Mass Effect 3 Citadel “Inspirational Stories” Guide and Photo Bug Fix
Mass Effect 3’s Citadel side mission “Inspirational Stories” tasks you with helping documentary filmmaker Solik Vass by capturing specific dock photos—while also dealing with a progress-blocking bug that can wipe out photo options after a reload.
Mission overview and rewards
This section of the Mass Effect 3 Citadel guide breaks down the “Inspirational Stories” side mission, including where to go to start it, how to handle each combat encounter, and what choices affect your playthrough.
If you’re looking for a specific part, the guide organizes the mission into: Mission Stats, Travel to Widow, Meet Solik Vass, Take Inspirational Photos, and Return to Solik.
Mission Stats
Video Guide
Mission Rewards
- Mission Experience: 120 XP
- Reputation: +5
- Mission Credits: 5,000 credits
Travel to Widow
- Prerequisite: Complete “Priority: The Citadel 2”
- Location: Serpent Nebula – Widow – Citadel – Docks: Holding Area
The “Inspirational Stories” side mission unlocks after you finish “Priority: The Citadel 2,” which refreshes the Citadel with a batch of new side activities, including this one. The Citadel serves as the galaxy’s central hub and is always shown in the western portion of the Milky Way map.
Meet Solik Vass
Go to the Docks: Holding Area and move through the first checkpoint. While you’re passing, you’ll overhear a Salarian named Solik Vass trying to gain access to the refugee camp, but a C-Sec officer blocks him from entering the docks.
Talk to Solik to learn that he’s a documentary filmmaker. He wants to film refugees at the docks to create maximum emotional impact and push people into action through what he captures on camera. You can earn Morality Points depending on what you say:
- Choose “I’ll help you” for +2 Paragon Points.
- Choose “I’m not interested” for +2 Renegade Points.
Either way, the side mission is assigned to you.
Take Inspirational Photos
Your objective is to take three photos that count as valid—meaning they meet Solik’s standards. There are eight total photo opportunities: four are invalid (Solik won’t approve), and four are valid (Solik will accept them). The good news is that you only need to take three of the valid photo opportunities to complete the assignment.
- Legendary Edition note: You don’t need the in-game Photo Mode for this side mission. Regular interaction prompts are used instead.
WARNING
Be careful: there’s a bug in this side mission that can halt your progress. If you take a photo, make a manual save, and then load that save, all photo opportunities of that photo type will vanish—whether they were valid or invalid at the time.
To continue the side mission, you’ll need to revert to an earlier save made before you started the mission.
Valid Photo Opportunities
Invalid Photo Opportunities
Return to Solik
After you’ve taken three valid photos, the remaining options disappear. Solik then tells you to go back to him. Return to the security checkpoint where you originally found him to finish the side mission and claim +5 Reputation, 210 XP, and 5,000 credits.
For additional Mass Effect 3 guidance, the guide points you toward: Legendary Edition Changes, How-To Guides, Key Choices and Consequences, Romance Guide, Walkthrough, and Side Missions.
Up Next: Citadel: Kakliosaur Fossil
Top Guide Sections
- Legendary Edition Changes
- Game Basics
- Tips and Tricks
- How-To Guides
