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They're a sort of mashup of Jews, Gypsies, and Battlestar Galactica.

There definitely some BSG in there but Tali sounds kind of Arab I think. Their names and garb seem sort of pseudo-Arab too. I suppose they are inspired by many displaced peoples.

IMO, she sounds Philippian or Arabian and would look kind of like a Eldar with a little tint of light purple/red/or pale that is all most not noticeable.

Some has put the whole Gameinsider article on livejournal for those interested.

http://community.livejournal.com/masseffect/938886.html

Am I the only one who wants to un-nuke Ashley now that she's hot? I mean, I only saved Kaiden on Virmire because I was playing a soldier, but he's even more boring than Jacob.

Well my main femshep sadly nuked Ash, shame as she'd have liked the change, although she's with Liara anyways.

My second Shep, a male was with Ash all the way, left Kaiden with the bomb, then betrayed her for Tali in ME2, so looking forward to that fallout.

My third char, another femshep is trying to get it on with Kaiden so, no Sultry Ash for her either.

Morathi's Darkest Sin wrote:Well my main femshep sadly nuked Ash, shame as she'd have liked the change, although she's with Liara anyways.

My second Shep, a male was with Ash all the way, left Kaiden with the bomb, then betrayed her for Tali in ME2, so looking forward to that fallout.

My third char, another femshep is trying to get it on with Kaiden so, no Sultry Ash for her either.

In a choice between Ash and my blueberry love muffin, blueberry wins. I mean, I love Bruce Campbell, but not in THAT way.

As far as I see, Liara x Shepard is the only way to go.

I hope I'm not the only one who is annoyed by the needless sexing up of Ashley. I mean I hate her (may her pile of ash and bones RIP on Virmire) but I'd hate her less if she kept her no-nonsense hair-do and non-flatterring military attire. We don't need fashionable, long hair or more catsuits.

I didn't mind Ashley. I found her certainly more interesting to talk to than Kaidan, and she totally fits the reunion scene on Horizon better than Kaidan.

As for the ME3 her, who's to say she's going to look that way all game? As the article said, Ashley will be playable to some extent. Maybe someone just put the 'do on her to show off some sort of new squadmate customization feature.

Too early to be feeling anything other than excitement for the game.

I assume "playable to some extent" was just an awkward way of saying "potential squadmate", as opposed to a cameo role like Wrex or Ash/Kaidan in ME2. Sadly, I couldn't make out the writing, and the scans are so ridiculously huge I can't see more than the preview thumbnail on my terrible internet connection.


I always killed off Kaidan instead of Ashley, since Kaidan was the single most useless and uninteresting character in ME (a role that was sadly repeated in ME2 with Jakob), and Ashley could at least throw down a good bit of DPS while remaining largely invulnerable, even on Insanity.

Here's some pics for those have issues.

Ashley Williams




Kaiden Alenko




Female Batarian?

Frack sake Bioware, changing the normandy, SR2 is awesome. and How EDI let the alliance get onto the normandy, as she is a Cerberus AI, is puzzling...

I don't have a problem with Ashley's new look. More than likely she isn't part of the Human Systems Alliance. Hopefully it is a new feature that lets you customize different character's hair in the game.

after reading the whole thing, I bet the illusive man is just REALLY REALLY annoyed that shepard has gone back to the alliance after he almost bankrupt cerberus rebuilding her/ him and the Normandy

I would like to see some more customization for party characters too, like the alternate apperances, but better and you don't have to pay for them

Lord Scythican wrote:I don't have a problem with Ashley's new look. More than likely she isn't part of the Human Systems Alliance. Hopefully it is a new feature that lets you customize different character's hair in the game.

That would be an odd feature "As commanding officer of the Normandy I order you to go to the salon!" Then again Shepard isn't above acting weird *remembers accusing a lady of classism* ah good times.

asimo77 wrote:

Lord Scythican wrote:I don't have a problem with Ashley's new look. More than likely she isn't part of the Human Systems Alliance. Hopefully it is a new feature that lets you customize different character's hair in the game.

That would be an odd feature "As commanding officer of the Normandy I order you to go to the salon!" Then again Shepard isn't above acting weird *remembers accusing a lady of classism* ah good times.

It would be odd, but I would like it. Maybe more like it was in Fable. You stop by a space station and go in and get a haircut like how you would buy the models in the second game.

Lord Scythican wrote:

asimo77 wrote:

Lord Scythican wrote:I don't have a problem with Ashley's new look. More than likely she isn't part of the Human Systems Alliance. Hopefully it is a new feature that lets you customize different character's hair in the game.

That would be an odd feature "As commanding officer of the Normandy I order you to go to the salon!" Then again Shepard isn't above acting weird *remembers accusing a lady of classism* ah good times.

It would be odd, but I would like it. Maybe more like it was in Fable. You stop by a space station and go in and get a haircut like how you would buy the models in the second game.

I don't see why this would seem so odd - They already did it with Shepard's casual wear in ME2. Didn't do anything other than change his appearance, but it was bloody popular. Not far off to assume that they'll put something like that in for squadmates' hair, armour, and clothing. And they did say an inventory system would be returning, albeight in a different form from ME1. My money is on it being like Shepard's armour locker, only you can change hair, clothes, armour, and weapon mods (Which actually change the look of the guns this time! w00t!)

metallifan wrote:

Lord Scythican wrote:

asimo77 wrote:

Lord Scythican wrote:I don't have a problem with Ashley's new look. More than likely she isn't part of the Human Systems Alliance. Hopefully it is a new feature that lets you customize different character's hair in the game.

That would be an odd feature "As commanding officer of the Normandy I order you to go to the salon!" Then again Shepard isn't above acting weird *remembers accusing a lady of classism* ah good times.

It would be odd, but I would like it. Maybe more like it was in Fable. You stop by a space station and go in and get a haircut like how you would buy the models in the second game.

I don't see why this would seem so odd - They already did it with Shepard's casual wear in ME2. Didn't do anything other than change his appearance, but it was bloody popular. Not far off to assume that they'll put something like that in for squadmates' hair, armour, and clothing. And they did say an inventory system would be returning, albeight in a different form from ME1. My money is on it being like Shepard's armour locker, only you can change hair, clothes, armour, and weapon mods (Which actually change the look of the guns this time! w00t!)

Well odd as in the third game looks to be a massive battle. Doesn't really look like the kind of game where you would have time to stop, chat, and get a haircut. If they can make it work, I am all for it.

Well by that logic, it doesn't really make sense that Cerberus would be trying to kill Shepard when the galaxy's doom is imminent, but that's part of the game as well.

Just because the Reapers have arrived in 3 doesn't mean there won't be anything to do aside from fight. This is still an RPG, not a shooter.

metallifan wrote:Well by that logic, it doesn't really make sense that Cerberus would be trying to kill Shepard when the galaxy's doom is imminent, but that's part of the game as well.

Just because the Reapers have arrived in 3 doesn't mean there won't be anything to do aside from fight. This is still an RPG, not a shooter.

Cerberus trying to ice Shepard is a tad bit more dramatic than getting a haircut, and so fits the whole "universe is going to end guys" grimdark theme.

But it doesn't fit with their goal of putting humanity first, nor does it fit with their similar hope of stopping the Reapers, nor does it fit with the fact that the Illusive man realizes that Shepard is the galaxy's only chance -to- stop them.

Customization doesn't fit with the grimdark?

Well that side plot doesn't fit with the whole "sensible plot" thing they have going.

It seems more like a loophole you'd find in a steaming piece of Hollywood crap.

asimo77 wrote:

metallifan wrote:Well by that logic, it doesn't really make sense that Cerberus would be trying to kill Shepard when the galaxy's doom is imminent, but that's part of the game as well.

Just because the Reapers have arrived in 3 doesn't mean there won't be anything to do aside from fight. This is still an RPG, not a shooter.

Cerberus trying to ice Shepard is a tad bit more dramatic than getting a haircut, and so fits the whole "universe is going to end guys" grimdark theme.

Call it speculation, but I believe the Illusive Man is connected to the reapers. His eyes just don't seem right. Kind of shifty...

metallifan wrote:But it doesn't fit with their goal of putting humanity first, nor does it fit with their similar hope of stopping the Reapers, nor does it fit with the fact that the Illusive man realizes that Shepard is the galaxy's only chance -to- stop them.

Customization doesn't fit with the grimdark?

Well that side plot doesn't fit with the whole "sensible plot" thing they have going.

It seems more like a loophole you'd find in a steaming piece of Hollywood crap.

We don't know enough of the plot to make these kinds of assumptions. Also customization is fine and all, but you do have to acknowledge how silly it would be to worry about your hair when civilizations are crumbling. I mean if it was in the game I'd overlook it but realize it's kind of nonsensical.

I do too, but then it doesn't make sense that he got Shepard to destroy the Collectors. I'm thinking he either

a) Becomes indoctrinated somehow and orders Shepard killed. Though why Cerberus' top brass would pass along an order to kill Shepard, when they're just as aware of his importance as the Illusive Man is, also makes little sense.

b) Wants Shepard killed or else neutralized and brought back to Cerberus so that they can implant him with tech that will turn him utterly loyal without removing his leadership or combat abilities, so as to use him as a supersoldier for their cause.

However, I should note that it's not the actions Cerberus is taking that make no sense to me, it's their timing, and the fact that -at the moment- it just doesn't fit in with their actions in ME2. I mean, if they just wanted to capture Shepard and turn him into a living puppet, then ME2 would've beprobably had Shep still with the Alliance and duking it out with Cerberus rather than Shep vs The Collectors.

Quite frankly, were it not for the Illusive man giving Cerberus a proper face to hate in ME2, they would've felt totally out of place in ME3.

Well I just hope Bioware finds a satisfactory way of explaining all the plot details. But as long as I get to blast apart the Illusive Man I'll be happy no matter what. In fact I hope the entirety of Cerberus gets dead in ME3, been wanting to end them since the first game.

asimo77 wrote:
We don't know enough of the plot to make these kinds of assumptions. Also customization is fine and all, but you do have to acknowledge how silly it would be to worry about your hair when civilizations are crumbling. I mean if it was in the game I'd overlook it but realize it's kind of nonsensical.

The same could be said about what casual clothes Shep could wear in ME2. And let's not forget about Shep's giant fishtank. Really, who's going to spend time buying and feeding fish or collecting model ships when human colonies are being abducted?

Again, the concern about added squad customization is moot, considering.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

asimo77 wrote:Well I just hope Bioware finds a satisfactory way of explaining all the plot details. But as long as I get to blast apart the Illusive Man I'll be happy no matter what. In fact I hope the entirety of Cerberus gets dead in ME3, been wanting to end them since the first game.

This, however, I share a view on. My favorite part about ME2 was finally seeing the face of evil. The second Shep met the Illusive Man, I wanted to put a bullet between his glowing, arrogant, self-righeous eyes.

Well the casual clothes IIRC were part of being incognito for Kasumi's quest and so make sense in context. As for the pets and models I think it's just as silly as having a hair stylist. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy collecting ships, but I realized it was kinda dumb in the grand scheme of things.

But every game needs their collectibles, it's just most of them are ham-fisted and are hardly plot relevant...except for Alan Wake, that's collectibles done right.

asimo77 wrote:Well the casual clothes IIRC were part of being incognito for Kasumi's quest and so make sense in context.

That was -one- set of casuals, the suit. The others were just there for the sake of dress-up. And the ability to put the suit on again after Kasumi's mission makes little sense as well. Why not just have it for the mission and then it's gone?

It's all just a gimmick. Besides, it's not that far off that a Character could get a haircut, (Guys in Iraq and A-stan still need to keep their lovely locks at bay) and Ash's hair -was- in a bun before, implying it was longer than what would've otherwise been acceptable.

metallifan wrote:

asimo77 wrote:Well the casual clothes IIRC were part of being incognito for Kasumi's quest and so make sense in context.

That was -one- set of casuals, the suit. The others were just there for the sake of dress-up. And the ability to put the suit on again after Kasumi's mission makes little sense as well. Why not just have it for the mission and then it's gone?

It's all just a gimmick. Besides, it's not that far off that a Character could get a haircut, (Guys in Iraq and A-stan still need to keep their lovely locks at bay) and Ash's hair -was- in a bun before, implying it was longer than what would've otherwise been acceptable.

Being in the game doesn't make it not silly (you said it was a gimmick yourself), but like I said before silly or not I welcome any inclusion of customization, I just recognize its silliness. As for the hair, keeping things trim and in accordance with military standards is one thing, getting a stylin' hair-do is another. She's supposed to be fighting aliens not going to cocktail parties!

But I think this is all rather silly to debate about, afterall it's just hair on a video game character :p

silly silly silly I guess I subconsciously like this word

She could be getting dolled up for Shepard's trial actually, considering she'd be a witness as to Shep's Reaper claims and that's how the game starts.