VERY shamelessly inspired by a handful of Dragon Age codex prompts I've been seeing go around for a while. Sadly, I don't really play DA. And I really want to see some of this type of stuff for Mass Effect. Please note this only focuses on the original trilogy - I haven't retained enough of Andromeda to make a good one!
I'm very tired and it's been a long-ass week that still isn't over so I'm just kinda firing these off as I think of them. There may be more one day. Or make your own! Idk!
An entry from Shepard's childhood journal
An extranet tabloid/gossip article about them
A report or conversation that got Shepard on the Council's radar
A eulogy/obituary for them after their death(s)
"Is Shepard [x]?" - Greatest thread in the history of forums, locked by a mod after 12,239 pages of heated debate
A snapshot of the inevitable Normandy Group Chat, following a mission (specify ME1, 2, or 3)
A snapshot of the inevitable spinoff Normandy Group Chat that's for the ship crew only, No Squadmates Allowed.
A review Shepard left for their actual favorite store on the Citadel
A message from Shepard to their LI
A message from Shepard to their LI, house arrest specific edition.
A letter Shepard never sends
A letter never sent to Shepard
Shepard's dancing, as observed by an onlooker who has no idea who they are
Udina and Anderson's full evaluation of Shepard, leading into ME1
Nihlus' assessment of Shepard, logged just before Eden Prime
A hastily scribbled shopping list
A message found only after Shepard's death
A letter from Shepard's LI to them
(And the requisite house arrest specific edition)
Mission field report (Feel free to choose a specific one)
Chakwas' medical report about Shepard, if she were allowed to be completely honest
One of Shepard's Shadow Broker files
A completely out of context post from Shepard's Official Alliance Space-Twitter
A post from Shepard's secret personal Space-Twitter/Tumblr/What have you
A log/note from Miranda's time on The Lazarus Project
A non-combat/mission message from Shepard to a squadmate
What, if anything, does Shepard send to the family of the squadmate lost on Virmire?
A well-known (and completely incorrect) fact about The Shepard
A message for Shepard from their parents/family, written/recorded before they were born.