#war hero shepard

[dalekofchaos]

Fixing Kai Leng

The problem with Kai Leng is Mac Walters desperately tried to convince us that Leng was Shepard's ultimate equal when he could barely hold his own against an aged Anderson and a Drell with terminal cancer and in the end he was a tryhard egdelord that would make Kylo Ren embarrassed.

The solution to this is make Leng deeply connected to Shepard's personal history. Making him be a ghost from Shepard's past with a personal connection would have made this character much better. His backstory could change with whatever your selections are for Shepard.

If you are Earthborn, you are both members of the 10th Street Reds

If you are a Spacer, Leng and Shepard's families served together and Shepard and Leng were childhood friends

If you are a Colonist, Leng was Shepard's childhood friend and was in the rubble with Shepard

If you are a War Hero, Leng was wounded as Shepard held off the Batarians during Elysium. Leng's survival and stand against the Batarians attack on Elysium caught Cerberus' interest.

If you are Sole Survivor, you both survived an ambush on Akuze. Only Leng wasn't taken to be experimented on. Leng was recruited into joining Cerberus for his survival. Cerberus convinces Leng that the Alliance left him for dead and so did Shepard. Leng's sense of betrayal and human supremacy leads him to joining Cerberus

If you are Ruthless, you and Leng slaughtered the Batarians on Torfan without mercy, The sense of ruthlessness inspired Leng's cold hearted exterior and human supremacist beliefs and led him to Cerberus.

Where do we go from here? Replace Jacob with Kai Leng. And the books would be his ventures with Cerberus(but less as a cringe tryhard) Jacob ultimately added to nothing. He's so fucking boring and unlikable and turns into the stereotypical black guy who cheats on you.

Kai Leng's motivation when it comes to Cerberus would be this. I would say he was a young man who wanted to serve the human race and the alliance but when he saw that the politics of the Alliance kept holding him back from doing the right thing or the greater good,  he saw that Cerberus was the only ones helping humanity.

Remove the cyber ninja aesthetic and combine Soldier, Adapt and Engineer to make him a Cerberus super soldier.

As for Kai Leng. A Leng who has personal history with Shepard has potential, plus Leng being indoctrinated with Cerberus human supremacist beliefs, but also somebody with a moral conscience when it comes to the missing human colonists, somebody emotional that you could agree with or understand, contrasting Miranda as a starting squadmate.

Through the course of ME2, he would grow on you as the rest of the squadmates of ME2 did. His loyalty mission would be centered around our background. If we're a War hero, we hunt down the Batarians who survived Elysium. If we are Sole Survivor, we hunt down the Alliance officer who led their squad to Akuze. If we're Ruthless, we deal with Batarians who want revenge for Torfan who plan on giving human hostages to the Collectors. Throughout their talks, Shepard can convince Leng that Cerberus is wrong and eventually Leng's loyalty with Cerberus begins to wavers, especially after TIM sends them to be ambushed in the Collector ship.

Leng started completely loyal to Cerberus, but when he works with Shepard he sees that Cerberus is wrong, but stayed loyal, but also loyal to Shepard. When The Illusive Man asks Shepard to give the base over and when he/she refuses, he asks Leng to force it. This is where Kai Leng finally stands up to Cerberus. Kai Leng all his life, all he wanted to do is serve and protect humanity. He sees that the humans of the Terminus Systems were proceed into becoming a human Reaper and was horrified and when the man he looked up to for years says we should use what killed the humans, he gets the message we should sacrifice humanity and the costs of uplifting humanity. Kai Leng has had enough. He sees through the illusion of Cerberus and with Miranda tells TIM to fuck off and he stays loyal to Shepard.

Between the events of ME2 and ME3, when Shepard betrays Cerberus, they realize that Kai Leng is probably the strongest link between Shepard and themselves, and try to use him against Shepard. Not as lucky as Miranda, TIM does not want to lose Leng so he captures and indoctrinates Leng, making him an agent, and reprogramming his mind to become somebody he was not before, working mindlessly for TIM, as his first lieutenant in combat, much like Bucky Barnes, we have an emotional connection to Kai Leng before seeing him as a villain in ME3.

The first time we'd see Leng in ME3 is on Earth. We see this lead Cerberus Phantom in a unique mask stalking you and Anderson. And as we're leaving Earth, we see Kai Leng killing Anderson. With Shepard swearing revenge.

Throughout ME3, Leng would be stalking Shepard. Causing trouble as we encounter Cerberus. Trying to kill Eve, activating the bomb on Tuchunka and the attempt on the Council.

He would become the same Kai Leng that we all know and hate but we would be able to sympathize with him more.

When we finally confront him in Priority Citadel, we face him and omni-slash his mask off. We get the reveal. Shepard is shocked, Leng hesitates after hearing Shepard utter his name. Maybe in the Cerberus coup on the Citadel, if his loyalty mission was completed in ME2, he would not kill Thane, out of respect of a former squadmate, and regain conscious thought again for a brief moment to spare him. 

It would also help to explain his inexplicable plot armor. Rather than surviving against the onslaught of Shepard due to plot reasons, he would not be killed, as Shepard still sympathizes with him, and doesn't want to kill him, sparing him and letting him escape, or not being able to fully focus, hoping there's a little bit of the real Kai Leng still in there.

Of course this would lead to multiple outcomes towards the end of the game. He could either be recruited back or un-indoctrinated somehow, but for a good plot he would only be able to turn good again and rejoin the squad way too late in the game, maybe in the last third of the game, like Legion in ME2. Bonus points if you can romance him as Femshep, would still make a better romance carrying on to ME3 than Jacob.

Otherwise, he would have to be killed and could not be saved. I don't think that convincing him to commit suicide like Saren or TIM would work, because it would be too similar to the TIM suicide not too long, and would lose impact because of it. He would have to be fought and killed one last time in combat, and have a tragic end most likely.

If we saved Kai Leng, he would've been transported on the beam. Depending on your reputation and war readiness, Leng can break through the indoctrination and kill The Illusive Man or Leng kills himself, which distracts TIM and Shepard shoots The Illusive Man. If Leng broke through and killed TIM, he apologizes for killing Anderson and being unable to control himself. If you were just friends they hug, if they were LI, they kiss. Leng's fate would be either being aboard the Normandy to put Shepard's plaque on the memorial or finding Shepard's body and bringing him back and then we'd get Shepard putting Anderson's plaque on the Normandy.

SO that's how I would've handled Kai Leng. Making him more connected to Shepard and less of a tryhard edgelord that they made him to be in canon.

[blightedbutdelighted]

Taking on the Universe: Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Two: The Chase Begins

Summary: Commander Shepard prepares for the Normandy's departure from the Citadel as the hunt for Saren officially begins.

CW/TW: None

Preview of chapter below the cut. AO3 link: here.

The view offered by the balcony of Kristofer’s Presidium apartment was something that Natasha knew she would miss once the Normandy finally departed from the Citadel. She could see the Tower in the distance, and all the greenery of the various species of plants from around the galaxy that had been strategically placed around the ring that made up this part of the station. She knew from experience that, compared to the Wards, this place was basically paradise. The destination had been decided, the Normandy’s departure time was set, and a few interesting additions had been made to the crew as all of the Aliens that had assisted in the investigation had agreed to join her cause. Just over two weeks had passed since they had docked at the Citadel, and Natasha couldn't stop wondering what Saren and Benezia were up to. Even without a solid lead to follow, she felt hopeful with the information she'd received from Barla Von on Dr. T'Soni. Because even a lead as weak as this was better than no lead at all. Natasha clasped the warm mug of tea in her hands, relishing this rare moment of peace and relaxation before the chaos was set to erupt. This was possibly her last chance to do so for the next several weeks, or however long this mission would take. Chamomile always helped settle her nerves with its floral scent and sweet taste. It brought back memories of many cups shared with her parents over the years, and the countless discussions they'd had as they'd slowly sipped the warm liquid. The door to the balcony slid open and the soft footsteps of her father drew nearer as he approached. He held his own mug of tea in his hands and sat down at the table beside Natasha with a heavy sigh. Two pairs of matching bright blue eyes turned toward one another, each smiling softly at the other in greeting. "So, once again, our time together draws to a close," Kristofer stated wistfully as he leaned back in his chair, one hand reaching up to scratch his bearded chin thoughtfully. "It's always so hard to let you go, kiddo."

[major-alenko]

so i did start mass effect again. lol. i really enjoy all the references to Shepard’s backstory in ME; i know why they scaled it back in 2 and especially 3, but its just nice to hear my Shepard/other characters talking about who she is before the events of the game and how those things affected her ❤️

[azatas]

the fact that shepard, for lack of a better way to put it, has more of a personality in me2 fits soooo well with the background i chose + the way i play her in me1. like imagine spending your entire military career playing the perfect soldier, ​to the point that one of the last things you say before you die is "the alliance won't abandon us" and then you wake up two years later and they're using your face for propaganda while they've all but erased the memory of who you really were. like yeah i'd develop a bit of an attitude too

[mass-effect-anonymous]

CONFESSION:

I noticed that colonist and sole survivor always seem to be paired. Which, angst. I get it. But what about colonist and war hero? A Shepard who will not let their tragedy repeat itself, ever.

[scionshtola]

well i like her

[theshepcollective]

Shayla Jane (Shay) Shepard

Shay belongs to the lovely @rosebud1773.

Backstory - Earthborn.

Background - War Hero.

Class - Adept.

Alignment - Paragrade.

Lover(s) - Madly in love with Garrus Vakarian.

Shay is an Aries through and through. She’s a fiercely loyal war hero, a natural leader, and needs nobody (though she’s much happier when Garrus is around). She won’t hesitate to headbutt anyone who messes with the people she loves.

[serwill]

will im glad I found ur gaming blog now bc i always got excited when you reblogged game gifs on your main (‘oh they like those too!!’) and now I get to interrogate you on your gaming taste w/o feeling bad!! have you ever played dishonored? I feel like it would be right up your ally. also are you the type of person to really flesh out your wardens/shepards? and if so…would u care to share some facts about them. im currently playing through me3 1st time right now and im having the time of my life!!! the combat is so much fun and i love the visuals & atmosphere. you’re right about it being special. one last question what class did you play in me bc I feel like u would love vangaurd LMAO ok sorry for like the ten questions im just excited. hope ur well, much love!!! xoxo

omg hello hello dear !!! come and sit with me, yes yes !!!

i have never played dishonored actually !!! i think i have one of them in my steam library that i got on sale a few years ago, bc it's actually one of my partner's favorite games !!! and they talk about it so highly !! so i'm glad you brought it up bc that reminds me to play it LOL

and you know......it has actually been a while since i fully played through either me or da so....i actually don't have any facts for them 🥺 bc i never fleshed them out !!!! but you know what, that actually sounds so fun and i am going to do that !!! and come back with more for them !!! especially as i'm replaying da:o !! lemme make pinterest boards so i don't forget 😌😌😌 ty for suggesting it !!! how fun !!! do you have any fun facts to share about your shepard or warden !!!

you know, vanguard does sound like me, and i think if i were to choose today, that class would be one of my final picks !! but !!! i am not a shotgun girlie LOL and that always struck it out for me, bc i prefer long range !!! so i always chose infiltrator, bc i also liked the engineer aspect of it 😌😌 and sniper rifles 😌 what was your preferred class !!!!

omg never feel bad about asking me about gaming !! i love to talk about games 😌🩷✨️ tysm for asking !!! 🩷🩷🩷

[antiqua-lugar]

so back in the day when I plotted out isabela shepard she was just like, classic competent commander with a femme fatale persona but after working on her background a bit (Earthborn, War Hero) and playing with her, it's getting obvious that knowing that she now has Officially Made It (good luck kicking her out of the Spectres) that persona tends to easily slip for Clearly Someone Sad She Can't Bash Someone's Head In To Fix This Problem

also now I want to believe she worked with/knew Reyes from ME:A, which is the funniest way to connect my Shepard and Ryder ("Sorry love, what do you mean you once stole a shuttle with Commander Shepard") (It also gives Reyes new baggage <3)

[lilmissnatcat24]

We all know who we rush to recruit in Mass Effect 2 the second we can. But can we talk about how good that reunion would be if we save the Archangel mission for last?

Tali's rejection has had likely around a month to settle in. So far our team is 1. Unavailable super model genius, 2. Weird merc/terrorist who can't decide who he's loyal to, 3. Even weirder merc that is somehow every combination of every space folk hero legend out there, 4. International super thief who enjoys following people around invisibly, 5. Former war criminal turned doctor who will not shut the fuck up, 6. Actual terrorist with a body count in the thousands, and 7. Large child warrior.

And then Shepard sees that Archangel is not some freaky turian criminal, but her friend, and she just like. collapses on the ground. like holy shit finally someone NORMAL. it's my BUDDY. Garry my BEST FRIEND. who is MUCH HOTTER THAN I REMEMBERED.

[blightedbutdelighted]

Taking on the Universe: Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Three: Rescuing Dr. T'Soni

Summary: Normandy crew arrives in time to save Dr. T'Soni from the Geth. CW/TW: Blood/Canon-Typical Violence.

Preview of chapter below the cut. AO3 link: here.

Even with all the time Natasha had spent exploring Alliance Space, she'd never seen Prothean ruins in person. Her expectations had been high as they'd entered, and the reality had fallen short of the wonder of the Mass Relays or the Citadel. Both of which were believed to be the only functioning remnants of the long-dead civilization. The photographs in the textbooks she'd studied in school on Arcturus Station had prepared her for something quite different than what she saw as she looked around. The place she found herself now resembled ruins in every sense of the word. The air smelled musty, and it was eerily quiet. It was obvious that no living creature had stepped foot in this place in a very long time. Any connection to the technologically-advanced Protheans seemed to have been severed with the passage of time. There was an elevator that descended into the depths of the ruin. It didn't fit the dated architecture surrounding it, which led Natasha to assume it had been added by the archeologists taking part in the dig here. It looked questionable at best, but it appeared to be the only way down. So the soldiers had no choice but to take their chances, stepping cautiously into the rickety machine. The motor sputtered to life as Natasha flipped the switch, her heart skipping a beat as the car jerked upward before beginning its slow descent. "You know, the tiles in those holes remind me of a bathroom floor," Alenko commented awkwardly. Natasha and Williams both chuckled in response, noting that he was right. Perhaps the Protheans, among all of their impressive contributions to the galaxy, were also responsible for bathroom decor. Before Natasha could respond, the sound of gunfire reached them from below. The three soldiers shared an apprehensive glance with wide eyes. They hadn't expected to run into any trouble on this mission, but the commander supposed she should have with the way things had been going lately. This was supposed to be a simple mission to retrieve an archeologist from a dig site, but Eden Prime had also started as a simple retrieval mission. "Look sharp," she ordered as she reached for her Lancer. They all drew their weapons and waited with bated breath as the elevator continued its slow descent. Minutes later, the elevator came to a shuddering stop with a loud, mechanical groan, jostling the soldiers inside it. The doors began to open, screeching loudly enough to make the three of them recoil. The squad held their weapons close as they jumped down onto the platform below, their arrival having been announced to whomever was waiting down here at the bottom of this Prothean ruin on Therum. The sound of gunfire echoed around them, each of the soldiers carefully surveying the area as they landed one by one. They found a handful of Geth spread throughout the area, seemingly led by a single Krogan near the back of the cave.

[shepcdr]

was cleaning out my ooc posts but i remembered this and actually how much i love the idea of earthborn shepard being able to interact with the duct rats on the citadel. and with children in general. he's looking out for the kids in the way that no one ever looked out for him when he was one of them

yishai shepard and kids (ft waxworks' saren). i do love the idea of shepard being swarmed by lil kids every time he gets into certain parts of the citadel... and i think that he should be able to delegate stupid little tasks to them — and occasionally maybe Actually relevant info gathering because i am loathe to put children in danger and i would say so is yishai, needlessly, but he understands that this is an inevitable albeit awful part of the duct rat lifestyle. he'd rather pay them handsomely for one slightly risky job than to have them go scrounging for pennies doing high-risk jobs for people who couldn't care less (which is basically how he came up and how he got in himself in an absolutely Fucked up situation with the reds that i intend to someday write a full headcanon post on...)

mostly i am v tickled by the idea of him trying to get anywhere with a child hanging from each arm. most of his money goes into guns/equipment/upgrades and he has a gods-awful sense of personal budgeting especially since parting with the alliance in me2, he spends that game with no separation between normandy/mission financing and personal financing. but whatever of his spare money isn't eaten up by gambling losses/alcohol. it goes to the kids

[that-wildwolf]

I still am and will continue to be a little bit messed up about how Garrus, self proclaimed bad boy and vigilante, super capable special ops soldier, best sniper in the galaxy, played his biggest part in the Reaper War not on the front lines but away from any combat. I will never be normal about this. In ME3, no one else checks up on Shepard like he does. Romance or not, Garrus tells Shepard to get some sleep, asks her how she's doing, lets her air out her doubts and insecurities to him... Like I am not joking I am fully serious, Garrus pretty much singlehandedly won the Reaper War. I'm sure she would have broken down if it weren't for that support. Do you think she would have made it otherwise? Do you think she would have had the strength to go on, to win? I'm so so obsessed with this. Mr action hero over there quite literally won that war with the power of love. Not with a gun but with some compassion for a person he loved. Can not will not be normal.

And what messes me up even more is he would absolutely not recognise his part in that victory. Like she won is all that matters. It was her victory. I'm sure it never even occurred to him that no one else checked up on her, it never occurred to him that he was the only thread she was hanging on. Because he loves her, she's his best friend, so of course he's gonna check up on her. He doesn't see this as anything special. It just makes sense for him. I really do think she could tell him outright "hey Garrus actually you're the only reason we won at all" and his brain would not connect that a non-combat thing equals war victory. I'm always and forever going to be a little bit insane about this.

[heyzoal]

Random Mass Effect Hot Take: Spacer/War Hero/Paragon Shepard is the epitome of a privileged protagonist.

There’s no grit. There’s no darkness. There’s no challenge. You do the right thing and it immediately gets rewarded. All the decisions are easy.

It’s boring.

[scionshtola]

i think i am for sure gonna play some mass effect tomorrow i just can’t decide if i want to replay mercy from the beginning, replay leo starting at me2, or make a new shepard to romance liara.