I usually settle on a regular party, anyway, so in itself having the game force a fixed party by the end of the first act doesn't trouble me. Like others I hope that the mechanism for this is interesting and not too reminiscent of DOS2. Especially if who is left behind doesn't depend on who is in the active party at a particular time, I also hope that there is some mechanism for filling in lacking roles--preferably with non-origin companions. Or it may be that at release there will be enough less edgy companions that it will be less challenging to build parties that will find a variety of Tavs congenial.
