Nah, keep the retainers how they've always been, chained to the Market Board, as we're talking about people who tend to steal parts of houses, and I definitely don't trust mine helping me in battle - they're liable to betray me at the first chance they get.

Instead, bring back version 1.0's Path Companions! I miss my acid-tongued miqo'te GLA Path Companion Imarah and her constant flirting.