The only RPGs I've really played are SW KOTOR/2, the Fallout games, and Mass Effect games. So I'm not like a diehard RPG player. Anyway an article in PC Gamer got me thinking about this because some real diehard players will play through and not reload any saves, accepting whatever consequences happen to their character. I on the other hand will play through once like that and then do an ideal playthrough. For instance on Mass Effect 2 I ended the game losing Mordin and Tali. So I replayed the last mission until I saved everyone so I could use them in ME3. Mass Effect is unique I guess because I don't think any other games carry over your decisions like that. Some NPC companions I could care less about, like most of the ones in Fallout (except Veronica; she's cheery and is happy just punching what you let her punch :lol). In Fallout 3/NV I just made companions essential so they were invincible, even though must of them sucked. So I rationalize that choice in that the ME characters are so cool that you don't want to see them die. So how do you play?