So I'm about to start Mass Effect 3...

[DrunkenMonkey]

and I was wondering if any Escapists had any protips for me, or things I should look out for. I am a veteran ME player, I've 100%-ed Mass Effect 1 and 2. Just wanna know if there was anything i should tiptoe around.

Go in with the mentality that it's the journey and not the destination that counts, and you will be A-ok, but seriously don't bother listening to the flak about the game, it's one of the greater games of the decade. It's fun, it's emotional, and most importantly it's cheap now, so whats not to like.

ps do the side quests asap the main story progression "will" lock you out of some of them if you put it off for too long.

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

Make absolutely SURE you download the Extended ending DLC. Please trust me on this.

Definitely would advise Extended Cut and Leviathan. However, in retrospect I really don't think the original ending was quite as bad as a lot of people (myself included) made it out to be. It was confusing and abrupt, but there's worse out there.

 

[Blind0bserver]

It's not necessary, but if you've got ten bucks to spare download From Ashes. Javik (the Prothean) has some very interesting insights, and you just have to bring him with you to Thessia.

Don't ask why. It'll all make sense later.

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

Tell Kelly to change her name. Don't ask, just do it. Tell her to change her name.

Y'know, as she's just come up. I've never actually been able to find Kelly on the Citadel in ME3. I know exactly where he should be, and she survives ME2 in all the saves that I import, and I make sure to visit the Citadel regularly so I don't miss any content, but I've just never found her. Can you tell me exactly where the window is to go to the Citadel when she's there (I know when it's too late).

 

[crazyrabbits]

Play Vanguard.
Charge
Nova
Charge
Nova
Charge
Nova

Win game forever

Vanguard + Particle Rifle = OP as all hell

OT, to the OP, stop the game either after "Marauder Shields" or the certain confrontation that occurs after this, and make up your own ending. You'll thank me for it later.

 

[Hawkeye 131]

Do not go near the ending until you've downloaded the Extended Cut.

This, or don't bother wasting your time with the game at all. The original endings are so mind-boggelingly bad it's beyond belief. Also seriously prepare yourself for the ending.

-Hawk

 

[teh_Canape]

It's not necessary, but if you've got ten bucks to spare download From Ashes. Javik (the Prothean) has some very interesting insights, and you just have to bring him with you to Thessia.

Don't ask why. It'll all make sense later.

more like Javik the Brothean (although he hurt Liara's feelings, immediately putting him on top of my shitlist)
also Leviathan of Dis
provides some pretty badass background info from what I've heard (and unlike what others have said, it doesn't actually change the ending, it just gives more context and bakcground info)

 

[Ruedyn]

Eh not much to know. Also,

If you come onto this site to complain about the ending, I WILL EAT YOUR FIRSTBORN CHILD!

 

[Joccaren]

If there's a sidequest you pick up without talking to someone, ignore it. It consists 100% of going to a system, using a 'ping' whilst dodging Reapers until you find what you're looking for, and then scanning the planet before returning home. No mission. Just the galaxy map.
Side quests you acquire by talking to main characters work.

There are also smaller quests that are part of the main quest line that can be found on the planets that these quests are on. Do them first, then the major part of the mission. Nets you more assets, and for the whole 2 missions its available for it actually changes the outcome.

Don't expect anything you did to matter once you reach the end. Really, it doesn't.

Other than that its impossible to go wrong. You are given choices, you can be pretty sure of what they will do, and nothing in the game is actually challenging - at least with a mouse and keyboard and semi-decent FPS/TPS skills.

Also, if you want instant win play Vanguard. You don't even need Nova, just charge. Get the strongest and lightest shotgun you can, upgrade it to lvl 10 or W/E so that it is as light as it can be, grab the lightest SMG you can find and upgrade that too, then just put all your points into charge and anything that reduces weight penalties. By the end of this Charge will have a <2 second cooldown, and can literally be spammed without firing a single shot to win pretty much any mission.

 

[BarbaricGoose]

Don't expect much and I'm sure you'll love it. I'd be curious to see what someone thought of it if they hadn't played the first two. I think they'd enjoy it a lot more than people who did play the other Mass Effects, honestly.

Eh not much to know. Also,

If you come onto this site to complain about the ending, I WILL EAT YOUR FIRSTBORN CHILD!

You know, I'd rather have 10 threads about ME3's ending per month than the usual 1 - 3 threads about "Name the X that you Y, but everyone else Zs" per month.

Seriously. Fuck those threads. I am getting a little tired of seeing threads like that.

 

[Smiley Face]

I'm a 100%er myself, and once they release this patch they're doing, I'm going to go back and play it again, as I haven't seen the Extended Cut yet.

Most good advice has been given, and I don't imagine much needs to be given at all, since you've played the first 2 through - it really is a blast for almost all the way, and I've found people disagree on how the (original, at least) ending is - personally, I don't view it as a train wreck, just poorly written and unsatisfying, particularly when compared to the fantastic awesomeness that was the rest of the game.

One thing I will say, is that I'm considering going back and creating a file from the other 2 games that screws up, doesn't complete all the side-quests, let's companions die, etc., because I want to see the consequences that creates.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

It's soul-crushing and brings a tear to my eye every time, but it's worth it.

Who was it? Spoiler it for me please! I probably did it already anyway and I don't want to go back to ME3 if I didn't.

Spoiler

Thane. When he takes the sword to the stomach, if you go visit him and he made peace with his son. If you play as Female Shepard, he indirectly reveals that he loves you. I've always found that scene very touching.

Tell Kelly to change her name. Don't ask, just do it. Tell her to change her name.

GODDAMMIT! Don't remind me of that.

I didn't tell her to do that :'(

I didn't the first time either. Then, I went online shortly after the event and looked it up. I was so upset that I restarted my game right then and there and made sure I told her to change her name.

Tell Kelly to change her name. Don't ask, just do it. Tell her to change her name.

Y'know, as she's just come up. I've never actually been able to find Kelly on the Citadel in ME3. I know exactly where he should be, and she survives ME2 in all the saves that I import, and I make sure to visit the Citadel regularly so I don't miss any content, but I've just never found her. Can you tell me exactly where the window is to go to the Citadel when she's there (I know when it's too late).

Kelly did not show up on my PS3 run, but she did on my X-box. Since I did everything the same (or thought I had) I looked it up. Kelly only shows up in Mass Effect 3 if you invited her to have dinner with you in your cabin in Mass Effect 2 (apparently I didn't do that in my PS3 run). I find this rather silly. You don't have to flirt with her and get her romance ending, but you do have to invite her to dinner. If you didn't, Kelly doesn't show up in Mass Effect 3. Meaning, if you want her to show up, you have to run through Mass Effect 2 again. Sorry.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

and I was wondering if any Escapists had any protips for me, or things I should look out for. I am a veteran ME player, I've 100%-ed Mass Effect 1 and 2. Just wanna know if there was anything i should tiptoe around.

Huh. Um... well....

Priority missions aren't. Do them last. Early on, there will be little/nothing but priority missions, but after the first three or so the galaxy map opens up and you can go exploring. Do so. Do all side quests before main (priority) quests.

Why? Some side quests are on timers. Not all - just a few - but (with one exception) there is no warning about which ones are which. So do all side quests first if you want that 100%.

Otherwise... um... save all money until you can afford the Specter gear weapon of your choice. It will be expensive as hell (like 200,000 credits or more) but it is worth it. No matter which one you use, it is worth it. The earlier you get it, the happier you will be.

 

[Mikejames]

Make absolutely SURE you download the Extended ending DLC. Please trust me on this.

This. There were issues the EC helped, but you can't get back that initial feeling of build-up in the second run-through...

 

[RedDeadFred]

Not really. Just dive in headfirst and have a blast! The game's deservedly a GotY contender, and you're in for a treat!

Pretty much this. This game goes by so quickly because you won't want to stop playing.

OT: I will recommend that you download the extended cut first because it does a great job creating a more satisfying ending.
I will say this, prepare for some gut wrenching decisions.

 

[Beffudled Sheep_v1legacy]

Prepare for one of the greatest emotional rollercoasters of your life. Prepare to cry without end, to laugh with boundless joy, to defy gravity with edge of your seat suspense, to grow insanely angry with the irrationality of some characters (I'm looking at you Salarian Dalatrass and entire Asari government)and be prepared to hold the line.

I see no other advice to be given since you hit 100% on the other two. You're probably thorough enough to get all the extra goodies and complete all the side missions. Have fun

 

[bl4ckh4wk64]

and I was wondering if any Escapists had any protips for me, or things I should look out for. I am a veteran ME player, I've 100%-ed Mass Effect 1 and 2. Just wanna know if there was anything i should tiptoe around.

Kay, so um guys, I got dis.

First, save money for Spectre gear, aka best weaponry in game except for the shitty Spectre shotgun.
Second, do side quests first, some are on timers and aren't stated that way.
Third, download all DLC except for possibly Leviathan.
Fourth, Talk to everyone including old squad members and enjoy your time with them.
Fifth, If you've got Javik, TAKE HIM TO THESSIA!!!!!!!
Sixth, don't go in expecting the ending to be total crap, it was blown completely out of proportion and people started bitching because it was the end of a great trilogy that they didn't really want.
Seventh: Try to 100% it, you get a whole lot more out of it if you do
Eighth, and most important of all: If you don't like the ending, don't make a thread about it here or anywhere. I personally liked it, even before Extended Cut, I saw the inherent beauty in it while lots of other people were too childish and immediately demanded the heads of every Bioware dev.

Oh, and pretty important is to remember that the bad reviews only came because of the ending, the rest of the 99% of the game was fucking awesome.

Also, have fun with it.

 

[Jfswift]

I would recommend going Soldier for the weapon versatility and the Max Payne like power they get.

 

[Rad Party God]

Make sure you've got the Extended Cut installed.

That's it.

Have fun