Mass Effect Andromeda - 87: Tempest - Liam screws up
0[POSSIBLE SPOILERS]
Not sure if this counts as spoilery but I will mark it as such, just in case.
As I have mentioned in an earlier video, the rescue and return of the Moshae to Aya effectively marks the end of the previous story phase and the start of the next one: New main story missions, new planets and new revelations.
This phase is also when the companion loyalty missions become available. Not only do they provide more character story, they also unlock the 6th and final rank of the companion powers.
In all of my play-throughs to date, Liam is always the first loyalty mission to get activated.
And he starts it in a way that emphasizes how reckless he is. If I were in an operation with lives and diplomacy at stake, I would be incredibly nervous with Liam's impatience and "wild west" approach to meeting his goals.
On the other hand, perhaps there is value in Liam's approach to front-line "first boots on the ground" crisis and rescue operations. Infrastructure and command hierarchies are chaotic or non-existent. You cannot "wait for permission" if you need to get 10 tons of concrete wall off a trapped family, or be strictly moral (steal it back or bribery) when recovering food and medical aid from looters. Lifting the wall might expose a gas line or attacking/bribing the looters might attract an even bigger criminal. But nobody can be a fortune teller. The decisions can only be made, HAVE to be made at that point in time and the consequences dealt with when they arrive.
But this does not translate to the situation in Andromeda. Character assets have become character liabilities.
Normally I never had Liam in my parties. But during this play-through, I realised that I was missing a whole bunch of Nomad banter between Liam and the other companions. That banter is like a mini-story arc between each combination of companions. It takes a little while, but eventually the companions reach a comfortable homeostasis, getting through preconceptions, hasty judgements and sometimes emotionally charged snaps at each other.
The thing is, once homeostasis is reached, the Nomad banter stops and it is silent until you reach a story point where the VAs might have a line or two. So you actually condemn yourself to silent Nomad rides if you stick to your favourites too much.
So my resolution was to always have Liam in my party while completing Kadara, and swap out the other party member as needed. This isn't a new thing for me as I tend to have Drack as my perma-companion on Elaaden, because of how central that planet is to the Krogan diaspora.
Anyway that is a huge statement from me. Hope you enjoyed reaading it.
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FemRyder mods:
.. Anto Hairstyles (specifically the Minerva style) [https://www.nexusmods.com/masseffectandromeda/mods/835]
.. Face settings based on and modified from "The Other Sara Ryder" [https://www.nexusmods.com/masseffectandromeda/mods/381]
.. Asari underarmour replacer (visible only on Tempest or hubs) [https://www.nexusmods.com/masseffectandromeda/mods/983]
Liam mod:
.. Hairstyle Corn Rows Liam Request file from Cora and Liam Overhaul [https://www.nexusmods.com/masseffectandromeda/mods/556]
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