Does going Renegade mean my Shep is a d*ck to everyone?

My only issue with that is that I wouldn't be able to do some charm or renegade checks in ME1/ME2 if I mix and match, no? Can you also give me an example where your Shep might be Paragon - and where they might go Renegade? The idea of a mix is interesting if I can somehow get certain dialogue checks to work still...

I mostly play Paragon but I do sprinkle in some Renegade choices when the situation demands it. For example in LE1 when rescuing Liara and the Krogan captor is giving his monologue while the whole place is coming down. In this case I chose the renegade option. Also in LE2 when looking for Maelon there is another Krogan who gives a long winded monologue and I choose the renegade option to blow the gas pipe above him. But for the most past I am good to my allies and always help those in need.

How do u play your Renegades?  Always bottom right/left convo option? I want to pick neutral a lot of the time but it doesn't give me any Renegade points in ME1 at least.

One of the problems Renegade faces throughout the trilogy is that it loses it's identity - it goes from being someone who's a bit more authoritative in ME 1, to a xenophobic d-bag, back to something that falls a bit...in between. dmc1001 is correct - Paragon does get a bit repetitive and dull, and it's possible as you play, you might find yourself pulling a few Renegade interrupts or choices as you progress.

The thing is - depending on who you ask on this forum, you'll either get a, "Yes, Renegade is a sociopath!" (which....depending on the game, they're not wrong), to "No, they're doing what's right!" (again...depending on the game...your interpretation of "right" may vary). In the end, play your Shep how you want to.

You're not the only one who struggles with being a douche to everyone. Since KOTOR 1 back in 2003 I've not been able to be evil in games that allow it. Don't get me wrong I don't mind threatening villains or be dickish towards them. But innocents and especially the good aligned companions/squadmates I never talk down to.

I don't think they ever quite nailed what "Renegade" was supposed to be. At times Renegade does feel like you are being a d*ck to some people. Other times -- when it works well -- it feels like a gruff or "no-nonsense" Shepard.

Renegade also seems the more logical choice to bend or break the rules, and therefore more logically will steal the Normandy (much more so than Paragon, which comes across as trying really hard to justify their actions when talking to Garrus).

Charm and Intimidate options generally lead to the same outcome (a few times the Intimidate option will kill someone), just different flavors of persuasion. Renegade usually yells or insults more than Paragon. Also Conrad really deserves to have a gun pulled on him.



Killing the Rachni Queen in ME1 makes for a really easy choice in ME3: Kill the Reaper-bred surrogate queen and Grunt's squad (Aralahk Company) gets to live. Whenever I play a mix of Paragon and Renegade, killing the queen is my most common go-to Renegade option.

I had trouble playing a full Renegade since I started playing and have never done so. I will soon, but he also will have his reasons for it

I totally recommend playing a Renegon though, or Paragade first, which could be preparing you for more Renegadey playthroughs and explore Renegade answers.
I like playing my more Renegade-ish Shepards to be more hardened, but they've never been "dicks" so far. I avoid all actions that seem dumb, like punching Manuel in ME1, or some others in ME1.

I would also recommend to reload and see if the Paragon or Renegade choice fits better (Youtube might also help with that). I used to do that in the beginning because I never knew what Shepard would say and it was interesting to see how a dialogue could go, as the paraphrasing often isn't the best to understand what will be said. Sometimes I even prefer the normal answers (which still provide you Renegade and Paragon points) instead of the blue and red ones.

My last very Renegade-y Shepard was a tough Soldier, but she cared about saving people, too. But she totally called out bullshit on others. So like a "gentle" Renegade. Still caring, but punishing those who deserve it.
I really hate btw how they have written killing off the rachni queen. In ME3, a lot of the Renegade options are quite good and I liked many of these. Not all of course, but hence you could really experiment

One of my fav runs so far was a Shepard (Colonist) who was suspicious of aliens, but grew over the trilogy to see that there are good and bad aliens everywhere, just like with humans.

Now that sounds interesting. Has it changed in LE? I ask because the requirements to get the right balance with Tali/Legion and Miranda/Jack (assuming you don't want to lose the loyalty of any of them) were lessened in LE.