According to UESP - "A follower's stats are determined based on the level the player is at when he or she first enters the zone that the follower is in. Once generated, the follower's stats do not increase at all. For example, Lydia is usually one of the first followers players will have access to, and most players receive her at a lower level. As such, most players' Lydias will have low stats for the entire game."

You can't be serious! This was already fixed in FNV, I have no idea why Bethesda would do something like this other than to just be pricks to people playing on console! Uggh. One step forward, three steps back. Please tell me UESP got this wrong.

UESP got this wrong.

Shame I'm just telling you what you want to hear, cause it's true unfortunately.

It seems to be this way. It should be fixed in a data patch coming out soon.

In the meantime, there is a way to fix this if you are on the PC.

Yeah honestly I can't understand how Bethesda would let this fly? I am kinda PO'd I have Beron and I have been leveling with him for awhile now. So he is going to be obsolete after I invest a lot of money into his gear? That is [censored]. Anyone know console commands to bump up NPC level?

Wait, they actually admitted this was a mistake? And they have plans to fix it? Well that's OK I guess.

Oh really.. so that means I'm always gonna have a high level lydia lol

how? would love that fix

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xrGfL2Ne78

No, they didn't. They *might* fix it. But they might also add a casino in Morthal with pole dancing Argonians.

Son of a [censored]. Seriously, any other game company would fix something like this. And, you know, any other company could copy Bethesda's basic formula (big open worlds, fast travel, etc) and make a more reliable game, or at least fix any bugs that continue to plague the game. Out of any other company but Bethesda or maybe Valve, this wouldn't be tolerated.

Oh? Well, maybe there are certain priorities which Bethesda should focus on... Level-adjusted followers can wait.

I started a thread on this http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1314175-followers-level-up-independent-of-the-player/

Does not matter which thread is used, but I picked up Annekka at around level 20, I'm now at level 44 and she certainly does appear to have improved in both combat and sneak.

It seems to be an issue for sure, but the fact that you can easily exploit smithing, enchanting and leveling, you can give your early companion a paralyze and health absorbing weapon that has extreme damage stats along with uber-powerful armor. She could could have near 0 health and not get hurt with uber-powerful armors, bow and sword enchanted and smithed as such..

Calm down, it's by no means across the board. I've seen followers still be strong through ten level ups.