My idea to start with the Divine One who after the "prolog" (or whatever "intro" is possible)has the possibility to choose between a few NPC characters ! After the Divine makes a chooice the specific NPC character becomes a "playable character" and a new male or female hero see the light and start his/her new journey !
Each NPC has his/her own abilities and his/her own backgroundstory and that influences the outcome (maybe even the finale outcome!) of many main story related events and/or quests, dialogs, relationships, ... etc !
But still, just a few ideas that ... blub blub blub ... in my mind
