User:Lilliful/Sandbox:Save File Transfer

Draft of Potential "Save File Transfer" Article
''As I'm new to the wiki, I wanted to create a mock-up of this page before I created a new article for it. The aim of this article is to address, in detail, which choices from ME affect ME2. I began by copy-pasting the Save File Transfer section of the Mass Effect 2 article. This article is still heavily under construction, don't judge it yet as a final version! However, PLEASE feel free to edit and contribute! I do not play the PC version, so if you have advice about the Mechanics of importing PC saves, do share! Eventually, the article in the main Mass Effect 2 wikipage should lack spoilers and be an overview, while this one should be detailed as to specific choices and their consequences, with spoilers.'' --Lilliful 19:16, February 12, 2010 (UTC)

''I have now looked through every single mission and assignment page for Mass Effect and included any mission with noted Mass Effect 2 consequences in this list. If you do not see it here, there is no mention of Mass Effect 2 consequences in the main quest article, so if you are adding something to this list, please also add the information to the quest article!'' --Lilliful 20:13, February 12, 2010 (UTC)

Mass Effect 2 allows the player to import their characters from any completed Mass Effect playthrough. This means that several decisions Commander Shepard makes in Mass Effect will carry over, and have the potential to impact the story of Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3.

Mechanics
To import save games on the Xbox 360, the game must be being played on the console the saved game was completed on, since it is not possible to transfer the file that Mass Effect 2 imports using the Xbox 360's file management tools (although it is possible when transferring the entire contents of the drive using a transfer cable). As it is possible to transfer regular save files using the Xbox 360's file management tools it is possible to create the file Mass Effect 2 needs to import by loading the last automatic save before the final battle and completing the game again. This will need to be repeated for every playthrough the player wishes to import.

For the PC version, players will use the Mass Effect Configuration Tool to select the .MassEffectSave files they wish to import.

Character Transfer
Character Stats and Levels

Due to several gameplay changes, your character's level and abilities will not transfer over to Mass Effect 2. This is explained in-game as being a result of the Lazarus Project. However, the game will acknowledge your character's level and morality and adapt it in ways that map across to the new system as well. The higher the level of the imported character, the greater the bonuses granted upon importing into Mass Effect 2. For example, when importing a level 60 character, the following bonuses are granted: 4,000 XP (the player starts at level 5), 150,000 Credits, 10,000 Element Zero, 10,000 Iridium, 10,000 Palladium, and 10,000 Platinum. The player can also alter the class of their new character.

Character Inventory

Additionally, if the imported character had a large supply of credits, an additional monetary bonus will be supplied. (further details? any other inventory bonuses?)

Character Personal Attributes

Shepard's first name, background (Colonist, Earthborn, or Spacer), and career history (Sole Survivor, War Hero, or Ruthless) cannot be changed. However, the player may alter Shepard's appearance. It is worth noting that if the player chooses to do this, they must start from scratch to re-design their character's look -- one cannot simply change the hair color or nose of the previous character.

Romance
Shepard's romance interest from Mass Effect carries over to Mass Effect 2, as evidenced by a photo of said individual on Shepard's desk in the captain's quarters, and a kiss when the two encounter each other. However, there is no option to continue to romance them in Mass Effect 2 -- they are not part of the squad. Shepard my choose to cheat on their Mass Effect love interest with someone from Mass Effect 2. Shepard does not have the option to break up with their Mass Effect love interest. Cheating on your love interest is expected to have consequences in Mass Effect 3.

Plot Choices
Major Plot Decisions
 * Whether Kaidan Alenko or Ashley Williams was left behind during the Virmire mission
 * Whether Wrex survived the Virmire: Wrex and the Genophage confrontation
 * The fate of the Council during the battle with Sovereign
 * The nomination of either Captain Anderson or Donnel Udina to the Council
 * Whether to release or kill the Rachni Queen on Noveria
 * Whether the colonists were saved on Feros
 * Whether Shepard spared Rana Thanoptis on Virmire
 * Whether Shepard spared Shiala on Feros
 * Whether Shepard spared Fist on the Citadel
 * Whether Shepard aids Gianna Parasini on Noveria

Assignment Decisions (results merely in e-mail to private terminal or news reports unless noted otherwise) → Shepard will run into him on Illium, (details scarce, check both the character and quest article, will be cleaning those up later as part of this project) → Shepard will run into her at Afterlife on Omega → Nassana will be convinced that Shepard is the assassin, as opposed to Thane, and reference her sister, when he encounters her in Mass Effect 2
 * Shepard's resolution of the pre-service history quest
 * Spacer -- Citadel: Old, Unhappy, Far-Off Things
 * Earthborn -- Citadel: Old Friends
 * Colonist -- Citadel: I Remember Me
 * Shepard's choice to aid Sha'ira in Citadel: Asari Consort
 * Shepard's choice to aid Samesh Bhatia in Citadel: Homecoming
 * Shepard's treatment of Conrad Verner in Citadel: The Fan
 * Shepard's choice to aid Emily Wong in Citadel: Reporter's Request
 * Shepard's choice to aid Chorban in Citadel: Scan the Keepers
 * Shepard's choices while being interviewed by reporter Khalisah Al-Jilani in Citadel: The Fourth Estate (this quest occurs in Mass Effect 2 regardless of whether or not you completed it in Mass Effect)
 * Shepard's advice to Rebekah Petrovsky regarding her baby in Citadel: Family Matter
 * Shepard's interaction with Helena Blake in UNC: Hostile Takeover
 * Shepard's interaction with Corporal Toombs in UNC: Dead Scientists
 * While Shepard's actions in UNC: Geth Incursions have no effect on Mass Effect 2, hacking geth data files during the mission is necessary to trigger Tali's personal quest, which does have an effect on Mass Effect 2
 * If the entire string of Cerberus quests (UNC: Missing Marines→UNC: Cerberus→UNC: Hades' Dogs) are completed, you can talk with Miranda about these activities, and will hear news reports about an investigation, which can involve additional testimony from UNC: Dead Scientists depending on how or whether you completed that assignment
 * Shepard's decision in UNC: Hostage
 * Shepard's completion of UNC: Rogue VI allows for additional dialogue options with EDI and Miranda regarding AIs
 * A news report will reference the events on UNC: Besieged Base, but regardless of Shepard's choices, will claim the Sirta Foundation never recovered from the attack and will likely be shutting down
 * Shepard's decision to aid Nassana Dantius in UNC: Asari Diplomacy

DLC Assignments
 * Shepard's choices in Bring Down the Sky

Character Influences
 * Shepard can encourage Garrus to be more renegade or paragon
 * Shepard can encourage Kaidan to be more xenophobic
 * Shepard can complete the personal quests of Garrus, Tali, or Wrex

Triggered by Importing The following events do not occur in Mass Effect 2 unless you imported a Mass Effect save, but do not involve making a choice, or taking any action.
 * Mordin Solus will reference Captain Kirrahe's "Hold the Line" speech during ship conversation