Do we have to use horatio and pipsterella?

[Androzin]

I really don't like the characters as a whole and I would like to use my own that I have captured but I was wondering if they are mandatory.

[The_Technomancer]

For future story quests certain characters will be necessary but you can make teams without them for other things.

[hairy peak]

no

[danpaladin]

You can bring any team you want, aside from main story missions which sometimes demand 1 or 2 of the characters.

You can also make them look completely different, if that's the only thing wrecking the vibe.