Page 4 | Mass Effect Tourist Guide

Styx Theta

NOTE: Just as the Armstrong Nebula is the backdrop for the planet-hopping Geth Incursion, so the Styx Theta cluster offers an ongoing series of assignments revolving around the nasty looking rachni. The assignments tend to run into each other, so we'll just say at the start that this little subplot is certainly worth doing. It's one of the meatier side quests in the game, and has lots of cool combat. If you tackle it after the Noveria story missions, you'll have an advantage as you'll know what you're dealing with.

• System: Acheron
• Planet: Altahe

Listening Post Theta

Head for the listening post to discover it's overrun with rachni. Wipe 'em out, then check out the computer and comms array. There's a record of a supply ship, and an urgent distress call from the neighbouring system of Erebus. Something fishy is clearly going on, and the trail leads to the Argos Rho...

BONUS: There are Matriarch's Writings here as well.

• Planet: N/A

BONUS: There's a Turian insignia on an asteroid in this system.

• System: Erebus
• Planet: Nepmos

Listening Post Alpha

Tipped off by the message received on Altahe, make your way to the listening post and you'll discover a handful of marines under siege from swarms of rachni. Yes, it's Starship Troopers time. Talk to Lt Durand, then lend them a hand with your superior firepower - you can hook the Mako up to the generator to fire up the automated cannons - and keep the rachni at bay until their numbers run out. Talk to Durand again, and you'll learn that there's an underground rachni lair. The coordinates are added to your map. Are you man (or woman) enough to finish the job? Go to the infested mine and clear it of rachni - you need to kill the two brood warriors in the end chambers to complete this portion of the mission.

Depot Sigma-23

To finish off the rachni subplot, you need to scoot back to the Argos Rho cluster, and the newly added Gorgon system will be available. There's only one place of interest there - the unidentified space structure. Board it, pick off the rachni then check out the personal logs near the cockpit to find out which shady criminal syndicate is behind this whole palaver. Now set some charges and leg it back to the Normandy - just dodge the rachni in the hold on the way back, and heal as you go.

BONUS: There's a League of One medallion here as well.

• Planet: Wermani

BONUS: There's a Prothean data disc here.

Background Specific Assignments

Remember when you were creating your very own Commander Shepard? How you chose from three different backgrounds - Colonist, Spacer and Earthborn? Here's where it comes into play - there are three missions in the game that can only be accessed by those with the appropriate background. These missions can generally be found anytime between the first story missions on Feros and Noveria, and the final visit to the Citadel after Virmire.

Old Friends

This mission only appears if you chose the Earthborn background, and is triggered just outside Chora's Den. Finch, a member of the same gang you used to run with on Earth, demands your help in freeing someone from Turian custody. The guard in question is in the bar and, as always, it's up to you how to approach the situation. Whether this will come back to haunt you remains to be seen.

Worth doing? Technically, no. But what's the point of choosing a background for your character if you're not going to do the quest that ties in with it?

I Remember Me

This is the mission for those who chose a Colonist background, and it involves a girl from the colony where you grew up. She was taken as a slave, and is now suicidal. You've got to talk her out of a deadly plunge from the docking bay.

Worth doing? As with Old Friends, why not?

Old, Unhappy, Far Off Things

This is the mission for those with a Spacer background. Between the Wards and Presidium you'll find a rather wretched figure who asks for money. This assignment actually finds you calling up Shepard's mum, and discovering that this is an old family friend. Help him in whichever way seems best.

Worth doing? Looks like even space heroes don't phone their mum often enough, so you probably shouldn't pass up the chance.

Paragon Specialist Assignment

Besieged Base

Once your Paragon level is above 75%, Lance Henriksen gets in touch with a special assignment. A science facility has been taken over by biotic terrorists, and you're needed to clear the building without harming the staff, who have all been drugged up and are wandering around like idiots. It's actually easier than it sounds. These terrorists aren't the brightest bunch, so if you were expecting to use precision shots to take down bad guys hiding behind human shields, think again. Once they're alerted to your presence, you can back away to a safe area and wait for them to come to you.

Worth doing? Not really. You do get 24 Paragon points, but as you only get this quest once you've already earned a ton of Paragon points that's not much of a prize.

Renegade Specialist Assignment

The Negotiation

If you've been a very bad boy and filled the Renegade meter to over 75%, then Lance Henriksen sends you to do some dirty work on the planet Nonuel, in the Hades Gamma Cluster. As the name suggests, you'll be expected to deal with the criminals from the warlord's base, as well as a mercenary camp, by using your Intimidate skills. Or your guns. Up to you, really.

Worth doing? Much the same as the Paragon assignment, though there's better loot to be had here.

UNC Collection Assignments

These are the ongoing assignments in which you scour the galaxy for ancient relics and valuable resources. The best way to complete these is to investigate everything while in deep space. Scan every planet and asteroid, explore every mineral deposit and go off the beaten track when in the Mako - many secret items don't show up on the map. The key thing to remember is that there are more of each item than you actually need - the number in the quest isn't the total amount in the galaxy, but just the amount you need to find. Provided you're being thorough, you should have more than enough to complete all these quests by the time you reach the final story missions. If not, take advantage of those last moments of freedom in between the Citadel and Ilos to track down whatever's missing.

The End?

And that's it. All that remains is to head to Ilos and begin the last push against Saren. If you've explored every last nook and cranny of the galaxy then you should be more than up to the task. For reference, in the process of putting together this guide I ended the game with Shepard tantalisingly close to level 50, with 57 completed assignments, just over 36 hours on the clock, more than seven million credits in the bank and over 230,000 XP. If you're anywhere close to this by the time you try to save the Citadel, the universe should be in safe hands. Now, bring on Mass Effect 2...

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