No discrete "Combat Mode" that locks up the game's functionality until combat is over

[Infinitron]

Recent Bioware games have featured an ever-more rigid division of mechanics, where once you enter combat, the game is pretty much "locked" until all enemies are defeated.

 

I'd like the game's systems to be as holistic as possible. Being in combat should not prevent me from doing things (such as picking up items, looting chests, opening a door to escape through, etc) that I can do outside of combat.

[Lysen]

Don't forget the annoying combat music that just doesn't stop playing for whatever reason.

[agewisdom]

Fully support this... An important consequence of this would be you could send a thief to scout ahead:

 

1. To avoid any ambush

2. To lay traps in advance and goad the enemy into your only carefully prepared ambush...

[Gene3]

Sounds good to me.

[a bear named spigot]

Yes please.

[metiman]

How about saving the game during combat?

[Gene3]

Not sure about that metiman, maybe in 'easy mode' if there is one.