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How am I doin on Mass Effect? Questions.

1732 Views 23 Replies 15 Participants Last post by Flyhigh, Jan 16, 2008

sethhobrin

Discussion Starter · Jan 13, 2008

I just started yesturday. I was seriously drawn in and played for about 8 hours yesturday. I love this game.

I ended my session last night after becoming a Septer or whatever its called and getting on board my new ship. I spent most of that time in the Citadel doing sidequests and stuff.

I got to thinking before I start playing today. Am I leaving the Citadel too early? I know I still have 2 or 3 sidequests in my log still(the one to scan the keepers and 2 of them to journey to other systems to investigate something). Should I stay at the citadel and look for more quests or is it time to leave for a bit?

I just don't want to progress the plot to far and beat the game without putting more effort in to the sidequests. I can't really tell if I am denting the main plotline or if I haven't even scratched the surface yet.

Any tips for me at this point without spoiling anything for me? Oh yeah and so far I have like no money. I've been buying up all the unique items at shops that I can afford but seeing the prices of 65,000 makes me a little sad when I look in my wallet

The other thing I find funny is that I have leveled quite a bit and picked up all of the other party members but haven't seen much combat accept for a few fights in the citadel and the first planet eden.

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1 - 20 of 24 Posts

mproper

· #2 · Jan 13, 2008

I'm only slightly ahead of you (I've gone on two side quests outside the citadel, and I think I'm up to about 11 hours).

I hung out in the Citadel for quite awhile doing all the sidequests I could, since I figured it'd be an easy way to level up before you leave. I couldn't find the last keeper (I have 20/21) so I left and did a couple side quests that people there had given to me.

I'm not sure it really matters what you do. It seems pretty open to me, since you can always go back to the citadel to continue with the sidequests.

I haven't even done any plot missions other than what you do in the Citadel. Although I had to start taking notes to revisit planets where I found something my skills weren't up to par (like probes where my decryption level wasn't sufficient). I wish there was a way to mark these in the game as "places to revisit"

Anyways, I think you're fine with leaving and going exploring.

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sethhobrin

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 13, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by mproper /forum/post/12798235

I'm only slightly ahead of you (I've gone on two side quests outside the citadel, and I think I'm up to about 11 hours).

I hung out in the Citadel for quite awhile doing all the sidequests I could, since I figured it'd be an easy way to level up before you leave. I couldn't find the last keeper (I have 20/21) so I left and did a couple side quests that people there had given to me.

I'm not sure it really matters what you do. It seems pretty open to me, since you can always go back to the citadel to continue with the sidequests.

I haven't even done any plot missions other than what you do in the Citadel. Although I had to start taking notes to revisit planets where I found something my skills weren't up to par (like probes where my decryption level wasn't sufficient). I wish there was a way to mark these in the game as "places to revisit"

Anyways, I think you're fine with leaving and going exploring.

Sweet. Bout to fire up the xbox and continue my adventure shortly.

nozerider

· #4 · Jan 13, 2008

If you want the achievement for party members, make sure you keep the same two people in your party at all times.

sethhobrin

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 13, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by nozerider /forum/post/12798316

If you want the achievement for party members, make sure you keep the same two people in your party at all times.

Yikes. Too late for that. I switched out the guy for garrus since he had decryption and electronics plus fighting since I am full biotics as an adept and wanted more firepower.

Taubs

· #6 · Jan 13, 2008

Just make sure you do most of side quest before completing main quests, i didnt and beat it to early.

King84

· #7 · Jan 13, 2008

Don't go to Noveria first.

That is all.

darthrsg

· #8 · Jan 14, 2008

Look for the monkey planet.

dub273

· #9 · Jan 14, 2008

My suggestion would be to turn off the film grain in the video settings option, because while it's intended to be "artsy" it ends up being merely annoying.

As long as you're not too far into the main quest, you'll be able to return to the Citadel and still complete some of the side missions.

KMR

· #10 · Jan 14, 2008

Don't worry too much about money. You should be able to find much of the armor, weapons, and upgrades that you will use in loot anyway. Once you level up a lot, you will find better loot, and you will reach 1,000,000 credits easily if you sell off what you don't use. Exceeding one million credits earns you the "Rich" achievement and the ability to purchase Spectre weapons -- the best in the game (until you get past level 50, then you can get Spectre X weapons which are slightly better, but that's moot to you right now since you can only unlock leveling past 50 once you actually complete the game.)

Find two teammates that you like and balance out your main character. It's best to stick with two characters you like instead of swapping them out all the time.

You will probably get to hate exploring planets. Many of them feel exactly the same, but you can sometimes rack some some loot, money, and experience from exploring the galaxy.

You can't really leave the Citadel too early. You can return any time you want and whatever side quests you may have missed will still be there when you return.

MANUALLY SAVE OFTEN. Do not rely solely on the automatic saving; you'll end up regretting it later.

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vancouver

· #11 · Jan 14, 2008

I have played through 3 times and really enjoyed it each time. If you want my advice here it is.

1.) Take your time. Don't worry about pushing the story forward and enjoy as many side quests as you can. Once you hit level 50 Spector weapons will become available.

2.) dont worry about saving money to buy weapons at the beggining. You will pick up a lot of goods along the way. eventually you will have more money then you know what to do with

3.) talk to everyone in your crew after each mission.

4.) Pick whch skills and attributes you DONT want to build and buld the rest. You will enjoy maxing and regret wasting points in other areas. That just my opinion.

5.) Dont worry about being "good" or "bad" just do what you think nets you the best result.

6.) when you finish you will keep your charactor, meaning you can play again with your charactor (including full stats and what ever armour/weapins you finish with). Rumour has it " you will want to keep you favorite charactor/ending for ME2." - says insiders

7.) The Mako can zoom in big time when firing. Figure it out.

8.) Personally I found it fun to explore every planet first time through. DONT kill any monkeys.

9.) play through more then once. You can add extra skils once you unlock them to new charactors, or play through again with the same one.

10.) beware of shifty looking cows!

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fjtorres

· #12 · Jan 14, 2008

Specialize, specialize, speciaize...

- Pick wich talents you want for your caracter and build them up first, preferably one at a time; max out one weapon and one power first.

- Pick charm or intimidation and stick with it.

- Pick a team that complements your skills and specialize them. If you're a Soldier, keep an electronics wiz and a biotic wiz with you. If you're an engineer or adept, keep a soldier.

- Get to 1 million creds ASAP.

- Get to level 20 ASAP.

- Don't worry overmuch about order of assignments or missions.

- Use the Mako sparingly; you get less XP for Mako kills than for squad kills. Do use the Make scanner to best advantage; do use the flag function of the map to find your way around the wide-open worlds...

- Don't forget, you don't have to slug it out all the time. A good sprint can save a lot of grief. Especially early on.

Now go kick Geth butt!

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bryansj

· #13 · Jan 14, 2008

After leaving Citadel do the "Find L'lira" (sp?) mission first to finish out your squad.

Don't worry about money. The first million is the hardest, then you just can't spend it fast enough. I've equiped my entire team with full Spectre X weapons. Even the untrained weapons. I just don't have anything to spend my 9,999,999 on.

As stated in another post... SAVE OFTEN!

sethhobrin

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jan 14, 2008

Well I put in another few hours. I'm at about 14 hours now. I've pretty much explored the galaxy with the exception of the 3 systems that are part of the main questline. I haven't done all the quests yet but I have at least surveyed the planets and added many of the quests.

I am at about level 19. I still have not found enough money to purchase anything worthwhile. I sell everything I pickup unless I can use it and have about 80,000 credits. I guess I am still far away from a Million LOL.

I've decided to stick with Ashley(full soldier), myself(Adept) and Tali(full tech) which gives us a good balance of all abilities.

I've been working on Min/maxing the skills I like for each character.

Couple of questions:

1. At about what level will I actually be concerned about buying some nice upgrades. I'm still using crap weapons and armor that in most cases I picked up quite awhile ago becuase I can't afford the super expensive stuff at the shops and good stuff doesn't seem to drop often.

2. I purchased all the unique items in the citadel including the licenses before I even got the normandy. Do I need to actually turn these in or is it automatic? I spoke with the quartermaster and he still has garbage equipment lol.

3. Cows and monkeys??!?!? Haven't seen one yet..

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spid

· #15 · Jan 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by vancouver /forum/post/12805803

I have played through 3 times and really enjoyed it each time. If you want my advice here it is.

1.) Take your time. Don't worry about pushing the story forward and enjoy as many side quests as you can. Once you hit level 50 Spector weapons will become available.

One small correction you can buy Spector weapons once you hit 1 million credits which should be easy around level 20.

sethhobrin

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jan 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by spid /forum/post/12807140

One small correction you can buy Spector weapons once you hit 1 million credits which should be easy around level 20.

How did you get 1 mil credits around level 20? I am about to hit level 20 and have about 100k and I have not purchased anything yet and sell everything I pick up and I have been doing nothing but sidequests since leaving citadel. What was your strategy?

WilliamR

· #17 · Jan 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by sethhobrin /forum/post/12807397

How did you get 1 mil credits around level 20? I am about to hit level 20 and have about 100k and I have not purchased anything yet and sell everything I pick up and I have been doing nothing but sidequests since leaving citadel. What was your strategy?

I too had a million around then.

I did the sidequests (of course opened everything, killed everyone, looted bodies, etc.) But I also did the main quest for a couple worlds. I got more money on the main quest then anywhere else. The stuff you find on looted bodies nets you a ton of cash.

sethhobrin

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jan 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by WilliamR /forum/post/12812563

I too had a million around then.

I did the sidequests (of course opened everything, killed everyone, looted bodies, etc.) But I also did the main quest for a couple worlds. I got more money on the main quest then anywhere else. The stuff you find on looted bodies nets you a ton of cash.

OMG you can loot bodies?!?!?!?!??!? I have never found a corpse to loot. Am i just stupid or do you not find lootable corpses until you start the main quest line after leaving citadel. As I said I have not started the main quest line. I've been exploring the galaxy doing sidequests that were found in the citadel or elsewhere in the galaxy.

dub273

· #19 · Jan 15, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by sethhobrin /forum/post/12812737

OMG you can loot bodies?!?!?!?!??!?

For the record, I believe that bodies are automatically looted after every encounter -- at least, they were on my first playthrough. I'd kill a bunch of Geth (or mercs, or whomever) and upon accessing my inventory screen, I'd have a bunch of nifty new loot. So FWIW I think the process is automatic.

I'm torn whether it was more interesting to go from body to body and getting cool 1ewt, or whether it just saved me a bunch of tedium. I'm actually kinda inclined toward the former.

fjtorres

· #20 · Jan 15, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by sethhobrin /forum/post/12812737

OMG you can loot bodies?!?!?!?!??!? I have never found a corpse to loot. Am i just stupid or do you not find lootable corpses until you start the main quest line after leaving citadel. As I said I have not started the main quest line. I've been exploring the galaxy doing sidequests that were found in the citadel or elsewhere in the galaxy.

You find a few lootable corpses in the side missions but all enemies you kill are auto-looted. If you look carefully, you get notices.

The key to getting to 1 million by level 20 (yes, me, too) is to *really* explore the landable planets. There are more things to gain XP and money from than are shown on the map when you land.

It also helps if you do your combat on foot.

As for what to spend big bucks on, there are two entire ranges of highly desirable, super-rare armors to hunt for. The Colossus line and the Predator (L/M/H) line. The X level versions make anybody a walking tank, especially if equipped with medical and kinetic exoskeleton. And those babies are run about a million each if they show up in stores.

(Which, BTW, I believe update their stock every time you level up. Frequent shopping trips pay off.)

I recently hit level 60 with my Renegade and everybody on my crew has either a Colossus X or Predator (L/M/H) X armor. Some have both. And I even ran into a Krogan Battlemaster X armor. I'm still hoping for a Predator L X armor for Tali as she's stuck with a "measely" Colossus X so I can complete the set.

Just on general principles: nothing but *the* best for *my* crew. ;-)

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