My beef with BG1/2 characters is that those still alive should be Epic level. This seems to be reflected in the quoted Larian Studio statement that Jaheira will not be available as ordinary party member.
I fully agree with sentiments that there should be Good Companions - 2 or three, and maybe another Neutral person. As amusing as ATM I find playing Team Evil (I'm in the camp perceiving the current crop of Companions as 3xEvil and 2xNeutral), I understand that this may get old fast and may be offputting to some players.
As to Classes or better - class types? in EA we have one each of: - bruiser - thief - divine caster - and two arcane casters - as IMO Warlock belongs here
So: - another melee char - a classic LG Paladin? Barbarian? Ranger? IMO all valid and all can be Good or Neutral. - another divine caster - so a Druid? These HAVE to be Neutral, right? - a Bard for borderline Rogue? A CN or CG.
As to races - personally I never play the shorties. But to offset Layzael and the two and a half humans and one and a half elf, I'd expect at least one - if not two - "stunties" thrown in for "diversity". Dwarf is a classic (Gimli!) - plus some other? Then, for a not "vertically challenged" Companion - I'd like something not human nor elvish - as horcs and tieflings (not too small?) tend towards evul!, that leaves us with ... dragonborn?
