Mass-effect – use Mass Effect 3 DLC while offline

If you're an Infiltrator or Soldier you get a "time dilation" effect with the sniper rifle which slows down time. Soldiers have to use the Adrenaline Rush ability to slow down time which can allow you to take a careful headshot or two, Infiltrators actually get a passive slowdown every time when you're scoping with a Sniper Rifle.

The slowed time allows you to take headshots easier, in addition these classes have a high weight allowance, so carrying around Sniper Rifles isn't as detremental to your cooldown.

Infiltrators get additional benefits for Sniper Rifles, as their Operational Mastery skill increases the sniper damage and time dilation effects at certain levels. Tactical Cloak also allows you to take your time to get a good headshot while dealing extra damage to boot.

You'll never really be at extreme range, but the extra damage a sniper does comes in handy if you can headshot a humanoid foe. If you're not a good shot or you're not playing soldier or infiltrator you probably shouldn't bother with Sniper Rifles because of the weight issue you note.

There's a bunch of stuff that is pre-order or only came with the Collector's Edition:

• AT-12 Raider - Origin pre-order bonus
• M-55 Argus - Pre-order bonus for select retailers
• N7 Warfare Gear - Pre-order bonus for select retailers
• Robotic Dog - Collector's edition
• Squad Outfit pack - Collector's edition
• N7 Weapons pack - Collector's edition
• N7 Hoodie - Collector's edition

These are all single player items. The Collector's edition and pre-order bonuses are currently unavailable outside of pre-ordering the game or buying the collector's edition.  No news on whether or not those of us with the "regular edition" will be able to buy them at a later date.

There's a couple of single player items that you can get for free by playing the Kingdoms of Amalur demo:

• Chakram Launcher
• Reckoner Knight Armor

There's a Battlefield 3 Pack (a set of multiplayer items) that you can only get by having Battlefield 3 activated to the same account as Mass Effect 3.

There's also the "From Dust" DLC (a single player mission + a new squadmate) which came with the deluxe/collectors editions but is available to anyone (from day 1) for around $10.

In addition to these items, there's a number of Razer ME3-branded items that come with special codes/unlocks for multiplayer.

On top of these, there's a whole set of Mass Effect 3 toys that you can buy, and each one comes with a similar code for multiplayer to the Razer items.

One tally of all the DLC for Mass Effect 3 listed the grand total at $870! However, the codes that come with the Razer gear and the toys are more along the lines of the "booster packs" you can buy in the multiplayer in-game shop, so I wouldn't consider them anywhere approaching essential.