Skyrim Companion Leveling?

[Nantosaiken]

Do your questing comrades in skyrim actually improve on their skills? Or will they forever cower in fear of the almighty lich? I've been runnin around with Faendal for the better portion of the game now. (my lydia left me... so did my dog..)I've given him some pretty sweet ebony heavy armor, a dwarven shield and enhanted ax.. plus a decent elven bow for distance but no matter how many battles he ends up tanking for me (no pun intended) he always end up cowering in fear and acting like a little girl. (no offence intended) Has anyone seen evidence that companion's skills improve in the same way your character's do? Or should I just seek out a new meatbag to carry all my dragon bones?

 

[Harn]

I believe they do, my Lydia could really only chop away with her sword when she started, but lately she's started using shield bashes and such. I think some of your problems with Faendal come from the fact that different companions have different skills they specialize in, and if I'm not mistaken, he tends to be better as a lightly armored archer than a tank.

As a general rule of thumb, look at what the character has equipped by default to determine what it is they do (Faendal has a bow and basic clothing, for example, whereas Lydia has steel armor and a Sword/Shield)

 

[SidingWithTheEnemy]

Something changes overtime...
But it's not entirely positive.

For example: Lydia stopped carrying things for me.

After my big trip to the dwarven ruins I send her out to collect all of the Dwemer Heavy Metal Parts, pots, cups and mistreated her as a packmule. She didn't complain, but a week later in Whiterun if open up her inventory she can't even carry her normal Platearmor set I gave her. Her Carrying capacity is bellow 38 stones I think. But I can order her to pick things up...
Strange...

Maybe she suffers from a severe case of herniated vertebral disk, maybe a visit to a shrine would help, but I ordered her to stay home now.