[...] Send Zaeed or Grunt back with Chakwas, they'll die, and keep Mordin at the line to lower the strength of that group.
Excellent point, thank you.
2) Samara will survive the biotic section and hold the line with the rest of them.
Well, whoever I use as the biotic specialist will survive, but I didn't think she'd be a likely candidate to survive the line. Of course, reading
Reverend's situation does put that in a new light, as does looking at the flowchart and reviewing ME Wiki again.
Hmm... Since I'll send Zaeed or Grunt back with Chakwas, I could slot Samara into my team for the biotic section in place of the one who dies during the escort and instead use non-loyal Miranda as the specialist.
With your improvements, I think I'm much closer on my goal of killing at least most of my team. Thanks!
What was the formula again for the last group on the line?
If Zaeed and/or Grunt are still alive, they could potentially save the lives of others on the line (less likely in Grunt's case if he's disloyal, because he'll be too bloodthirsty to be much of a team player).
Non-loyal squad members will die first, then loyal ones in this order: Mordin, Tali, Kasumi, Jack, Miranda, Jacob, Garrus, Samara, Legion, Thane, Zaeed, Grunt.
Mass Effect Wiki said:
A 'defensive skill' value is calculated for the 'hold the line' group as a whole, based on a defensive value inherent to each character. Loyal characters gain a bonus to this value. If the 'defensive skill' check is not high enough to ensure all characters' survival, squad members will be designated to die based on their vulnerability, with Mordin taking priority if he is present. Leaving behind strong defenders, such as Grunt, Legion, and Zaeed will increase the group's odds of survival. In contrast, certain characters such as Jack, Tali and especially Mordin have less skill in holding their position and should be removed through escort duty or taken along. The entire group will survive as long as the combined defensive skill is high enough, otherwise the game picks a squad member to die based on the scenario of who was left behind and how loyal the group members are. (Squad members who are not loyal are most likely to survive here than anywhere else, provided the group's collective defense skill is high enough, although they will be the first to die if the skill is not.) Leaving behind two strong defenders like Legion, Grunt, or Zaeed should suffice, provided you haven't lost too many people.
The people I would want to survive could really cause problems through. Garrus, Tali and Mordin.
I don't think it would be too difficult.
First, make sure Garrus, Tali, and Mordin are all loyal, of course. Don't upgrade your armor: Jack dies. Don't upgrade your shields: Kasumi dies. Don't upgrade your cannon: Thane dies.
For the vents, send in Legion with any non-loyal squad member leading the second fireteam, resulting in Legion's death regardless of his loyalty. Don't send Tali unless the second team is led by another loyalist. For the crew escort, I'd send either Tali or Mordin back (Mordin does have the Incinerate ability, which would be useful fighting the Human-Reaper). For the long walk, do not bring Tali/Mordin or Garrus with you - put them on the second fireteam, with a non-loyal leader who will die. For your team, take two others you don't care about with a non-loyal biotic specialist so that the field fails and one of the two is taken by the swarm. For the final fight, make sure you take Garrus and Tali/Mordin with you, and leave the other survivors to hold the line. Depending on who is left, most if not all of that team should perish.
Have yet to decide on which of the two survivors will be my love interest, though I'm leaning towards Tali. Or maybe neither, since I think I may have established Ashley as a possibility for ME3 with this save by confiding to Kelly that I still have strong feelings for her.
I have to admit, it would have been nice to so have seen her in that montage of SB agents when Liara takes over rather than just some random mercs.
