I mean, you're stating the obvious here; of course you are free to play them how you see fit; that wasn't my point...my point was that their personalities are very much defined, so it seems out-of-character or even unimmersive to suddenly play Lae'zel as some caring goody two-shoes. Granted some evil characters in films and fiction have a moment of redemption (or the opposite) but there is usually plenty of storyline leading up to that momentous change ie. not being able to play as Darth Vader and RPing from the outset him as a kind superhero. Each to their own though.
I agree with you. I can see the appeal in playing a pre-made character (there are, in fact, some tabletop d&d games where the character is assigned to you by the DM, and the fun is the challenge of playing it to the best of your ability) but I think the OCs should have been just regular companions. As a MC we can experience their stories way better IMHO, having an active part in solving them and, as a consequence, creating a bond between us and them.
If we play as an OC on, the other hand, we risk misplaying them, acting contrary to their nature.
Companions as Garrus of Mass Effect are so deeply rooted in our hearts because we had the chance to befriend him as Shepard. Playing directly as Garrus would have been a fun adventure game but nothing like having him as a companion.
I have nothing against people who love to play as an OC, my only concern is that, in developing them, Larian is going to forget MC behind, leaving it too passive of a presence to be believable.
