re: Just bought Mass Effect trilogy

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I think I'm going to explore everything before I progress with the story. What's the best way to earn money? I see all these better weapons but I have no money.

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1) Make sure either Shep or a squad-mate has high decryption skill (I think that's the one for opening crates/lockers) and electronics.

2) Open every crate/locker/container/probe you come across and take everything (always - doesn't matter what it is).

3) Sell all the crap you don't constantly use, which you can do at any vendor - including the one in the shuttle bay of the Normandy.

When you start getting higher level mods & weapons (level III and above - should happen fairly early in the game), each mod starts to sell for close to a thousand credits each. The jump in value is substantial from III to IV to V or higher. V+ stuff can sell for 10k to 20k. Later in the game the loot from just a couple missions can net you a couple hundred thousand $$, easy.

I'm in the middle of another trilogy run right now. I just finished ME1 over the weekend, and with minimal exploring (probably only completed 1/2 of the optional side missions) prior to the final mission I was able to outfit my Shep, Garrus, and Wrex with all the best gear you can buy and still have over a million in the bank.

Couple other things:

- I did exactly what you are fixing to do (bought and played all 3 games for the first time, back to back to back) last summer. ME is now, hands down, my favorite gaming series.
- Buy all DLC before you even start. The only possible exception to this would be Pinnacle Station for ME1 - it just adds random "simulator" combat missions and doesn't expand the story in any way (that I know of). The two squad-mate DLCs and Arrival for ME2 and Leviathan, From Ashes, and Citdael DLC for ME3 if you want to skip some stuff. If you only buy one for the entire series, make sure its Citadel.
- Specifically for ME1 - explore like crazy. That game doesn't guide you via prompts all that much, so it's easy to inadvertently pass things by. Go everywhere you can on the Citadel - it's a lot bigger than you initially realize. Just this last play-through (my 4th or 5th one) I found some new areas and side missions I'd never seen before. Also, revisit the Citadel after key missions - things constantly change, and certain NPCs are only available at certain points in the game.

Now sit back, and enjoy


ETA: Regarding DLC - can't believe I left out Lair of the Shadowbroker for ME2. That would a be close #2 to Citadel for ME3.