If the game went the comic/TV show route regarding groups *SPOILERS*
I've been seeing this a lot and I thought it would make an interesting discussion.
If the game took cues from the comic and TV show and kept people alive throughout the series, besides Clementine, rather than killing everybody off, who do you think would still be alive in season 3?
I think season 1 had the right idea. Even though a majority of the group died, there were still a few people left. There was Clementine, Christa, Omid and Kenny, although Kenny was presumed dead at the end of season 1.
From season 2, I say we'd still have AJ, and I think Luke could have survived. I also think they could have kept Nick alive, too. That way he could've had a bit of a story arc where he became more than just Ben 2.0. Maybe Jane as well, though I'm not too sure. She didn't like traveling in big groups, so with an even bigger group, I think she just wouldn't have came back after leaving in episode 4.
Then there's the season 3 cast, but I don't want to get into that, because then that's just "season 3 survivors predictions."
Comments
I think everyone who died in S1 should have died. However a few off the Cabin group should've survived. Mainly Luke, Sarah and Nick.
Luke and Sarah are the main two for obvious reasons, though Nick is another one that people tend to name.
I would've had Jane leave but with the stronger possibility of returning than, say, Lilly and Molly.
Arvo is another one that would've(and did) followed suit with Jane's example since I thought there was a decent amount of possibility with him as an antagonist.
Other than that, I think most of the other characters served their purpose and died in a fitting enough manner that I'd let them stay dead/gone.
EDIT: Oh-oh-OH, and Michelle! Though she, like Sarah, was introduced at just the right time in Clementine's life with the right shtick for interacting with her, I would've left the door open on her as well, if only to help buildup a rogues gallery that she added quite a bit of needed color and diversity to.
The door is somewhat cracked for Becca and hopefully Shel to return and the other 400 Days characters might be able to slip in as well--though Eddie and especially Wyatt can just stay gone..
No love for Eddie and Wyatt?
Yeah, not very fond of those two. They just feel like they drove in from another movie and have nothing to do with anything the game series is about, which makes them feel very out of place. Eddie is kinda obnoxious for both getting them into that mess over a unambiguously dumb move and for his brand of humor, but at least he shows hints of remorse for his actions and nobility in wanting to fix it that makes him feel a little more apt to be in this series. Wyatt, on the other hand, is easily the worst simply because he's a boring killjoy with little sympathy for anyone.