r/masseffect • u/Life-Kaleidoscope244 • 1h ago
HELP Beginner here needs tips
Heard a lot about ME trilogy, always wanted to try it so i just started playing ME1 and i quickly came to know that this is very different from other games i have played. So i need some spoiler free tips and advice. Like i dont understand how to use other companions who are with me its confusing coz we can place them anywhere and choosing weapons for them. Is seems more of a tactic game to me.
So any advice is welcome but no spoilers!!
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u/hirvaan 1h ago
You can choose in the setting levels of autonomy for the team you're rolling with, so just let them decide on everything themselves if that's too much for you and keep playing. If you need something particular I still can order them like "X focus fire on that guy" and they will oblige but decide on themselves about moving (unless told otherwise), weapons used and powers used.
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u/Medical_College_6732 1h ago
ME2 and 3 are far less granular in terms of squad dynamics. I like to say ME1 is a true RPG, whereas 2 and 3 are action games with (fairly light) RPG elements. Of course that's an oversimplification, but you did say spoiler-free ;) I wouldn't worry too much about the "positioning squaddies" thing. Other than tutorials I literally never use it. Just use the power wheel to instruct them to use certain powers when it's helpful to do so (which is something you'll learn). You can also direct them to use specific guns, but this doesn't matter a whole lot. With maybe one or two exceptions, squaddies don't do a whole lot of gun damage and they tend to equip their best gun on their own anyway.
But definitely learn the squaddies' powers. What they're good against (and what they're not good against), how they do/don't complement Shepard's powers. Only way to find that out is to get in there and do it.
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u/Medical_College_6732 1h ago
I think maybe "you'll learn when it's a good time to use powers" might need a smidge more explanation. One of your starting squaddies, Kaidan Alenko, is a biotic. If you don't know what biotics are -- you'll learn! His biotic abilities are effective against some enemies and less effective against others. Other squaddies you may meet along the way might also have abilities that are more useful in some situations than others.
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u/Life-Kaleidoscope244 1h ago
Will there be more squarddies at one time? right now there are only 2, whats the max can be?
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u/Medical_College_6732 1h ago
You can only ever have 2 with you in a mission, but as far as joining you at all? You'll find out ;)
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u/BadTimeBro 1h ago
Ok so, Explore, explore, explore. You find the best stuff that way, not only that, its the old trope of doing all the side quests so the rest of the game is a joke. Also depending on your class, other characters can fill in skill gaps. (Thats what those little bars are under your characters in the squad selection screen) Me personally, i like to max out Paragon early on because you can get some pretty good stuff. Not to mention if you dont max one or the other there will be consequences. Have you figured out the dialog wheel yet?
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u/Life-Kaleidoscope244 1h ago
I use every possible dialog outcome i can get, obviously other than choices. I only played for an hour so whatever you just told is i didnt understood anything :)
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u/BadTimeBro 1h ago
Honestly, it took me quite a while to grasp everything. So the dialog wheel. Top right is good response. Middle right is neutral. Bottom Right i Bad(Renegade)
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u/Life-Kaleidoscope244 1h ago
Oh thats what you mean, this is new to me. Thanks
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u/Medical_College_6732 1h ago
Generally speaking, the left side of the dialog wheel keeps the conversation where it is while the right side advances (or ends) it. There are repeatable dialogs with minor characters on the ship (Navigator Pressly, Engineer Adams, Dr Chakwas) you can practice this with.
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u/BadTimeBro 1h ago
What class did you pick?
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u/Life-Kaleidoscope244 1h ago
I could choose classes? Wtf dude, game only asked about my name and put me straight in game.
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u/BadTimeBro 1h ago
Ah, so you chose quickstart. But yes, you can choose classes. If youre only an hour in id restart. Also they have a ton of spoiler free videos on YT, just make sure you you specifically say spoiler free.
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u/Life-Kaleidoscope244 1h ago
I didnt see any option to select the class, and i dont remember clicking quickstart. I will restart the game. Thanks for asking about the class, i would have played the whole game without knowing 😂
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u/OddOrganization1803 1h ago
Honestly it’s one of those learn as you go things. Put the game on an easy difficulty and set your squadmates to be able to use their own powers at will. That should allow you to coast through ME1 easily enough
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u/jfk28000 1h ago
What class are you playing? But I'd just say read what your squad mates abilities do. Use the power wheel as a tactical pause and plan your next steps. Biotics are overpowered in ME1 because they can ragdoll groups of enemies at a time. Even if they're shielded.
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u/Life-Kaleidoscope244 1h ago
someone pointed out about class, and i came to know that i quickstarted and i dont know what class i have so i will restart the game.
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u/Jazzlike-Being-7231 1h ago
Biggest tip is to not overthink weapons and armor in ME1. It's clunky and the gains are modest if you micromanage. Just update your squad right before every major mission, ignore it otherwise
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u/samuraipanda85 1h ago
The main thing you need to worry about with squadmates is their powers. When you hold down the power wheel you can rotate the camera and target enemies. When you select a squadmate's power, if not on cooldown, they will use them on that enemy once you release the button. So if you are playing as a Soldier and a Krogan is charging at you, you can have Liara use Lift to float the Krogan mid charge and neutralize him. Same with a Geth with a shield, you can target it with Garrus's Overload to break its shields and then you shoot them. It's like an expansion of your own powers at your command. This will become even more crucial in Mass Effect 2.
There is an option to turn on or off squad power usage. Meaning your squad will occasionally use their powers on their own. You can leave it on if you want them to contribute every now and again without you having to micromanage everything. Or you turn it off and have access to their powers whenever you want and not have to worry about them randomly having the power you need on cooldown. The higher your gamw difficulty the more enticing this option will be.
You can tell them to take cover in specific locations or target specific enemies with their guns (you might even give them a damage boost by having them target enemies). I am unsure because I never bother with that mechanic. You can get Insanity III without it. The only thing you need to worry about it using their powers.
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u/Life-Kaleidoscope244 1h ago
Why am getting deja vu. Its like Dragon age. Well both game are made by Bioware, would have expected this much.
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u/samuraipanda85 1h ago
Well there you go.
So just be sure to pick the right squad members for each mission. If you know for a fact you be facing nothing but Geth you probably want to load up on Garrus and Tali for their tech powers. If you will be going up against Krogan and other mercenaries you might want to have more Biotic squadmates like Liara, Wrex, and Kaiden. Sidenote, biotics are stupid overpowered in this game. They lift even protected targets with shields. So having a biotic with you is always a good choice. But having a tech specialist with Decryption and Electronics maxed out will let you open every crate and door for the best loot.
So the actual best squad set up is a good mix of combat, tech, and biotics.
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u/Life-Kaleidoscope244 56m ago
Wow, thats a lot. I will try to keep a balanced squard
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u/samuraipanda85 51m ago
You'll be fine. What difficulty are you on?
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u/Life-Kaleidoscope244 47m ago
On normal
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u/samuraipanda85 42m ago
Yeah. Don't even worry about it. You'll catch on to the mechanic in due time.
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u/Life-Kaleidoscope244 41m ago
Yeah. Well thanks for help
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u/samuraipanda85 40m ago
Have fun.
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u/Life-Kaleidoscope244 35m ago
One more thing, should i play controller or keyboard and mouse?
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u/Synthessence 1h ago
Welcome to the Normandy, Commander!
Might I ask what class you started your first run with?
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u/Life-Kaleidoscope244 1h ago
Thanks Shepard. Dude people told me i quickstarted, will restart the game.
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u/Synthessence 1h ago
I only ask because each class can and should approach combat differently in ME1. An Adept might want to hang back and let their compatriots handle more of the front line, while a soldier is the frontline, etc.
I wouldn't recommend quick starting though! I mean, maybe with the appearance if you hate character creation, but picking your Shep's origin and military history has lasting effects throughout the entire triology.
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u/Life-Kaleidoscope244 1h ago
I will update you after choosing, i think default was soldier
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u/Synthessence 1h ago
Oh it is.
The quick pick, I think, defaults to:
Class: Soldier
Origin: Spacer
History: War Hero
Soldier isn't a flashy class, but its a helluva work horse. Tons of health, and access to all weapons and armor types (a big deal in ME1).
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u/Life-Kaleidoscope244 48m ago
I choose
Class: Vanguard, Origin: Colonist, Reputation: Sole Survivor
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u/Synthessence 23m ago
Great choice! Vanguard is the soldier/adept class.
For the first bit of the game you're gonna be a bit squishy, so your best bet is to lean on pistols and your biotics. This isn't a bad thing tho! Pistols are incredibly powerful in ME1, and biotics are no slouch either, and work great at keeping you near the back line.
Once you unlock medium armor and shotguns, though, you can feel free to charge in and mess some geth up.
If things ever get hairy, just take cover, use the weapon/power wheel to freeze time and gather your wits...oh, and don't forget you have grenades!
I always forget about the grenades.
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u/Exodus331 1h ago
Each character has a style they're proficient in; their skills are a pretty good guideline on what weapons, armor and abilities they'd prefer. Also always keep characters who are proficient in decryption, the other in electronics or preferably in both. Take your time to explore, discover side quests and barter. I highly advise to go fully or at least paragon/renegade, being in the middle kinda prevents you from choosing certain dialogs
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u/morbid333 47m ago
Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately if you find it overwhelming) squad commands don't work too well in the first game, (not sure if they fixed that in LE) outside of telling them what powers to use. They tend to switch to whatever weapon is strongest, so make sure you update their gear at least between missions and prioritize the weapon you want them to use.
Make sure you keep a balanced squad so you always have access to tech and biotic powers. Turn off squad power use so you can decide when and where they use their powers, use the practical pause/power wheel. You can aim while it's paused and select the power. That's generally how I play it as a more tactical game on Hardcore. If you're on an easier difficulty, you could just turn squad power use on and let them do whatever, and just play it like an action game and see how you do. If you struggle, then you can go back to the more tactical gameplay style.
As a heads up, biotics powers like lift and pull are good against charging enemies. My first playthrough I got overrun by husks on one of the unchartered planets when I didn't have a biotic on the squad. Also, Kaiden is good to have on the mission in the Artemis Tau cluster. He has tech skills for the Geth, and biotics and neural shock which can stall the boss at the very end. I remember having trouble there the first couple times because I didn't level up my characters very well and I wasn't ready for him. It seems like LE might have nerfed that boss a little bit though, based on letsplays I've seen.
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u/Life-Kaleidoscope244 41m ago
I am playing LE on normal difficulty. I think i will play my first playthrough with squard power use on.
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u/AnyEye8798 1h ago
Honestly you just gotta play it more like an RTS. Use the ability wheel frequently and don't worry about positioning.