Yesterday i played in Rus 13 AD mod. There is a multiplayer mode named like "Bot general". There were only 2 players I am and one other guy. We had 20 bots in each team. We could manage them like in single player (1-inf, 2-archers, 3-cav, 0 -all; F1 -hold, F2-follow me, F3-charge). It was awesome! It's like Medieval Total War.
So, i have some suggestions for crpg with bots:
1) Add them to strategus battle. Many clans has problems with full rosters. And we will fight in any time of day, cause only one player needs to manage bots.
2) Add bots to crpg battle, make one player in each team commander. After commanders death bots will not listen to orders. They will automatically switch in charge mode. So other players will defend commander if they want to use bots efficiently.
3) Each player can "buy" squire in the shop and use him in battles. He automatically switch in F2-follow me mode, and in F3-charge mode after players death. Player pay upkeep for squire.
P.S. Sorry for my english )