in ME1 but Liara gets much more interesting and developed throughout the series.

It just comes down to a matter of preference, really.

Both characters have people who will get creepily enthusiastic about them and both have people who hate their guts.

 

[Auron225]

Thanks for the responses so far - if I was to pick by personal preference right now then it would probably be neither but...

If I do choose neither, are either of them options later on (ME 2 or 3)?

I may pick Liara just to make things more interesting later. Ashley is currently the more interesting one by far but I personally don't find her attractive, personality-wise or looks.

 

[Raikas]

Which one makes for a more interesting story? Why should I choose the one you recommend? Note that I plan on playing all 3 games and hopefully DLCs if I can.

Froma pure story perspective, I think it story works best without doing any of them - I always think it's unprofessional for Shepard to get with Ashley at that point because of the difference in rank, and Liara's feels a little rushed to me.

That said, I like Liara's better. And in terms of which is better for the full series +DLC, Liara gets the most content and has the most fleshed out romance arc. Ashley just doesn't show up much in ME2 (whereas Liara has a dedicated DLC) and her character changed directions in the ME3 in a way that (at least from my perspective) made her less interesting and less friendly.

That said

Spoiler: hidden in case you're totally unspoiled for ME

I've always thought it added some punch to the story if you start Ashley's romance and then leave her to die on Virmire. The game didn't do enough with that (I've always thought that was a huge missed opportunity), but even so it totally changes the tone of things. I ended up going with that option in 3/5 playthroughs.

 

[RJ 17]

P.S. In case it effects things, or if anyone is curious, the first main mission I chose was going to get Liara. The only other major thing I've done since is Feros. I still have Noveria and Virmire to do, and whatever else is after those.

The funny thing is that after Virmire, you might not have to chose between the two of them...just sayin'. :3

Anyways, I personally think the actual story is more written towards romancing Liara. I can't really go into it without giving up too many spoilers, suffice to say that when you get to ME3 your relationship with her is REALLY fleshed out the most. There's scenes/conversations that, if you don't romance her, are just scenes between two good friends...however there's CLEARLY strong romantic undertones to them, so they feel wasted if you're just "in the friend zone". Also I'll say that Ashley turns into a MAJOR ***** in ME2 and ME3. Then there's the fact that Liara's romance is the only romance you can actually keep and maintain throughout all three games (provided you at least get the Shadow Broker DLC for ME2).

A fun note about ME2, though, and this might affect your romance decision in this game: you actually get a chance to romance Garrus (for FemShep) or Tali (for MaleShep), and if you romance one of them in ME2 you can continue your romance with them in ME3. If you don't romance them in ME2, however, you aren't given a chance to do so in ME3.

But like I said, it seems to me that the story is written almost specifically to have Shepard romance Liara. As for why she seems so suddenly interested in you after only just meeting you, the easiest excuse is the mind-meld thing she does with you which is useful in sorting out your thoughts, but in terms of Asair it's like getting to 3rd base. :3

 

[votemarvel]

It's a tough question. If you intend to go through the whole trilogy with a romance from ME1 then Liara would be the better choice, simply because you get far more dialogue and scenes with her than Ashley, both in ME2 and most of all in Mass Effect 3.

Personally when I play one of my few Male Shepards I stay single in Mass Effect 1, because I don't like to be a cheat, and romance Jack, this is because she has a far richer feeling storyline when in the romance (tip: don't sleep with her the first time she offers.)

Never been a fan of the Tali romance as she feels a bit too much like a little sister.

Problem is that Mass Effect 2 romances get squarely screwed over in Mass Effect 3, though the Citadel DLC helps a little in this regard, because many never join your crew and those that do (for male Shepard at least) are about half way through the game. Liara being the exception.

 

[RJ 17]

Thanks for the responses so far - if I was to pick by personal preference right now then it would probably be neither but...

If I do choose neither, are either of them options later on (ME 2 or 3)?

I may pick Liara just to make things more interesting later. Ashley is currently the more interesting one by far but I personally don't find her attractive, personality-wise or looks.

As I mentioned in my previous post: provided you get the Shadow Broker DLC for ME2 you can continue Liara's romance through all three games, which makes it the largest possible romance arc in the entire story.

Ashley, however, cannot be continued in ME2, but can be resumed in ME3...but if you make it that far then you're more than likely to dislike her even more than you already do now - personality-wise, at least, they do manage to make her a bit better looking...but not much.

Basically in ME2 you get an all new crew (except for Garrus and Tali who you pick up again) because of "reasons" (not giving out spoilers here ) and are given the option to romance members of the new crew including, as I mentioned, Tali since you're playing as MaleShep. If you romance Ashley in ME1, romance someone else in ME2 (as opposed to going through the game without romancing anyone), it'll give her another reason to get all pissy with you as you eventually have a "I heard rumors that you've been dating (fill in the blank)." A good ol' high school "You've been cheating on me!" conversation. I'm pretty sure that doesn't matter in the long run, though, and you can still get back together with her if you want to.

 

[magicmonkeybars]

Now I just want to play all three games without ever romancing anyone.

 

[Auron225]

Alright guys, last question Basically I'm gonna pick Liara, but do I have to do it now? Is there another chance later on to choose her (before stuff in ME2 really kicks off, like the Shadow Broker DLC) or is it "now or never"?

 

[Bertylicious]

...Liaras especially seems a bit out of the blue.

Hah! Very good!

I preferred Liara because Ashley is kind of a racist.

Alright guys, last question Basically I'm gonna pick Liara, but do I have to do it now? Is there another chance later on to choose her (before stuff in ME2 really kicks off, like the Shadow Broker DLC) or is it "now or never"?

Liara treats you a lot like how Jesus treated Peter; you will be given 3 opportunities to deny her before the cockerel crows.

Wait, is it three cockerel cries before he had to deny him? Did he have to deny knowing Jesus to the cockerel to make it cry?

Whatever. You can choose later on, it's fine.