You can still be the leader...all it takes is a "Lenny, you're fired!"......

Minor thing...he ends up in an Inn room...but who cares about the minor things at this point???

The playing out as different characters idea will need some working. Unless...he he he...you can play as each party member for a bit before they join the group...for example...Cecily could...fetch the groceries??? (Yawn!), Azrael fights Raph. (Should be fun), the thief has to do a skilly bit and try to steal from the characters (idea for this...the better you do it, the better the thief is when they join the party??), the Red Mage has to...do something or other...and so does the animal tamer...