Similar to your [Pre-Service History], you’ll get to choose between one of three Psychological Profiles, which details an event that occurred during your career in the Alliance military. This event defines your background as a soldier and gives a hint at what your future may yield. Of course, you’re in no way compelled to act in a way that matches your psychological profile, and aside from a petty number of Paragon and/or Renegade points and a unique option in an assignment, your choice here is of limited importance. The three Psychological Profiles you can choose from are:

View Full-size

Choose between three Psychological Profiles: Sole Survivor, War Hero or Ruthless.

Sole Survivor¶

During your service, a mission you were on went horribly wrong. Trapped in an extreme survival situation, you had to overcome physical torments and psychological stresses that would have broken most people. You survived while all those around you fell, and now you alone are left to tell the tale.

Giant space worms and squads of Alliance soldiers equipped with small arms are a bad mix. Your encounter with such a beast left your squad dead and you scarred. Combine this with the Colonist Pre-Service History for a truly tragic backstory. For picking this Psychological Profile you’ll start out with a small amount of Paragon and Renegade - you’re a tragic figure, but also kind of snakebit.

War Hero¶

Early in your military career you found yourself facing an overwhelming enemy force. You risked your own life to save your fellow soldiers and defeat the enemy despite the impossible odds. Your bravery and heroism have earned you medals and recognition from the Alliance fleet.

When the going gets tough, the tough look to you for leadership. If your Pre-Service History is Colonist, this Psychological Profile is doubly heroic - you stepped up in a moment of need to keep others from suffering what you did. As a Spacer, it’s you living up to your family’s military tradition. You’ll start out with a moderate number of Paragon points.

Ruthless¶

Throughout your military career, you have held fast to one basic rule: get the job done. You’ve been called cold, calculating, and brutal. Your reputation for ruthless efficiency makes your fellow soldiers wary of you. But when failure is not an option, the military always goes to you first.

Victory at any cost is your motto, especially if those “costs” are paid by somebody else. This hasn’t made you popular with the rank-and-file, whose corpses serve as the foundation of your infamy, but your grisly perch has made you visible to other blood-soaked careerists who respect your ability to prioritize operational objectives over the wellbeing of others. An Earthborn Shepard raised on the streets seems like a natural fit for this Psychological Profile. Fittingly you’ll start the game with a moderate number of Renegade points.