I think it's because I

However my levelling has outgrown her and she's getting weaker in battles (1.3 didn't fix this for me. I've got it, but she's still weaker). It's only a matter of time before I have to babysit her like a porcelain doll. And I'm at a mission in the main story where I'd like her to wait for about a day. But she's gone when I go to get her back. So to continue progress, I have to let her go. But I just can't bring myself to. She's too badass in her custom enchanted Ebony armor and two hardcoe magic staffs I suited her up with. Plus the way she says "I've got your back" when you talk to her.

This is only a problem because of the glitch where you can't re-enlist her (I'm on XBox, so no console commands for me). So once she's gone, she'll be gone for good. Unless of course there's a patch in the future, but I can't see that happening for some time.

The only saving grace is that I plan on getting J'zargo when I get to about level 45, so she'll be gone no matter what. But for the time being... just having a hard time letting a good soldier go...

/first world problems

--edit--

Dangit, missed the last R in the subject line. Mods if you could add that, that would be great.

If you go to this website: http:// www.uesp. net/wiki/ Skyrim:Skyrim

On the top left is a search box, type in Follower. You'll get a page with everything you want to know, including access to a Google spreadsheet with more data.

There's also a way to ensure your follower is level up with you. But you have to be on a PC to get your follower's level through the console, and to level them up if they're lower then you.

Good luck.

Note: delete the extra spaces I put in the URL - don't know if we're allowed to post links.

Yes, Eagle, you can post links.

This was my situation with Lydia. With her health only at 158, at higher levels it became almost impossible to clear a dungeon...most the of the time was spent healing her. I felt really bad because I usually stick with my first companion. When I got the house in Markarth and saw that Argis the Bulwark had health of 566 though, that made the decision easier. Lydia is now safely at Breezehome eating bread and Argis is traveling with me clearing dungeons. It did make for a better playing experience. Good luck.

Strange, use Aela now and she lost 10% health with an hit of an 400 damage bow then I shot her with accident, even if armor caped, legendary+ elven / glass armor this would give her more than 500 health. Yes I run into her as level 2 then she told me about the companions. Level 46 now and has used her constant since level 30.

I`d find it harder to get rid of them if they actually sounded sad about it. They never do.

In Dragon Age, I told someone to leave and sometimes they`d get really upset. I couldn`t get rid of one lady for ages just because of this!

Aranea Ienith tagged along with my melee warrior for awhile. But the combination felt too overpowered to me. Aranea Ienith could destroy a wolf before my character had time to unsheath her sword.

I kept thinking I would dismiss her, but the thought of sending her back to live out her life all alone on that remote, snowy mountaintop made me feel terrible. I couldn't do it.

I finally ended up making a new character and starting over. I couldn't bear to dismiss her.

Until followers are patched, you're damned if you do and damned if you don't...

If you DON'T ever dismiss them, they won't level up with you. They need to "refresh" in order for their level to properly align with yours, and that means dismissing and reacquiring them (which obviously won't work on the Darklight tower chick since she can't be reacquired anyway)

If you DO dismiss them, the next time you acquire them, they'll be able to carry less for you. Each subsequent time you dismiss/reacquire them, they'll carry less and less. This is because each time they get reenlisted by the player, the game drops an additional set of default armor on them (invisibly). Eventually it reaches the point where they can't carry anything at all.

My rules on handling follower
- never hire one
- never refuse one if s/he volunteers
- never dismiss one until his/her death, so far, all died to traps they stepped on

Still not sure what to do.

I think for now I'm abandoning the main quest, and picking a side in the civil war until I'm a high enough level to grab J'zargo and retire Illia properly, instead of out necessity. Guh....

Broke my heart dismissing Kharjo, but Gwyn was using too much melee, not enough destruction. Five minutes later, 'wanna buy a dog?'. How could she resist? Some people never learn.

Can you dismiss them, then sneak up and pick-pocket them - steal the extra armor?

I have dismissed followers only to chase them down and hire them again before they're even out of sight. Sometimes it's hard to let go.

I cant let go of mjoll, whenever I try, it sounds like she thinks she did something wrong and I feel really bad about it, shes such a nice person

Well I couldn't do it.
I let her keep her stuff. Gave her $1,000 gold, took her back home, and said 'dismissed, soldier'.

Played for a few days. Couldn't do it. Re-loaded and the old team is back.

Sorry, J'zargo. Maybe down the road.

That girl will never be a follower again if you dismiss her. its a bug

Oh Gosh Pseron! I had Aranea Ienith as a follower, and we had a blast until I wound up in some cave with one of those real bad ass Dragr bosses. It was a place with a Word wall...and the Boss had a name I forgot.
It took about six deaths/reloads devising strategy and I finally killed that thing (and his several minions). Aranea died and there was no way I was going to reload after that...
I don't think I ever felt so emotionally sad in a TES game. I placed her in a place of dignity, took the armor and weapons she had and put them on the mannequin in the Markarth house as a memorial.
That was not an easy choice.

I'm going to protect Mjoll for a long time and not let that happen, because honestly, I don't think I could bear that again.
Strange how you can get attached to a follower. I never really liked followers in other games, but I thought I'd give it a try in Skyrim.

I am hearing so many lovely things about Aranea from you guys, that I am prioritizing meeting her during my next play session. I can't run around with good old Marcurio forever. Well maybe I could, actually. He's been a great follower for me, mainly because he hangs back and electrocutes stuff, all day, every day. I don't know what my paper tiger-style characters would do without him.

I never used a follower untill I came across Illia, just couldn't leavre her behind in that lonely Tower. I got her a lvl 40 and she really rocks! I gave her, her Mothers Staff back and now pretty much all I'm doing is watching her tearing my enemies apart. I'd bet she could fight Alduin with her right hand while keeping the whole Stormcloak Army at bay with her left (Master Difficulty fyi) Probably gonna marry her at some point^^

I don't use companions, but I may change my mind.

The only time I freaked out about dismissing a companion was when I dismissed Mjoll, who was my wife. When she said goodbye it sounded like we were divorcing. I freaked out, but then she sat down and had a snack.

Then I sat in a dark corner in the room and starred at her to make sure she wasn't going anywhere. And for a fortnight did I sit and stare, and sit and stare.

Jordis has been my companion from the beginning. I cant let her go after she always says she's got my back.

Man, I remember in Ultima 6 there was this one companion that threw a fit and said she would never talk to me again after dismissing me. And she ignored me too. I felt so baaaaaad.

The only way that I'll dismiss Aela the Huntress is if I truly go insane!

I know exactly how you feel, I too have been adventuring with Aranea for ages now and actually we make a great team, she is powerful and I just let her do what she wants, I tend to sneak and let her tank as I shoot arrows from afar, it works great and she actually shows me respect as apposed to sarky Lydia who was like a bull in a china shop.

I feel loath to dismiss her as she has been with me the longest now. She loves one shooting wolves and she gets quite excitable, I think shes spent too much time alone on the mountaintop.