What did you do today in ME?

Pinnacle Station only awards XP when you achieve the highest score in each arena (you don't get additional XP for besting yourself). Overall it's the same XP as killing 13 thresher maws or geth primes. But it's a combat gauntlet and the time trials can be frustrating. If you finish it you gain access to the only bottomless grenade dispenser in the game and a store that sells high-end gear, though you don't get to pick the item (you get a random selection from about 15-20 items).

As for Bring Down the Sky, I always go there early to get the 2 or 3 grab-and-go omni-tools lying around but then I defer the fight at the main facility until I'm above level 43. Colossus armor is great at any level but if it's rank VII or above, you get an extra upgrade slot.

I was unaware of that.  I only started playing Mass Effect in early 2016.  I'm doing a new trilogy playthrough (NG+) so my Shepard is already above 50.  I'll see how it works out.  Pinnacle Station is essentially tournament fights.  There's a prize for completing Pinnacle Station but it doesn't transfer to future games.  Too bad, because it's like in ME3 they realized they liked the concept and gave us a new arena.  Further, something like the prize you win from Pinnacle Station is handed to you just for having Citadel DLC installed in ME3.

Alexis Shepard

- Watched a thresher maul destroy a Reaper. Briefly wondered about the feasibility of transporting grown mauls to Earth. Unlikely. Tried to talk Mordin out of distributing the genophage. Reminded him that he's the one who convinced me that the genophage was the lesser of two evils. Had to shoot him. Desperately didn't want to but had no choice. Followed that up with lying to Wrex. Felt sick about it, but I had to. The Krogan are too dangerous. At least he doesn't seem to suspect. *Cue ominous music*
- Returned to the ship to hear everyone talking about what a hero Mordin was. Went to my cabin and threw up. Tried to talk to Liara about how I was feeling, but she was busy. She's always busy. War and shadow broker stuff aside it would be nice if she could cut out a few minutes for us.
- Traynor came up to my cabin for a game night and I guess I needed something because she went to use my uber impressive shower and one thing led to another. Twice. Hopefully I can talk to Liara before she finds out. *Cue ominous music again*
-Not my own biggest fan right now.

Oh, that's a nice bit of headcanon. I hadn't considered that interpretation before. I like it.

My Paragon Fem-Shep Sentinel completed the Feros campaign against the Geth, saving the colonists there from both the Geth -- and the ExoGeni corporation. She built up morality and Paragon points by helping the colonists get their infrastructure up and running, though she noticed that they didn't seem to be quite "right." After dislodging the Geth from ExoGeni's main building and uncovering their unethical experiments on the colonists, she then used knockout grenades to avoid killing the now violent colonists and was able to kill the Thorian, the huge plant-like being that lived under the colony, controlling the colonists' minds.

Did I screw up my dialog choices or is it not possible to publicly expose ExoGeni and deal with them as Shep does with Cerberus?

Also, before I decided to start the Feros Campaign, there was one other main mission listed. (I can't remember the name...) Does Ferros lock you out of other missions? Currently, my Fem-Shep has just returned to the Citadel only to have the Council dismiss her concerns about the Conduit and the Reapers and relieve her of command. (Yes, she has received word that Commander Anderson wants to see her at Flux. Insane plot twist coming! )

As to companions, my Paragon Fem-Shep has managed to stay on everyone's good side. (Charm points help!) Her prospective LI is Liara. (She developed a taste for blue women during the Assari consort assignment. Yes, I know the Assari are "mono-gendered" but...) Wrex actually seems to like her more after Virmire. Even Ashley has opened up to her. (She talked about her grandfather...) While wandering the Wards, my Fem-Shep ran into an "Earth First" candidate. Ashley actually jumped in and took the guy to task for the anti-alien racism of his supporters. (I've heard others criticize her as racist. Is this the result of my Shep's influence on Ashley? Or is Ashley's attitude more of guarded suspicion rather than racism?)

I bought the trilogy to play it all again. Playing MEA made me really miss it and want to do it all over again. Can't wait for it to arrive.

Shameless self-promotion, but I created a mod for ME1 that allows MaleShep to romance Kaidan (and FemShep to romance Ashley) without any of the issues that come with the old gender swap trick.

Sweet.  I'm going to download it right now.  Totally fine with a fresh start even though I recently started a NG+.

There's a subforum for modding and user creations.  Maybe you could post the link there for anyone else who might be interested.  There are plenty of LGBT people here who might be interested.  (Probably some straight guys, too, who'd love to play FemShep and romance Ash.)

Laura Shepard, Colonist, Sole Survivor

Liara was eager to fetch the Prothean artifact from Eden Prime, and Shepard was eager to prevent Cerberus from getting anything that they really wanted, so the Exodus Cluster was the Normandy's next destination. 

The squad was shocked to learn that the artifact was, in fact, a living prothean, still in cryostasis.


Shepard explored the site with her squad, and experienced visions showing her the last days of the prothean civilization. Seeing firsthand what awaited them all if they failed made her more anxious to wake the prothean and learn everything he knew about fighting the reapers and building the crucible.


Unfortunately, what they got was not one of the greatest prothean scientists of the time, as Liara thought they would, nor even a scientist just barely good enough to warrant continued life support.

They got Javik.


Despite poor first impressions, Shepard felt for the prothean as he looked around himself in shock, his entire civilization -- and everything he had ever known -- long gone.


Shepard made overtures, but Javik wouldn't be Javik if he weren't extremely rude.


Back on board the ship, Javik was held under guard in Grunt's former quarters. Shepard insisted that he was no danger to any of them, but the guards hesitated to leave.


I like this mildly annoyed expression on Shepard's face. I don't remember what offensive thing Javik said to prompt this, but I'm sure it was hilarious.


Still, Javik was far more forthcoming than Shepard expected him to be, given his opinions of the primitive beings running the galaxy. Liara was simultaneously fascinated and horrified by the reality of this species she had spent years idolizing.


Time to return to Citadel to restock and -- though Shepard would not say so to him -- to give Javik some time to get acclimated before putting him anywhere near combat. 

Shepard was both nervous and relieved to learn that Ashley had woken up and was asking to see her -- and her old friend Thane had managed to get in touch -- so her first stop was to Huerta Memorial. 


Shepard ran into another old...not friend, exactly, but at least not an enemy. Miranda planned a clandestine meeting with her old science experiment Shepard to discuss not much in particular.


When the crew disembarked the Normandy, Shepard had told them to enjoy their day of shore leave, since there were no guarantees that they would get leave again any time soon. Garrus's interpretation of this was to go down to the refugee camp and take charge. Good ol' Garrus.


With errands run and quests fetched, Shepard returned to her ship. As soon as she entered the CIC, though, Traynor stammered out a concern. She'd picked up on a distress signal from Grissom Academy. While the school had supposedly been rescued by a turian ship, the ship's signature actually appeared to be from Cerberus. Shepard congratulated Traynor on her catch and went to investigate.

Sure enough, they arrived to find the academy blockaded. Joker was pretty sure he could distract the Cerberus ships so that Shepard could sneak in with a small crew. She figured it would be a good time to test out EDI's new body, as well.


Anderson's special friend gave Shepard the run-down of the situation, and asked Shepard to deliver a message to him when she was able.


Shepard, having not quite caught on to the theme here yet, was surprised to learn that her former team member Jack was the instructor protecting the remaining students. "Psychotic Biotic," indeed.

I was amused to see this mech have to stoop to get through the doorway.


Jack thanked Shepard for the rescue with a punch to the face. "As charming as ever," as Garrus says.


Shepard runs into a few more teenagers who look much, much older than she does.


Just as the group makes their final escape, Rodriguez gets cornered by Cerberus troops.


The students try to whine their way to the front lines, but Shepard sensibly decides they would be better used in support roles. Jack thankfully accepts this decision without complaint.


Anderson gets in touch back on the Normandy. He is happy to see Shepard, and even happier to hear that his friend is safe.


EDI makes an attempt at humor. She...should probably practice a bit more (short video clip in spoiler).


The crew recovered some reaper tech from a Cerberus lab. I died a few times during this short mission. It was pathetic.

Apparently, Garrus has been talking about Shepard to Victus. All good things, of course.

Lots of planet scanning and fetch quests later, and it was back to the Citadel. Ashley was almost ready to leave the hospital, and wanted to see Shepard again. I look forward to seeing how Ashley behaves during the Citadel siege, compared to Kaidan.

On her way back to the CIC, Shepard tripped on these floormats that had been randomly strewn about the conference room and sprained her cybernetically-enhanced ankle. (Seriously, I can understand all the exposed cables and such on the ceiling, but how hard would it have been for someone to straighten these damn things? Stay classy, Alliance. )


Next time...probably meeting with politicians. That'll be a fun one.

Shep straightened Kaidan out at the Citadel. No flirting! *cough* She's your CO, mind.

Chewed Garrus out for firing during the hostage situation. Decided not to pick up Wrex and went on to Cora's Den.

Thanks for the alert, Enemies Everywhere! You dumb mob.

After much blah blah, Shep got made Spectre and landed a cool warship. Off to adventure!

I've actually forgotten about this but Garrus completely befuddled me when Shep landed on Trebin and found reaper husks and the dragon teeth. He said he had seen it before and alluded it to machine cultists. Wuuuuuut???? Come again? You've seen it before? Where? When???

Of course, there's no chance to ask him.   And Shep never said; oh wait, those metal toothpicks are very familiar. Where have I seen those before?

Kaidan; You know, that planet where we were nearly ashed.


I still remember when I first played this. I took it all in stride. Cultists? Ok, yeah. People with mad ideas then. Well, they dead now. And completely forgot about it. 

rondeeno

I've been a bit mod-happy since first playing Dragon Age Origins.  This is my first PT with ME 1 and figured I should see what the developers intended.  For the next PT, I would like to update the game as much as possible.  Any must-have mod recommendations in addition to this one for ME 1?  Also, I haven't culminated the romance yet.  Is a nudity mod needed to avoid an "underwear" scene?

1.   I resemble that remark!  Too much Lara Croft in my youth, I suppose...