I'd like to see mounted combat and even companion pets in TES:V, but I would especially like to see different mount and companion pet types, without restrictions.
Some of the basic companion pets / familiars could be:
- Hunting Dogs
- Wolves
- Big Cats (like the Senche maybe)
- Raptors (Argonian based lizards)
- Bears
- Nix-based creatures like nix hounds
Perhaps for heavy mage players we could have Will o the Wisp swarms or other magical type companions.
Then for mounts:
- Horses
- Big Wolves
- Big Cats (larger than the companions)
- Raptors (larger than the companions)
- Bears
- Kwamma-based creatures
- Mini-stilt rider type creatures
Mounts should have armor and saddle slots and be able to take saddle bags etc.
Different mounts/companions should have different speeds, attack styles and abilities. Some might give way to fear, others might become uncontrollable and end up getting themselves killed etc.
Regarding more sentient companions - I'm not a huge fan of in-game romance, really if you're looking for that you need to get out more and date or get married or something, having said that I'm not opposed to it either. It makes little difference to me either way as I would probably only follow that if it was quest based - I'm one of those "leave no quest undone" kinda players.