They are alternate companions; the maximum party size is still 4 (excluding temporary NPCs, summons and restrictions from Lone Wolf).
Thanks much for the answer, Raze...it's what I thought was likely but just wanted to make sure.
BTW, I just watched Swen & the gang in the #64 video update spiel--man, the more I see into this company the more it impresses me! Swen seems like a dynamo (checked him for radiation, lately?--he has to be nuclear-powered...;))--it's easy to see the driving force behind the company (those pictures of him sleeping face down on the carpet in the early days to get out the bug fixes fit his projected personality to a T...!)
Talent is deep inside Larian and looks to be running deeper every time I get a glimpse of it--liked the girl (I'm too old for a crush on her--besides the wife would clobber me!) who is responsible for the new female companion and her back story, character seems very interesting--and very much impressed with the guy doing the new frustrated Rogue character, too! Can't also say enough about the sound & music work in the game--I've always liked Larian's taste in music--but these sound effects are super and the tracks are terrific and their integration is about perfect, I'd say. I also like the use of tunes from earlier Larian games as most of them are excellent--find myself humming them occasionally in broad daylight quite without realizing it!
While I'm at it...I want to also compliment the voice-overs in the game as I understand these were very nearly an afterthought and not originally slated for the game--I find them terrific and very professional in every respect and simply cannot imagine the game without them. Good job! No "beyond Divinity" voice tracks in D:OS, eh?...:D (BD had a certain mystical charm, but the voices were, well...)
I cannot conclude here without making one very small constructive comment as to what I would like to see added to this ever-emerging masterpiece. If it is possible I'd really like to see *footprints*...especially in the sand! They are perfect through the water & the puddles...but feet aren't touching the ground otherwise. Just that small addition would add a great deal to the enjoyment of the game, at least for me. It's noticeable and almost distracting, actually.
Anyway...I appreciate Swen's dedication to the craft as I know this business can be a real "family jewels-buster" at times, if you catch my drift...;) One guy running things at the top who basically has the right ideas can make life so much better for the whole crew and the game so much more successful. Glad to see he plans to stick with it until he's happy with it before announcing it complete and moving on to the next project. That's the only way to roll, imo.
Good job, Larian! (OK, enough well-deserved but over-the-top praise for one day, eh?)
