Kirkwall runs on rumors, and our buddy Varric is the sieve through which they filter down into actionable information. According to Varric, a chantry sister is roaming low town at night looking for help with a special task. The sister in question, Sister Petrice, can be found making a poor decision to follow some unsavory characters into an alleyway. After Hawke’s intervention, Petrice offers us a job that is suited for someone who can move about the dark places of Kirkwall freely. Once we visit her safe house, we learn that she is in possession of a qunari mage, a saarebas, who was separated from his handler and Petrice wishes for us to bring him to freedom–whether he wants it or not. After a skirmish in Lowtown where Saarebas shows his teeth, Hawke emerges above ground to find a nasty surprise waiting for them. Special thanks to Redd Spinks for our amazing logo as well as to Miracle of Sound for the song Age Of The Dragon, which we use as our theme music.

Check out this week's Fandom Corner: Play Along Podcast

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While your hosts are strong advocates for mage rights, it’s hard to ignore a woman worried about her brother–especially if she’s destitute without him. Macha informs us that her brother, a templar recruit has gone missing and Knight Commander Meredith is keeping the situation hushed up. A visit to the Gallows reveals that Keran isn’t the only missing recruit–but one of them has returned, only to be followed out to the Wounded Coast by Knight Captain Cullen. Cullen exposes the recruit and then hands over the investigation to us since we can move freely throughout the city of Kirkwall. Special thanks to Redd Spinks for our amazing logo as well as to Miracle of Sound for the song Age Of The Dragon, which we use as our theme music.

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With Hawke’s sibling, we break into the Amell estate and clean out the slavers that purchased it from Gamlen all those years ago. Once they’re gone, Hawke has the opportunity to explore, pick up a gift, and then return to Leandra with news of what the will really said. We also catch up on the latest Dragon Age: The Veilguard news! Special thanks to Redd Spinks for our amazing logo as well as to Miracle of Sound for the song Age Of The Dragon, which we use as our theme music.

Check out this week's Fandom Corner: Seventy Percent Cocoa

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Our pod crush Ian R. Buck joins us to follow up with more conversation about the Genophage! We talk about the comedic tone this seemingly serious mission takes, question Cerberus motives, and overall have a great time hanging out. Matt gives a solid review of a previous Fandom Corner feature and we have some new shinies for you to see from BrknCreative and HauntYourHouse. Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme

Also you can find more details about Extra Life here!

Our favorite Josh of all trades is back to talk about His and Matt’s girlfriend, Jack! MJ yells about how Mass Effect 3 failed Kasumi, Matt is stoked to reconnect with Jack, and Josh is just happy to be here. Fandom Corner shouts out Tia Verde and Studio Scorpion on Etsy for their nerdy face masks. Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.

MJ & Matt drop a short announcement about their N7 Day plans.

Host of the Left Behind Game Club and Cutscenes, Jacob McCourt, joins us to experience the Leviathan DLC for what might have been the first time! Listen as we wonder how Shepard can be so clueless about the obvious indoctrination and how the Reaper origin boiled down to “oh no my hubris!” Fandom corner features a member of the Reignite fandom, @commandernici! Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.

Internet darling Nelson Lugo has A LOT of opinions about the Omega DLC. Does he have criticisms? Yes. Is he going to play it again? Also yes because he loves Mass Effect and no one can stop him. Join us as we break down Aria’s quest for revenge.

Fellow Garrus stan Jesse Vitelli joins MJ & Matt on their mission to Menae where as usual, nothing goes according to plan. Fandom Corner features both a song and artwork inspired by “Palaven Burning”. Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.

Also something cool to check out:

Co-written by CPOV's very own Pat Edwards, The Red Opera is an epic new 5th edition warlock-focused adventure, featuring original music, new player species, and new warlock subclasses! Check out the Kickstarter here!

MJ & Matt swing by Eden Prime with friend of the pod Josh Silverman. They pick up a new friend, learn some unsettling history, and Liara gets insulted at least twice. For Fandom Corner, we have a really cute Javik x Liara fan art called Blue Skies Yellow Eyes by Irish Neko Arts. Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.

MJ & Matt talk about the changes to the Citadel, how the Council hasn’t changed at all, and the realities of war as told by eavesdropping. In Fandom Corner, we discuss Mass Effect TikTok. Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.

Friend of the pod Kevin Luparello of Lore Party joins us to break down our mission to Mars. We talk about our longing for space travel, how the Alliance did Shepard dirty, and how quickly things are moving. Fandom Corner contains TWO special items, medi-gel hand sanitizer from fan favorite FreshNGeeky and Mass Effect inspired amigurumi patterns by Allison Mohler. Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.

It’s a new season and Matt won’t let us sing-- instead Geoff Moonen of “Fun” & Games joins us to discuss his experience playing Mass Effect 3 on the Wii U. Despite committing a war crime, Shepard is still on hand to discuss the Reaper threat at Earth’s front door. Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.

With Aveline in our party our next stop is to visit Sundermount to clear up that ambush. Once all of the well equipped bandits are dead, it’s a job well done! Right? Apparently not in Captain Jeven’s eyes–instead he accuses Aveline of showboating and threatens to throw both Aveline and Hawke in jail if they disobey orders again. Aveline refuses to let it end there, so with some investigating she learns that the ambush was meant for the lone patrol of Brennan, a guard who was carrying pay and orders from one location to another. She has passed this off to Donnic who is now in the same danger Brennan was. Hawke and Aveline must rescue Donnic and discover what Captain Jeven has been hiding. Special thanks to Redd Spinks for our amazing logo as well as to Miracle of Sound for the song Age Of The Dragon, which we use as our theme music.

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This summer, Certain POV Studios in partnership with Reignite Media brings you a blockbuster you won’t forget. Blasto teams up with the most notorious mercenaries this side of the Terminus to save [insert planet] from destruction on [insert localized holiday]. Will our heroes manage to save the day? Or will the children of [insert planet] be left without hope? Tune in for the Blasto Holiday Special! Special thanks to Case Aiken, Josh Coslar, and John Lestrange for helping to make this episode possible. Thank you to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.

MJ & Matt are all done with Mass Effect 2! Join them as they discuss what worked, what didn’t, and what they regret. Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.

MJ & Matt have one last mission before they can call Mass Effect 2 complete. They are off to rescue Dr. Kenson and confirm an imminent Reaper invasion, but the good doctor has something else in mind. Fandom corner features some Mass Effect face masks and a Mass Relay charm from LacunaTea. Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme. 

MJ & Matt wrap up their outstanding missions before finishing up Season 2 of Reignite. From Firewalker to glitchy ship mazes, they discuss the extra missions they skipped until now. Fandom corner features some adorable acrylic work from MadeByMossDeer and some badass jackets from EtsyJacketDesign!

If Lair of the Shadow Broker was the most involved, Project Overlord is the most tragic. Professor John Lestrange joins Matt & MJ to discuss the human condition, genocide, and human rights. Fandom Corner features a custom made Bingo card you can find on our social media! Let us know if you got a BINGO! Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.

MJ & Matt (with the help of their good friend Rex) embark on the most involved DLC of the Mass Effect series. They discuss Liara’s progression as a character, what it’s like to reconnect with old friends, and how we’ve changed since first meeting that young asari scientist. Fandom Corner features amigurumi by StitchyWitchCrafts. Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.

It’s finally time for MJ & Matt to take on the suicide mission. Everything is terrible except for some things that aren’t-- join our heroes as they dive deep into this final battle. Who will live? Who will die? Who will tell their story? Fandom Corner features some heavy metal Mass Effect by Sebdoom. Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.

It’s panel time! This week we’re bringing you the live audio of “All is Fair in Love and BioWare,” a panel of BioWare enthusiasts (our very own Matt Storm included) that ran at PAX East 2020. Matt is joined by Jesse Vitelli, Liana Ruppert, Morgan Shaver, and Kenneth Shepard. This panel was a deep dive into the romances of BioWare titles and how they impact the stories that, to this day, are considered some of the greatest in gaming. They also battled it out to see who is the ultimate BioWare Love Interest. Enjoy!

It’s time for one last loyalty mission. With our new Geth friend and Rob Starobin joining us, we must face one of our most difficult decisions yet. Listen in to find out how we rationalize our choices and how we felt as a result. Fandom corner features unique art by Justine Dillenbeck!

Time to advance the plot! Where were we? Shepard and crew head off the acquire a reaper IFF and bring home a little something extra. Who can speak Geth? Fandom Corner features MJ’s take on an Ocean’s 11/Mass Effect mash-up and some new merch on certainpov.com! Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.

With Varric in our party, we have a lot of opportunities ahead of us. We check in on our old friend Aveline, get more information out of Varric, visit our uncle’s terrible house, and make a new friend who immediately puts our lives in danger. Special thanks to Redd Spinks for our amazing logo as well as to Miracle of Sound for the song Age Of The Dragon, which we use as our theme music.

You can find the show on Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Bluesky and Facebook!

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Friend of the Pod Liana Ruppert stops in to help us crash a party full of crime bosses. We work together to help Kasumi recover her partner’s gray box and talk about how much we hate Donovan Hock. Fandom Corner features a Mass Effect fan zine by Emily N3ver! Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.

MJ and Matt discuss Zaeed’s quest for revenge and how badly MJ would like to punch him in the face. Fandom Corner features adorable cookie cutters by Petitcraft. Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.  

Jeff finally gets a chance to talk about his space girlfriend as we swoop in to help clear Tali of outlandish charges of Treason and point out that genocide is hella bad. Matt brings some more Mass Effect Rap to fandom corner and MJ has opinions. Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.

Josh Coslar joins MJ and Matt to talk about the sins of our favorite fish man, Thane Krios. We take a tour through the crime procedural that is C-Sec and stop Thane’s son from making a terrible mistake. Fandom Corner features adorable pillows by Zhelly and a teaser of that game Josh will run for us later this season! Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.

Colin Parker of the Scavengers Network is back to talk about everyone’s space boyfriend, Garrus Vakarian. It’s time to get vengeance, but it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Fandom Corner features fan art created by Amanda Cook, or Thunderhead Fred on Etsy. Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.

Finally, a renegade point of view! Mea Pearson joins MJ and Matt to discuss Samara’s wayward daughter, the injustice of Nef’s murder, and the genetic destiny of the Asari. Fandom Corner features a cover by MJ of our favorite Krogan Poet. Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.

Nelson Lugo returns to Reignite, with plenty of f-bombs to share. We discuss Krogan culture, puberty, and knowing when to headbutt instead of argue. Fandom Corner features sculptures of our favorite lizard son made by SofikoSculpts on Etsy. Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.

Burlesque performer and pin up model Jeane Harlot joins MJ & Matt to help them gain the chaotic biotic’s loyalty. Jack wants to leave a hole in the ground where her trauma began, but a survivor from the same facility has other plans. Fandom corner features FreshNGeeky perfume inspired by Mass Effect. Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.

MJ and Matt return to Illium to help Miranda with a delicate family issue. Surprising no one, daddy issues abound and Shepard has to try and keep the family together. Fandom corner features Twitch streamer Derek Van Dyke AND a Mass Effect inspired album by Eyeshadow 2600 FM with a sample of the track “Silversun Arcade Hero” featured in the episode. Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.

And so we leave behind the Hero of Ferelden and move on to a new story. Varric Tethras, a dwarf is dragged in to sit before the Seeker, Cassandra Pentaghast. She is looking for The Champion and believes that Varric can reveal where they are. Sit back and attend the tale of the Champion of Kirkwall. Special thanks to Redd Spinks for our amazing logo as well as to Miracle of Sound for the song Age Of The Dragon, which we use as our theme music

You can find the show on Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Bluesky and Facebook!

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Chuck Collins of Bounce! joins us to discuss Jacob’s loyalty mission. Please be advised that this mission contains themes of sexual assault and abuse. If you stick around to listen, we work together to write Jacob the loyalty mission he deserves without stereotypes or needless violence.

In this episode, Matt and MJ explore a disabled Collector Ship at the request of the Illusive Man. Surprising no one, except maybe Shepard, it’s a trap and everything is terrible. Fandom Corner features the Mass Effect Fanfiction Writers group on Facebook. Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.  

Matt and MJ invite their good friend Case Aiken of Another Pass to talk about his experience playing Mass Effect for the first time, the conflict of romance vs being nice, and the epic quest to rescue Tali from Geth forces. Fandom Corner features the podcast Good Morning Zakera Ward. Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.

Fandom’s favorite son Abu Zafar of Lore Party joins Matt & MJ as they track a deadly assassin on his final mission. The trio talk about the female gaze and the poetry of the Drell. Fandom Corner features The Crafty Hedonist on Etsy, creator of Mass Effect themed dildos. Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.

Matt and MJ visit yet another intergalactic hub of shopping and trade to pick up a new companion, solve a murder, and prevent an inter species incident. Fandom Corner features PodFriends Normandy FM, another Mass Effect deep dive. Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.

Matt and MJ discover that there really isn’t any going home again when they try to revisit the Citadel and Captain Anderson. Shopping, breaking up fights, and solving the mystery of whether there are fish on the Presidium take up a lot of time! Our hosts discuss a listener email and Fandom Corner features yet another Shakarian fan fic (https://archiveofourown.org/works/17338976). Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.  

Ursula of the Queer Dungeoneers podcast joins us to finally vent her frustrations about the scummery that is The Illusive Man and pine after her favorite marshmallow boi. We talk about Miracle of Sound in Fandom Corner much to Matt’s joy. Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.

MJ and Matt are off to deal with the Blue Suns again, this time to pick up a Krogan warlord who had dealings with The Collectors. After fighting mercenaries and battle hungry krogan, MJ & Matt end up with a different krogan than they planned. Aside from Matt’s devout love of Steve Blum, fandom corner highlights Less Than Stellar, an actual play podcast set in the Mass Effect Universe. Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.

MJ & Matt are back on the hunt for allies to help them stand against the Collectors. Our hosts cover the corrupt prison system, betrayal, and the ethics of buying prisoners (spoiler: it’s unethical). Fandom corner features The Mass Effect Fan Collective run by LiLi Ruppert (@DirtyEffinHippy on Twitter). Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.

In this episode MJ and Matt take on the three biggest merc groups on Omega to save one turian, a vigilante named Archangel. The sniper they find surprises even Shepard. Fandom corner features Singularity, an unlicensed Mass Effect mod for Genesys, a Star Wars Tabletop RPG. Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.  

We’ve made it to the end of Season 5! Time to talk about the highs and lows of Dragon Age: Origins and all of its DLC. We also chat about our prep for Season 6 and what to expect as we gear up for our next adventure! Special thanks to Redd Spinks for our new amazing logo as well as to Radek Wade and Echoes of Oblivion for the song World of Thedas, which we use as our theme music.

If you want tickets to GIFCon you can grab them here!

If you want to check out the “Fun” & Games' chat about signposting in games you can listen here.

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Drew Mick is the very model of the podcasting millennial, he joins us to pick up a scientist who’s definitely not a general. We pick up Mordin Solus (doctor, fighter, and salarian), but first we cure a plague (that targets turians and batarians). Drew brought us a fandom corner submission with a spoiler warning for the end of ME3. Check out Marauder Shields comics for an alternate ending to the series! Aside from being a Mass Effect nerd, Drew is also co-host of Headline Heroes! Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.

MJ and Matt are back at it. It’s time to investigate the Illusive Man’s claims by visiting a colony on the heels of an abduction. Our hosts talk about tutorials, paragon vs renegade, and what it means to be pansexual or bisexual. Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.

MJ and Matt got stuck in another dimension where there are no Turians but plenty of Orcs as they discuss Vampires as represented in video games. What’s an episode of Reignite without a deep dive into a beloved video game? Matt and MJ talk Skyrim Dawnguard and how the experience measures up to their memories. Stick around after the show for a special surprise! Special thanks to David Boyle for our amazing logo and to Dan Bull for the song MASS EFFECT RAP, which we use as our theme.