When you start a new game of Mass Effect, you can begin with the default version of Commander Shepard, or you can create your own. Creating a custom character allows you to alter your version of Commander Shepard in a number of ways, as detailed below.

You must first select a gender for your character and give him or her a name.
The default male name is "John," and the default female name is "Jane." For the purposes of in-game dialogue and continuity, the last name cannot be changed.

After selecting a name, you must assign a background and personality to your character. This is a two-step process:

The first step is to select your pre-service history. This determines your character's background before he or she joined the Alliance military. This choice has a small effect on your alignment (which will be explained later), and opens up one optional assignment for you to complete.

Spacer:

"Both of your parents were in the Alliance military. Your childhood was spent on ships and stations as they transferred from posting to posting, never staying in one location for more than a few years. Following in your parents' footsteps, you enlisted at the age of eighteen."

Alignment Bonus:
+20 Paragon (with War Hero)
+15 Paragon (with Sole Survivor)
+5 Renegade (with Sole Survivor)
+10 Renegade (with Ruthless)

Assignment:
"Citadel: Old, Unhappy, Far-Off Things," in which Commander Shepard deals with a drunken ex-marine who was emotionally scarred by the atrocities he witnessed on Mindoir.

Colonist:

"You were born and raised on Mindoir, a small border colony in the Attican Traverse. When you were sixteen, slavers raided Mindoir, slaughtering your family and friends. You were saved by a passing Alliance patrol, and you enlisted with the military a few years later."

Alignment Bonus:
+15 Paragon (with War Hero)
+10 Paragon (with Sole Survivor)
+10 Renegade (with Sole Survivor)
+15 Renegade (with Ruthless)

Assignment:
" Citadel: I Remember Me," in which Commander Shepard is asked to speak with a fellow colonist who was traumatized by the events on Mindoir.

Earthborn:

"As an Earthborn, you had a rough childhood in the slums of Earth, and have a gritty edge to your personality."

Alignment Bonus:
+10 Paragon (with War Hero)
+5 Paragon (with Sole Survivor)
+15 Renegade (with Sole Survivor)
+20 Renegade (with Ruthless)

Assignment:
"Citadel: Old Friends," in which Commander Shepard is confronted by a member of his/her former gang and asked for a favor.

Psychological Profile

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Next you select your psychological profile, for which there are again three possible choices.
By the start of the game, your character has made a name for him/herself in military circles, and your choice here determines precisely how this came to be. Individuals in the game will sometimes recognize you from your past exploits and react accordingly.

Additionally, for each psychological profile there is an optional assignment that is affected.
However, unlike the pre-service history selections, these assignments are available to all players.

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."

Assignment:
"UNC: Dead Scientists," in which Commander Shepard encounters a fellow survivor of the massacre on Akuze.

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."

Assignment:
"UNC: Espionage Probe," in which Commander Shepard confronts the mastermind of the attack he/she is famous for defeating.

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."

Assignment:
"UNC: Major Kyle," in which Commander Shepard must stop a dangerous cult led by his/her former commanding officer.

Character Matrix

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These two selections create a matrix of nine possible backgrounds for your character, each of which is detailed below. You may use this list to select your desired combination of pre-service history and psychological profile.

Spacer / Sole Survivor:

"Both of your parents were in the Alliance military. Your childhood was spent on ships and stations as they transferred from posting to posting. Following in your parents' footsteps, you enlisted at the age of eighteen.
One of your first missions was an expedition to investigate Akuze, a lush world on the outskirts of Alliance space that had suddenly dropped out of contact. Arriving on the surface, your patrol found the settlement intact, but there were no survivors.

At nightfall, the thresher maws struck - mindless abominations of teeth and tentacles that rose from beneath the earth. Constant gunfire couldn't drown out the shrieks of your fellow soldiers as they were dragged down to a gruesome death.

Fifty marines died on Akuze. You were the only one to make it back to the landing zone alive. A monument on the planet commemorates the massacre, a grim reminder of the price humanity must pay as they spread throughout the stars."

Spacer / War Hero:

"Born into a naval family, you spent your childhood on ships and stations. You moved from posting to posting as your parents were reassigned. You enlisted in the Alliance military yourself on the day you turned eighteen.

You were on shore leave at Elysium when the first wave of the Skyllian Blitz struck. A massive coalition force of slavers, crime syndicates, and batarian warlords attacked the human colony, determined to wipe it out.

You rallied the civilian inhabitants, leading them in their desperate fight to hold off the invaders. When enemy troops broke through the colony's defenses, you single-handedly held them off and sealed the breach.

After hours of brutal fighting, reinforcements finally arrived and the enemy broke ranks and fled. Because of your actions, Elysium was saved, and you are regarded throughout the Alliance as a true hero."

Spacer / Ruthless:

"Born into a naval family, you spent your childhood on ships and stations. You moved from posting to posting as your parents were reassigned, and it was only natural you would follow in their footsteps by enlisting in the Alliance military when you came of age.

After several years of service, you joined the campaign to rid the Skyllian Verge of batarian slavers and other criminal elements. The final battle came when Alliance forces laid siege to Torfan, a slaver base built miles below the surface of a desolate moon. The superiority of the human fleet was wasted in the assault on the underground bunker, but you led a corps of elite ground troops into the heart of the enemy base.

Nearly three-quarters of your own squad perished in the vicious close-quarters fighting... a cost you were willing to pay to make sure not a single slaver made it out of Torfan alive."

Colonist / Sole Survivor:

"You were raised on Mindoir on the fringes of the Attican Traverse. When you were sixteen, the colony was raided by slavers. The entire settlement was razed and your friends and family were slaughtered. A passing Alliance patrol rescued you, but all you loved was destroyed.

You enlisted with the Alliance military, eventually volunteering to go to Akuze, a colony that had mysteriously dropped out of contact. As soon as it arrived on the surface, your patrol was attacked by thresher maws - mindless abominations of teeth and tentacles that rose up from beneath the earth. Constant gunfire couldn't drown out the shrieks of your fellow soldiers as they were dragged down to a gruesome death.

Fifty marines died on Akuze; you were the only one to make it back to the landing zone alive. A monument on the planet commemorates the massacre, a grim reminder of the price humanitymust pay as they spread throughout the stars."

Colonist / War Hero:

"You were raised on Mindoir on the fringes of the Attican Traverse. When you were sixteen, the colony was raided by slavers. The entire settlement was razed and your friends and family were slaughtered. A passing Alliance patrol rescued you, but all you loved was destroyed.

You enlisted with the Alliance military and were posted at Elysium. You were there during the Skyllian Blitz, an attack on the colony by a massive coalition force of slavers, crime syndicates, and batarian warlords.

You rallied the civilian inhabitants, leading them in their desperate fight to hold off the invaders. When enemy troops broke through the colony's defenses, you single-handedly held them off and sealed the breach.

After hours of brutal fighting, reinforcements finally arrived and the enemy broke ranks and fled. Because of your actions, Elysium was saved, and you are regarded throughout the Alliance as a true hero."

Colonist / Ruthless:

"You were raised on Mindoir on the fringes of the Attican Traverse. When you were sixteen, the colony was raided by slavers. The entire settlement was razed and your friends and family were slaughtered. A passing Alliance patrol rescued you, but all you loved was destroyed.

You joined with the Alliance military, joining the long and bloody campaign to rid the Skyllian Verge of batarian slavers and other criminal elements. The final battle came when Alliance forces laid siege to Torfan, a slaver base built miles below the surface of a desolate moon. The superiority of the human fleet was wasted in the assault on the underground bunker, but you led a corps of elite ground troops into the heart of the enemy base.

Nearly three-quarters of your own squad perished in the vicious close-quarters fighting, a cost you were willing to pay to make sure not a single slaver made it out of Torfan alive."

Earthborn / Sole Survivor: *

"You were born on Earth, but you never knew your parents. A child of the streets, you learned to live by your wits and guts, surviving in the hidden underbelly of the megatropolises of humanity's homeworld.

Eager to find a better life, you joined the Alliance military when you came of age. You volunteered for an expedition to Akuze:
a lush world on the outskirts of Alliance space that had suddenly dropped out of contact. Arriving on the surface your patrol found the settlement intact, but no survivors.

At nightfall, the thresher maws struck - mindless abominations of teeth and tentacles that rose up from beneath the earth. Constant gunfire couldn't drown out the shrieks of your fellow soldiers as they were dragged down to a gruesome death.

Fifty marines died on Akuze; you were the only one to make it back to the landing zone alive. A monument on the planet commemorates the massacre, a grim reminder of the price humanity must pay as they spread throughout the stars."

Earthborn / War Hero:

"You were born on Earth, but you never knew your parents. A child of the streets, you learned to live by your wits and guts, surviving in the hidden underbelly of the megatropolises of humanity's homeworld.

Eager to find a better life, you joined the Alliance military when you came of age. You were on shore leave at Elysium when the first wave of the Skyllian Blitz struck. A massive coalition force of slavers, crime syndicates, and batarian warlords attacked the human colony, determined to wipe it out.

You rallied the civilian inhabitants, leading them in their desperate fight to hold off the invaders. When enemy troops broke through the colony's defenses, you single-handedly held them off and sealed the breach.

After hours of brutal fighting, reinforcements finally arrived and the enemy broke ranks and fled. Because of your actions, Elysium was saved, and you are regarded throughout the Alliance as a true hero.

Earthborn / Ruthless:

"You were born on Earth, but you never knew your parents. A child of the streets, you learned to live by your wits and guts, surviving in the hidden underbelly of the megatropolises of humanity's home world.

Eager to find a better life, you joined the Alliance military when you came of age. You were assigned to the campaign to rid the Skyllian Verge of batarian slavers and other criminal elements. The final battle came when Alliance forces laid siege to Torfan, a slaver base built miles below the surface of a desolate moon. The superiority of the human fleet was wasted in the assault on the underground bunker, but you led a corps of elite ground troops into the heart of the enemy base.

Nearly three-quarters of your own squad perished in the vicious close-quarters fighting, a cost you were willing to pay to make sure not a single slaver made it out of Torfan alive."

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* The Earthborn / Sole Survivor background is chosen for the default Commander Shepard.

Character Class

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After creating a character profile, you must select your class from the six types available to you. This is a very important selection, as it determines what weapons and abilities you will have access to.

There are three primary classes in Mass Effect: Soldiers, Engineers, and Adepts. Soldiers are combat specialists: They are the only class with access to heavy armor, and they have the ability to train in the use of any weapon type. Engineers specialize in non-combat abilities like unlocking doors and containers, and in sabotaging enemy weapons and shields. Adebts are biotic characters that can forcefully move enemies and objects, and are best at disabling enemies and controlling crowds.

Soldier:

"The Soldier is a tough warrior, able to deal with a range of combat situations. The Soldier gets improved health, has the widest selection of weapons, and is eventually able to wear heavy armor. Gameplay focus is on getting into the thick of the fight, picking the right weapon for tactical situations, and outlasting opponents."

Starting Talents:
Assault Rifles
Assault Training
Combat Armor (Medium)
Pistols

Unlockable Talents:
Combat Armor (Heavy)
First Aid
Fitness
Shotguns
Sniper Rifles

Engineer:

"The Engineer is a tech specialist, able to quickly and easily manipulate the environment with specific talents. Gameplay focus is on shaping the battlefield during combat, healing the party, and debuffing enemies (disabling weapons and lowering shields)."

Starting Talents:
Decryption
Electronics
First Aid
Pistols

Unlockable Talents:
Basic Armor (Light)
Damping
Hacking
Medicine

Adept:

"The Adept is the ultimate biotic, able to affect the physical world with the power of the mind. They can use biotics to violently manipulate objects in the environment, including nearby enemy targets. Gameplay focus is on disabling and debuffing enemies while dealing massive amounts of damage."

Starting Talents:
Barrier
Basic Armor (Light)
Throw
Warp

Unlockable Talents:
Lift Pistols Singularity Stasis

The remaining three classes are hybrids of the first three. The Infiltrator
combines the Soldier and Engineer, the Vanguard combines the Soldier and
Adept, and the Sentinel combines the Engineer and Adept.

Vanguards have access to weapons and armor training, but don't have the range of biotic abilities open to Adepts. Similarly, Infiltrators gain weapons and armor training as well, but lack the range of debuffs possessed by Engineers. The most supporting class is the Sentinel, which offers a mix of tech and biotic powers, but lacks weapon or armor talents.

Infiltrator:

"The Infiltrator is a tech-savvy warrior, able to win battles by quickly disabling and killing enemies. These soldiers focus on unlocking alternate routes, gaining access to good equipment, and obtaining an advantageous position over enemies in combat."

Starting Talents:
Decryption Electronics
Pistols
Tactical Armor (Light)

Unlockable Talents:
Damping First Aid Fitness Sniper Rifles Tactical Armor (Medium)

Vanguard:

"The Vanguard is a powerful combatant, able to combine the offensive powers of the Adept and the Soldier. They have access to various weapons and armor, as well as biotics. Gameplay focus is on taking down enemies with quick and brutal force.

Starting Talents:
Assault Training
Pistols
Throw
Warp

Unlockable Talents:
Barrier
Lift
Shotguns
Tactical Armor (Light/Medium)

Sentinel:

"The Sentinel is the most flexible class, able to combine tech and biotics to manipulate the environment, disable and track enemies, or defend the party. Gameplay focus is on protecting the party using kinetic barriers and healing it with advanced medical training."

Starting Talents:
Barrier
Decryption
First Aid
Throw

Unlockable Talents:
Electronics
Lift
Medicine
Stasis

Character Customization

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Finally you are ready to customize your character's appearance. You can
choose to use the default versions of Commander Shepard, or you can adjust
any aspect of your character's face to your liking. Use the sliders in each
section to manipulate a range of facial details. Female characters have the
additional option of customizing makeup.

When you are finished, select "Finalize" to begin the game. Note that once
you have completed one playthrough of Mass Effect you can begin a new game by
selecting an existing character. You will begin the new game with all the
stats and equipment that your character had at the time the game was
finished. Though any accrued Charm or Intimidate slots will be retained,
your preexisting Paragon and Renegade scores will not carry over.

Additionally, if you have unlocked any weapons or powers through
achievements, you must select one as a bonus talent for your new character.