What's the point of loyalty missions?

Truth be told I found the whole concept of "loyalty mission" weird even in ME2.

What, you're not going to put in your best effort just because I didn't solve your daddy issues? It's your ass on the line, the reason you're putting in your best effort is so that you don't die. I expect that to encourage you far better than loyalty to Shep does.

From a mechanic standpoint I like the idea of personal missions like that. It's just weird when they specifically call it loyalty, like they're going to half-ass not getting themselves killed just because I didn't do their mission.

As much as I liked the loyalty missions in ME2, I didn't agree with them deciding the fate of the squadmates.

I don't mind them in MEA.

It's even worse in that it carried over into ME3. Zaeed is the worst, because he doesn't deserve to die to the sound of the Citadel background music lol

I like that loyalty missions give you a chance to bond with individuals in your crew, but there has to be a way to implement it that is not so...cheap feeling (ala babysitting).

I liked Cora's because it was tied into the ark (ie, main mission). It made sense that it would mean something to her, and it was something you needed to do for you own goals anyway, and your choices affect her responses. Drack's was a bit more nebulous (although I really liked it as a mission) because it was a Krogan colony issue that had nothing to do with you. You were only there to help him out. There is no issue with optional side missions to bond with your crew, but they should not have such a direct impact on the crew's performance. Liam's mission made no sense (no matter how much he tried to explain it to me).

At the same time...the loyalty missions are some of my favorite parts of the game (and the other ME games), so I wouldn't want them to be taken out. Maybe just tweaked to fit better into the narrative...

I always find myself loving it most when I'm helping krogan. 

Liam's is funny because if you're not really taking in the words coming out of his mouth, his mission is basically "Go there because Liam's got something to do or whatever". 

Drack's loyalty mission was just great! It had a mix of action, drama and humor!

Renaming them personal missions would be just fine. Typically, these missions are where BW shines, and some were highlights here but in many ways these still seemed a little lacking from what I was used to. I get it, Liams was about silliness, Dracks was about heavy choices and his peoples future, peebees about her past and what shes there for etc etc...they still felt like more could have been done. The 'loyalty' and giving it their all, and getting those final powers are just game mechanic flavor, which is fine too, I dont mind gameiness, I just want to feel something about the scenarios the companions bring us in to. Didnt really feel that with any of these, except maybe Dracks.

That's the reason why, unlike ME 2, you don't have to do any of the loyalty missions, no one will die(except one minor character) because of it.

The term 'Fiendship Arcs' gets throw around a lot these days.

No, actually it doesn't.

Friendship arcs are what you are playing through, human. They are not missions, they are stories. Stories about building friendships and deepening that relationship through relatable acts of heroism. Unfortunately they never really reach those heights save for Drack Liam and PeeBee.

The last one is deabatable but you get Azure for it, so it still counts.

*Sips Ryncol*

Oh man.  And his meltdown halfway through?  I wanted to slap him upside the head.  Wished SO hard for a renegade interrupt.

Gameplay wise, it was fun.  Jumping along the wall/ceiling was neat.  But Liam's an idiot.

This. I just can't comprehend how somebody this green ever made it onto the pathfinder team in the first place. And afterward, even if you chose the stricter, professional dialogue choices, Ryder still forgives him with a goofy badly animated grin on her face. He put the security of the Nexus and by extension the entire Initiative at risk but we don't get to put him in his place.

Also I get that a lot of people thought the mission was funny, but it was too slapstick and tacky for my taste.