Hi everyone,

Just wondering if I'm gimping out my guy by trying to make him as neutral as possible.

Does moving in either of the mutually exclusive directions make him stronger in any capacity?

I kinda want my first playthrough to not be either extreme, though perhaps not if it makes him a terrible character...

A little bit, yeah. When you are at maximum light or dark side, you get stat bonuses. I think the strength of your force powers also depends a little on how far along the respective path you are.

I vaguely recall some items being restricted to either side as well.

There indeed are some items, which can only be used if you're either very dark or very light.
For example the most powerful robe in the game can only be worn by light side characters.

The bonuses for 100% dark and light side aren't too powerful, but a nice addition.

If you are a light side character and wish to use dark side powers, for example lightning, these powers will cost more force points, and vice versa.

It is generally rather hard to be neutral, and it's obviously not intended. Most decisions in the game are clearly black and white: be an evil and selfish ass, or the nice guy with too much money. There isn't much else to choose from.

For your first try I would recommend the light side, or a clear direction at least.

Thanks guys, appreciate the info!

Yeah I found I was mainly achieving "neutrality" by choosing responses that are questions ("What's a Jedi?" instead of "I love Jedi" and "I hate Jedi"), and by doing a mix of light and dark side things.

But if there's no real point to doing so, I'll just make a choice already.

I don't suppose the journey through the story or the ending are at all affected by not going to either extreme? Or does the game just force you to pick a side near the end?

The actual choice is made near the end, you could play the whole game as a light side character and have the dark side ending.
But if you play light or dark side from the beginning, you won't even notice this very important decision, since it appears to be just one of many. There is no blinking light saying "Hey, important choice, you have to decide now how the game will end!"

So don't worry. It is solved very clever and subtle.

Reject the absolutes of the Jedi & Sith religions. Draw upon both sides of the force without penalty, but also without bonuses.

The game is easy enough and a neutral character is strong enough. You can walk that path if you choose, but you will have to fight with the game a bit as it really only offers light & dark. It's probably more enjoyable to go light side or dark side for a first play through.

All good advice, and thanks for the non-spoilers about the ending (which I should have mentioned, but luckily it worked out)!

Maybe I'll have my guy just go light side and we'll try for a neutral playthrough once I'm familiar enough with the game to not need the bonus.

Funny enough though, if it's all very light & dark as you said, he's gonna come off less "neutral" and more "wishy washy" or "insane" :P

I always wondered about playing neutral, but never got around to it; as someone said before, the game clearly leads you to choosing one side of the force.

It's always nice to have the option to not pick either side/extreme, especially since I think a lot of people like to have a "balanced" morality (eg stealing is bad, but you'd steal a loaf of bread to feed your starving sister... doesn't exactly make you "dark side", does it?).

I love to explore all moralities, so I like having playthrough dedicated to each one, neutrality included... my "main" Mass Effect guy was fairly neutral with a Renegade lean, and I enjoyed the Neutral path of Nocturne quite a bit.