There is something weird about a character who hangs around at your camp but never joins in the adventure with you. Imagine if Gimli had decided to jin the fellowship of the ring, but just to never do anything but hang around at the camp. LOTR would have been much stranger
Nothing weird at all, if you have even the slightest bit of imagination (which is what an RPG is all about, right?). When I have companions hanging out at camp I don't see them just hanging out doing nothing. I see them as (a) providing security for the camp, (b) going out on patrol in the surrounding areas, (c) helping with camp chores, maintenance, and improvements, and (d) joining in the party for activities that are not explicitly being played out in the game by me the player.
