Notifications
Notification preferences
notifications_off

No unread notifications right now

You're up to date
See All

You're up to date

File information

Last updated

Original upload

Created by

beccatoria

Uploaded by

beccatoria

Virus scan

Some manually verified files

Tags for this mod

Tag this mod
Current section

About this mod

Miranda or Jacob will take over Kai Leng's role as the Cerberus Assassin, fully replacing him in an immersive overhaul of the plotline. Includes brand new dialogue, a revised boss battle, major plotline adjustments, and an overhauled narrative arc for Jacob in either story path.

Requirements
Permissions and credits
Translations
  • Spanish
Changelogs


This mod removes Kai Leng from the game and replaces him with either Miranda Lawson or Jacob Taylor. Only one of them will escape Cerberus' recall order... Which one?  That depends on your choices during Mass Effect 2. 

This new branching narrative is fully immersive, supported by extensive dialogue and cutscene edits, text content and new gameplay options. It features character designs by Jenya66.  

  • Discover what happened to the Assassin.
  • Discuss the situation with your crew and other relevant NPCs.
  • Confront the Assassin in a fully overhauled final boss battle, with a destructible environment.
  • If Miranda is the Assassin? Help Jacob take down Cerberus and rescue Oriana at Sanctuary.
  • Fight to save your friend. Not all hope is lost...


This mod has several goals. To provide a more emotionally engaging antagonist than Kai Leng. To engage with Miranda's reluctance to believe in Cerberus' malevolence during Mass Effect 2. To give Jacob a stronger narrative role during Mass Effect 3, allowing him to either follow through on his promise to take down Cerberus if they step out of line, or pay the price for his decision to work with them.

The Videos tab showcases most of the major changes.

You must install this mod before confronting the Illusive Man on Mars or it will not work.

FAQ


What determines who takes the Assassin role?

Spoiler:  
Show
Miranda is far more loyal to Cerberus than Jacob during Mass Effect 2. The premise is that if they are both convinced to run for it, Miranda is more capable of evading Cerberus, but Jacob is likely to leave earlier and get a head start. Unless Miranda's loyalty to Cerberus has been sufficiently eroded and Shepard has demonstrated exceptional faith in her. 

Mechanically this means that Miranda will be the Assassin unless:

(1) Miranda is loyal
(2) The confrontation with Jack is resolved via a charm or intimidate option
(3a) you choose her for both leadership positions during the suicide mission or
(3b) you choose her for one leadership position during the suicide mission and she verbally resigns from Cerberus if she's in the active party when Shepard chooses to destroy the base. 

Warning: the vanilla game does not record Miranda's resignation, so this option is only available to people who played Mass Effect 2 while using the Unofficial LE2 Patch. If you did not then she would need to be assigned to both leadership positions. 

If either Jacob or Miranda died during the suicide mission at the end of Mass Effect 2, the other will take on the assassin role. If both Jacob and Miranda died, then Kai Leng will appear as a final redundancy (similar to Dagg or Padok Wiks).


Will you make the Assassin selectable as a menu option?

Spoiler:  
Show
No, sorry. It's important to me that the mod mimics vanilla game behaviour in this way. The Assassin is selected based on past events, not an option button. Also, let's address the elephant in the room. A LOT of people would just use it to write off Jacob, and honestly I think that'd be a shame. Give that path a chance, guys! It has way more custom content around his role on Horizon and with Oriana, and gives the character a heroic arc that I think works really well to ground his newfound commitment to his community. 

That said, what you do with your save editor is between you and ceiling cat. Set the bools before Mars. Do not try to use them to change stuff after Mars, it won't work. Note I don't offer tech support if you edit your save and it goes wrong. 

177 = Miranda is loyal
1579 = Kept peace between Jack and Miranda
2836 = Miranda leads the Assault Team
2865 = Miranda leads the Fire Support Team
8405 = Miranda quit Cerberus (custom LE2 patch bool)



Are you using AI synth voices?

Spoiler:  
Show
No, this mod does not make use of AI synth voices. All lines were created by reusing and splicing dialogue. I'm clarifying this as it's currently a contentious area, but I am not interested in discussing my reasoning in the comments, nor is it okay to use my decision to attack or judge others. Please leave me out of this debate.


Is this mod feature complete? 

Spoiler:  
Show
Yes! As of version 1.5, this mod is feature complete. Unless I have a really cool idea. But I hope I don't. It's nice to finish something.


I checked the compatibility information and a mod I want to use is incompatible. Will you make a patch?

Spoiler:  
Show
I won't rule out patches for forthcoming mods, but it's quite possible the answer will be no. I have provided patches for as many mods as I felt was practical within a reasonable ratio of time and effort.

A lot of patching in Mass Effect involves making a unified file with all changes from various mods. As soon as there are more than two, you have to also make each combination. This rapidly gets out of control. So often what may seem like a quick job is unfortunately quite time consuming.


Can you make another mod like this but instead of [x] do [y]?

Spoiler:  
Show
No, sorry. I worked on this mod for years, that's not hyperbole. It was an absolutely huge amount of work. So I'm not taking mod requests. This isn't something I can just press a button and spit out in a month or two.


Can you provide a full list of changes made by this mod?

Spoiler:  
Show
I think the best way to experience the mod is by playing it! But yes, here is a list of changes in case you want that or need to determine if something is behaving as expected. The list below presumes both Miranda and Jacob survive into Mass Effect 3. If not, the mod will adapt accordingly and some of the changes below may not occur.

GENERAL CHANGES: 

  • Replaces Kai Leng with either Jacob or Miranda, including extensive cinematic edits, dialogue and animation adjustments and changes to text-based content. This includes Mars, the Citadel Coup, Thessia, Horizon and Cerberus Headquarters. 
  • During the Citadel Coup, the fight on the skycar will be against a phantom. The Assassin will not personally appear. 
  • Post-Coup conversations with Bailey, Thane (if present), Anderson and Hackett, Garrus (if present), and Liara will all be adjusted to reflect the new plot line. 
  • The Shadow Broker terminal will provide intercepted documents providing further insight into what happened to the Assassin. 
  • The conversation with the Illusive Man on Thessia includes an opportunity to address the Assassin's situation. 
  • The gameplay portion of the boss fight on Thessia is skipped. 
  • After Sanctuary, both Tali and Joker will acknowledge the adjusted plot line in their post-mission content.
  • Video logs at Cerberus Headquarters will provide additional insight into what happened to the Assassin. 
  • The Cerberus Headquarters boss fight has been overhauled. Jacob and Miranda have different fighting styles, do not favor use of the sword, do not have Kai Leng's invincibility shield, and the floor is destructible by the player in order to create cover. 
  • After the Cerberus Headquarters boss fight It is possible to knock the Assassin unconscious rather than killing them. If so, they will appear in the Medical Bay along with a medical report on their prognosis.
  • The Assassin may appear in the epilogue videos, if they were saved. 

IF JACOB IS THE ASSASSIN: 

  • The Ex-Cerberus Scientists mission will play out without Jacob.
  • Shepard can choose to inform Miranda about Jacob's role as the Assassin during the holo call on the Citadel. 
  • Miranda will discuss her feelings about Jacob's role as the Assassin during her subsequent in-person visit to the Citadel (if she was told).
  • The conversation with Miranda before leaving Sanctuary is adapted to reflect the new plotline. 
  • The Shadow Broker terminal will contain intercepted communication from Miranda to either Jacob or his next of kin depending on the outcome of the boss fight at Cerberus Headquarters
  • If Shepard romanced Jacob during Mass Effect 2, and did not romance anyone during Mass Effect 3, Jacob will be treated as Shepard's continuing love interest (since he does not begin a relationship with Brynn via this route). Please note this is not a romance-focused mod and the content is minimal, but the circumstance is acknowledged.

IF MIRANDA IS THE ASSASSIN: 

  • Shepard can choose to inform Jacob about Miranda's role as the Assassin when they meet on Gellix. 
  • Jacob will not appear at the Huerta Memorial Hospital unless his email has been read. The contents of the email will vary based on whether Jacob is aware of Miranda's fate. He will also leave the hospital at a narratively appropriate point.
  • If Jacob is aware Miranda is the Assassin, his conversation with Shepard at the hospital will be very different and he will use it to express his intention to go find Miranda and try to help her. If he is not aware, the scene will play out as vanilla. 
  • The Shadow Broker terminal will provide an intercepted email from Oriana to Jacob asking for help. 
  • Jacob will appear at Sanctuary in Miranda's role - he will rescue Oriana and take down Henry Lawson. 
  • Jacob will survive the events at Sanctuary provided he is (1) loyal and (2) was told about Miranda's situation and was therefore prepared. 
  • Jacob's war asset will be awarded after Sanctuary (if he survives) rather than after the Ex-Cerberus Scientists mission on Gellix.
  • If Jacob is aware of Miranda's situation, he cannot be invited to the Citadel Party, purchased as an ally at Armax Arena or meet Shepard at the arcade until after Sanctuary is destroyed. If he is unaware, these will trigger as normal. 
  • If Jacob's arcade scene occurs after his mission to Sanctuary, Oriana will be present alongside the teenage war orphans. Most of Jacob's vanilla dialogue from the hospital scene will be available here instead - allowing an upbeat update on Jacob's life in a less tonally jarring situation.
  • Jacob will send an email related to Miranda's fate following the Cerberus Headquarters boss fight, and an update on Oriana.



LANGUAGE


Due to the complexity of the audio edits in this mod, it is only available in English audio. Attempting to play this mod with audio in another language will not work. The mod will break badly. Support for the following languages is available via subtitling: 

French - Loadingue
German - KrrKs & Herobrine24
Italian - TittyFish & team Krios
Polish - Gatzek
Russian - Cole Phelps
Spanish - Deep King

Many thanks to these translators for offering their services. 

If anyone is able to offer a good quality Japanese translation, I would be very grateful to receive integrate it into the mod with credit. 

INSTALLATION


1. Download the .7z file. 

2. Import the .7z file into ME3Tweaks Mod Manager 9 or higher.

3. Check the detailed compatibility information to make sure you're not using incompatible mods (sorry, no CEM yet...)

4. Apply the mod after all other content mods (as no other mod patches for it). Compatibility patches will be automatically selected for you. 

5. Apply any retextures (.mem files) you want to use.

6. Play the game.

This mod must be installed before you confront the Illusive Man on Mars. It will not work at all if you install it after this point.

UNINSTALLATION


This mod may be deleted or disabled safely via ME3Tweaks Mod Manager. Select your LE3 installation, and then choose "Manage Target", you will see the option to disable or delete.  

If you uninstall this mod part way through, the character taking on the role of Assassin will be marked as dead.

TROUBLESHOOTING


If you have any issues with the mod, and have checked the compatibility information below, please post a detailed description of the issue, along with a log + diag generated from ME3Tweaks Mod Manager, with an uploaded save. Please see the pinned post in the comments thread for a gif showing how to generate a log + diag. If you want help you need to follow these instructions. If you don't, I'm going to refer you back here and tell you to follow them, so let's save some time for everyone. 

DETAILED COMPATIBILITY INFORMATION


Spoiler:  
Show
Below is a list of all mods that I am aware have overlap with this one. If a mod isn't listed below, as far as I'm aware they share no files and should be compatible, on a technical level at least. I cannot vouch for what other mods may have references to Kai Leng.

This does NOT mean that all of the mods below are compatible with each other. If certain incompatible mod configurations are detected, then installation of Altered Assassin will be blocked until this is resolved. Not because I'm the mod police but because it is impossible to determine what patches to install in that circumstance.

IMPORTANT: While the LE3 Community Patch is not absolutely required, it is very strongly recommended. If other mods have LE3CP-compatible and standalone versions, I am only supporting compatibility via LE3CP. Certain files are built against LE3 Community Patch content even if you install the standalone version. 

COMPATIBLE - will be autopatched on installation (install these first!)

Click spoiler text for additional information about how these mods interact. 

Apartment Additions
Spoiler:  
Show
This patch is only required if also using Citadel Epilogue Mod. Includes support for romance invitations for Jacob where applicable.


Citadel Epilogue Mod 
Spoiler:  
Show
The assassin will acknowledge their medical treatment and recovery. An ME2 romance with the former Assassin may be rekindled if Shepard remained single during ME3. This includes Jacob as he will never have met Brynn.
 
Cerberus Retrofits

LE3 Community Patch

LE3 Diversification Project

Emily Lives

Expanded Galaxy Mod 
Spoiler:  
Show
Jacob's availability via the Squadmate Pack in story mode may be edited to account for Altered Assassin's narrative changes to Jacob's heroic arc.

Immersive Thessia Mod 
Spoiler:  
Show
Altered Assassin's changes to the end of the level will take priority and you will not get the reworked Kai Leng boss battle unless both Jacob and Miranda died in ME2 and you have Kai Leng as the Assassin.

Kelly Returns

Legion Lives

Miranda Mod 
Spoiler:  
Show
Miranda is only available to recruit if Jacob is the Assassin. However, if used alongside Citadel Epilogue Mod, Miranda can participate in the Citadel DLC content regardless.

Mordin Lives

More Gay Romances

Optional Flirting Mod

Project Variety

Reaper Retrofits

Reduced Plot Armor

Reegar Returns

Starchild-Be-Gone

Thane Can Live

Thane Lives 
Spoiler:  
Show
Thane will live but in order to allow both mods to work narratively, you can no longer avoid all casualties during the coup. Either Kirrahe or the Councillor will die instead.

Virmire Savior 
Spoiler:  
Show
The conversation edited and expanded by Liara Mourns the Dead will still trigger in every playthrough, however, if using Virmire Savior it will be an extremely minimal scene regardless of the outcome of the standoff with the VS during the Coup. Neither Kaidan nor Ashley will be referenced.



INCLUDED - you don't need to install it twice!

Liara Mourns the Dead 


INCOMPATIBLE - do not use with Altered Assassin

Any Kai Leng-related mod

Such as: 

Reworked Kai Leng

Shut Up Leng

Kai Leng Unmasked

Phantom Introduction Mod (but Altered Assassin enacts a very similar edit for narrative reasons)


Any Outfit/Appearance mods that are not built on the LE3CP framework 

Such as: 

Blonde Miranda

EDI and Eva Revamped

New dresses for females

All those nude lady mods...


And also these other mods!

Among Us Reapers

Emily Returns

Miranda Butt Shot Restoration

Immersive Emails (this is a narrative immersion issue rather than a technical incompatibility)

Poly-Romance Mod

Thomas the Reaper Engine


TECHNICAL INFORMATION


Spoiler:  
Show
Bools: 8706 - 8717
Ints: 52205 - 52218
Transitions: 59605 - 59618
Conditionals: 58903 - 58948
TLK: 38729009 - 38729393
Mount: 25656


MY OTHER MODS


Spoiler:  
Show

iOS Datapad Message Integration (LE3) - Adds text messages from Mass Effect: Datapad iOS app back into the game using on-screen notifications.
LE2 Prologue Framework - Streaming framework for NPCs during the LE2 prologue section, to allow for greater compatibility between mods.
Super Extra Party Time! (LE3) - Play through the relaxed and rowdy phases of the Citadel DLC Party in one go.
Liara Mourns the Dead (LE3) - Liara reflects on the lost, following the Cerberus Coup (Ash, Kaidan, Thane).
Punch Charles Saracino (LE1) - Why can't we punch this guy? Let me punch this guy!
Samara Camera Restoration (LE2) - Restores some unusual and artistic angles from ME2 to the first Normandy conversation with Samara.
F.I.S.H. Mod (LE2) - Kelly will feed your fish without taking her to dinner.
Last Person Standing (LE2) - Survive the Suicide Mission solo and import into LE3. 
Hammerhead Sound Fix (LE2) - Hammerhead will no longer howl like a possessed demon when mining.
Unextended Cut (LE3) - Restore the original release ending, or mix-and-match EC, release and cut ending content.
Anderson's Final Conversation Restored (LE3) - Cut content restored to Shepard's final conversation with Anderson
Trigger Buttons (ME2) - Trigger ambush missions with a button press, at a time of your choosing.
Trigger Buttons (LE2) - As above, for Legendary Edition!
Early Recruitment (ME2) - Early recruitment of Thane, Samara and Tali and early access to hubs.
Early Recruitment (LE2) - As above, for Legendary Edition!
F.I.S.H. Mod (ME3) - Kelly survives to return your fish without needing to flirt!
F.I.S.H. Mod (LE3) - As above, for Legendary Edition!
Additional Character Creation Options (ME3) - Extra character creation options!
Buzzcut for Default Femshep (ME3) - Read the mod title!


CREDITS AND THANKS


Jenya66 for the creation of beautiful custom looks for Jacob and Miranda.
Tajfun403 for assistance and advice on UScript.
Marcus22Khaar for good taste in set dressing and lighting. 
Padme4000 for good taste in titles.
Scottina123, KkJiro and Pauju for work on the LE3 Community Patch in general and in particular the improved modding features including in-engine cutscene recreations. 
Audemus for permission to use ALOV upscales.
The ME3Tweaks tool devs for their continuous work in improving our modding options.
Everybody who allowed me to make compatibility patches.
The support of my friends. Without their encouragement, I think I would have given up...