That is a very good concept, for one it would help to reduce the user-interface and decision making overload that many party RPGs have. Ie. You have to control these supposedly capable people in battles, and equip them!
In the Fallout series, any NPC party members act on their own volition (you can''t point and click them). They just have a range of suggestions you can give them Ie. Coward > Berzerker, but depending on the character some of these options are not selectable.
With an advanced enough AI system, they would be able to be independent in their choices, and help demonstrate their character, motivation, and beliefs via the gameplay. This would add to the "realism" of the characters that you were playing with
Maybe you could get their combat and work experience CVs
![](wink.gif)
, to get an idea of what they are going to train in.
Here is the thread link to my thread Character by Gameplay, this concept is a nice extension of the ideas raised there.
http://www.gamedev.net/community/forums/topic.asp?topic_id=25358&forum_id=17&Topic_Title=Character+by+gameplay&forum_title=Game+Design&M=False&S=True