55 replies to this topic

[demidekidasu]

Alright, guys, a progress update for you...

I've got a rudimentary working system for the NPCs now. Still a lot of work to do

Depending on how much I can get done, I might upload a beta test at some point this week. It will be a test of script reliability, performance and stability.

[HeavyDude]

Just gotta ask, ApachiiSkyHair optional? Either way, lookin' forward to it!

[sukeban]

Been watching this thread (and LIAT, of course!) for a while now and I've just got to say that if you are able to make Skyrim's cities any bit like your taverns, this will be an absolutely game-changing mod for immersion.

Just a few questions, in the meantime--

Are you planning on making any unique NPCs or NPCs that function as trainers or merchants?

What sort of AI packages are all these new NPCs going to have? With that sort of population density, they are going to run out of wood blocks to chop at, chairs to sit in, and such? I always imagined that Skyrim's "markets" could be quite a bit more lively (as, back in the days, they would have been--along with taverns--the central meeting/socializing areas for most villagers); perhaps many of the new NPCs could be added to the various Merchant Browser factions to give the feeling of a busy bazaar?

On that topic, the "courts" of the Jarls seem to be rather... sparse (especially Windhelm!). Perhaps adding a dozen generic "nobles" to some of the larger courts would help to make Hold governments more legitimate and fleshed out, as well as making the Jarls themselves feel more important.

Speaking of Hold governments... with a larger population, certainly at least a few more guards would be called for?

Finally, do you plan on physically adding anything to the cities, like new/more market stalls, static objects, interactive objects, etc.? If each new NPC had a generic sandbox AI, it would be really awesome and realistic if they had a few more potential activities when they are in the cities.

*I ask these things because a) I very much enjoy LIAT and am 999% looking forward to this one, and b) I'm working on a realistic economy mod that hopefully one day will be able to play nicely with your mod. To facilitate merchant specialization I am wanting to add many more merchants to the game (especially in towns), but I don't want to duplicate effort/risk incompatibility if you are already headed in that direction.

In any case, CAN'T WAIT for the beta! Keep up the great work!

[demidekidasu]

@HeavyDude: No, not really a fan of that mod myself

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@sukeban: You have some very good ideas there which I will probably use (I will give credit if I do!)

Your concerns about AI packages are something I am already aware of - in fact it is my current stage of development. I have been trying out many different types of sandbox and other various packages, and I think I am going to need to create patrol packages with linked references, which is going to take a long time due to the sheer number of NPCs... But don't worry, I'll sort something out

Sandboxing just looks rubbish, frankly. Same as some of the other packages. Doesn't look natural at all when there are this many NPCs present.

I was not planning to add any new items to the cities as there are already a lot of mods out there that do this already, and I am quite a fan of several in particular. It's not really something I want to start doing as it will bog down development.

BTW, I don't think adding your own merchants will conflict in any way

Beta won't be for a very long time yet. Still got a ton of work to do before anything is in a finished state... I might be doing a sound/script beta at some point though.

[wwwpastacom]

for LTC, you should have random events that could happen to cities
(festivals, drunkeness, bandit raids, etc.)
looking forward to LTC; I liked LIAT

[BenHelps]

Oh yes, an occasional bandit raid would be super cool. The guards always mention it and I find myself imagining what it would be like.

I'm super excited for this mod after having used LIAT. I always felt skyrim lacked a bit of nord cheer and joy and LIAT sure helped replace that feeling of emptyness, it also makes a great environment to chat with the NPCs from Interesting NPCs mod.

Keep up the great work and I look forward to seeing it come to fruition.

[vermillion73]

Ah I was thinking this is just what the game needs. I got my hands on the latest ver of SoS - Civilisations jus before it got taken down, but Im hesitant to use it as my game with its 100+ mods seems really stable atm. If you want I could send you the file if you wanna use some of its sounds as Im fairly certain the author gave up (5-6 months since last update).

Another thing is activities of the people in the cities. I currently use SIM - Skyrim Npc Immersion Mod and Interesting NPC's mod which has really given life to cities and villages, but besides the odd theif appearing in the middle of the day an everyone attacking it, or having a nice conversation with the interesting npcs theres no life/routine or anything to indicate theres function to form. Everyone just walks around like robots. Like pastacom said, there should be events/scripted activities like:

-Groups of people standing in a circle having lively conversations
-Adventurers sitting on the ground discussing their next dungeon raid/relaxing/messing around
-Large groups of people bartering/handing sold goods over to customers/bustling market areas
-Drunkards/thugs first fighting in taverns and backstreets
-Large musical groups playing in taverns (not just a single bard)..
-People talking to prostitutes at night and walking to their homes with them
-Smugglers being arrested
-Theifs robbing people at night
-Other adventurer groups attacking you in taverns/in dungeons/just outside cities

Edited by vermillion73, 05 January 2013 - 05:40 PM.

[Araenion]

It would be really, really cool if you could add events and new community packages(by that I mean that a few people are ALL working together at something, like festivals or morning prayers, funerals, weddings, etc) at a later stage of development of the mod. Adding new things to the cities though, like you said, is something I wouldn't personally like, because there are already so many mods that add stuff to cities or change them completely. Maybe at a later stage of the mod you could work with another city mod's author to create something truly fantastic together. Just an idea, but so far, LTC seems like a must-have for atmosphere in the cities. Brilliant idea for a mod!

[AwwwYeahGirl]

Can't wait for this mod!

[bwhy12]

I love you for making this.