Was this game intended to be played solo with no companions? Were most enemy encounters designed/balanced to be played just by the player character? More often than not my team demolishes everything in its path and I have to try really hard to get in on the action. Playing on very hard difficulty with them set to passive.

It seems the only way to justify keeping the companions around is if I intentionally gimp my character and play with abstract house rules. I know the simple answer is "Don't recruit any of them". I tried but I like having them around for flavor. From what I remember "recruits" in either Oblivion or FO3 (except Fawkes) were't this crazy.

I'm on the pc so if there are any mods I missed that dropped their superstar status to supporting role or if it's easily done through the geck myself please let me know. I guess what I want is all companions to be similar to ED-E's effectivness (or ineffectivness, however you see it), at least he lets me play too

Give Boone an EW he likes and he is less efficient

Or just leave him with his knife.

Veronica with her 10mm is a amazing sight as well.

Me: 12.7mm Pistol
Cass: Riot Shotgun
Rex: Meow

The Strip is dead, Mojave Outpost is dead, McCarran dead. They didn't even need me I was just the eyecandy.