Here is part of the problem with this design: The limited party size with the combinations and permutations possible between races, classes and subclasses, and NPC's with character quests is a big tension.
Being able to get all of the story of an epic RPG in one or at most 2 playthroughs should be the goal. Forcing us to play 3-4 times to experience all of the companion stories is not good.
Let me compare and contrast DOS 2 with PF:K.
Chris Avellone wrote Fane and Nok Nok/Nockers. I wanted to experience both. In PF:K i made a custom all elven party for RP purposes, however i was able to swap out my customs for all of the pregen NPC companions with story to actually move through their entire story in my one playthrough so i got to experience all of their stories. In my DOS 2 playthrough i got rid of Fane and Beast so i never got to actually experience the writing and their stories.
Now remember in BG3 they are talking about an additional 2-7 pregen NPC's with story. That will be alot of unused story with this mechanism in place.
