One thing I wish Bethesda had implemented, which I THOUGHT they were, was some sort of AI for the Companions that you can control. This may have already been brought up but I haven't been following the forums except for on a few specific topics.

So what I mean is, I am going archery, I have Lydia with me who of course runs straight up to attack mobs..this is great, except that she always gets in my line of sight. I'd like to have been able to tell her to stay ranged or flank or something. I guess the only solution is to only give her a bow?
Not a gripe just an observation..wonder what other people who play archers do?

I tell Lydia to wait and she STILL runs into the battle. Once I had a beautiful line of sight on a troll from a short cliff. Every single time, she jumps off when I engage it with my bow. I had revert numerous saves just to save her life because its not my fault I tell her to wait and she just goes in the battle. I ended up having to just go down there and take it head on too.

Same thing happens to me. It makes my companion nearly worthless..they are basically tanking, but since I can injure my own companion in this game..I can't use archery or magic when she is doing so. I might as well leave companion at home..but then I lose my pack mule.

All I can say is to use characters that don't rush into melee if you aren't going to rush to melee. Consider an archer or a wizard.

Simple solution, don't use a companion! I could be four people for all those know that I'm shooting arrows at, or as good as. It's far easier to keep quiet on yourself without her screaming in your ear and saying "Who's there!" constantly.

I definitely like this idea. At first my companion was a must, because I had no home, and wanted to hoard my loot. Now that I bought a home and dumped all my stuff in there, and sold the stuff I didn't need...my weight is drastically reduced..I probably don't need my human pack mule any more. Will leave them at home for now. If I do run across a companion that is a Mage or Archer..maybe I will take them..right now I only have two options...Farkas (not sure if I got that right) or Lydia.