I'm hoping we get a very diverse cast of companions.
If we do get to recruit more companions than are able to fit in our party, I hope they are handled better. Not just killing them off instantly like in DOS2 or having them sit in camp forever like in BG3. I'd want to see them have some autonomy, meaning that if they're not in the active party, they'll actually be out in the world trying to further their own goals, meaning you can stumble across them and help them out with their personal quests without having to bring them in your party (With also the potential for consequences for ignoring them, such as them making poor decisions, being injured or even killed because they went alone and you didn't aid them).
I like the idea of giving them roles or jobs at your camp (or home base if you get one). For example they can be used to send off on side missions with different outcomes based on their capabilities. Creating/Crafting items, seeking merchants to join your camp, investigating POI that lead to future game play (or simply return with information/loot etc.) Lots of ideas around this where they add to the camp and party without joining you on missions and perhaps even discovering hidden missions otherwise not available.
