Given the gathering your party tag line, I expect a blending of the two.
I like the choose location on map style and being able to return to previous locations, after all, side quests might open up new possibilities, or only now do you have money for that item you wanted back in town x.
Open world doesn’t make sense due to long travel times and the world would have to be filled with constant dangers and points of interest. Ok for single player games with horses etc... but for a MP experience here you need fast travel and I expect the original BG concept to make a return here, just perhaps with larger areas.
