I love the idea that there are companions in the game, truly, but for some reason, I just can't seem to use them. From everything I've read about certain companions, they're overpowered. Plus, they'd get in the way of what I'm trying to do (for the record, I have tried Boone and Veronica out)

I know that this is a game where you choose what to do, but I just can't see a practical reason for it. Anyone else feel the same?

The only reason I have followers is because they open up certain quests. But as soon as I'm done questing I'd rather be on my own.

I never use companions. I just don't like them.

Well we can choose whether or not we take companions along with us or not. They can/do help and also hinder in combat situations but you can also get along at least reasonably well without them as with them.
Depending on the playstyle of your character of the moment, using companions may help or for some hinder how that character is played.

I do feel that they're overpowered, and I admit that that does get quite annoying most of the time... But that doesn't stop me from using them. Rex is by no means overpowered, just annoying. I have found his perk helpful for finding hollowed-out rocks, though.

Also, Veronica is very essential for

I tried to go companion-less for a play through but caved before I even got to Novac. ED-E just...completed me in a sense. I feel naked without have someone/somerobot helping me in some way. Also having ED-Es battle music and the constant crack of Boone's rifle going off makes me feel at ease.

I only use companion for their quest. Other than that, playing lone wolf isn't that hard.

Like I've read alot about how Boone is ridiculously god-like when it comes to spotting enemies and killing them. To me, that would kill some of it for me because I want to shoot the damn thing before me, even if it's a deathclaw and I die--it allows me to reassess what I did wrong, and take it out a different way.

At some point, though, I did want to pick up Arcade Gannon, just to get his quest to get the Remnant Power Armor, but I'm just not sure.

No its not bad but you are missing out on quests, great dialogue and in some cases random encounters and interesting history. They are not over powered bullet sponges of FO3. They can die very fast if up against large numbers or a deathclaw. They can also be used to carry items in hardcoe Mode. Some can get you into locations and one can get you some awesome Advanced Mk II power armour.

they have good quests some of which are very interesting (first time i did veronica's was intruiging, and i'm betting i can play it through again and win it properly - she ended up leaving the BoS and i reckon i can make her stay) plus they can carry about 250 pounds each once you reach a certain point you're stupidly overpowered anyway, so you might as well have a companion around to help you carry crap and save ammo

Of course there's nothing wrong with not using any companions.

But like Styles said...not using them at all means missing out on a lot of game content and some interesting characters/stories. It's left entirely up to you whether you care about that or not.

i do care about that haha. i guess i hadn't considered all of the quests, maybe it's something i can look into. Plus, I could use the XP

I think it's perfectly fine and even a great idea to have companions. I wish these companions were more in-depth and interactable, but it's a noble gesture.

Not everyone is a hardcoe gamer and may need some help playing on normal difficulty. That, or they just enjoy the feeling that someone has their back.

I personally enjoy having companions. I don't really like any of them myself, but I still like to keep ED-E or Cass around for fun.

I play hardcoe only..
That being said I just use companions for quests and to lug around my junk.

Yes, you're cheating yourself out of meaningful dialogue, upgrades, and endings for your companions.

ED-E is the only companion I've used consistently. I've loved him since I saw that trailer with him grooving to Kay Kyser. He's my buddy.

I've used the others off and on, and I swear to God that I'll do a character some day that will use them all so I can play the quests.

I just like to play stealthy, deliberate characters (I always do my very best to avoid getting shot -- it's my limited form of role-playing, I guess) and having companions tearing off down corridors harshes my buzz. Even best friend ED-E spends a lot of time waiting outside.

I don't either, then again this game being set up against CL I don't have too many options.

+1. I'm being all stealthy, and they're haring off past me to get killed and it's just like "Oh, #$%@# not AGAIN!".

I do have a soft spot for Veronica though, with the ballistic fist. She's not really quite sane, is she?

hardcoe Mode makes them die permanently, which helps increase the challenge a bit. I usually leave them in their default outfits, though I'll give them better weapons. Boone in his regular grunt outfit, hunting rifle and on hardcoe Mode isn't overpowered. In power armor, Plasma Caster and gets back up automatically after dying, well yeah, that's pretty OP.

This. I like all of them except for Lily simply because she replaces Marcus.

Nearing the end of my first playthrough and have never used any companion for any serious length of time. For me, it just destroys the atmosphere of being a lone survivor in the wastes. I may dabble with some with my second character later.

Trouble is, New Vegas's companions seem too eager to help out. Do any of them impose skill / alignment checks before you recruit them? I've also been put off by stories of companions behaving in a kamikaze way even when setting them to non-aggressive. Would it have been so hard for Obsidian to include a passive or evasive settings so that companions avoid combat when the situation demands it?

this was basically my main reason. but like i said, on this third play through i'm doing, i think i might pick up Arcade Gannon.

I love playing as a sniper character, and believe in avoiding enemies until you can set yourself up in a good position to kill them before they even know you're there. And for that reason, having ED-E and Boone is perfect for me. I can avoid swarms of Cazadores and packs of Deathclaws with ease.

However, if you're playing just for the main story, you really don't need companions. They can help, but aren't essential. But if you're like me and dedicated to doing as many quests, and exploring as many areas as possible, I find companions to be indispensable. Especially considering the fact that they more or less give you ~500lbs extra loot holding space, and provide you with extra firepower.

LOL! I half expect her to shout "Falcon PUNCH!!!"

I don't like rolling with companions. They mess up the immersion for me. I roll with one or two during a playthrough just long enough to do their quest, which can fit nicely into the story.........friends the courier made along the way....who usually die shortly after conclusion of quest ......or prior sometimes (thanks to low charisma )

I'm playing on hardcoe + very hard and I try to collect all of the companions to try their perks and complete their quests and conversations, but I only bring them with me when completing the stages of their quests.

In combat they either rush ahead and get themselves killed or when facing less challenging enemies, they wipe them out before I have a chance to do anything. The best companion perk is Cass's perk, hands down, as it provides essentially +2 STR and +4 DT to +6 DT (depending on your Survival) if you constantly drink whiskey, which is equivalent to getting three different implants or a few points into Intense Training.

I heard that if you make them wait in Lucky 38 they sometimes get lost, so I always bring them back to the area where I originally found them and instruct them to "Wait here," to keep their perks activated. Eventually I get a message indicating "Cass has gone back to the Mojave Outpost" and "ED-E has gone back to Primm," at which point I go back to the same place and add them again. I tried using them as pack mules, but it's more work than it's worth because I have to make them wait somewhere nearby while I go in to kill all the enemies in the area, then bring the loot to them (or them to the loot), and it's simply boring. Also, I enjoy the challenge of not being able to carry hundreds and hundreds of lbs of equipment, weapons and ammo.