I don't think special plot hooks and a masculine characteristic are mutually exclusive. Just as an example, a "Han Solo" character can still be masculine and have an equally intriguing plot hook (i.e. owe the Zhents a bunch of dough, on the run).
I'm not sure if we need more masculine characters vs. just older, more mature and chill companions. I've noticed that the current companions all exhibits emotional struggles we commonly associate with younger adults (not to say older people don't do this). They just remind me of characters from Young Adult fantasy books:
- Gale - handles rejection like an unhinged teenager
- Wyll - trying way too hard to prove himself, still cares way too much about what others think (hence the boosting and self-aggrandizing)
- Shadowheart - has no idea who she is
- Lae'zel - covers up crippling insecurity by acting domineering
- Astarion - supposedly 200+? But highly impulsive and self-absorbed like the stereotypical teenage rebel. Trying too hard to hide from his trauma with the snobbish persona
They're fine on their own, but as a whole, we can use a more mature companion to balance them out. Like a Keldorn in BG2.
