God, I love Shale. She's a fantastic inclusion to the DA: Origins cast and feels absolutely essential to some of the later levels with her insights and perspectives. Unfortunately, the content you have to play to get her is pretty pedestrian and shallow. It's tough - the game feels emptier without Shale in it, but I don't really like the quest you have to do to get her in your party. I guess it's a necessary evil to make sure the game feels as complete as possible.