I would make a distinction between creating multiple custom characters at the start of the game (Tavs with tadpoles and main-plot relevance) with hireable mercenaries (who will presumably NOT have a tadpole, won't have any dialogue options other than "join/leave my party," and might not even be able to talk with other NPCs.) I'd only classify the latter as "mercenaries."
Hmmm, I never used mercenaries in D:OS2 - could anyone confirm how they function there?
I would think that being unable to use mercenaries in conversation would cut a decent amount of usefulness out of them - BG3 is designed around group play, afterall. Forbid them from entering conversations and you can’t use them to do anything other then fight, even if it’s stuff like breaking door’s to the Inn on fire.
