Legendary Edition Modding: Getting Started

So you want to create a mod for Mass Effect Legendary Edition? Here's some guidance.

Know your terminology

In order to make effective communication about games, ensure you use the correct terminology. You will see many acronyms in the scene.

Games

• ME1 = Mass Effect (2007)
• ME2 = Mass Effect 2 (2010)
• ME3 = Mass Effect 3 (2012)
• LE1 = Mass Effect 3 (Legendary Edition)
• LE2 = Mass Effect 3 (Legendary Edition)
• LE3 = Mass Effect 3 (Legendary Edition)
• OT = Original Trilogy (ME1/ME2/ME3)
• LE = Legendary Edition (LE1/LE2/LE3)

Tools

• MEM = Mass Effect Modder (texture installer)
  • MEM has two versions: < 500 and >= 500
    • < 500: Original Trilogy
    • >= 500: Legendary Edition
• M3 = ME3Tweaks Mod Manager
• LEX = Legendary Explorer
• LEC = Legendary Explorer Core (backend library used by many tools, including LEX)
• ME3X = ME3Explorer (what LEX as based on)
• ME3C = ME3ExplorerCore (backend library that LEC was based on)