Hey guys I was wondering how many of you use followers, I have used a follower nearly every time, but I recently started thinking that using a follower is like cheating.

So I was wondering if anyone else shares the same view as me, or what are you reasons to use a follower or not.

Thanks for input ideas.

Rarely. (no vote cast.)

There are a couple of places we have no choice (Serana for some quests, as an example). Otherwise I go solo. Followers tend to get in my way more than help me out.

Also, Skyrim followers lack much of a storyline/background to entice the hero putting up with them

I didn't vote either. You need options for occasionally or something like that. With my current character, I hired jenassa, but she didn't survive the first day. I haven't replaced her, and I don't think i will.

Of course, Illia and Serena, 2 of the most powerful mage followers in Skyrim.

Early on they're handy as cannon fodder and a loot donkey, after that they're more a hinderance than a help, especially if you use stealth a lot as in that situation they're basically idiots of the highest order.

As always with a roleplaying game, it depends on the character. Some of my characters are very sociable, others rarely speak to people. Some character's stories involve other characters in crucial ways and need those characters in order to tell the story. Other characters' stories are more simple and do not require anyone else to tell their story. It all depends. If I played every character the same way I would get bored out of my skull very quickly.

Sometimes within the first 10 levels of the game when I'm weak

Yes. They make good mules.

I only use a follower in two cases, Serana in the Dawnguard questline and one follower (usually my husband) during the Deathbrand quest.

I voted rarely. Only when the are forced upon me!

I think followers are part of the 'assumptions' that were made when streamlining the game.

In this case, I'm thinking specifically of the removal of the Mark/Recall spells. Fast Travel obviously plays a big part in that, but you can't fast travel while in a dungeon. What you can do is load more loot onto your follower's back. I use AFT and have some followers added with some better backstory and nice voices, so they're a definite help. Easy on the eyes, too

I'd have a hard time considering something so obviously baked into the core balance of the game as 'cheating'.

Just about always. They fit my rp, even if I don't get one in the beginning of the playthrough, sometimes getting to 10th lvl or higher before one is chosen. My characters are very picky though, and once I started playing on the pc, a character's permanent follower is usually a mod, or my own creation, that fits the rp. I don't want a mule, but a companion. Sometimes the follower will change, if they don't fit the rp as I thought they would.

My answer is "Rarely". I mainly use followers early in the game (the first few levels) and when quests require it. Otherwise I prefer going solo.

Often the followers are more trouble than useful.

My vote is "Rarely". Only when forced by the game, in other words. I don't consider having followers cheating at all though. Totally agree with Kirottu - followers are a PITA, don't ever really want them, love solo play.

I voted more often than not, since most of my characters tend to make connections with other people which leads to having followers.

My reason for having a follower or not is driven by the character, not by gameplay considerations. More often than not they are a huge pain to me as the player, made worthwhile by the richer RP experience.

Cheating to me implies some kind of contest. If you’re in a Skyrim contest you will know the rules about followers. Otherwise just play however you enjoy it. In a single player game you can only cheat yourself.

Yes... I do use followers, both vanilla and custom. If I use a follower depends on my Role Play, the story dictates if or who the follower is. Very few of my characters are "loners", I guess because I don't think along those lines. Even my Assassin, had two followers...travel companions, Belrand and a dog, they never went on "jobs" just to the city or nearest Inn. Thus they never go in my way during job's. Even one of my Vanilla Thieves used Lydia...just left her at an Inn or outside errrr keeping watch, it worked for me.

There are a few very nice followers with custom voice and AI, that can really be amusing and fun travel companions. Bishop from Skyrim Romance is a good "follower" though his personality would be abrasive to some people. Hoth ( stand alone follower ) is very amusing and has some great lines. Rayan, a very good follower, has some awesome lines, not female PC friendly really, better with another male as a follower or.. interest. I know there are also some great female follower's, I have not used any custom ones, as none have suited my character or story.

Everyone being different, I know followers are not for everyone... and that's fine.

I didn't vote...I don't use a follower ever,not because I think it's cheating,I just can't stand any of the followers tagging along,they either get in the way,are constantly talking and,at least to me,are annoying at best.

i don't use any vanilla followers (or pets), i do have 3 pets though (2 foxes and the AutoMate from my Donkey King mod).

would that be a yes or a no to your poll now?

(they're totally not cheating anyway, ordered them to stay out of combat, so they just tag along and, as soon as sh* starts brewing, make away together with the donkey.

edit: sky king, you'd like them

I rarely use a follower, not because I think it's cheating, but because they are so annoying. Can't stand the constant stream of Ice Spikes or arrows hitting me in the back when I'm fighting, or a melee fighter stepping in front of me just as I swing. I can't fight back out of fear of hitting my own companion but that doesn't stop enemies from hitting me. If I step to the side to try and get a clear shot my companion will move to get in the way again. It feels like it was deliberately programmed that way, I guess they were trying to simulate your companion "protecting" you, but it needs work because they tend to handicap you. I don't need a pack mule because I broke myself of the habit of picking up heavy junk with low value after every fight.

I fell in love with Inigo. He's just awesome. He even yells in rage as I die, it's great. "Heal yourself, my friend... Nooooooo!"


I will bring followers on most characters, assassins are harder. The choices are Serana and Cicero in the "sneaky" types, or a brotherhood assassin with no name. I don't like either of the named ones, I find them annoying. Nameless assassins just don't interest me.

This is another "plus" for their use

My followers actually do not get in the character's way much, especially my current character. She's a hunter/archer, and instead of taking away my follower's bow, like many people do, I gave him a really good one, with good arrows. Now, in many fights, especially outdoors, he will use the bow as much as my character, then going to his axe in close combat or if we're jumped by wolves or other wild animals. I have gotten much better at sidestepping to shoot if needed, so it's been working out much better than I hoped for. Add the use of UFO, where I can set whether he stays close, farther back, or even stays out of combat, and I am quite happy. With FCO I can set how often a follow speaks too...

I always have a follower, sometimes a mod like Inigo/Vilja or a few of the vanilla ones that are made better with mods. Even on stealth builds I'll leave them as a "lookout" for my character.

After the poll was changed, I voted "rarely". For me the problem is that I like mages and thus area effect spells and shouts.

Black book in Apocrypha fixes this.


Companions insight: followers no longer damaged by area of effect spells and shouts.


Can still oops with the axe or bow though.