User blog comment:FridgeRaider88/Mass Effect 3 Squad Speculation (spoilers)/@comment-1691295-20110227105053

I just want to point out that that being a squad member isn't the only way for the character the play an important role in the story. Being alive and important are not sufficient justification for a character to follow Shepard 24/7 and be in combat with him/her. This is classic 'fan' thinking, and should be avoided.

Liara and Wrex are perfect examples of this. They are clearly being set up as important characters for ME3, but that doesn't mean they need to constantly follow Shepard around shooting bad guys. In fact, I've always though that Liara and Tali doing so with Shepard in Mass Effect 1, and Tali in 2, was very poorly justified.

I also think that squadmembers will be somewhat de-emphasised in Mass 3. They may have a unique mission or two, but the game won't be about them, in the way Mass Effect 2 was.

Therefore I reckon that any surviving squadmates from Mass Effect 2 will return as squadmates in Mass Effect 3 (a tweet by Christina Norman very vaguely hinted at this IMO*). It would really strain credibility if, following Mass Effect 2's final cutscene, that a couple decided to leave between games. This might be limited to loyal squadmates though.

Given that the minimum number of squadmates that can survive is two (I think, I haven't done it myself). I would expect that a very small number, perhaps only one or two, squadmates will be added in 3. One of these is bound to be whoever survived Virmire. I'd argue the whole reason they weren't Squadmates in ME2, and had such small roles, was the ensure that they'd return for 3.

Liara and Wrex will obviously appear, but I think they will be limited to being major supporting characters who assist Shepard, but not by his side all the time. Wrex I think will play a major role in getting the Krogan on your side, and perhaps leading them against the Reapers on Earth, if the plot is what I think it is.


 * I can barely remember the specifics of it, but it was acknowledging a user asking about the size of their squad after having only two survive Mass 2.