One thing that would be nice in this game that we don't get a lot of in other games is the ability to hire creatures as companions, upsides and down sides all considered, you loose access to cities and towns with them in your party, but so long as you're careful and resourceful you can evolve your creature companions into capable allies for combat throughout the game, what do you think yoraphim.
Hey! Already on it haha! I think I've decided that you'll never really have a party that fights with with. but they'll come along help you carry things, give boosts to any survival aspects etc. And be there while setting up camp.
But more on the up and down sides of things, I'm planning to have essentially a faction system. Everyone belongs to a faction and they all have relations with each other. Join up with the bandits and suddenly everyone in town likes you a lot less. But you do get a new outpost on layer 1 and they wont attack you any more.
I do also plan for taming, but don't think it would be as influential. I guess people should react if you walk through town with a 2m tall dire wold though....