Meeko, Horsie, and Deerkethus.

Nice post.

I always think it's my characters, and not me, that like and choose their followers. If I'm roleplaying a character that is going to use followers, I go thru a few at the start to see who has the right chemistry. When the right follower has been found, they'll be there till the end of the playthru. So I can't say I have a favourite, but each character does.

My first character (seems so long ago now) was a Nord Warrior. He settled on Marcurio, which worked well because Marc would make wisecracks at the expense of the more serious Nord, "Oh, I suppose you're going to look in every chest now." The combat worked well too - I gave Marc all the staves which were greatly boosted by his magic skills

pic
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joseph__x/6452737749/in/photostream/lightbox/

Vid taken on my mobile
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbN3cSBBmP0&context=C4904701ADvjVQa1PpcFMD4H0DLcechQrVk2N7JTSUF18jE_a1c_M=

I thought the mage-warrior combo worked wll in battle, so my next character (a pure mage) was going to use warriors. Being a High Elf, Ursana didn't get on to well with Vorstag, who was a bit po-faced tbh. She wasn't all that unhappy when he came to one of the most gruesome ends possible: http://www.flickr.com/photos/joseph__x/6509912027/in/photostream/lightbox/

She eventually settled on Cosnach, who she found adorable, even though he did drink all her invisibility potions that she gave him to carry: http://www.flickr.com/photos/joseph__x/6544555937/in/photostream/lightbox/ Despite his faults, he was the perfect bodyguard. http://www.flickr.com/photos/joseph__x/6573908279/in/photostream/lightbox/.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joseph__x/6615750849/in/photostream/lightbox/

Aranea was just perfect for my Dunmer daedra worshipping badass. Together they solved a lot of problems for Skyrim's Dark Elf population.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joseph__x/6732900355/in/photostream/lightbox/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joseph__x/6760487683/in/photostream/lightbox/

Finding a companion for a 62yo Imperial wasn't easy http://www.flickr.com/photos/joseph__x/6906975975/in/photostream/lightbox/ Ahtar the Jailor died at the hands of Forsworn Briarhearts and Hagravens, and her husband Belrand used to get on her nerves when she took him out. http://www.flickr.com/photos/joseph__x/6940401119/in/photostream/lightbox/. Her favourite was her lady in waiting - Jordis the Swordmaiden

pic http://www.flickr.com/photos/joseph__x/6806032982/in/photostream/lightbox/

Vid (AverMedia game capture): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-nZ9A3JSDM&context=C4c47a2bADvjVQa1PpcFMD4H0DLcechcQpfjbTm3WJgBJVPuNl6w4=

Marcurio, ftw. He's a kickass mage and I love his sarcasms. Unfortunately, I seem to have lost him in Dead Men's Respite the other day.

Erik is sweet, too. He kind of triggers my maternal instincts.

I am reading about my follower Ghorbash The Ironhand and it clearly states he is efficient in Light Armor. I am guessing it is higher then his Steel Armor. So giving him Dragonscale Armor would be better then Dragonplate/Daedric?

Marcurio is the most effective of those I've used
Eola is a lot of fun, dual-wields, summons atronachs, reanimates the dead, starts fights with guards, horses, even killed Lucien LaChance the other day
Anneke Cragjumper is likeable and a strong-willed independent woman

Being an archer, I need another ranged follower, or they will simply be in the way. Aela does it for me. Picked her up after I was lvl 50, so she is maxed out. As to the various stave comments: I still give followers staves. I find it a hoot when she blasts a skeeter with am ice storm. Yeah, I get some collateral damage from time to time, but I can take it.

Derk and Faendal.

I have a newfound list of the greatest companions yet. For me anyway...yet they are not really companions. They are however, a mod that adds about 50 different and amazing creatures to Conjure. My current favorite is a Black Hills Goblin. Simply brilliant.

Eola or cicero if I get one

Cicero & Susanna the Wicked (Dead Thrall) although i use them only for photo shoots and nothing else

Cicero is pretty funny, if you raise him as a thrall he still dances lol

My Cicero is still http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljIQo1OHkTI

Uh huh suuuure lol

http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/w389/photoshooty/Skyrim/20120417173306250.jpg?t=1334677410

Erandur- Together we spread the Nine's holy word (that's right, come and get me Thalmor haters) across the land!

Mjoll- My wife and battle companion share a strong sense of justice, one that all the criminals abroad Skyrim will know.

Eola is my fave and it's a pity I can't marry her (xbox 360). I've played many heroes and heroines and favour the Breton's, so like having a fellow Breton by my side. I can't stand them female housecarls because of the way they talk, stand and walk, thus I have to do get to the Blades Temple to have Lydia stay with them.

Kharjo, the Khajiit Bodyguard

Cicero,Jenassa and

For myself, it has to be J'zargo. The constant stream of sarcasm, complaint and ill-concealed rivalry make him the most realistic travel companion in Skyrim. In addition, despite being naturally handy with a thunderbolt, he'll happily try out any gear you chuck at him... arch-mages' robes... sure... greatsword... why not... ebony plate... this one likes... heck, I even gave him a bow of frenzy which he used to amusing effect for a time.
Finally, his repeated assertion that he will scent out danger is reassuring, despite being completely useless.

This is an area of the game I still have to explore and I haven't been in a hurry to do it because I've been happy with Lydia up until her health isn't strong enough. Then she retires and I have Argis The Bulwark. He's great, high health and strong. He loves one-handed and block and if you give him staves, he'll blast away with those. I give him an ebony war axe enchanted with soul-trap and some soul gems and we have plenty of filled soul gems for recharging. Thanks for the tips on the other followers too, everyone.

^ This.

Derkeethus. He's pretty good at archery, he doesn't stand in my way and he does the funny hissss thing when in trouble

My redguard spellsword definitely agrees regarding Eola. I didnt think he would like her because her quest was "distasteful"... and that eye...
But, she was a serious and well skilled honey. Ironically, she died at a fort when I was not in the vicinity, so I dont know exactly how. I admit to re-loading
when losing companions I care about, but for some reason I allowed her to rest. Buried her amongst the hay in one of the stalls on the outside of the
fort. He kept all of her enchanted gear in a drawer in his home in Markarth in rememberance.

Another favorite is the demure, average, under-stated Ria of the companions. My character loves underdogs. After becoming harbinger, he marched
past all of the elite of the unit, and plucked Ria from the crowd. Enchanted rings, amulets, necklaces, "skimpy armor" and created a glowing "RiaBurner" that shimmers
on her backside as she walks. She is the envy of Jorvaskr. A very loyal companion who is very capable once she is trained and properly macked. Senna is a great
stay at home spouse, but my next male character will probably marry Ria.

My only female sorceress prefers Mercurio as a spouse and companion. She is extremely monogamous.

My favorite Follower to use is a newly reanimated Zombie. I just love the Psychological effect, (even if it is only in my own mind,) of raising an ally out of an enemy. Just to see the look of horror upon my enemies' faces, when they now have to fight the same guy that was fighting on thier side just moments ago. Turning enemies into allies, one corpse at a time!

I also have a game going with a female Breton, getting a male follower has been a hard choice with previous heroines, with her I'm using Cosnach. I had avoided the drunks but so far he seems a good match and they may get married (that will keep him out of the pub).