Soooo....Mass Effect 3
#99
"True" roleplaying necessitates that you can separate yourself from your character, otherwise there's little roleplaying involved--you're just playing yourself. When I play Mass Effect, I choose Paragon because I want my Shepard to be an upstanding hero, not because my own personal outlook agrees with it (though it does, most of the time). I find myself disagreeing with Shepard regarding certain choices on occasion, but because I am a player and have the benefit of a metagame perspective, that's fine.

The Mass Effect series has consistently been praised for the dialogue wheel, and this is not without good reason. The fact that you know whether an option is Paragon or Renegade beforehand is important, because the brief sentence describing each choice is nowhere near enough to illustrate beforehand exactly the actions Shepard is going to take. In order to play a consistent character, it is important not to choose actions which are diametrically opposed to the character's beliefs; it rips you right out of the immersion whenever it happens. Even then, not all upper dialogue options are Paragon, and not all lower dialogue options are Renegade. Not all choices have an alignment.

The left-hand options involve questions about the current topic (or other topics, usually accessed through the middle left option), while the right-hand options involve moving on from it. This is of course not always true; Charm and Intimidate options are generally on the left-hand side even when they resolve the situation, and exploring more than 3 topics means the right-hand side can be questioning. But it only deviates from it in specific ways, which makes it very reliable.

All of this combines the dialogue wheel and enables cinematic dialogue, and it lets Shepard have a voice (and I don't mean just a voice actor). When Shepard gets angry, you can feel it. When you are curious, Shepard is curious. It is one of the main reasons--along with a solid, unique and interesting universe--that Mass Effect is so acclaimed. Dragon Age II did this as well, and it was by far the best part of the game. Star Wars: The Old Republic feels far more alive than other MMOs for the same reason.

You can still take the options you feel are right for the character even if they are not Paragon-aligned. You are not dirtied somehow for choosing a Renegade option that you believe makes sense for the character; neither alignments are mutually exclusive, and since there is a cap, you can have full Paragon and still take Renegade options when you feel they are appropriate. For example, whenever my Shepard could get an advantage from a Renegade interrupt (such as in ME2, killing the Batarian engineer working on the gunship in Archangel's recruitment mission), I jumped at it, despite my Shepard being 100% Paragon otherwise. I felt it was consistent with her character.

Paragon/Renegade isn't strict Good/Evil. Hero/Anti-Hero is probably far more appropriate. No Shepard is very evil, all in all (though an anthropocentric Renegade probably comes close). You are not roleplaying your own character: you are roleplaying your own Shepard. The savior of the galaxy, the first human Spectre, etc.

I don't see how Mass Effect does not incorporate all of those points you listed, aside from the third (which isn't very relevant, in my opinion). I find Mass Effect to have a wonderful narrative for the vast majority of the storyline. (I still find problems with it; I'm not saying it's perfect, but I find it very good.)
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Messages In This Thread
Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 02-01-2012, 04:16 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Bolty - 02-01-2012, 05:28 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by kandrathe - 02-01-2012, 06:26 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 02-01-2012, 09:33 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Bolty - 02-01-2012, 10:45 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 02-02-2012, 05:20 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Quark - 02-06-2012, 05:45 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Bolty - 02-06-2012, 08:47 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by kandrathe - 02-06-2012, 09:11 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Wyrm - 02-13-2012, 06:00 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Jester - 02-13-2012, 11:07 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Wyrm - 02-14-2012, 09:40 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Jester - 02-14-2012, 10:23 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by kandrathe - 02-14-2012, 11:52 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Wyrm - 02-15-2012, 10:39 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Jester - 02-16-2012, 10:06 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by kandrathe - 02-16-2012, 03:24 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by LavCat - 02-16-2012, 07:37 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Jester - 02-01-2012, 10:16 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Concillian - 02-03-2012, 01:53 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Wiccan - 02-12-2012, 05:54 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Taelas - 02-15-2012, 04:24 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Bolty - 02-15-2012, 01:19 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Jester - 02-15-2012, 02:16 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Kevin - 02-15-2012, 06:45 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Bolty - 02-15-2012, 08:29 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by kandrathe - 02-16-2012, 12:00 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 02-16-2012, 01:22 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Bolty - 02-16-2012, 01:07 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Jester - 02-16-2012, 02:38 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 02-16-2012, 03:34 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Taelas - 02-18-2012, 05:11 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Chesspiece_face - 02-19-2012, 12:10 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Bolty - 02-17-2012, 01:41 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Jester - 02-17-2012, 11:18 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by kandrathe - 02-17-2012, 02:19 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by LavCat - 02-18-2012, 02:30 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Taelas - 02-19-2012, 03:27 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Jester - 02-19-2012, 03:37 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Taelas - 02-19-2012, 10:32 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Roland - 02-20-2012, 02:53 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Bolty - 02-20-2012, 05:38 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Chesspiece_face - 02-20-2012, 10:55 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Roland - 02-21-2012, 02:57 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Taelas - 02-28-2012, 01:59 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Quark - 02-19-2012, 03:51 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Bolty - 02-22-2012, 01:06 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 02-22-2012, 02:06 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Renzocooken - 02-23-2012, 03:32 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Bolty - 02-24-2012, 05:18 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by kandrathe - 02-24-2012, 03:50 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 02-24-2012, 07:30 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by [wcip]Angel - 02-24-2012, 08:36 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Bolty - 02-27-2012, 04:50 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by [wcip]Angel - 02-27-2012, 03:24 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Bolty - 03-03-2012, 05:19 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Quark - 03-03-2012, 04:05 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 03-04-2012, 12:46 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 03-04-2012, 07:15 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Erigion - 03-05-2012, 12:08 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by [wcip]Angel - 03-05-2012, 04:10 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Bolty - 03-06-2012, 07:38 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Jester - 03-06-2012, 07:57 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 03-06-2012, 08:03 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Quark - 03-06-2012, 08:06 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Quark - 03-06-2012, 08:17 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by [wcip]Angel - 03-06-2012, 10:15 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Jester - 03-06-2012, 10:33 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 03-07-2012, 12:34 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Chesspiece_face - 03-07-2012, 03:14 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Jester - 03-07-2012, 10:20 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Maitre - 03-07-2012, 01:55 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Jester - 03-07-2012, 03:13 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 03-07-2012, 03:49 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Chesspiece_face - 03-07-2012, 11:14 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Jester - 03-08-2012, 12:17 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Kevin - 03-08-2012, 01:16 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by NiteFox - 03-07-2012, 11:07 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Bolty - 03-06-2012, 09:25 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Bolty - 03-07-2012, 01:24 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by [wcip]Angel - 03-07-2012, 06:40 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Jabberwolky - 03-08-2012, 03:24 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Quark - 03-08-2012, 02:38 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Taelas - 03-08-2012, 03:58 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Pantalaimon - 03-09-2012, 12:00 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Taelas - 03-09-2012, 01:05 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 03-09-2012, 04:50 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Erigion - 03-13-2012, 03:01 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by NiteFox - 03-13-2012, 12:14 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Bolty - 03-16-2012, 05:36 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 03-16-2012, 08:41 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Pesmerga - 03-16-2012, 08:44 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by [wcip]Angel - 03-16-2012, 11:32 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Jabberwolky - 03-17-2012, 03:54 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Crusader - 03-20-2012, 02:48 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by [wcip]Angel - 03-20-2012, 07:07 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Quark - 03-20-2012, 07:45 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Pesmerga - 03-20-2012, 07:28 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Taelas - 03-20-2012, 08:02 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 03-20-2012, 10:32 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Taelas - 03-21-2012, 08:28 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by NiteFox - 03-22-2012, 10:36 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 03-22-2012, 02:24 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Bolty - 03-23-2012, 01:31 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Thenryb - 03-23-2012, 02:34 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 03-23-2012, 06:44 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Armin - 03-23-2012, 03:46 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by [wcip]Angel - 03-24-2012, 02:03 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Thenryb - 03-24-2012, 05:23 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 03-24-2012, 02:13 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Jester - 03-24-2012, 04:03 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Armin - 03-24-2012, 04:27 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Jester - 03-24-2012, 06:58 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 03-24-2012, 08:25 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Jester - 03-24-2012, 09:14 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 03-25-2012, 12:47 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Jester - 03-25-2012, 01:49 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 03-25-2012, 02:46 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Jester - 03-25-2012, 03:54 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Thenryb - 03-25-2012, 04:35 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 03-25-2012, 08:16 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Jester - 03-25-2012, 08:52 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Thenryb - 03-25-2012, 09:44 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 03-25-2012, 11:38 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by [wcip]Angel - 03-24-2012, 05:04 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Thenryb - 03-23-2012, 08:10 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 03-23-2012, 08:14 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Taelas - 03-23-2012, 08:35 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Taelas - 03-24-2012, 03:26 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Taelas - 03-24-2012, 06:11 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by [wcip]Angel - 03-24-2012, 06:37 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Taelas - 03-24-2012, 07:19 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Jester - 03-24-2012, 08:08 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 03-24-2012, 09:11 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Taelas - 03-24-2012, 10:39 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by [wcip]Angel - 03-24-2012, 10:40 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by [wcip]Angel - 03-25-2012, 10:41 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by [wcip]Angel - 03-25-2012, 03:07 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 03-25-2012, 03:38 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by [wcip]Angel - 03-25-2012, 04:09 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Armin - 03-26-2012, 09:06 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Jester - 03-26-2012, 11:35 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 03-26-2012, 06:35 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Jester - 03-26-2012, 07:47 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 03-26-2012, 08:13 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Jester - 03-26-2012, 08:30 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Taelas - 03-26-2012, 12:58 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Quark - 03-26-2012, 06:11 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 03-26-2012, 07:29 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Quark - 03-26-2012, 10:45 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 03-27-2012, 02:39 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Quark - 03-27-2012, 11:56 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 03-27-2012, 03:10 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Taelas - 03-26-2012, 11:22 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Quark - 03-27-2012, 01:58 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 03-27-2012, 02:58 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by [wcip]Angel - 03-27-2012, 05:47 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by NuurAbSaal - 03-27-2012, 06:30 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by [wcip]Angel - 03-28-2012, 03:20 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 03-29-2012, 12:45 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Quark - 03-29-2012, 12:12 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 03-29-2012, 06:20 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Taelas - 03-28-2012, 09:47 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Tuftears - 03-29-2012, 09:00 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by [wcip]Angel - 03-30-2012, 02:50 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by [wcip]Angel - 04-01-2012, 10:25 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 04-01-2012, 04:27 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Jester - 04-01-2012, 08:17 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 04-01-2012, 09:38 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Jester - 04-01-2012, 09:57 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 04-02-2012, 01:43 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Jester - 04-02-2012, 09:56 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Jabberwolky - 04-01-2012, 10:02 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 04-01-2012, 10:31 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Jabberwolky - 04-02-2012, 01:39 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Pesmerga - 04-02-2012, 03:00 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by NiteFox - 04-05-2012, 12:19 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Quark - 04-05-2012, 01:51 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Pantalaimon - 04-05-2012, 02:46 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Lissa - 04-06-2012, 03:34 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by [wcip]Angel - 04-05-2012, 09:26 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Taelas - 04-06-2012, 09:20 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by [wcip]Angel - 04-06-2012, 09:21 AM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Kevin - 12-06-2012, 03:31 PM
RE: Soooo....Mass Effect 3 - by Kevin - 12-21-2012, 04:48 AM

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