Followers still don't automatically level with you, right? I have all the most recent downloads and as far as I know, you still need to Wabbajack them in order to get them to your level.

And just so I have this straight:

1. Go somewhere where there are no guards

2. Wabbajack them until they turn into an animal

3. When they return to their normal form, they'll be the same level as you, provided you're not over their level cap.

Is that correct?

Thanks.

P.S. If you're above the followers level cap what happens? For instance, Jannassa's cap is at 40. Say your character is level 41; will she level to her max or will she just remain at her current level?

Yes, followers are locked in at the level you "meet" them at. The Wabbajack trick does work, but I do it slightly differently.

1. "Hire" follower
2. Get away from guards and such
3. Dismiss follower
4. Use the Wabbajack on them until they turn into a mudcrab, bunny, or other animal
5. Punch them once to return them to their original form

A way to make sure this works is make them wear a different armor piece beforehand (example: give Lydia dragon plate armor) and then do the steps I listed. At the end, they should be reset into their default armor, which proves that you did it correctly. You should also save before trying this, as they can become hostile. Also, if you are above their level cap, they will simply go to their maximum level.

SAVE before you do anything. The Wabbajack might kill them.

And you can't wabbajack essential followers. On the other hand, they can't die anyway.

(A funny thing happened when I wabbajacked a follower, btw. I had given him ebony armor, but after the wabbajacking the armor was gone and instead I found a belted tunic in his inventory. Anyone else had this happened to them?)

It doesn't work on Aela, even after she can be killed, unfortunately. But it does work on the housecarls (e.g., Lydia). You must dismiss them beforehand, and rehire them afterward. Absolutely save before you attempt. The Wabbajack can kill them instantly, as I experienced once myself.

And don't do it in your home. Shiz will fly everywhere.

Yes, please save before doing this. It can and will kill housecarls...oops!

Are you sure it doesn't work on Aela? She seemed to level up properly after becoming non-essential, but maybe it was all in my head.

Make sure you give your follower crappy armor prior to wabbajacking them because once you wabbajack them and they turn into a creature their armor is gone.

As stated you have to dismiss your follower and take everything you've given them since Wabbajack can reset their inventory upon transformation. To be super thorough, maybe do it like this:

1) Hire follower.

2) Travel off and away from guards/witnesses.

3) Take everything you can from your follower then dismiss them.

4) Wabbajack Wabbajack Wabbajack. They have to transform into a bunny/chicken/Dremora Lord/something not-human.

5) Wait for them to change back, re-hire them.

6) ???

7) Profit!


Also worth re-noting that it doesn't work on essential followers. So basically Mjoll the Lioness, Erandur, Cicero, both Dark Brotherhood Initiates, and Derkeethus.

I did it with Lydia and it appears to have worked fine. Also, I forgot to take the Legendary Orcish armor from her before doing so. When she went from being a mudcrab back into being Lydia, she was in her normal steel armor; but the Orcish gear was still there, so it all worked out just great. It's weird seeing Lydia be so kickass. I think I'll just keep her for the duration of this character.