Let me start off by saying that I love this game, wholeheartedly. But please, someone theorize for me what might have been going through the dev teams head's when they set up the followers.

I'll explain what im getting at by making a short list

1. Enemies cant kill my companions, but I can. (I mean KILL, not just incapacitate.)
2. Companions render shouts useless (if they get in the way of a powerful shout, game over, no more companion.)
3. Companions render area of effect spells useless (see number 2)

It wouldn't be so bad if they didn't run right into my path and soak up all my attacks. Its either one misplaced arrow or them running right into my dragon shout and BAM! time to reload a save. I can't describe in words just how frustrating this is when im packed in a tight room with 3 or 4 draugr and my companion goes down in the middle of them all and I cant do jack [censored] due to the risk of accidentally hitting and killing them in the process.

I understand the mechanic of friendly fire but it just boggles my mind how im more prone to killing my partner than any of the countless enemies I face.

I'm playing on expert so I cant afford not to use shouts when im outnumbered, but when im waist deep in a river of enemies in the dead center of a dungeon I also cant afford to splatter my partner all over a wall and have to solo the rest of the dungeon either.

Is it really that difficult to make a script that protects companions from player casted spells/shouts? Seriously? Atleast Oblivion had important character protection so they'd just get knocked unconscious.

I'm utterly afraid to even use shouts anymore. I always have to circle the crowd of enemies im about to use it on just to make sure my companion isn't on the opposite side about to soak up all the damage.

WWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!