User blog comment:ExSturminator01/Mass Effect 3 Predictions based on ME2 hints/@comment-128.227.134.2-20100210145929

@Xenopst: My guess about the 'consequences for cheating' (which Bioware has mentioned for ME3), is that you lose one of the factions that would fight with you in the final battle. Diss Ashley/Kaiden, and they'll try to talk the Alliance out of helping you, or diss Liara, and she won't hand over valuable informetion. I never played DA:O (want to SO badly), but the fact that it had a similar theme makes me think it even more likely for ME3.

@TheCzechDuck: Maybe they'll be back, maybe not. Bioware mentioned there were consequences for cheating on them in ME2 if you had a romance in ME1, and they might've been kept out of ME2 specifically so that they'd survive to ME3 (at least that's one theory I've heard). Liara's definitely coming back, either in a DLC for ME2 or ME3, since she actually has an unresolved quest in ME2. She's taking down the Shadow Broker, and said she'd call you when she needed help. That's gonna come bak eventually for sure. Also of note, you get a reconciliation email from Ashley/Kaiden that's quite friendly and hints they still have feelings for you, and if you stay true to them (wanted to go with Tali so bad though, lol), the paramour climax scene near the end is replaced with Shepard sitting alone looking at the picture on his desk of the ME1 love interest and smiling. They're coming back, the question is just what their role is I think. It could just be another cameo (for which I'd never forgive Bioware!), but I think they planted enough seeds and kept the bridges with them just strong enough to warrant a return in ME3. Oh, and yeah, I hope the romance is 'retained' and 'improved' as well, for ME1 and ME2 love interests. That would be awesome, lol