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[MrChowderClam]

This is mostly for me - to get my thoughts down on paper.

While I didn't hate the endings, I felt that they were lacking in many areas, and as a whole, didn't conform to the theme of the series. I realize that in the real world, there are managers, and deadlines, and a slew of other factors that affect the artistic and development process, and I salute the hardworking people at Bioware for giving so much passion into the game. Although I don't want to disparage their artistic choice, I felt like since the series was advertised as a "choose your own story" game, I feel like it's appropriate for me to give some thoughs.

For me, the ending was incredible, right up to the part after the conversation with TIM. Shepard and Anderson, staring at the incredible earth Vista, teacher and student reunited one last time, their mission accomplished. It’s poetic. The part that comes after, is… well. I'm sure we all have our own thoughts.

Specifically, my criticism of the ending boils down to 3 things[list][*]1. Downplays the power of the reapers, and indoctrination. How is shepard immune? We need to really feel like indoctrination is very, very scary. It's been hyped for the past two games and in the third we never see Shepard or her crew members submitting to it.[*]2. Misses an opportunity to show the consequence of choice. While this has been touch-and-go for most of the series, I felt like the ending was the one place where Bioware could say "eff the haters, we're going to make your choices matter and matter big". We shouldn't have three choices, the game should take all of the choices we made through the game and use that to determine what the ending is. Because really, that makes the games mean something more than a simple decision at the end. It may be bad game design, but screw it. Some rules are meant to be broken. So if we did poorly, devastate us. Let us bask in our failure and think "where did it all go wrong". If we did well, then let us enjoy the moment. [*]3. Reapers suddenly become the good guys? The whole series was about destroying the reapers. It seems strange to me to suddenly give the player the choice to control the reapers. It’s not a theme that was developed until the last game. I’m not so sure.
[/list]So I've made up endings (hah, fanfic. something I never saw myself doing) that address these two chief criticisms. I don't think it's posible to please everyone, but atleast give us the illusion that our actions, and choices, throughout the game meant something.
----------------------------


For some of these endings, I introduce a new plot device. Like with Arrival, the Alliance determines it’s too risky to put all hope in the crucible – a weapon that we’re not even sure will work. There is a backup plan put in place – to destroy the Sol mass relay, destroying Earth, but wiping out a significant chunk of the reapers. Shepard can charm/intimidate Hackett into approving this plan.

For reference PAR-R means paragon-right (referring to the wheel). PAR-L means paragon-left (meaning charm option). Same for REN-R and REN-L

EMS < 2,500 –Sol relay not destroyed, Anderson Dead.

[Hackett (H)] Shepard. Commander!
[Shepard (S)] I – What do you need me to do?
[H] The crucible – it’s not firing. It’s gotta be something on your end.
[S] I --. I don’t see—
[H] Shepard?
[S] Crawling towards panel – struggling.
[h] Commander Shepard!
[S] Let me just---. Ah--. *collapses*
[H] Shepard?! Shepard, talk to me!
[-] Camera pans low across the floor of the citadel, showing shepard collapsed on the floor.
[H] Shepard!
[-] --silence--.
[H] Goddamnit shepard! Answer me! Anderson! Shepard… Shepard!!!! [audio fades in frantic radio chatter. The fleets are losing. Music from Thessia failure (or similar defeat music) plays]

[-] Camera cuts to shot of Normandy escaping from reapers. Doding explosions, wreckage in space.

[Joker] (with static, in the background) This is SSV Normandy! The reape--- doubling ba--! Did shep—d --- cruci---.
[H] (static) Commander Shepard failed. His/her sacrifice will be remembered in the coming war.
[LI (or J, if no LI] (static) Shep---d’s gone?? No! Shep--d! SHEP--!!!
[-] Shot of normany being destroyed by reaper. Cut to wide shot of battle over burning earth.
[H] (breaking up) To all fleets! Fall back…. Fall back. Shepard failed…. We failed…

Txt before credits: Commander Shepard was a brave human soldier, born on [user-specific bio info here]. [List major choices] . S/he heroically sacrificed him/herself so that the rest of us could live. You can continue the story by improving your EMS meter. Try to experience all of the endings!

EMS < 2,500 –Sol relay will be destroyed, Anderson Dead.

[Hackett (H)] Shepard. Commander!
[Shepard (S)] I – What do you need me to do?
[H] The crucible – it’s not firing. It’s gotta be something on your end.
[S] I --. I don’t see—
[H] Shepard?
[S] Crawling towards panel – struggling.
[h] Commander Shepard!
[S] Let me just---. Ah--. *collapses*
[H] Shepard?! Shepard, talk to me!
[-] Camera pans low across the floor of the citadel, showing shepard collapsed on the floor.
[H] Shepard!
[-] --silence--.
[H] Goddamnit shepard! Answer me! Anderson! Shepard… Shepard!!!! [audio fades in frantic radio chatter. The fleets are losing. Music from Thessia failure (or similar defeat music) plays]

[-] Camera cuts to shot of Normandy escaping from reapers. Doding explosions, wreckage in space.

[Joker] (with static, in the background) This is SSV Normandy! The reape--- doubling ba--! Did shep—d --- cruci---.
[H] (static) Commander Shepard failed. His/her sacrifice will be remembered in the coming war.
[LI (or J, if no LI] (static) Shep---d’s gone?? No! Shep--d! SHEP--!!!
[-] Shot of Normany being destroyed by reaper. Cut to wide shot of battle over burning earth.
[H] (breaking up) To all fleets! Fall back…. Fall back. We’re going to detonate the Sol Relay to buy time for the rest of the galaxy! I repeat! Everyone full retreat! Shepard failed…. We failed…

[-] Shot of mass relay exploding, reapers, earth, going in a brilliant explosion.

Txt before credits: Commander Shepard was a brave human soldier, born on [user-specific bio info here]. [List major choices] . S/he heroically sacrificed him/herself so that the rest of us could live. You can continue the story and experience new endings through by improving your EMS meter, playing the game again, and through downloadable content. Try to experience all of the endings!

EMS < 3,500 – Sol relay won’t be destroyed, Anderson Dead.

[Hackett (H)] Shepard. Commander!
[Shepard (S)] I – What do you need me to do?
[H] The crucible – it’s not firing. It’s gotta be something on your end.
[S] I --. I don’t see—
[H] Shepard?
[S] Crawling towards panel – struggling.
[h] Commander Shepard!
[S] Let me just---. Ah--. *collapses*
[H] Shepard?! Shepard, talk to me!
[-] Camera pans low across the floor of the citadel, showing shepard collapsed on the floor.
[H] Shepard!
[-] --silence--.
[H] Goddamnit shepard! Answer me! Anderson! Shepard… Shepard!!!! [audio fades in frantic radio chatter. The fleets are losing. Music from Thessia failure (or similar defeat music) plays]

[-] Camera cuts to shot of Normandy escaping from reapers. Doding explosions, wreckage in space.

[Joker] (with static, in the background) This is SSV Normandy! The reape--- doubling ba--! Did shep—d --- cruci---.
[H] (static) Commander Shepard failed. His/her sacrifice will be remembered in the coming war.
[LI (or J, if no LI] (static) Shep---d’s gone?? No! Shep--d! SHEPHARD!!!
[-] Shot of Normany and alliance fighters punching through reaper blockade. Cut to wide shot of battle over burning earth.
[H] (breaking up) To all fleets! Fall back…. Fall back. Shepard failed…. But we can still win this war.
[-] Shot of fleets leaving earth, leaving it to burn.

Txt before credits: Commander Shepard was a brave human soldier, born on [user-specific bio info here]. [List major choices] . S/he heroically sacrificed him/herself so that the rest of us could live. You can continue the story and experience new endings through by improving your EMS meter, playing the game again, and through downloadable content. Try to experience all of the endings!

EMS < 3,500 – Sol relay will be destroyed, Anderson Dead.

[Hackett (H)] Shepard. Commander!
[Shepard (S)] I – What do you need me to do?
[H] The crucible – it’s not firing. It’s gotta be something on your end.
[S] I --. I don’t see—
[H] Shepard?
[S] Crawling towards panel – struggling.
[h] Commander Shepard!
[S] Let me just---. Ah--. *collapses*
[H] Shepard?! Shepard, talk to me!
[-] Camera pans low across the floor of the citadel, showing shepard collapsed on the floor.
[H] Shepard!
[-] --silence--.
[H] Goddamnit shepard! Answer me! Anderson! Shepard… Shepard!!!! [audio fades in frantic radio chatter. The fleets are losing. Music from Thessia failure (or similar defeat music) plays]

[-] Camera cuts to shot of Normandy escaping from reapers. Doding explosions, wreckage in space.

[Joker] (with static, in the background) This is SSV Normandy! The reape--- doubling ba--! Did shep—d --- cruci---.
[H] (static) Commander Shepard failed. His/her sacrifice will be remembered in the coming war.
[LI (or J, if no LI] (static) Shep---d’s gone?? No! Shep--d! SHEPHARD!!!
[-] Shot of Normany and alliance fighters punching through reaper blockade. Cut to wide shot of battle over burning earth.
[H] (breaking up) To all fleets! Fall back…. Fall back. We’re going to detonate the Sol Relay to buy time for the rest of the galaxy! I repeat! Everyone full retreat! Shepard failed…. But we can still win this war!

[-] Shot of fleets retreating through mass relay, then relay exploding, reapers, earth, going in a brilliant explosion.

Txt before credits: Commander Shepard was a brave human soldier, born on [user-specific bio info here]. [List major choices] . S/he heroically sacrificed him/herself so that the rest of us could live. You can continue the story and experience new endings through by improving your EMS meter, playing the game again, and through downloadable content. Try to experience all of the endings!


EMS > 4,500 – Anderson Dead.

[Hackett (H)] Shepard. Commander!
[Shepard (S)] I – What do you need me to do?
[H] The crucible – it’s not firing. It’s gotta be something on your end.
[h] Commander Shepard!
[S] I --. I don’t see— Not sure how to…
[H] Commander!
[-] Light shines on shepard, machinery whirrs, revealing panel taking shepard, dead Tim and Anderson up. Mystery music plays. Citadel opens. Cut to scene of distorted shape approaching shepard. Shape eventually forms into one of the squadmates you took. (I use Liara as an example here)
[Squad Member 1] Shepard. Wake up! All you all right?
[S] Liara? What---. Where am I?
[SQ1] The citadel. I was sent here by the conduit. I had no idea you made it…
[S] I---. We need to stop the reapers. Put an end to this.
[-] Shep and Catalyst walk to the holographic control panel in center of room, just at the edge of the giant beam.
[SQ1] Listen, Shepard, I’ve been thinking… What if TIM was right? Shepard, what if we can control the reapers? Use their technology to help us? What if by destroying them we’re only dooming ourselves to failure?

-- DIALOGUE WHEEL CHOICE -- -> No charm!

[S] PAR – What? Think of all the lives at stake! All of the things that they’ve done to us.
REN – What? You can’t be serious! We’ve fought all this time to stop the reapers! We can’t fail now!
[SQ1] PAR – Think about it Shepard! By destroying them, what do we gain? If we can control them we could use that power to help save lives!
REN – Think about it Shepard! What do you gain from destroying them? All that power, all that control - It can be yours!
[S] Maybe… I---. No---. I---. *struggling with self*
[SQ1] Come on Shepard, you know you want to. [voice deteriorates the reaper voice] Don’t destroy the reapers. Join--- them. Control--- them *visibly fighting indoctrination*
[S] I--.. I--….
[SQ1] I--- I’m sorry shepard. *shoots shepard*
Shepard Collapses, falls into the light. Blinding flash of light emenates red signal for a split second *flashback to joker, sentimental music plays*

[-] Camera cuts to shot of Normandy escaping from reapers. Doding explosions, wreckage in space. Suddenly, red signal passes by. Cut to shot on earth of reapers leaving.

[Joker] (with static, in the background) This is SSV Normandy! The reapers are in retreat!

[-] Camera cuts to shepard’s body slowly deteriorating into the red signal.

[H] (static) All fleets this is Admiral Hackett! The reapers are withdrawing! I repeat the reapers are withdrawing!
[LI (or J, if no LI] (static) What about Shepard? Shepard?!
[-] Shot of Shepard almost completely consumed by signal. Whispers, “goodbye, joker (or LI)”
[LI/J] Shepard? SHEPARD!!

-- DIALOGUE WHEEL CHOICE -- -> Charm (needs to be EXTREMELY high)!

[S] What? Think of all the lives at stake! All of the things that they’ve done to us.
[SQ1] Think about it Shepard! By destroying them, what do we gain? If we can control them we could use that power to help save lives!
[S] Maybe… I---. No---. I---. *struggling with self* NO!
[SQ1] Come on Shepard. [voice deteriorates the reaper voice] Don’t destroy the reapers. Join… us…
*squadmate visibly trying to fight off the indoctrination*
[S] Liara! Fight… it!.
[SQ1] I… It’s too!
[S] Come on! Just… a little….
[SQ1] I--- can’t do this ---much longer! Good luck shepard. I’ll see you on the other side. *shoots themselves*
[S] *Shepard, completely beaten and filled with angush, shoots the control panel*. Blinding flash of light emenates blue signal for a split second *flashback to joker, sentimental music plays*

[-] Camera cuts to shot of Normandy escaping from reapers. Dodging explosions, wreckage in space. Suddenly, blue signal passes by. Cut to shot on earth of reapers leaving.

[Joker] (with static, in the background) This is SSV Normandy! The reapers have stopped!

[-] Camera cuts to shepard’s body slowly deteriorating into the blue signal.

[H] (static) All fleets this is Admiral Hackett! The reapers are defeated! I repeat the reapers are defeated! We’ve done it.
[LI (or J, if no LI] (static) What about Shepard? Shepard?!
[-] Shot of Shepard almost completely consumed by signal. Whispers, “It’s done. Goodbye, joker (or LI)”
[LI/J] Shepard? SHEPARD!!


END –

[-] Shot of Normany and alliance fighters punching through reaper blockade. Cut to wide shot of citadel exploding in brilliant flash of blue/red light, sending blue/red energy through mass relay network, disabling reapers all over the galaxy. We see each of the homeworlds, the reapers deactivating, people in joy and elation.

[-] Camera fades to small piece of metal floating in orbit above earth. As the sun passes over the horizon, we catch a glimpse of the lettering on the dog tag. It says N7, Shepard. Fade out.

Txt before credits: Commander Shepard was a brave human soldier, born on [user-specific bio info here]. [List major choices] . S/he heroically sacrificed him/herself so that the rest of us could live. You can continue the story and experience new endings through by improving your EMS meter, playing the game again, and through downloadable content. Try to experience all of the endings!

EMS > 4,500 –, Anderson Alive.

[Hackett (H)] Shepard. Commander!
[Shepard (S)] I – What do you need me to do?
[H] The crucible – it’s not firing. It’s gotta be something on your end.
[h] Commander Shepard!
[S] I --. I don’t see— Not sure how to…
[H] Commander!
[-] Light shines on shepard, machinery whirrs, revealing panel taking shepard, dead Tim and alive Anderson up. Mystery music plays. Citadel opens. Cut to scene of distorted shape approaching shepard. Shape eventually forms into one of the squadmates you took. (I use Liara as an example here)
[SQ1] Shepard. Wake up.
[S] Liara? What---. Where am I?
[SQ1] The citadel. I was sent here by the conduit. I had no idea you made it…
[S] I---. We need to stop the reapers. Put an end to this.
[-] Shep, and SQ1 walk to control panel in center of room.
[SQ1] Listen, Shepard, I’ve been thinking… What if TIM was right? Shepard, what if we can control the reapers? Use their technology to help us? What if by destroying them we’re only dooming ourselves to failure?
[S] What? Think of all the lives at stake! All of the things that they’ve done to us! Don’t listen to them Liara!
[SQ1] I--- I can’t---.
[S] Yes, you can! Don’t let them control you!
[SQ1] I’m sorry shepard. *readies gun*
[A] No! *Runs into SQ1, deflecting the shot.* Shepard! Do it!
[S] *shoots the control panel* Blinding flash of light emenates blue signal *heroic music plays*

[-] Shot of Normany and alliance fighters punching through reaper blockade. Cut to wide shot of citadel emanating brilliant flash of blue light, sending blue energy through mass relay network, disabling reapers all over the galaxy.

[Joker] This is SSV Normandy! The reapers are down!

[-] Camera cuts to Shepard, looking around. Through the blinding light, s/he can see the reapers blown up by the fleets, one by one.

[H] All fleets this is Admiral Hackett! The reapers are down, I repeat the reapers are down! Hit them with everything you’ve got!

[-] Camera cuts to ships firing on reapers, destroying them. Eventually focuses on Normandy, flying towards the citadel. Surge of blue light explodes from Shep’s location.

[J] Commander? Shepard?! Come in!

[-] Camera fades to Catalyst area, with rubble everywhere. Normandy forces are scouring the area and find Anderson and SQ1 (sound familiar? ;D). Like ME1, they look around and find shep. However, this time, s/he’s pulled out from under the rubble, body bloodied and broken. It looks as though shep is dead.

[SQ1 (or LI? Idk)] Shepard! Shepard… *grabs his/her hand*
[A] *eyes look down, shakes his head*
[-] Camera cuts to mid-shot of shep, with LI/SQ1 at his/her side. Crew gathering at his/her location. Suddenly, hand twitches. Shepard opens eyes. Wakes up, alive.
[S] We did it…
[SQ1/LI] Yes… we did.

*happy music, yay. derp*


Txt before credits: Commander Shepard was a brave human soldier, born on [user-specific bio info here]. [List major choices] . S/he heroically fought the reapers and prevailed. His/Her strength, bravery, and resolve made the commander a legend amongst all organic life. You can continue the story and experience different endings through by playing the game again, and through downloadable content. Try to experience all of the endings!

[MrChowderClam]

Anyway, TL;DR, because it’s really long and probably not very well written:

EMS < 2,500 –Sol relay not destroyed, Anderson Dead.
- Shep dies, Normany and crew die, Reapers win.

EMS < 2,500 –Sol relay will be destroyed, Anderson Dead.
- Shep dies, Normany and crew die, Reapers and Earth destroyed in the fireball.

EMS < 3,500 – Sol relay won’t be destroyed, Anderson Dead.
- Shep dies, Normandy and crew escape, Reapers win battle for earth, but there is still hope.

EMS < 3,500 – Sol relay will be destroyed, Anderson Dead.
- Shep dies, Normandy and crew escape, Reapers fleet crushed by defeat at earth. High probability that the war can be won.

EMS > 4,500 – Sol relay won’t/will be destroyed, Anderson Dead.
- Shep dies, but SQ1/LI dies. Normany and crew escape. Reapers defeated (high paragon/renegade score determines whether that comes through control or destruction). Much rejoicing.

EMS > 4,500 – Sol relay won’t/will be destroyed, Anderson Alive.
- Everyone lives, reapers defeated. Much rejoicing. Yay.

So there. Only 6 endings (from the original 16), but I think there’s more differentiation.