To improve the feelings of both hope and despair there should be more NPCs in the city. There are several NPCs that can't be intereacted with, but the only NPCs you see doing anything defensive are at the defense POIs. One of side quest evacuation...
Fix the position of your recruited helper during specific interactions
Here's a list of suggestions: During interactions with NPCs, assign a standing position for your helper so that they don't stand in your line of sight while talking to them, thus blocking the entire screen. Don't allow the helper to stand in front...
Remove Camera Movement when using the selection wheel
This didn't use to be a thing, but since the winter patch it has been, and on PTR, it's still happening. It's really hard to select potions/food, spell items when my screen is moving with my cursor for the first second.