Okay I think I've nailed it down...

Pop in disc 1 start the game "derp" then do only the priority:missions as marked in your journal
at one point your gonna be asks to enter disc 2 "not a drink coaster"
when you later go to another priority:mission

Now you switch gears avoid priority:missions like they are a plague
and focus on doing all the sub quests levels that involved combat
which are only on disc 2 for example N7:missions

After you've done all that you should end on disc 1 doing little more the 3 disc inserts

Disc 1 starting the game and doing only priority:missions
Disc 2 sub quests first then priority:missions
Disc 1 the end of the game

P.S. Talk and explore a lot to pick up all the quests you can
 
*Update* 
 
The Citadel gets a bunch of MISC tasks after you get Garrus 
so that should keep you busy on disc 1 for awhile before having to swap for the first time 
also remember to scan to get %100 from the star clusters
 
*Update 2* 
 
I can't personally confirm this but this may be the best resolution

BiowWare User: Armass81 wrote...

"Since most sidemissions are on Disk 2

Disk 1 ---> do priority missions until Tuchanka unlocks on the galaxy map
Disk 2 ----> start doing sidequests, and continue from there

Total disk changes during the whole game: 2, same as ME2. Problem solved."
 
*Update 3*
 
It would also seem outside of DLC the 1st disc is based around the new/old alliance citadel spaces actually from the time you can access the galaxy map 
priority mission taken place in these zones
 
So if you go do a sub mission outside of these zones expect to enter disc 2
 
If this is how BioWare did this then it's pretty smart

Yeah, I had mad disc swapping at the beginning of the game, until I realised that it expected me to not do any side missions before palaven, because after palaven, everything is disc 2 until the endgame. Before palaven, the side missions are disc two, and the priorities are disc one.

Didn't make a difference to me though, I play at a desk, so I never had to stand up. Laziness.

Glad I bought it for the PS3...and no I am not missing out on any of the Mass Effect experience because I do own both 1 & 2 on the 360. As well as 2 on the PS3.

Mass Effect 2 disc swapping was a non issue so yea...

Step 1: Install both discs to your HDD

yea i figured this pattern out after a while, it's the n7 missions mainly

@Getz said:

Step 1: Install both discs to your HDD

You still have to swap discs.

@Getz: Step 1: Install both discs to your HDD

have you tried this? like ever?

you still need the disk

either that or you might have a short attention span and decided to stop after step one

@StrainedEyes said:

@Getz said:

Step 1: Install both discs to your HDD

You still have to swap discs.

And yet a million more assholes will still say that.

Anyway, there was a good bit disc swapping in Mass Effect 3. It didn't bother me much since I literally had my Xbox and the game case right next to me, but it was still kind of annoying. The game has bigger problems than that, though.

I did everything in the game (main missions and side stuff) and only changed the disc 3 times. Just luck? maybe.

Pretty much wait till disc 2 before ever playing sub quests 
 
Your priority on disc 1 is to play the priority:missions

@believer258 said:

@StrainedEyes said:

@Getz said:

Step 1: Install both discs to your HDD

You still have to swap discs.

And yet a million more assholes will still say that.

Anyway, there was a good bit disc swapping in Mass Effect 3. It didn't bother me much since I literally had my Xbox and the game case right next to me, but it was still kind of annoying. The game has bigger problems than that, though.

You swap once the intro parts of the game are over, and once more during the finale of the game and that's it. It's OH SO DIFFICULT.

@Getz said:

@believer258 said:

@StrainedEyes said:

@Getz said:

Step 1: Install both discs to your HDD

You still have to swap discs.

And yet a million more assholes will still say that.

Anyway, there was a good bit disc swapping in Mass Effect 3. It didn't bother me much since I literally had my Xbox and the game case right next to me, but it was still kind of annoying. The game has bigger problems than that, though.

You swap once the intro parts of the game are over, and once more during the finale of the game and that's it. It's OH SO DIFFICULT.

You just popped up and said "Install the discs", apparently not knowing that doesn't prevent you from needing to swap. It's a minor inconvenience, and I never said it was anything more than that, but you don't have to be an asshole about it.

@believer258 said:

@Getz said:

@believer258 said:

@StrainedEyes said:

@Getz said:

Step 1: Install both discs to your HDD

You still have to swap discs.

And yet a million more assholes will still say that.

Anyway, there was a good bit disc swapping in Mass Effect 3. It didn't bother me much since I literally had my Xbox and the game case right next to me, but it was still kind of annoying. The game has bigger problems than that, though.

You swap once the intro parts of the game are over, and once more during the finale of the game and that's it. It's OH SO DIFFICULT.

You just popped up and said "Install the discs", apparently not knowing that doesn't prevent you from needing to swap. It's a minor inconvenience, and I never said it was anything more than that, but you don't have to be an asshole about it.

I don't have to be an asshole? You started with some passive-aggressive bullshit so I gave it back to you. If you want a civil conversation then don't come out of the gate with name-calling.

My original post was a light-hearted attempt to point out you don't to fuckin' plot out your game with a checklist, nothing more.

This thread is going fantastically.

@Getz said:

@believer258 said:

@Getz said:

@believer258 said:

@StrainedEyes said:

@Getz said:

Step 1: Install both discs to your HDD

You still have to swap discs.

And yet a million more assholes will still say that.

Anyway, there was a good bit disc swapping in Mass Effect 3. It didn't bother me much since I literally had my Xbox and the game case right next to me, but it was still kind of annoying. The game has bigger problems than that, though.

You swap once the intro parts of the game are over, and once more during the finale of the game and that's it. It's OH SO DIFFICULT.

You just popped up and said "Install the discs", apparently not knowing that doesn't prevent you from needing to swap. It's a minor inconvenience, and I never said it was anything more than that, but you don't have to be an asshole about it.

I don't have to be an asshole? You started with some passive-aggressive bullshit so I gave it back to you. If you want a civil conversation then don't come out of the gate with name-calling.

My original post was a light-hearted attempt to point out you don't to fuckin' plot out your game with a checklist, nothing more.

By initially stating something completely factually inaccurate and condescending. And yet he's the passive aggressive guy here...

@Gonzo33 said:

I did everything in the game (main missions and side stuff) and only changed the disc 3 times. Just luck? maybe.

You did it wrong, minimum of 11 disc swaps for me, stupid game

I'm still of the mind that disc swapping on a console is kind of cool, doing it before and after every N7 mission, not so much.

@Vitor: I didn't say anything that was wrong, check again.

@Getz said:

@Vitor: I didn't say anything that was wrong, check again.

You told him to install both discs as if that would cut down on the need for swapping. It doesn't.

@Gonzo33 said:

I did everything in the game (main missions and side stuff) and only changed the disc 3 times. Just luck? maybe.

You did it wrong, minimum of 11 disc swaps for me, stupid game

@Getz said:

@Vitor: I didn't say anything that was wrong, check again.

Yes, you did: post #12. Thanks for letting us know you're an idiot.

The Citadel gets a bunch of MISC tasks after you get Garrus so that should keep you busy on disc 1 for awhile before having to swap for the first time 
also remember to scan to get %100 from the star clusters

I've swapped like 5 times and am just finishing things up on the Krogan planet. It's only annoying for that 10 seconds when you groan to swap the discs, but ultimately it would be cool if it wasn't an issue at all.

I can't personally confirm this but this may be the best resolution

BiowWare User: Armass81 wrote...

"Since most sidemissions are on Disk 2

Disk 1 ---> do priority missions until Tuchanka unlocks on the galaxy map
Disk 2 ----> start doing sidequests, and continue from there

Total disk changes during the whole game: 2, same as ME2. Problem solved."

The fact this is even a thing is ridiculous to me.

It would also seem outside of DLC the 1st disc is based around the new/old alliance citadel spaces actually from the time you can access the galaxy map 
priority mission taken place in these zones
 
So if you go do a sub mission outside of these zones expect to enter disc 2
 
If this is how BioWare did this then it's pretty smart

I'd would much....MUCH rather swap between these 2 discs, and have a 30fps constant framerate. Than the absolute trash the ps3 version ended up being. I planned on renting it from redbox, and plowing through it. The opening scene barely hit above or at 20fps. It was so bad, i could barely aim. I already don't like the convex sticks of the dual shock 3, so a bad framerate and not enough sensitivity control, ruined it.

But then I buy a used 360 version at gamestop, since hey, you can return them within 7 days right? And its honestly like an entirely different game. A solid, 30fps. If not higher... The sound quality also, is just a tad bit better. Mass effect 2 had DTS support on ps3, whereas 3 doesn't on the ps3. I don't understand, how great ps3 mass effect 2 had the time taken to be even better than the 360 version, and its the other way around this time on 3 by a longgg shot. Besides, the load times of the 360 version are noticably quicker than the ps3s too....

So getting off my arse to change a disc every now and again, i can totally live with that. 20fps constant? I cannot. And people complained about skyrim...

I find it surprising this game is even on more than 1 disc considering how low res all the FMVs are. Even Skyrim is only on one disc with a GB or two spare and that has just as much, if not more voice work! (maybe)

Dead Space 2 also confused me, I finished that game in 5 hours, how is that on 2 discs?!

I went from playing on the PC to playing on the 360 and I have to say that the framerate was more annoying to me than the disc swapping. Also for some reason, swapping discs sometimes resulted in my DVD drive spinning constantly (beside the initial spin due to the format change) despite the fact that I have both discs installed. One of many issues with the 360 version of the game.

@Sooty: Seems like Bethesda has some hella awesome compression tech.

The fact this is even a thing is ridiculous to me.

I'm so curious to see if Microsoft goes blu-ray next generation. It's far from the end of the world but in 2012 I though we would be behind disc swapping, especially on a console that lets you install the game.

The guy said 'install both discs'

Why are people calling him an asshole? Installing them does make it easier as the discs will load up quicker.

Really Giantbomb is full of overly aggresive cunts these days.