For Origins, I restarted the game to run each of the origins, and my party varied a bit because of that. Playing as a mage, I tended to run Dog, Leliana and Alistair to give myself a picklock and two tanks, but as a rogue, I'd play with Wynn and Zevran for the banter. I don't find Oghren funny, so I'd use him when I needed (Braka's quest) and leave him behind when possible.
Awakening, I'd run Nathaniel until I got Sigrun, because Sigrun. I loved Anders, which is why my first run in Kirkwall, I was Anders all the way, romanced him even, and man, I'm still pissed off about that.
Subsequent Kirkwall runs I'd take Merill, because my spouse loves her voice actress, and he'd pout if I didn't, Varric because I love him kind of an embarrassing lot and Aveline as my front line fighter because ♥ . I like Isabela but not as much as Varric, so she'd get pulled in on specific stuff, but he was my go-to.
Inquisition: I tend to run around doing minor stuff (bandits, rift-closing) with Dorian and Bull because I'm still trying to boost them into their romance, so those two, plus either Varric or Cole because Sera's speech gets on my nerves and I need a lockpick. Unless I'm dragon hunting, when I take Varric for range, Bull for damage, and either Cassandra or Blackwall for tank / in close fighting.
I re-run games - play them through more than once, and second run and after, I've noticed a pattern: I minimize interaction through the whole game with Anders in Kirkwall and with Blackwall in Inquisition. Their personal quests get under my skin. I'm just glad I didn't romance Blackwall on my first playthrough.
Except I'll carefully upgrade everybody evenly, making armor for and carefully leveling up the folks I don't run with. Velenna and Solas duplicated my abilites, so I don't use them, but when I'm at base, they get leveled and armored up along with everyone else.
party groups
Awakening, I'd run Nathaniel until I got Sigrun, because Sigrun. I loved Anders, which is why my first run in Kirkwall, I was Anders all the way, romanced him even, and man, I'm still pissed off about that.
Subsequent Kirkwall runs I'd take Merill, because my spouse loves her voice actress, and he'd pout if I didn't, Varric because I love him kind of an embarrassing lot and Aveline as my front line fighter because ♥ . I like Isabela but not as much as Varric, so she'd get pulled in on specific stuff, but he was my go-to.
Inquisition: I tend to run around doing minor stuff (bandits, rift-closing) with Dorian and Bull because I'm still trying to boost them into their romance, so those two, plus either Varric or Cole because Sera's speech gets on my nerves and I need a lockpick. Unless I'm dragon hunting, when I take Varric for range, Bull for damage, and either Cassandra or Blackwall for tank / in close fighting.
I re-run games - play them through more than once, and second run and after, I've noticed a pattern: I minimize interaction through the whole game with Anders in Kirkwall and with Blackwall in Inquisition. Their personal quests get under my skin. I'm just glad I didn't romance Blackwall on my first playthrough.
Except I'll carefully upgrade everybody evenly, making armor for and carefully leveling up the folks I don't run with. Velenna and Solas duplicated my abilites, so I don't use them, but when I'm at base, they get leveled and armored up along with everyone else.