Poll: Paragon vs Renegade.

[RJ 17]

Alright folks, I think it's time we get away from the arguing about Mass Effect and actually have a light-hearted conversation about it. Specifically, what is your preference: Paragon or Renegade?

In the first game I actually found it rather hard to play Renegade. Not that the decicions effect the difficulty, but I really just had a hard time bringing myself to play Shepard as a renegade. I was swept up in the glory and honor of being the first human Specter...knowing that the whole galaxy was watching my actions...which is a bit odd seeing as how Specters are supposed to be the cloak-and-dagger hand of the Council. But still, everyone thinks humans are a bunch of wreckless, arrogant, dangerous pricks...and I just felt it was my duty as Shepard to prove all those alien bastards wrong by, quite literally, being a Paragon of justice. To be quite honest, I think ME 1 is actually built to make you naturally lean towards Paragon.

ME 2, on the other hand, is the oposite. Forsaken by the Council who apparently went back to denying that the Reapers even exist the moment you fall off the grid, you start working with a group that pretty much everyone else in the galaxy recognizes as a bunch of extremist terrorists that don't care what the cost is so long as the job gets done. This attitude seems to make the game revolve around Shepard being a loose-cannon cop on the edge that plays by his/her own rules! Even so, i still kept my Paragon characters as Paragon and my one token Renegade character from ME 1 was brought to ME 2 and remained Renegade.

In Knights of the Old Republic, I was a dark sider through and through. Insanity + Force Storm = room full of corpses. But in Mass Effect, I found myself wanting to be a shining example of what humanity has to offer the galaxy, even after being ressurected by Cerberus.

 

[Vanitas likes Bubbles]

I always go for paragon because its hard to feel like the hero of the galaxy when you're being a complete tosser. I'm always an arse in fallout though because its about you and no one else.

 

[Shock and Awe]

My decisions were almost always paragon, but when somebody obviously deserved it they got the rough treatment. I personally would try to be a good symbol for humanity and besides, you gotta have a real hero at this time of need. ;D

 

[tendaji]

RPGs somehow makes me feel bad for picking the more renegade/hostile options, so I stay more towards paragon. Then I don't feel as bad when politely telling someone off, instead of threatening to kill them and their dog if they talk to me again.

 

[Zeckt]

I am one of the few, the proud, the renegade. I just cannot agree with saving a couple lives over letting a terrorist capable of threatening the population of whole planets go like in bringing down the sky. Heck, even if you go the paragon route the people you save tell you you made a poor choice then you go off in some generic "we will get him speech."

I think being a complete dick taking some not so happy choices when a threat that threatens every life in the galaxy and being ignored is well deserved.

 

[DementedSheep]

My main is a mix, leaning towards paragon. Honestly I think bioware sucks at writing antiheros.

 

[Aircross]

There needs to be more gray in between absolute paragon and absolute renegade.

Maybe Bioware thinks gamers can't critically think in situations that are not black and white.

Anyway, I went full Paragon in ME1 then started gaining Renegade points after I maxed Paragon in ME2.

 

[DustyDrB]

I'm generally abotu 70-30 weighted towards Paragon. Shepard will punch reporters and blow up mouthy Krogans, though.

 

[Lilani]

I was pretty much Paragon through ME1 and ME2, but now I've started replaying ME2 doing more renegade. There are still certain characters I treat with respect though, like Mordin for example. And I don't tend to be a jerk unless provoked.

 

[Smeggs]

I play it mostly Paragon, but allow for the occasional Renegade option depending on the situation.

For example-Headbutt the Krogan and throw the Eclipse Merc out the window on Illium. If a character is pissing me off I'll talk down at them. It's role playing, I try to actu how I'd think I would in real life...were I to be a military Commander and have big guns and squad members backing me up.

 

[The Forces of Chaos]

I think most would say "cannon" Shepard is Paragade, But I like to think of him more Renegon. Dam sounds like softdrinks now. Most of my shepards are Paragon and a few Renegade for the most part.

 

[KingofMadCows]

There's really no benefit to going renegade.

You don't even get special items or weapons by going renegade like with other RPG's.

 

[Riddle78]

Renegade,to strangers and people he (I) doesn't like,while Paragon to friends and family (crew). Why? Shepard is on a mission,and won't accept meaningless delays and detours! However,he also knows that if the crew and friends (which happen to be the right friends) are happy,then the mission will go without a hitch. Or,at least,no hitches on the friendly side of the conflic. Verner? Feed his ass to a Varren. Zaeed? Wasn't worth it. Kasumi? Well,she could help me steal from the Illusive Man in the future...

Also,it's all SORTS of fun to scream at the Quarian Admirals. The Renegade option. About toy ships. It's gloriously cathartic.

 

[The Pinray]

I tried to play as a mix of both Paragon and Renegade... It makes Shepard look like he's bipolar. It's very odd. I just stick with Paragon most of the time, unless I thoroughly disagree with the Paragon option.

 

[Yureina]

I played ME1 and ME2 4 times in total. 3 of those were Paragon, while the last one I simply bulled through the game as a Renegade. I'm the type of player that always tends to play good-aligned characters (with horrendously high body counts).

Though... I have to admit some of the stuff Renegade Shepard says is some of the most awesome stuff i've ever heard in a game.

 

[Monkeyman O'Brien]

I wanted to be a little more neutral but since Bioware put those stupid fucking arguments in #2 I ended up having to farm Paragon points wherever I could. Really ruined the game for me.
I do prefer paragon for most things but when someone, say the counsel for example treats me like shit I have no problem with going renegade on them.

 

[Zhukov]

Expedient Paragon.

That is to say, defaults to being a non-asshole unless the situation actually demands it. Helps out wherever possible because hey, why not?

I've never been able to take pleasure in being a prick for the sake of it, even in games. Still haven't punched a single reporter.

Although the Krogan vizier always gets the headbutt, because that's hilarious. And expedient.

 

[RJ 17]

Heh wow, seems like a lot of people play the way I like to play: "Mostly paragon, renegade if someone deserves it."

Seeing as how the council treats you much more like a little child than their newest agent who takes down their best agent and saves their asses from a Reaper, I have nothing but contempt for them. I've got one full-paragon character that always tries to play nice with them, but for the most part all my Paragons hate the council.

But yeah, other than that most of my Shepards life by The Golden Rule...don't be a dick to him/her and he/she won't be a dick to you. Anyone coming up all pissed off and hardass to Shepard will most assuredly regret it, but those that treat Shepard with friendliness and respect will have it returned.

:3 there are a few Renegade exceptions where I'll default to being a dick just for the humor of it, as the post above mine mentions: the Krogan vizier definitely always gets that headbutt.

 

[Malyc]

Renegade. Why? Because there are certain problems that can only be solved by the proper application of military grade high explosives and superior firepower.

Also, screw letting people live who take potshots at me.