Would "elite characters" work?

[IanB]

DMG2 also introduces the concept of companion creatures.

Basically, a character that you can play in addition to your regular PC. But they they use stat blocks similar to monsters, so they're not as complicated.

I prefer this solution, partly because it hearkens back to AD&D so well, where you might have 2-3 real characters running around with a whole menagerie of war dogs, henchmen, and hirelings.