I had Vigilance for a brief time but it kept running into a group of forlorn bad guys. I died a few times and eventually backed off and told ol' vigil to stay put so I can do my sniping thing.......well dog ran off and kicked ass, taking about five of them out, until the boss lady shot a ice sickle up his ass and froze him to death. Going to buy me another dog soon. I much prefer a pet companion than a a NPC.

I remember when I first got Lydia. I invited her along right away, we left Whiterun, and we were only about 50 yards outside of Whiterun before I decided that I would rather not have her around. I sent her right back to Breezehome. She is like my house dog that speaks English

I have NEVER used Lydia. I RP a Gandalf-esq wizard, so I spent ages looking for a suitable mage to take on as my apprentice, until I found one in that dark elf from the college of Winterhold. She's a beast with magic and bows, and me + her + Barbos + her antronach + my 2 antronachs/undead... Well frankly I hardly have to do any work at all. I'd rather have had J'Zargo(?) but a glitch causes items in his inventory to disappear.

Since my character is a Nord female, Lydia doesn't "complement" me as well as some other NPC's. However, if Lydia dies due to a stupid pathing issue, or some other unrealistic accident, then I'll reload. If she dies fighting normally I'll let her stay dead. I leave her at home half the time since I prefer solo-hunting and spying, etc.

One time, she tried to follow me as I slid down a mountain and she got stuck. I had to leave her behind and didn't see her for three days. However, I knew she was still alive somewhere because I couldn't get another mercenary to join me. Eventually, I woke up at the end of the third day to find her hovering over me while I slept. Felt like a scene out of Paranormal Activity, lol.

I guess leaving her dead and using other companions is very valid and more immersive approach. but I grow attached to her even if that all virtual. Your remember some crazy fights we been together -like one that some crypt when we fought back to back against hordes of draugur. Or the one where frost troll jumped me on icy road and I was on my last rope , when Lydia (who was behind as usual) finally found her way in and jumped in turning the tide. And yeah - the "I have bad feeling" ones - she was particularly right when we got jumped by 4 falmers and 3 creepers at once.

Nope, she's still pretty much dead, i found her to be quite annoying for some reason.
I have reloaded when my horse died once though

Am I the only person who uses Mjoll the Lioness?
Seems to be a good heavy armour/battleaxe tank and even though she sounds welsh alot of time she's more tolerable to listen to than most.

I couldn't stand every time I went to trade with Lydia she would say "I'm here to carry your burdens" (prob not verbatim) in that really sarcastic tone!

I prefer to go solo, don't need some annoying girl to intervene with my adventuring.

I just left her dead, I was getting tired of hearing "I am swwoooorrrnnn to cary YOUR burdens....." anyway.

Yeah, that tone in her voice about carrying my burdens gets me every time. I quote Princess Bride at her..'Do you want me to send you back to where you were? Unemploye?! In Elswehr!!' Then my wife comes in and makes me go to bed.

I use Sven, and I always reload. I don't have any particular attachment to him, but he's been loyal enough and I don't want him to die because of a stray FUS-ROH-DAH whilst fighting some trolls.

I arranged for her to have an, uh, accident. I was sick of her lounging around eating sweetrolls all day.

Yes. Happened once against one of those dwarven monstrosities (first time I encountered one...early in the game). I reloaded and had her wait outside the room until I dispatched it.

Now, I hardly use her, because I felt like I was protecting her instead of her protecting me. Plus, a house made her extra storage much less important.

Pretty much the same reason I keep her around for now. That snippy attitude about carrying my burden is getting on my nerves.

I never re-load in games. It's stupid and a sign of OCD. I was attached to Lydia but she died a warriors death defending me from 3 Chauros in a cave. I moved on. Companions have come and gone through my experience so far.

I always reload.


...I'm not making multiple trips to town just to move all that loot.