marthf1 said:
Do we get to avoid any of the plot-enforced stupidity & cutscene-only feats as well?
As for Virmire, I recall reading a pretty good post in the Mass Effect 3 thread here, I believe, that mentions why that death was stupid. Along with a few other things on Virmire & elsewhere.
Apparently, there was originally going to be an option that kept both Williams and Alenko alive - they even recorded the dialogue.
As for who lives/dies, what do you guys think about it being Williams?
I'm thinking that Shepard decided to play it cool with Ashley, they're ready to go beyond coffee in the mess together, but something came up before they could get physical.
Then Shepard gets blowed up.
After his antics through the Omega 4 relay, Shepard gains a cult following and Ashley feels more conflicted than ever - there was no contact from Shepard for two years and then he joins Cerberus but now he's an even bigger hero (and a damn sexy one, too).
She might be all "I nearly had that!", to which some of her female colleagues (or perhaps sisters) would be "And you let him go? What are you, crazy?"
"But he got spaced!"
Also, I think that it might be amusing if TIM keeps preventing any females from getting too close to Shepard.
And emergency here, an important message there.
But it backfires, making all the women chase after him.
And that's why it's called The Elusive Man - it's referring to Shepard getting away.
Or something.
I may have spoiled this story for everyone.