If you played Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (BioWare's last game), you'll surely remember some of the eclectic characters that joined your party, fighting by your side while you slowly explored their plotlines (if you chose to, that is). You were allowed to bring any two sidekicks along on your travels, and you could easily switch between them during combat, as well as change their characteristics and attributes. Jade Empire also has teammates (rumors say up to a dozen), but they're called "Followers" in this game, and they do just that, as well as just about anything else you need them to do.

In certain missions, you'll either be able to bring one of your flock along with you, or send them to handle things by themselves. Each follower has a different personality and skill set, so you've got to consider your choices carefully, lest you get stuck with a useless fool who just slows you down or dies quickly. While it's not known exactly what happens when you don't have the right character, we have to assume that there's a longer way around the problem, requiring more effort and time.