I've noticed some people are speculating that having multiclass in the game will help offset a 5 person party... Maybe, but I've always prefered single class characters. That is my style, and I found myself playing BG2 with a completely home-made party (after playing a few times through to experience the diferent stories), because BG2 tried to force dual/multi class on you. Icewind Dale lost the companion back story/quests aspect, but at least I made a party that I wanted. I enjoyed PE1 most when I made a party of 6 with my 5 main companions coming from the mercenaries. I still recruited all the story companions and pulled them out of the stable to do their respected quests, but my "home made" party was alway the strongest and most fun to play. IMO
I've noticed some people are speculating that having multiclass in the game will help offset a 5 person party... Maybe, but I've always prefered single class characters. That is my style, and I found myself playing BG2 with a completely home-made party (after playing a few times through to experience the diferent stories), because BG2 tried to force dual/multi class on you. Icewind Dale lost the companion back story/quests aspect, but at least I made a party that I wanted. I enjoyed PE1 most when I made a party of 6 with my 5 main companions coming from the mercenaries. I still recruited all the story companions and pulled them out of the stable to do their respected quests, but my "home made" party was alway the strongest and most fun to play. IMO