u/DJ_OC

This one? Oh we already been knew about this one. Turian and krogan? Cop and merc? Infiltrator and vanguard? One following in his father's footsteps, the other committing patricide? One full of righteous hope, the other with only a dying spark of hope inside? One tired of all the rules and the other rarely having to worry about them? Hell, they've even got the red and blue thing going on! There's no shortage of things for them to talk about. So much so in fact that it's probably too much to fit into a four-scene support chain, especially with just one game as proper squadmates, unless you just want to choose one and stick with it.

Here's what I've got;

• Obligatory genophage discussion.
• C-Sec shit-talk, with a pleasant twist since it comes from both sides of the equation.
• Aforementioned daddy issues.
• Garrus getting the story straight with Wrex's infamous merc career.
• Wrex educating Garrus about the crime world outside the Citadel. (Maybe informing Garrus for his Archangel era.)
• Pretty sure their support chain would end with them both appreciating how the other defies the worst aspects of their races.

These always give you a few that make you say "how dare you make me choose."

Yeah, another Ash one. I tend to go through things like this procedurally, plus I think I just see more opportunities for her than most of the ME1 crew. Maybe I'll go for a non-Ash instance next time.

Anyway, this time I have to admit, I think I mostly bring it up due to vibes. Ashley is a fairly cynical, big sister type soldier who would be the muscle/tank on most squads without a krogan, while Tali is a plucky, relatively naive wanderer who needs her suit to protect her from all the germs and has no one to protect her from racism. In my mind, all the signs point to Ash instinctively acting like the protective big sister and Tali just going with it. Though beyond that concept, I think you guys might have more specific ideas for support convos than me.

Here's what I have anyway;

• Ashley defends Tali from a racist on the Citadel. (Get ready to see that one a lot with Tali supports)
• Ash spending a lot of time trying to improve Tali's armor and shields (mostly armor.) May or may not make Tali have a 'you're suffocating me, sis' equivalent reaction. Or she's touched because nobody cared so much about her wellbeing since she left the flotilla.
• Ash mentions Geth 'flashlight heads' as a reason why she feels bad for getting surprised on Eden Prime. Tali points out that they are capable of turning their lights off. This makes Ash feel better about Eden Prime, but kinda silly for not considering that.
• If they both survive to ME3;
  • Ash comforts Tali about losing her team on Haestrom, and sympathizes due to her own experience losing the 212 on Eden Prime.
  • Ash is utterly shocked to hear Tali's attitude shift regarding the geth after meeting Legion.
  • Ash being really proud of Tali for becoming an admiral.
  • Some delightful Cerberus shit talk.
• If there isn't at least 1 hug by the end of their supports, I'll riot.

Oh I'm actually doing another one of these, huh? Depression be damned, I guess. Anyway, here we have the military brat and the... paramilitary brat. May or may not be using that phrase right. In any event, these two have a pretty surprising number of similarities considering how little they interact (even by Mass Effect standards.) Both have lineage in para/military organizations (Alliance Military, C-Sec,) both are at least a little hot headed and impatient when we meet them, both are snipers, both lost combat groups they served with (Eden Prime 212, Archangel Mercs.) Frankly, these two have too much connecting them to not have a support line in this hypothetical. Even in the actual games, they have nowhere near enough unique dialogue with each other. Let's (talk about how we would) fix that (in this one specific format,) shall we?

Here's my ideas for themes of their supports:

• General military chatting (can apply to ME3 as well.)
  • Comparing boot camp and training experiences
  • Weapon maintenance shop talk
  • Best/most impressive stories
• Discussing First Contact War and who's to blame.
  • Maybe Garrus gives a surprisingly flattering Turian perspective of Ash's grandfather.
• Garrus telling her C-Sec stories (which she would like to hear imo,) including Dr. Saleon which she would almost certainly have strong feelings about.
• Ashley embarrasses herself by showing her ignorance regarding turian biology/culture. Garrus is cool with correcting/educating her^(1).
• If you want to go the 'A-Rank supports can end up together if Shepard doesn't romance one of them' route, their A-Rank would almost certainly be a ship-tease involving Ashley's "kiss a turian" line being brought up.
• If they both survive into ME3;
  • New duties with promotions.
  • Worrying about their families.
  • Garrus assuring her that Shepard was never all that cool with Cerberus even during ME2.
  • Generally just telling her about ME2.

^(1)Could this be an in-universe reason for why aliens are so willing and ready to exposit about their species to Shepard? There are so many things to learn about so many different aliens that exposition is just a normal thing that people have to do for aliens sometimes?

Source

Kind of a continuation of a previous post here. Basically, in FE, some side characters get 2-4 scenes and/or conversations separate from the protag to have a little low-stakes mini-arc together with no impact on the main story. It's something I wish Mass Effect had done, but now we get to imagine it instead! I'll throw out some potential support pairings and some of my ideas for them and y'all can tell me what you think as well as any ideas you have.

So to start we have the starter mon, the Charmander and Squirtle, the Yosuke and Chie. Despite being the first 2 enduring squadmates, they've actually not got a whole lot in common aside from their species and occupation. He's level-headed, she's fiery. He's a Sentinel, she's a Soldier. He's Canadian, she's (half) Hispanic. But there are a handful of routes I can imagine their supports might take.

• Bad histories with turians. (Commander Vyrnnus & Shanxi, respectively)
• Ash voicing her concerns about the alien crewmates and Kaiden reasoning with her.
• Discussing humanity's place in the galactic community.
• Kaiden helping Ash acclimate to the Normandy.
• Ash's sister calling Kaiden cute coming up somehow.
• Last support ends with them promising to do something together after the mission is over. (Y'know, just to make Virmire hurt more)

1- "Chastising rebuke, Din." Is genuinely one of the funniest lines in the entire franchise.

2- Saphyria is one of the dopest names I have ever heard even all these years later.

Just a couple of the little joys that hits me early on every time. Anyone else have little satisfying moments like this in the series?

I'm not willing to die on all of these hills, but the ones I am, I will defend like a cornered animal.

Just like the Citadel DLC itself, this question is pure fanservice. Here's just a few ideas of mine:

• EDI trying to suggest he could get an organic romantic partner, too. Legion doubts many organic women would be attracted to a Geth (outside of some outliers from the extranet.) A surprising amount of women chime in to list Legion's good romantic qualities, much to the dismay of at least one man present (probably James.)
• Samara asks Joker and James what a 'M.I.L.F.' is upon hearing them use the phrase, and the guys try their hardest to not be the one to say it. Legion eventually says it, not having a grasp of the subtext. Also the first and only time Legion swears in the series.
• Jacob, Thane, Mordin, and Garrus talking about the vent section of the ME2 suicide mission. More specifically, the latter three asking Jacob why he volunteered for the role despite his lacking suitability. This then devolves into each of them trying to advocate as to why they would be a good choice for the vents. A moment that would have Shepard looking into the camera like in The Office, no doubt.
• Jack asking Thane about the psychedelic effect Drell skin has, which leads to some shy/awkward interest from Steve, Ashley, Kaiden, and Miranda. Shepard can comment on this if she's romancing Thane.
• Legion getting pressed about his N7 armor piece and/or how his hole never got properly covered. (Granted, this might erase some of the magic of the "No data available" moment.)
• Mordin hounding Javik to let him run tests, and Liara is there to tell him she already tried that. So many times.
• Something between Ashley+Kaiden and Miranda+Jacob. I dunno, just something.
• Some gag about the Drell having very little in the way of fashion as joke about how all Drell in the main games wear the same outfit.
• Wrex and Jacob (the former possibly as a joke) asking for parenting tips from Thane and Samara.

Your turn!

I love games with a large set of colorful companions like Persona, Fire Emblem, Baldur's Gate, and Mass Effect, of course. These games let you get to know many of these characters, often learning about and working through their issues, but they don't often have these characters meaningfully interact with each other outside of token group scenes or short mid-combat quips. Except Fire Emblem.

To try to keep it brief, when characters fight, eat, do chores, etc. with each other it progresses to let them do better together in battle and many of them have a handful of scenes together that have them grow at least a little closer and interact without the player character's presence influencing things or having any real influence on the main story. These small arcs can range from silly and light-hearted to angsty and bittersweet and can include some duos you wouldn't think would have anything to talk about, yet inevitably end up being charming. It's something that isn't in any other game I've played and is exactly the sort of thing love to see. And I'd love to see these sort of conversations in the Mass Effect games.

Some possible supports are obvious; Miranda & Jack, Ash & Kaiden, Tali & Legion, etc. But what exactly would they be about? What tone do they take? And what about beyond the obvious pairs? Legion & Jack? Tali & Wrex? James & EDI? Mordin & Miranda? Who might have things to talk about? Enlighten each other on? Improbably open up about?

Here are a few I've thought of;

• ME2 Miranda & Grunt- Bonding over being created instead of born and how different "perfection" looks to their respective creators, as well as finding their own purposes in life.
• ME2 Jacob & Kasumi- Jacob trying to get Kasumi to admit she's been cloaking in the armory while he's working out.
• ME1 Garrus & Ashley- Military kids talking shop and Ashley warming up to aliens.
• ME2 Jack & Tali- Talking about what it's like to be constantly covered up vs always shirtless. Also Cerberus smack talk.
• ME1 Tali & Joker- Bonding over compromised health and love of ships.
• ME2 Thane & Samara- Spiritual parent angst.
• ME2 Jacob & Tali- Jacob telling Tali about his own experiences with racism after the "Crime in Progress" side mission.

Let me know what you think or any ideas you have for supports!

For the record, the correct choices >!must be loyal:!<

>!2nd Fire Team (both times): Miranda, Jacob, & Garrus!<

>!Tech Expert: Tali, Legion, & Kasumi!<

>!Biotic Specialist: Jack & Samara/Morinth!<

>!Crew Escort: Anyone!<

For me, I'd have >!Zaeed as a 2nd Fire Team leader. Sure, he's gruff and the stories he tells about his prior missions tend to end with him as the only survivor, but he is very experienced and if he's loyal he's probably in a better headspace than he's been in in years. And while he probably rubs a lot of people the wrong way, the same could be said for Miranda and she does just fine. I'd be willing to give him the role.!<

>!My only other choice would be Thane as Tech Expert, and admittedly it's a pretty weak case. He says it himself, he has some experience with infiltration. Maybe not quite as much as Kasumi, but my intuition tells me the ventilation shaft doors wouldn't have need of more security than Thane has seen before.!<

But that's just me. What would y'all do?

It's not absolutely shocking that he has this opinion, but I find it odd that they chose to show him having this opinion in both situations. Maybe it was just to make it easier on the programming side of things, but Garrus being the one to show such open disdain for Miranda seems a little bit out of character to me. Plus, Tali, who is arguably second only to Jack in distrust of Cerberus, is standing on the opposite side of Jack. I mean, remember the death glare she leveled at Jacob? She seems like the obvious choice for this role in my eyes.

What do you think? Anything I'm missing?

(Also, I'm not sure it's possible to be missing both Jack and Garrus at this point, but if it is, I don't know what happens in this scene in that instance.)