Mass Effect Walkthrough

CHARACTER CREATION

When you start a new game, you can begin with the default version of Commander Shepard, or you can create your own. Creating your own allows you to customize your character in a number of ways, as detailed below.

First, you select the gender of your character. Shepard can be male of female. Next you can give a first name to your character. The default male name is “John,” and the default female name is “Jane.” For the purposes of in-game dialogue and continuity, the last name cannot be changed.

The next step when creating a character is to select your pre-service history. This indicates your character’s background before joining the Alliance Military. This choice affects how characters view you in the game. Three choices are available:

• Spacer
  “Both of your parents were in the Alliance military. Your childhood was spent on ships and stations as they transferred from posting to posting, never staying in one location for more than a few years. Following in your parent’s footsteps, you enlisted at the age of eighteen.”
• Colonist
  “You were born and raised on Mindoir, a small border colony in the Attican Traverse. When you were sixteen, slavers raided Mindoir, slaughtering your family and friends. You were saved by a passing Alliance patrol, and you enlisted with the military a few years later.”
• Earthborn
  “As an Earthborn, you had a rough childhood in the slums of Earth, and have a gritty edge to your personality.”

Next you select your psychological profile, detailing what type of person you are and what will cause people to recognize you.

• Sole Survivor
  “During your service, a mission you were on went horribly wrong. Trapped in an extreme survival situation, you had to overcome physical torments and psychological stresses that would have broken most people. You survived while all those around you fell, and now you alone are left to tell the tale.”
• War Hero
  “Early in your military career you found yourself facing an overwhelming enemy force. You risked your own life to save your fellow soldiers and defeat the enemy despite the impossible odds. Your bravery and heroism have earned you medals and recognition from the Alliance fleet.”
• Ruthless
  “Throughout your military career, your have held fast to one basic rule: get the job done. You’ve been called cold, calculating, and brutal. Your reputation for ruthless efficiency makes your fellow soldiers wary of you. But when failure is not an option, the military always goes to you first.”

After creating a character profile, you must select your class from the six types available to you.

• Soldier
  “The Soldier is a tough warrior, able to deal with a range of combat situations. The Soldier gets improved health, has the widest selection of weapons, and is eventually able to wear heavy armor. Gameplay focus is on getting into the thick of the fight, picking the right weapon for tactical situations, and outlasting opponents.”
  Starting Talents: Assault Rifles, Fitness, Medium Armor, Pistols
  Unlockable Talents: Assault Training, First Aid, Heavy Armor, Shotguns, Sniper Rifles
• Engineer
  “The Engineer is a tech specialist, able to quickly and easily manipulate the environment with specific talents. Gameplay focus is on shaping the battlefield during combat, healing the party, and debuffing enemies (disabling weapons and lowering shields).”
  Starting Talents: Decryption, Electronics, First Aid, Pistols
  Unlockable Talents: Hacking, Light Armor, Medicine, Shielding
• Adept
  “The Adept is the ultimate Biotic, able to affect the physical world with the power of the mind. They can use biotics to violently manipulate objects in the environment, including nearby enemy targets. Gameplay focus is on disabling and debuffing enemies while dealing massive amounts of damage.”
  Starting Talents: Barrier, Light Armor, Throw, Warp
  Unlockable Talents: Lift, Pistols, Singularity, Stasis
  
• Infiltrator
  “The Infiltrator is a tech-savvy warrior, able to win battles by quickly disabling and killing enemies. These soldiers focus on unlocking alternate routes, gaining access to good equipment, and obtaining an advantageous position over enemies in combat.”
  Starting Talents: Decryption, Electronics, Light Armor, Pistols
  Unlockable Talents: Damping, First Aid, Fitness, Medium Armor, Sniper Rifles
• Vanguard
  “The Vanguard is a powerful combatant, able to combine the offensive powers of the Adept and the Soldier. They have access to various weapons and armor, as well as biotics. Gameplay focus is on taking down enemies with quick and brutal force.
  Starting Talents: Assault Training, Pistols, Throw, Warp
  Unlockable Talents: Barrier, Lift, Light Armor, Medium Armor, Shotguns
• Sentinel
  “The Sentinel is the most flexible class, able to combine tech and biotics to manipulate the environment, disable and track enemies, or defend the party. Gameplay focus is on protecting the party using kinetic barriers and healing it with advanced medical training.”
  Starting Talents: Barrier, Electronics, First Aid, Throw
  Unlockable Talents: Decryption, Lift, Medicine, Stasis
  

  

Finally you are ready to customize your character’s appearance. You can choose to use the default versions of Commander Shepard, or you can adjust any aspect of your character’s face to your liking. Use the sliders in each section to adjust a range of facial details.

When you are finished, select “Finalize” to begin the game.