So I've been playing quite some time, usually always bringing along a follower with my warrior based Nord. However, ive noticed even on Apprentice Mode this game gets very hard without a Follower. For example, Lydia got stuck in a river near whiterun as a random dragon was attacking the wild animals near a mountainside, he then focused his attention on me and for some reason he killed my level 9 character with only a few strikes. I had upgraded steel armor, decent skills in combat and still i didnt survive long against this dragon. Usually with a Follower, dragons get distracted and makes for a much closer fight. Im not into drinking 10 potions in a battle or dying multiple times which breaks immersion for me, so does anyone have any alternate strategies for a non-magick user?

Alchemy(resist element potions) and Archery. Most of the damage a dragon does didnt come from melee but their breath.

I have found the damage mitigation from the Lord Stone very helpful. At level 9, though, you are going to be pretty fragile. As the other poster said, use archery.

all housecarl have the highest hp in game for follower.. and vorstag close to housecarl..

Raise your smithing, make the best possible armor out there, and get weapons. The one time I ever used a follower on my warrior, was Lydia for one hour. I accidently turned into a werewolf and did the 'mauling' kill animation on her. She got in the way... Anyways, its perfectly possible to play the game without followers. I'm now playing on master difficulty using Daedric armor and weapons.

This: if you are a Nord you are OK against the frost breath, and a Dunmer against the fire, but you need protection against both of these. I have been killed by a melee attack from a dragon (cue the cutscene of my being grabbed by the head, whipped around, then flung into some rocks), but it's that breath that usually kills. Companions are mainly useful here as distractions - while they are getting flamed/frozen, you're around the side swinging.

If you are a non-magic user get a good magician as a follower, and vice versa. I had Marcurio with my Nord Warrior, and I now have Cosnach with my High Elf Mage. They are not only complementary playstyles but complementary characters and imo make the game 20% better.

Protip: Followers are a whole heap of trouble to keep alive early in the game, so use expendable followers until you hit 25.

Only time I've needed a follower was with my pure mage at low levels. My other characters didn't need the help, but I knew what to expect and need. Keeping some resist element pots and health pots on you is really the best bet for a non-magica user. You may burn through them at early levels. I'd recomend looking for enchanted gear to supplement your fighting skills. Try starting with a sheild (or three) that protects against fire/frost/shock.

Also be mindful of pulling agro, and becoming a glass cannon. It sounds like this may be what's hurting you most now.

Follower necessity aside, having them stick on terrain just gets too much after a while.

Keeping them targeted in console and "moveto player" whenever needed is such a huge relief personally.
Or make a script or w/e.

I personally use Archery and also give my follower a bow and some arrows and they seem to use it!

I am level 20 and have only just decided to use a follower and it actually has made the game better, a very good addition to the game, very handy for using to carry loot too. I also had a dog too but sadly died in combat, I want another though.

This game can be rather tough at the start and I found health potions really kept me going.

After reading some posts here I quit bringing a follower along. Reason why was that they get in the way more often than they're actually useful, especially if you play a sneak character. Plus you have to look out for them. They are not immortal, when they hunch down after taking a beating they only need one of two more hits to be gone forever. If they wander off to fight they're usually going to get killed.

I thought it'd be useful to have one along for carrying items, but after learning the correct enchantments switching a ring or bracers to increase the max load is much easier. Plus you can always stash stuff at the entrance of the dungeon and pick it up later.

If you really feel you need someone extra along I suggest spending some money and points on conjuration. Filling that tree is much much more powerful than any "living" side kick you could bring along. Even if you're not a mage, you could do this, it's only one extra tree.

The game can be played two ways, with companions and without. It just requires different approaches. Which is what is so great about the game.

If you're on the PC, you can make your follower essential - that way they won't die during the first dragon attack. It also keeps the dragon focused on them, while you're standing in the distance taking the dragon down with a bow. They'll go down on one knee when their health goes very low, but they still move around enough to tank the dragon.

Another reason to make them essential - you won't kill them as a mage when using a powerfull spell that jumps to them (like chain lightning); and also they jump in front of you and eventually you'll shoot them with an arrow and kill them.

One issue with followers is their pathing AI - absolutely attrocious. I finally gave up trying to fing spots in the wilderness where they won't get stuck. I just play the game, and if they get stuck so be it. Eventually the game/computer will transport them to you - although sometimes unexpectedly. I've had several instances where I was inside a dungeon and Lydia came running at me from part of the dungeon where I had not been yet. Of course, a few times she got an arrow for her sneakiness, but I shoot first and ask questions later lol. But most of the time she'll be teleported behind you.

If the game is a little too hard, kick the difficulty down a peg. No one's going to judge you (unless your friends are over at your house watching). When you get comfortable, kick the difficulty back up and see if you're ready for the challenge again.

I find that having followers with me turns the game into easy-mode, so I'll bump it up to Expert or Master... and I'll kick it back down when I'm not in the mood to reload a save.


Don't listen to CCNA... he takes campaign contributions from the Thalmor.

Aye, as someone mentioned, dragon damage is primarily its breath weapon so that means you need to either counter that or avoid it. Countering it is done via resistant armor or magical/racial resistances. Armor you can make or buy (rarely does it drop with good enchants on it), at lower levels you aren't gonna just 'find' it. Magic users have some resists and there are pots that can mitigate the damage-for short periods of time. Avoiding it is a bit more difficult since that means you need to dodge something that is way more maneuverable than you! And maintain sight of the target. And heal yourself. Oh yeah, and DAMAGE it too! Archery or staves are possible ways to handle it at lower level.
I did the armor method. I worked on getting my smithing up and got some enchants on it when I found a good one. It meant I had to carry more gear (intially at least) to counter whatever I faced, but it worked. My method was to get it on the ground, put on sword & board, and then wade in and beat it to death, just taking the damage. When I had it, I would poison the blade too, anything to pile on the damage. Once you start seeing higher level dragons that method isn't quite as useful, but by then you have better gear and more powerful help. Just having good gear I was able to just go head-on through my 20s at least, and never took that much damage...less than half anyways. I was playing a Breton w/light armor btw and also as a Breton w/heavy armor.