This is such an incisive comment. "Subverting expectations" is so boring and lazy. Gifted writers can make a take a vanilla character and give it subtlety and nuance. CRPGs currently make you travel with a freak show that confuses wackiness with interesting. Just give me one normal person like Alistair from DAO or Ashley from Mass Effect. If anything, companions should be archetypal to allow the PC to explore all the various character possibilities.
