How do you deal with followers?

[blargney the second]

Well, I usually make them do spins for a while, flip them over a couple of times, then dip them at the end of the song.

Oh.. wrong sort of follower! ;p
-blarg

 

[haiiro]

This is a new campaign, set in Freeport. The party has just reached second level, and they're all so terrified of getting killed that it's taking us ages to accomplish anything. So I thought that if they had a 3rd level warrior following them around, perhaps they would be braver.

I'd come at this from a different angle. Why are your players so afraid of getting killed (I mean, more so than normal, from the sound of it)? If you don't know why, I'd say put on the metagame hat for a few minutes before your next session and just ask them.

Or, contrive to give them some NPC support in their next couple of fights -- but not permanently. I'm not sure adding a long term follower is the way to go.