Todd said they are adding companions, but that they won't be like the FO. How they will be implented is still unknown. I, for one, will probably not use them very much.

Honestly in every quest where I had a companion I foudn myself never using them as they were [censored] and would also steal my loot if they found something shiny -_- Also Large group of people + Melee in a small cave = fail

meh i never liked companions except in Fallout, were it belongs. i like going solo.

Companion? Drop in drop out co op please. I'd rather have resources devoted to bringing my buddies own customized character in my game and have some co op action, maybe duel rather then some tool ai running around playing with his pee pee and getting me soon. No thanks.

After knowing of their AI improvements (Yet to be shown) I can hopefully be able to accept a companion on my team. I usually hated it in oblivion for obvious reasons. Maybe they will actually be smart and kick ass alongside you

If no one is as cool as Rose of Sharon Cassidy, then definitely a case of I work alone.
Now a dog, that's a different thing altogether.

I rarely used companions as they always got in the way or dashed off in search of enemies when I specifically told them to stay with me.

So if companions will be available, I sure hope they won't blunder in front of me blocking my line of sight (especially annoying for an archer) or rush away at full speed just because there's an enemy somewhere while triggering every trap in the dungeon.

I really do hope they don't have any escort missions with Esbern. Just keep him in his secret base or something. I don't want to have to 'watch his back' as he goes charging after the nearest mammooth.

There are many fantastic companion mods out there for Oblivion, with well-scripted AI and customization to your fighting style (Obviously, Vilja is the companion gold standard). At this point, Bethesda knows what people want from companions: optional, but if I choose to use them, make them not svck.

Oblivion mods made commands like "Fight ranged; flight melee; don't attack anything at all; wait here; set/go home; use/don't use a torch" and others a GIVEN in a companion, or no one would want to download and use it. Bethesda knows what we expect form a companion; and they said that they weren't focusing on personality, so they seem to be focusing on functionality. I suspect that the above command customization will exist in a simplified form -- some companions only fight melee or ranged, so you get to choose which one you get. If you don't want a companion ruining a sneak operation, tell them to wait in the nearest inn/bar. If you don't want a companion . . . well, don't recruit any.

A companions place is in the home.... or wherever else I leave them.
I don't mind companions, but I don't want to be required to bring them with me.

I agree on that, I'm ALL for companions, love to have them around end everything, but it would be very annoying to be forced to bring with you someone you don't like.
Optional is the way to go.

Companions could be cool but so long as they are completely optional (bar an escort quest here and there) and so long as they are good at whatever it is they are supposed to do. Such as a combat guy following me who hits me while i am trying to do something. What i want to see in a companion however is to see a pack mule type helper who just follows me around, maybe with a banner that i can customize depicting some feat i have completed in the game that can carry loot for me, with a weight limit of course.

Good companion mods, like Emma's (and a few others) dramatically alter the entire game (for the better, IMHO) Suddenly, you have an ally, or even a friend, in the game world. Frankly, I won't play Morrowind with Laura and Constance. Should I pick up Oblivion again, I will probably play with Vilja. Even though I know they are just an AI program, they still make the game world feel less lonely.

Now, that said, modders tend to do a much better job with companions than Bethesda (at least so far). I'm hoping Skyrim will be the game where they figure out that well written, well scripted companions should be part of the base install - not a third party mod. However, I won't be surprised if we end up with more Tribunal-style mercenaries, with the personalities of wet paper sacks.

I can understand some people not wanting companions, for a variety of reasons; but unless you just like going it alone, a well crafted companion can make a huge difference.