I've been thinking about a larger party recently but only for their stories. I'm not sure I would want to shrug off every fight with a small army or have all the battles to be as long as they would with that many people if enemies adjusted to the size of the party.
I feel like an interesting way to do it would be two groups with a maximum size of three or four.
The other thing is I wouldn't mind the option of a large party, I think it could offer an epic playthrough, but only one, without much appetitie to play again soon because you've expereined the story with everyone you were even slightly interested in having with you.
If everyone was treated the way they treated the person least able to resist there would be universal prosperity and complete peace
