Limiting party member 'slots' by level or whatever feels very artificial and I'm not crazy about it. However, I do think that party members should be spaced out more than they are. Right now it's looking like all eight companions are going to be available pretty much right at the beginning of the game, before we are even halfway through act I. And if Larian follow through on their 'party member cull' at the end of act I that they had planned, we'd might be looking at fixed party composition post act I. I'm not a fan of either of these. Compare to BG I or II (or indeed, most rpgs). You pick up companions as you journey along, either in sidequests or as part of the main quest. Everyone remember how you had to rescue Dynaheir before she was available as a party member, or you had to help Nalia was a questgiver who asked for help with the family keep? It was much more organic, IMO. And it was helpful since it was very possible that party conflicts and/or character death could leave you a member short of a party, which meant that 'spares' were great to have around. What happens if in BG III if Lae'zel and Shadowheart come to blows in act II and one of them dies? or Gale's hunger for magical items pushes him into deeds that make you kick him from the party? Are we just going to be one person short a party? Are we going to have to make do with personality-less 'mercenaries' like DOS2 had? Neither of those possibilities feels great to me.
