A mod to make followers actually usable?

[InDarkestNight]

I mostly play stealth and mage builds, so its rare I use a follower. Lately I've been trying to change that, but I've been finding them unbearable. They're constantly getting in the way, they keep setting off traps and killing themselves and sometimes me, they refuse to do much of anything, they rush in when you're trying to be stealthy and completely ruining everything, you get the idea. The only real use in them that I can see is as pack mules, but honestly its not worth how much trouble they cause.

I'm sick of getting killed by my followers, either due to them bodyblocking me, or setting off traps. This game, Lydia decided to stand in a narrow hallway forever, refusing to move while a Falmer mage attacked her. I couldn't get past her, and because she was in combat I couldn't even push her out of the way. I went on a different path, and got cornered by three falmer and a chaurus (no idea where that chaurus even came from, I didn't know they could come out of falmer holes, this was an empty dead end mind you), and died due to being surrounded despite having a freaking tank follower. Utterly worthless.

I don't know much about follower overhauls honestly. I did use Immesive Amazing Follower Tweaks for years, but that didn't seem to help much. It stopped them from setting off traps yes, but that's about all I can remember in terms of things it 'fixed'. Mostly I just recall using its outfit options honestly.

Is there any mod that makes followers actually viable? I do know many of the high-content followers come with custom ai, but I know nothing about them. Besides, I've been trying to avoid them because I'm afraid they could alter the mood of my first playthrough of various mods. Do I need to switch to mod followers? Is there any mod that makes vanilla followers actually usable? Seriously here, the only use they have over dogs is they can carry your s#*! and pick up skill books for you. Obviously, nobody uses dogs, so how are followers much better?

[LenaWolfBravil]

You don't need a mod, you just need to pick the right follower. They are not all the same. Lydia is the wrong follower for a stealth character. Try the mage in Riften (a mercenary) or Valdimar, the housecarl in Morthal. There may be others, too. Belrand in Solitude is pretty good, and if you want a tank, take Golldir from his ancestral crypt near Ivarstead. He is the one tank that does NOT run ahead.

[InDarkestNight]

Actually, I'm playing a warrior character right now. One-handed, block, heavy armor, archery, and speech. I never use followers as mages or stealth. Why bother with followers when you can just summon stuff that's immune to your spells? Fireballs and ice storms without having to worry about killing your 'followers'. Oh, and if they get in your way, you can easily re-summon them, same thing if they die. They can't carry your stuff or pick up sklll books or perform any actions, but they're still far more useful than followers. Stealth, they just make it impossible to stealth. Its why I hate the volkihar questline. It encourages a stealth build, but forces you to have a follower tag along for half its duration. Omfg I hate Serana above all other followers. Seemingly every time I've had her, I desperately wished I could just kill her so I wouldn't have to deal with her anymore. I've quit playthroughs I've been deep into just because I hate having her stuck to me so f*#@ing much.

That said, perhaps I could benefit from a non-melee follower. I don't really know of such though. There's faendael and aela, but faendal caps at level 30 and aela is only available if you do the companions questline, which I wasn't planning on doing this run. Who else even is there? Seemingly all other followers are warriors, plus two mages (one of which is locked behind a daedric quest). Yeah, there's more mages, but they're locked behind the CoW. Why bother using them when summons are far superior?

Also, how are followers any different? They all use the same ai, they set off traps, they ruin stealth, they block you when you're desperately trying to get out of the way of something, they stop you from using any spells above novice. Why does it matter which you use? Seriously.

Edited May 12, 2024 by InDarkestNight

[LenaWolfBravil]

If you don't want a follower, then why did you ask the question? Also, you asked about stealth, and so that's what I answered to. Forget I said anything. You obviously know better.

[anjenthedog]

1 hour ago, InDarkestNight said:

Actually, I'm playing a warrior character right now. One-handed, block, heavy armor, archery, and speech. I never use followers as mages or stealth. Why bother with followers when you can just summon stuff that's immune to your spells? Fireballs and ice storms without having to worry about killing your 'followers'. Oh, and if they get in your way, you can easily re-summon them, same thing if they die. They can't carry your stuff or pick up sklll books or perform any actions, but they're still far more useful than followers. Stealth, they just make it impossible to stealth. Its why I hate the volkihar questline. It encourages a stealth build, but forces you to have a follower tag along for half its duration. Omfg I hate Serana above all other followers. Seemingly every time I've had her, I desperately wished I could just kill her so I wouldn't have to deal with her anymore. I've quit playthroughs I've been deep into just because I hate having her stuck to me so f*#@ing much.

That said, perhaps I could benefit from a non-melee follower. I don't really know of such though. There's faendael and aela, but faendal caps at level 30 and aela is only available if you do the companions questline, which I wasn't planning on doing this run. Who else even is there? Seemingly all other followers are warriors, plus two mages (one of which is locked behind a daedric quest). Yeah, there's more mages, but they're locked behind the CoW. Why bother using them when summons are far superior?

Also, how are followers any different? They all use the same ai, they set off traps, they ruin stealth, they block you when you're desperately trying to get out of the way of something, they stop you from using any spells above novice. Why does it matter which you use? Seriously.

Faux companionship, and having extra swords (increasing the odds of survival) during the early portion of the game. I believe that's what it boils down to, at least from a critical pov. Might try someone like recorder or sofia or one of the other more "animated" follower characters to get the best out of having one, but well, tbh, even they get stale eventually. They fake-replace having parties, like back in FFXI or I presume WoW. You can also add mods that increase their dialogs (and monologues) allow them to learn spells, do some useful things like crafting, rid you of their blockade capability, accidentally friendly firing on them, adjust their combat types, stats, etc etc, so the annoyances can be largely handled by addons... 

you could always retire them to any one of many player homes, once you feel that soloing isn't a death trap.

And nope, not "arguing for them". Just offering reasons why and how they might be more beneficial to many players, again, at least in the earlier phases of the game, when player is way more susceptible to an untimely death.

[BlazeStryker]

I have a confession... when I don't want to deal with the restrictions she provides, I will occasionally exit Dragonsreach via the dungeons to avoid getting accosted by Lydia.

[anjenthedog]

5 hours ago, BlazeStryker said:

I have a confession... when I don't want to deal with the restrictions she provides, I will occasionally exit Dragonsreach via the dungeons to avoid getting accosted by Lydia.

Vaht? You no like the apple cabbage zoups?

[BlazeStryker]

...I cook.

[anjenthedog]

I was referring to Lydia's irritating habit of talking about apple cabbage soup. Must be something lost in translation. Sorry to interject in your complaint.