I am not dismissing their thoughts. I am just not getting why it is so hard to adjust to the rules of the game. Also, among all those posts against the current solution I have read a lot of yelling and whining. That does not help at all. I am going to comment on two of the arguments against the current system.
When henchmen used to level up to fit your team, it was allowing players to play as they see fit - try different character or classes, experiment with different builds or just to make separate characters for trading, lockpicking or crafting. Or just to get rid of companions for a moment and try something different. Not to mention that those pre-made henchmen usually have terribly distributed statistics and abilities (mage with str bonuses and 3 con?) and that it kills the freedom of designing your own team - one of most important aspects of team-based RPGs.
Valid argument. However, why do you assume that you can design you companions exactly like you want too? You hire your companions after all. You have to select from what is available and do the best out of it. The game allows you to design your two heroes from ground up. It also allows you to select up to two companions to follow you. Why must the game use the same rules for both of these situations? Why is it so hard to accept that your followers cannot be designed exactly to your liking?
Also the 4 player aspect. People drop in to my games all the time to play for a bit. It used to be they could pick a level 1 and level it they way they want, we could go buy some skills and gear and play. Someone might play with me Monday and Wed while someone else on Tues and Thurs. All we had to do was leave them in the hall until next time and they wouldn't fall behind. Now we can't. It was perfect for social casual gamers.
Valid point. That option is not available in the current version.
As I see it there are pros and cons for both companion systems. Two of the pros of the old systems are quoted above. The problem with that old system is that it invalidates all the level 2-20 companions. Why buy an expensive one, when you can buy a level 1 and get it auto-level to your level. With the old system, the aspect of doing the best of what you are offered is totally removed.
I guess what surprises me is all those strong feeling of how it should be, without being able to see that there are pros and cons for each solution. Remember that if you get it the way you like it to be, somebody else will be disappointed. There is almost never a right answer that makes everybody happy.
