D.A. fan is back for an ME1 Text Only 'Let's Play' (page 51)

Where is comes from... Earlier on this thread - You were saying 2900 or 3200 headed to Earth, depending on what the player wanted to do about

  I was saying 3150 headed into Chronos was absolutely safe territory regardless because


Why I recommend checking it before Chronos rather than just before Earth is that, before Chronos, you can still do some things if it's too low... like doing more scanning.  Also, it's an easy point to pick out because Hackett tells you that you're effectively committing to the final assault



phoray - Despite arguments over the exact details of this... the threshhold number for the best ending right at the ending choice moment is 3100 EMS.  There are things in the very late stage of the game that can affect your EMS (either positively or negatively), but if you leave for Chronos (TIM's base) with at least 3150 EMS, no matter what happens after that, you'll still be good for the "best" ending with the EC installed because you will gain, at minimum, 50 EMS on Chronos.  In fact, it will unavoidably lock you into the "best" ending for the one particular ending choice you might make.  That doesn't mean you won't be able to get that ending even if you head to Earth with only 2900 EMS (i.e 2845 or 2850 before Chronos).
 

Spoilers?  Possibly, but I'm pretty sure the OP is now aware of the Chronos mission since she's done Horizon; and I figured I was being vague enough about the other thing.  I've added spoilers to those references.  You'll need to erase the quote now too, though.

I'll have to check my number from earlier... could have sworn I typed 3150, not 3250.  Anyway... Chronos is just the name of the planet that is now flagged (after Horizon) on your galaxy map as being the location you're going to to chase Cerberus.

Bottom line is that, right at the very end choice (when it needs to be 3100 or higher to get the "best" ending), you can't check your EMS.  The second last point you can check it is just before committing to going to Chronos.  At that point, if its above 3150, you are going to get the "best" ending providing you make the actual ending choice that corresponds with it.  If your EMS is between 2850 and 3149, you can still get that "best"ending, but it's also possible to not get it, depending on another choice you can make earlier on in that final mission.

So, I don't know if you want to lock yourself into that "best" ending scenario or not.  If you do, go ahead and keep getting more war assets or raise your GR to do that.  If you want to leave it more flexible, shoot for a number between 2850 and 3150 (at 50% GR) before heading off to chase Cerberus on Chronos. 

ETA:  Furthermore, if you want to hit 3100 EMS while remaining at 50% GR (i.e. without doing any multiplayer or GAW), you'll need to head into Chronos at at minimum of 2950 EMS (at 50% GR).

You'll have to load a save before locking in his romance, there's no way to break up like in DA.

Not unexpected, and understandable. You've played much of the game by this point so you won't get as much romance content with Kaidan anyway (which could make it feel more weird, probably). Might as well save him for another time.  

If I knew that Citadel had this much Thane's content, I would have been tempted to purchase it. Nice to know that they put in a lot of material for him there. Ah, well, I still reject BiOWARE's policy on DLC pricing, so....

Waiting to see the ending of the game for phoray

I vote to let the ending to come naturally to her :)

Consider this: Ghost Thane probably wants you to be happy in life and not continue to dwell on him.  That said, I don't disagree with your RP.  One of the reasons I have a hard time romancing Steve is that he's sol obviously still hurting from the death of his husband.  It feels strange to romance someone who is still so emotionally vulnerable.

Checking in:

I worked 1030a-1215p at the hospital. It's burrito and bedtime. But tomorrow (possibly) morning I will play and definitely tomorrow evening.

Till then.