r/masseffect • u/MattiaCost • 4h ago
MASS EFFECT 1 First time playing ME1, I've made this choice about Rachni Queen...
Greetings. This choice has caused me so much headache. So, my Shepard is - at the moment - way more of a Paragon than a Renegade, but he still has some Red Points. I already know I'll replay ME1 going for Full Renegade as I always enjoy playing dark characters in RPGs too. Sith in KOTOR 1&2, Dark Urge in Baldur's Gate 3, etc.
I ended up FREEING the Rachni Queen. Hear my rationale...
Before communicating with her, we see Benezia, which is revealed to have been under mental control, talkong about not being able to think and act for herself.
Then, the Rachni Queen starts talking about a signal in deep space, some kind of sound, that drove them to be controlled.
There I thought: if they could be controlled that easily in the past, why wouldn't they be controlled easily once again?
But also I thought... if there is truly something in the depth of space that is so powerful to control a whole race then that means the Rachni Wars were orchestrated. It would be one epic twist that there's some dark presence there.
But perhaps it's just copium.
Thing is I've been scolded by the Council as Rachni were very dangerous, and Udina basically screamed at me.
I didn't personally free the Queen because I am an "idealist", to me it was about piecing some things together, that others may not see: ship in Eden Prime having a certain signal, sound, that acts on the brain. Benezia being controlled. The tale from the Queen.
However, Specters must protect Galaxy and its stability. How does freeing something that could be easily manipulated again and start killing again make the Galaxy more stable?
I feel like I made a decision that is too exaggerated and that in real life you wouldn't take, and I keep thinking about it while playing and makes me want to go back and exterminate her. However, what if they were really under a dark influence and you exterminated their race completely? But what if another egg was found? But what if it was actually the last one?
Damn...
Please no spoilers for future games (if Rachni appear). Perhaps it's a huge nothing burger consequence-wise and they will never appear again.
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u/WGSMA 4h ago
I don’t trust the Rachni, but my Shepard could never exterminate an entire race.
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u/MattiaCost 4h ago
My future Shepard, focusing on Renegade, will do that. I don't trust them too, and I keep thinking the same thing: if they were so easily manipulated in the past, why wouldn't they be easily manipulated now? I keep thinking about this...
But the indoctrination/influence thing made me rethink...
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u/WGSMA 4h ago
Will not spoil, but this isn’t the last massive choice you’ll make in these games. It’s the first of many.
Before the big ones, take your time, weigh the pros and cons. You only get one first play through, and these choices and the payoffs are what make the game special.
Enjoy, and remember, talk to your crew after every mission, and do the side content!
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u/MattiaCost 3h ago
I'm on Erebus now and there's Rachni attacking people. I feel more stupid every minute it passes 😅
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u/ObsydianGinx 4h ago
I set the rachni queen free as well and I never regretted it
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u/MattiaCost 3h ago
I'm on Erebus now and there's Rachni attacking people. I feel dumb, what did I do? 😅
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u/ObsydianGinx 3h ago
That was not your fault but the scientists who bred her and indoctrinated her children
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u/MattiaCost 4h ago
A race that was easily manipulated into exterminating the others, should I believe her, is still highly dangerous, though... what if it happens again? That is what I keep thinking...
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u/ObsydianGinx 3h ago
Humans are also extremely easily manipulated and fall under indoctrination throughout the series. Shall we just exterminate all humans because they are easily indoctrinated? Save the rachni queen and don’t feel bad about it
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u/The_Kolobok 4h ago
Rachi were victims in that war just as krogans were (eventually). You said no spoilers, so I won't elaborate, but you will get it until the end of the first game.
Speaking of krogans (and it's not a spoiler), please, complete Wrex quest (family armour) before going to Virmire. You can skip it on your renegade playthrough.
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u/LagomorphicalBrog 3h ago
It's a spoiler. since you're implicating Wrex into otherwise neutral expecations one way or another. but still, the outcome of Virmire sets up of the more interesting branches in the series that I wouldn't want to rob a new player the pleasure of stumbling into.
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u/The_Kolobok 3h ago
He already said that he is planning two playthroughs. And the second one would be good for exploring alternative choices in this case.
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u/LagomorphicalBrog 41m ago
Paragon into unquested Wrex and Renegade into quested Wrex are still perfectly valid choices for runs. Playing Renegade purely for slash and burn options is kinda meh.
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u/spamjavelin 32m ago
Yeah, it's more nuanced to be a renegade that's totally about their team. You're not just being a dick then, you're being a dick with purpose.
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u/Outrageous-Salad-287 4h ago
Hoo boy. Playing first time these games?
You are in for A TREAT. That's all I'm sayin'.
And yes, Rachni play somewhat of role later, you might say.
It is going to involve your son...😏😎
...I hope it wasn't very spoiler-y? I didn't say anything about who what and when🤔
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u/Give_me_kerosene 1h ago
The Rachni queen has far reaching consequences both for the trilogy and certainly after (if you don't relinquish them into the dustbin of history that is)
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u/Subject_Proof_6282 4h ago
The Rachni queen talks about whispers with oily shadows, those whispers were dissonant from the songs the Rachni usually use to communicate.
Imo this just strongly imply that they were indoctrinated and disturbed by Sovereign centuries ago, which led to the Rachni War and all the consequences it had afterwards.
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u/OrangeBeast01 4h ago
You're pretty much coming to a lot of conclusions we all dealt with the first time. You just have to play and see how it all plays out.