For Mass Effect Trilogy Week, here are the ships that the fandom made me ship that I didn't ship before:
Kasumi/Saren: @impbiscuit's fic for this pairing during our ship week in 2025 opened my eyes to this pairing. I LOVE IT, I love the possibilities.
Shepard/Garrus: NO HEAR ME OUT. My first playthrough, I wasn't very aware of Garrus or Shepard/Garrus. I romanced Liara, Thane and Samantha. So it's only later as I got a blog that I realized how popular the ship was and it made me interested in MShep/Garrus, the clostest I have to an OTP in this fandom :)
MShepard/Miranda: @corasharper who was known to me as theillusivewoman for so many years influenced my fandom love in a huge way. First by making me LOVE Miranda and giving us so many cool gifs over the years, but also by being a such a great Shepard/Miranda champion.
Shepard/Kaidan: So many Kaidan fans over the years. People that have come and gone, that I can't really mention. But I do remember their love for Kaidan and this pairing, and that really had an impact on me as I navigated my first Tumblr years!
Thane/Steve: and that's mostly thanks to @messydiabolical's GORGEOUS artwork! Go check their tag!!!!!!
Miranda/Jack: I was aware during my playthroughs that they were really special together and I had a ping in my brain obviously, but it's only when I arrived here on Tumblr that the ping started to make sense and I understood what it was about.
Ashley/Kaidan: I think the fandom made me really like Ashley as a character (gotta thank @camalyng especially!). And that appreciation of her led me to this pairing. But I also blame @chloefraazer a lot for enabling my shipping love :D
Shepard/Joker: Sometimes you like a pairing but it can really grow on you thanks to the fandom because other people see it too and they think it's great!
OT3s: I've been suggested a lot of cool OT3s over the years that made me go "uh, I really like them". Too many to list them here!
In general, the fandom was amazing and made incredible content that intensified my love and interest over the years. It still works like that really. So if you're wondering: "do my stuff matter? does it have an impact on people?" yes yes it does! If it's not always said to you, I'm sorry. And thank you obviously <3
