We begin the long-awaited second round of the weapons tournament! We've got two fan favorites going head-to-head right off the bat. Which is your preferred pick? Comment below!

It is finally time to pick back up the Weapons Tournament! Here are the results from Round 1! This round ended a month ago, so it's a little old. But we'll be picking up Round 2 tomorrow!

I rarely get to see Ashley and Kaidan's dialogue for Eden Prime in ME3 since I get Javik so early typically. I put it off this time so that I could have this chat with Ash!

It's been a long time since my last Mod Showcase, but I have one I wanna show off that I really appreciate!

Have you ever noticed that ME3 had this strange effect on many characters, where they would look slightly different for seemingly no reason? Or worse, look VERY different? The original ME3 was a worse offender, but LE3 still has this issue.

That's why I love this mod! It adjusts a character's design to more accurately reflect their design in the previous games! My favorite examples being Kirrahe, and the quarian admirals regaining their variety of suit colors!

I don't mind updated character models, but for some reason ME3 had a habit of making characters look like entirely different people.

Download the Character Consistency Project here!

Deserved, or too far?

Since they didn't really have the time to give us our full roster of squadmates for ME3, they had to come up with a lot of reasons for why our ME2 squad couldn't come back to the Normandy. So, rank their excuses from most to least valid! Here's mine...

1. Thane- The most valid excuse of them all. He is in poor health and near the end of his life. He deserves a rest.
2. Mordin- His death is a perfect end to his arc. I can't complain. But if he survives, it also makes sense that he'd need to hide. Although they could have written it so that no one knows someone needed to fix the cure dispersal, thus Mordin wouldn't need to fake his death. Allowing him to rejoin us! So, valid reasons, but there is a way to make it work.
3. Kasumi- A bad reason but somehow also one of the most valid? She straight up tells us she just doesn't want to. She's tired bro.
4. Jack- While I think Jack should have been on the squad, I think she had one of the better reasons for not rejoining. Having young biotics to look after is a good direction for her character. I just wish she could have done both.
5. Legion- Obviously he dies no matter what, so you can't really argue with that. Although the circumstances for his death can feel a little forced. Wtf do you mean you must go to them? Explain to me technologically what you're doing by dying!
6. Jacob- Finding love and starting a family is as good a reason as any to decline, but this excuse feels more flimsy when you know the only reason they gave him this storyline is because they didn't want to put any effort into his character. They could have doubled down and kept Jacob on the Normandy for ME3 and used the second chance to fix his character. But instead he never had a chance. Booooo.
7. Miranda- She's doing stuff regarding Cerberus and her sister, but I have a feeling she could do most of that while also being on the Normandy. Even if they gave her good reasons for being busy, objectively Miranda should have been a squadmate I feel. She deserved more screentime.
8. Grunt- Not having a krogan on our team for the last hoorah of the trilogy was a tragedy. And Grunt really could have been on the team. He had his own team, but they could have been killed off in the caves. Grunt can go back to being his own leader after the events of the game, we need our baby boy!
9. Samara- Would be in last place if not for Zaeed. She just goes off to war to fight reapers, but we're doing that! Just come with us, Samara! We could use you!
10. Zaeed- Has literally no reason. Doesn't even give one. Just kinda doesn't feel like it.

Was it ACTUALLY the only way to handle that?

The people have spoken! Kaidan is the winner of the Favorite Queer Character polls! I'm proud to have seen the love for his character grow over the years!

As the winner, he will receive a special flair and emoji. Thanks for participating, and hope you all had a happy pride month!

I can't believe they removed this conversation! I feel like it adds so much! It can be restored using the Project Variety mod.

It baffles me that this isn't brought up more in the games. They really squandered all of his potential, huh?

I've prepared a hypothetical scenario where Priority Earth had squad role assignments like the Suicide Mission, and I'd love to hear your selections! You can choose Garrus, EDI, Tali, Liara, Javik, James, and Kaidan/Ashley for whichever roles! There will be two phases. The Landing and The Assault. If someone has been assigned a role during a phase, they cannot be given a second role. Choose wisely!

The Landing

The Reapers have set up an anti-aircraft canon, and the team responsible for taking it out has been shot down! You need to send two of your squadmates behind enemy lines to take down the canon so shuttles can land. This duo should be skilled in demolition.

• Which two will you send to destroy the canon?

After the canon has been taken down, you find a massive wave of husks headed for the resistance headquarters. You'll need to send another team of two to deal with them while your squad extracts the demolition team. These two should be well-equipped to deal with large numbers of enemies at once.

• Which two will you send to deal with the wave of husks?

It will be up to you to fight any ground forces at the landing zone. Pick a duo to accompany you while the others accomplish their tasks.

The Assault

The final battle is about to commence! The plan is made, and teams are being formed to take different approaches to the beam. However, Anderson could use the help of one of your team members to assist him in leading the main assault force. This person should have leadership experience and will inspire confidence in the troops.

• Who should help lead the assault forces?

There have also been reports that a group of civilians has been spotted hunkering down along the assault path. If they weren't already in grave danger, they are sure to be swarmed by reaper forces once our forces push through the area. Someone should be sent to find and extract these civilians to safety, but too many people would draw too much attention. We need one person who could successfully defend these civilians while leading them back to the bunker.

• Who should rescue and defend the civilians?

Scouts have spotted a line of turrets aimed directly over our only path to the beam. Reaper forces will surely open fire on our troops the second they reach the valley. Someone needs to infiltrate behind enemy lines and take out those turrets before they can be put to use. This role should be filled by an expert infiltrator.

• Who should infiltrate behind enemy lines and disable the turrets?

Lastly, once our forces reach the final push to the beam, we should leave a small team behind to cover our flank and keep the remaining reaper forces busy. You've been asked to donate a couple of your own soldiers for this team.

• Which two squadmates do you choose to stay back and keep reaper forces busy while you push to the beam?

Your remaining two squadmates will accompany you on the final assault.

Well, with the final orders doled out, it is time to begin the battle to reclaim Earth. Godspeed, and I hope you made some smart choices!

I decided it might be neat if I started making a series of posts where I talk about some of the things I would personally change about the games. The very first thing that comes to mind is that I'd love for a more dynamic relationship mechanic.

Even if you don't talk to a squadmate much and don't really form a relationship with them, by the next game they'll treat you as if you're best buds. It's the same way with every character. You could do everything possible to piss off Zaeed at every turn- the most angry mfer in the galaxy- and if he survives ME2, he loves you in ME3!

The only characters I can think of that actually have this mechanic are Kaidan and Ashley in ME3. Which was really cool!

I really wish the game would better reflect the things you say and choose when interacting with your squad. I think it would be really cool to have some companions that simply don't vibe with you and/or vice versa, because you don't have similar morals or personalities. It would also make it feel more satisfying when you did form a close bond with someone, cause it would actually be earned and a connection that was made genuinely!