As the title says, can I make companions really passive, not run off and attack?
For one thing sometimes they attack on Cautious (not always) which really annoys me cause I lose all chances of further sneak criticals by waiting out until hidden.
The next thing that bothers me is in closed spaces, like vaults and the like. I get detected while I shoot from some vantage point and get swarmed. Now the logical course of action to me is to position myself in such a way as to cover the entrance to where I am and start shooting once enemies step through. But can my companions sit still and play it out? Nooooo. They run head first so fast that sometimes I don't even know which way they took.

I like ED-Es perk, even with high PER you can't compete with him, but he just annoys me to no end when I see him charging. It's gotten to the point, where on my second play through I just don't use companions anymore except just enough to do their quest if it's not too much hassle.

So is there a way, a console command, a mod or something that just makes companions passive? As in stick to my side, never run off, even if it means they don't attack anymore, I don't mind that much.

Console command "tcai" prevents them from engaging in combat, they might still run around though. "tai" command stops them completely.

Yeah, Obsidian really missed the boat on companions. It's really no different than FO3 it just has a wheel to quicken the option choosing as opposed to have to go through dialog. There should be an option that keeps then next to you no matter what. Even if you have them on "ranged" and tell them to hang behind as soon as you shoot they are off and running indoors. It's a little more functional outdoors but indoors they're just good at getting in the way of your own shots. Instead of giving us a perk that helps cut down the damage we do to our suicidal companions perhaps Obsidian should have gave us a perk that makes our companions not be morons.

Have you tried Be Passive and Keep Your Distance? That's supposed to make them let you get the first strike. Boone says "I'll follow your lead." Hope this helps.

roflmao

Obviously none of you are amused by ED-E's kamikaze tendancies :hubbahubba: Can you imagine how bad it would be for all of us if they actually died instead of being knocked unconcious? I've actually gotten so frustrated that I've invented strategies around these maniac tendancies. For example, I'll hang back and place some mines and let them go nuts, get killed, pick up a sniper rifle and finish off the creature that makes its through the mess. Amazingly you are forced to have strategies that expect and accept your followers to die.

Interesting to read all these posts...
Yes the companions are a double-edged sword - a real mixed blessing.
It scares me to think how long they would last in hardcoe mode, heheh...
I would imagine you would need to get the companion, jump right on their quests right away, and then just try to get them home again ASAP in one piece.
Medium Mk.II Combat Armor will help them of course... but not ED-E or Rex!
So hardcoe mode would be a much more solitary game experience.

My own companions were antsy at the beginning of the game, but now (134 hours - Level 28) they are strangely tranquil.
Even ED-E hangs back, sticks right close to me now.
You hear his music, and he will shoot at things that attack us, but he won't rush off anymore.
Dunno if that's because I'm now idolized everywhere I go, or what...?
But now that you mention it, I do notice a definite difference.
Regards

You can just leave them in your house... Thats what I did with Ed-E

I play in hardcoe mode so they DO actually die.

Rex is the most useless of all companions. He's like my dog in real life: "No, Wanda, ignore that cat. Hey! No! Don't chase that squirrel either!" except it's "Hey, Rex, ignore those Cazad- [censored]!" "No, Rex, we're sneaking by those Deathclaws. You're in passive mode, Rex. Rex, don't even look over ther- Rex! [censored]!" Definitely not a sniper's best friend. He was a claw/stinger sponge that lasted about 10 seconds in every fight. Finally, sick of reloading because he died and my best laid plans were blown all to hell it was, "Rex, you're going back to the Lucky 38."

Cass, on the other hand, because I picked up her up so late in the game, was a beast. The only thing she couldn't handle was a mob of Deathclaws getting the drop on her. But, hey, who can?

Depending on who they are, they are actually pretty sturdy if you're careful. Otherwise, more than once I found myself telling my companions to just wait for me at the door and went inside without them.

Since ED-E got bugged so I can't see it, I think I like it better.
I still have the perk, people comment on the robot I have following me but no more charging into battle playing that annoying tune.

you cannot be a stealth killer in this game with companions,they just feck it up all the time.

many a time i unloaded into ED because it gets in line of fire.


the careful/passive command in wheel is borken,or bugged as it doesnt work for me.