Just got a case of companions AI absolutely not caring , but it was one of the auto-hostile with a night creature and my "companions" absolutely didn't cared (and neither the night creature went after them), odd because on a previous night creature hunting, they helped.
It is as annoying to me as the allies of an AI that does not care at all when you attack one of them :/
But that's not something reserved to the new 44.01/.02 version as i had observed these problems (your companions or allies to your enemy passivity) since the df2014 release unfortunately
The AI reaction really needs improvements.
how do you use pedestals?!?!?! I've seen then everywhere but interacting with artifacts near then or pressing g on them does nothing...what do I do?!
I have not yet met a pedestal with an artifact on it, but from the empty ones i found (every meadhall has lots) pedestals are basically containers, so :
When you want to put an object on a pedestal, move in front of one and press p (the "put an item in a container" function)
When you want to take an object that is on a pedestal, go on the pedestal that has the object and just press g to get the item "contained" in it.
edit : when you need a dentist in Dwarf Fortress you can always count on a night creature
Though that's probably very painful.