My companions show different sides of themselves in my playthrough thanks to combat! take Kyrrah's one for instance, with BOOM! Squad!
Dorian will constantly throw a fire wall all the way over there miles away from any enemies. constantly, and I find it hilarious since he's the only one that does that yet boasts about being a super amazing mage. Varric likes to scatter elemental mines all around my Inquisitor's feet a lot. Special effects for her spells I guess ? 
Cassandra is the only sane one that does what she's meant to do.
I'm no commander in battle, rather Kyrrah isn't. She's a circle mage, raised to follow rules and def not to give orders. You can't trust her to give orders to go pick some flowers, or find a way around a mountain in JoH. She's always getting lost... That's how I play 
But when it comes to making decisions between option A and option B? no sweat! flip a coin.. Thedas is doomed one way or another 