John Dombrow, My Favourite BioWare Writer

John Dombrow is a Senior Writer at BioWare and was responsible for not only writing the scenes and dialogue for the character of Garrus Vakarian in Mass Effect 3, but for writing Priority: Tuchanka, arguably the best-conceived mission in the Mass Effect universe.

A graduate of Loyola Marymount University, his other recent work includes:

Video Games
1. Mass Effect 3 (2012)

Missions

• Grissom Academy:  Emergency Evacuation (Initial Development)
• Priority:  Sur'Kesh (Writer)
• Priority:  Thessia (Writer)
• Leviathan DLC (Supervising Writer) 

Characters 

• Javik, From Ashes DLC

2. Mass Effect 2 (2010)

Missions

• Overlord DLC (Writer)

Publications

• [Walters, Mac (w), John Dombrow (w), Jeremy Barlow (w), Garry Brown (a).]  "A Bullet for Your Sins." Mass Effect: Homeworlds #3 (Jul 2012), Dark Horse Comics.

Links
April 2012 PAX East Panel Appearance [24:13]
April 2012 Badass Digest Interview with Alex Riviello
April 2012 BioWare Interview
November 2007 G4TV Interview with Jose Sanchez
IMDb Entry

TRIVIA: Mr. Dombrow also writes screenplays for horror movies.  One script, "Holy Blood", was originally optioned by Jean-Claude Van Damme for a year, but, unfortunately, never saw production.

Questions I wish I could ask him:

1. You attended Loyola Marymount University, an institution founded in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions. When playing the Overlord DLC, the Christian iconography was unmistakable. How much, if at all, does religion influence your writing?

2. In addition to Science Fiction, you also write Horror. Do you have a preferred genre? As a screenwriter, is there a particular story that you would love to tell?

3. The X-files appears to have strongly influenced your writing, from the Leviathan DLC to the title of your screenplay, "The Sixth Extinction". Is this a fair interpretation? What are your influences and has there been one work that profoundly changed your worldview?

4. What has been the highlight of your career so far? What was the low-point and how did you get through it?

5. You mentioned in other interviews that you listen to soundtracks when writing. What soundtracks were you listening to for Priority: Tuchanka? Priority: Sur'Kesh? Priority: Thessia? the rafter scene with Garrus?

6. Do you notice a difference in your process when writing for female characters? Is there anything you find difficult to write?

7. Jennifer Hale mentioned in her Nerd Appropriate interview, and I'm paraphrasing here, that of all the romance farewell dialogue options, the lines exchanged with Garrus in particular struck an emotional chord with an authenticity that made them difficult to read through.  How did those lines come about?

8. What do you imagine the Danori Spires on Palaven look like? And what was that dying Cerberus trooper trying to say to Commander Shepard on Sur'Kesh?

9. When playing through the series, what key choices would constitute your ideal play-through?
a. Male or Female Shepard?
b. Kaidan or Ashley on Virmire?
c. To romance or not to romance, and if yes, who and when?
d. Kill or spare the Rachni queen?
e. Of course you're going to save Wrex. Next question.
f. Save the Council?
g. Councilor Anderson or Udina?
h. Yes, yes. Save Maelon's data. Moving on.
i. Khalisa Bint Sinan Al-Jilani: Minor annoyance or talking punching bag?
j. How many squadmates accompany you through the Omega 4 relay? Which ones?
k. Who do you send into the shaft on the Collector Base?
l. Who do you get to lead the second distraction team?
m. Who joins your squad when you face the human neoreaper?
n. Destroy the Collector base or hand it over to Cerberus?
o. For Krogan paeans or for the war effort?
p. Would you have considered the Salarian deal?
q. If it came down to it, would you have shot your friend?
r. Ruthless calculus of war: are you up for that?
s. Who do you take with EDI to Cronos Station?
t. Who joins your squad in the final push to the beam?
u. Control, destroy, synthesize or refuse?

10. What is your alcoholic beverage of choice? (Drinks are on me for putting up with my inane questions.)