companion skills in a sidebar?

[killer]

First off, I'm really enjoying this game. I love how I have to optimize my equipment in different ways to take on the different bosses/dungeons and its always fun to find secret doors. Most of the quests are "find x and bring it back," but that's a concern I have with most rpgs.
It would be nice to be able to select when my companions use their skills. Its frustrating when Grissenda does a whirlwind to let a baddie out of a flank attack, and it would be nice if I could choose when Hirge heals or if she could use her detect spell when I want her to. I would appreciate being able to toggle my skill sidebar to show my companion's skills.
However, I would much prefer new areas to explore, the option of running as a mage, and crafting added. Sorry if this is a repeat, I looked back a few months and didn't see anything like this posted, so I figured I'd bring it up.

 

[Azog]

I dont think it would be a good idea, since it would mean more buttons on screen and that you play 2 characters at once. But i know your problem and therefor i dont give any attack skills to Gris. Its not such a big miss when she doesnt have them. We just have to stick with this randomness, as well as we shouldnt take it too serious.

 

[killer]

Yeah, I guess it could be even more frustrating to try and play 2 chars at once, unless you could pause combat, too, and that could really slow down the pace and make the game way less fun. There are always trade-offs.

 

[ArrowsFTW]

What about a battle command that says "use your skills as often as possible"