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Will Lydia Wear Armor I Give Her? Understanding Skyrim’s Follower Mechanics

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Yes, Lydia will wear armor you give her in Skyrim, but only if it’s better than what she’s currently equipped with. Understanding how Skyrim’s follower mechanics work is crucial to ensuring Lydia (or any follower, for that matter) equips the armor you painstakingly crafted or looted. It’s not always as simple as handing her the shiniest new set of Daedric plate; there are underlying systems and hidden “default” items to contend with. Let’s delve into the intricacies of equipping Lydia and other followers effectively, transforming her into the battle-ready companion you envision.

Understanding Lydia’s Armor Preferences

Lydia, as your first Housecarl, is initially equipped with a basic set of steel armor. This armor isn’t visible in her inventory unless she’s deceased, acting as a hidden baseline. Therefore, to get her to equip anything else, the new armor must have a higher armor rating than her default steel set.

Heavy Armor Specialization

Lydia prefers heavy armor. Her skill level in heavy armor is significantly higher than in light armor. This means that to persuade her to wear light armor, it needs to be significantly better than any heavy armor option available to her. If you are trying to equip her with light armor you will need to improve it using Smithing. This can be accomplished with the Arcane Blacksmith perk, enchantments, and potions.

The Armor Rating Threshold

The key to getting Lydia to equip your desired armor lies in the armor rating. The game compares the armor rating of the item you give her to what she’s currently wearing (or her hidden default). If the new item has a higher armor rating, she’ll equip it.

Improving Armor at the Forge

The Smithing skill plays a vital role in ensuring Lydia equips the gear you want. Improving armor at a forge significantly increases its armor rating. Even a seemingly weaker set of armor, once improved to “Fine,” “Superior,” “Exquisite,” or even “Legendary” quality, might surpass her current equipment.

Lydia’s Inventory Management: A User’s Guide

Successfully managing Lydia’s inventory involves understanding her limitations and maximizing her potential. Here’s a step-by-step approach:

Identify Her Current Armor: Even though you can’t see her base steel armor, assume it’s the baseline you need to surpass.
Choose Armor with High Potential: Focus on heavy armor types like Steel Plate, Dwarven, Orcish, Ebony, or Daedric, as these naturally have higher base armor ratings. Dragonbone armor is also an excellent choice.
Maximize Smithing Skill: Invest in the Smithing skill tree and gather materials to improve your chosen armor. The higher your Smithing skill and the better your improvements, the more likely Lydia will equip the armor.
Provide the Armor: Initiate a trade with Lydia and place the armor in her inventory. If the armor rating is higher than what she’s currently wearing, she’ll equip it automatically.
Strategic Enchanting: Enchantments don’t directly affect armor rating, but they can add valuable defensive properties. However, focus on Smithing first to get her to equip the armor, then enchant it.

Bugs and Known Issues

Sometimes, Lydia might be stubborn, especially with specific armor pieces like gauntlets, boots, or bows. This is often attributed to bugs within the game’s follower AI.

Bow Equipping Issues

Lydia might not always equip a better bow, potentially due to the game prioritizing her default bow. A workaround involves giving her a single Daedric Arrow alongside the new bow. This seems to “trick” the AI into recognizing the need for a better bow.

Armor Piece Refusal

If Lydia refuses to equip a specific armor piece, try removing all her armor and then giving her the complete set at once. This can sometimes reset her equipment logic.

Making Lydia Immortal

You can make Lydia immortal by using console commands. To do so, open the console, click on her to get her RefID, and then type “setessential [RefID] 1”. Replacing [RefID] with her actual RefID. This will make her essential, meaning she can’t die. You can also use the console command “setprotected 1” to make her protected, which means only the player can kill her. Remember that using console commands can disable achievements.

Furthering Your Skyrim Knowledge

For deeper insights into game mechanics and educational applications of gaming, visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. Understanding the research and theories behind game-based learning can greatly enhance your appreciation for the intricate systems that power games like Skyrim. The Games Learning Society explores how games can foster creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Lydia and her armor:

Can I force Lydia to wear specific armor? No, you can’t directly force her. The armor must have a higher armor rating than her current equipment.
What’s the best armor to give Lydia? Daedric armor offers the highest base armor rating. Dragonbone armor is also an excellent choice.
Why won’t Lydia equip light armor? She has a higher skill level in heavy armor. Light armor must be significantly better to entice her.
Can I see Lydia’s default armor in her inventory? No, her default steel armor is hidden unless she’s dead.
Does enchanting armor affect whether Lydia will equip it? Enchantments don’t directly affect the armor rating, but they add valuable defensive properties. You need to improve it first.
How do I improve armor rating? Use the Smithing skill and improve armor at a forge.
What happens if Lydia dies? Her death is permanent unless you reload a previous save or use console commands to resurrect her.
Can I steal Lydia’s armor? Yes, using Pickpocket, but she will equip it again if you take all her armor pieces.
Why won’t Lydia use the bow I gave her? This is a known bug. Try giving her a single Daedric Arrow alongside the new bow.
Does Lydia level with me? She levels with you up to level 50. After that, she no longer scales.
Is Lydia a good wife in Skyrim? Many players consider her a dependable and loyal spouse.
Can Lydia become a vampire? Yes, the Dragonborn can turn her into a vampire.
How do I know when Lydia dies? If you can recruit another follower, she’s likely dead.
Can I revive Lydia if she dies? Yes, using the console command “resurrect” after clicking on her body.
Does it matter if Lydia dies? If you prefer to have her as a follower, you may want to reload an earlier save.

Conclusion

Ensuring Lydia equips the armor you desire requires a nuanced understanding of Skyrim’s game mechanics. By focusing on armor rating, Smithing improvements, and understanding her heavy armor preference, you can transform her into a formidable ally. While occasional bugs and quirks might present challenges, these can usually be overcome with strategic inventory management. Remember to explore the rich world of gaming and its educational applications, such as those discussed by the Games Learning Society, to enhance your gameplay experience and appreciate the complex systems that bring these virtual worlds to life. Happy adventuring!