Unpredictable Follower Behavior

[Adipose]

I've no idea why this happened but here it is: My three followers and I are walking down the main drag in Whiterun. I'm in the lead. All of a sudden a fight breaks out behind me. I draw my weapon, dodge off to one side and turn toward the fight. It's dark...very. I figure it's a vampire attack. Turns out, for some reason, that they're fighting with Uthgerd. By the time I get there she's down for good. Nothing to do but either restart or strip her gear and dump her body off to one side. I stripped her gear and dumped her. Thing is, I've no idea why the fight started. Anyone got some helpful input by way of an answer?

[anjenthedog]

My personal "Sha" has sometimes started fights with other followers, or at least she did back when I was level ~10-20. She doesn't anymore for the msot part (but then again, I don't use her all the time), although she has been the target of other followers since. And both Sofia and Recorder have done so. (Sofia is the single worst offender...I think she's sentient and jealous as f ;) )

 

I suspect that they see a real threat, (spider, wolf, bear, etc), fire at it with a ranged weapon or spell, ignoring the presence of other followers, hit them by accident before the other follower has noticed the real threat, other follower takes it as a direct threat (they're not really aware of each other's existence for the most part) and starts fighting what they perceive to be "the enemy".

 

It might have something to do with a given NPCs aggression level, idk...

 

In each case, I've eventually reloaded to a stage prior to the incident due to my inability to stop them from fighting.

 

But to be perfectly honest, I have no idea. I'm still left with wonder at the fact that I can hand Sha a dozen full outfits and she'll take pieces from each (not necessarily the highest armor values either) to put together a "cute" outfit (seriously, Sha has style) and yet I can hand the same outfits to another follower like Elwyn and while she'll also put together an outfit from various bits, she'll dress like a teenager. (and most times, garishly too, if I might add, like a throwback to the mid late 1980s who isn't sure if she's pretty in pink or punk)

 

I try not to think about it too much. It can get sorta creepy. I already pay too much attention to my follower as if they're pseudo humans instead of code constructs, worrying when they don't sleep or won't eat or won't use any enchanted weapons or so forth.

 

Although I suppose you're already aware, but you can avoid losing a follower to situations like that by making them essential.

[Adipose]

Yeah, I've noticed that about Sofia. Also, if you marry her, she'll bankrupt you. Spends your septims as if there's an unlimited supply. She's definitely what I'd call high maintenance. Her creator really did a superb job.

 

I too spend far too much time seeing to the well being of my followers. Kinda like playing with paper dolls...if any player knows what that means. What will actually happen with followers is that, for most of them, you can run them stark naked in a high mountain blizzard and they'll be just fine. That doesn't necessarily carry over into combat, where good gear is an asset a fair bit of the time...though not totally necessary. I tend to pretend that they're actual folks and treat them as such. Silly innit.

 

Actually, I'd like to be able to run them in a manner much like my character, in which they're extremely vulnerable to cold, hunger, fatigue, injury, and all that. I use AFT and it has provision for that sort of effect but it doesn't seem to work very well. Frex, I uncheck the essential box in settings and for the most part it has little effect on them. If they come up against a really tough boss they will suffer some loss but it still takes a LOT to put them down for good.