[WIP] Immersive Jewelry

[Forteverum]

Skyrim Mod: Immersive Jewelry

 

The motivation to create this mod began with a dissatisfaction with fundamental parts of the Skyrim economy. There have been great current and past mods that have redressed problems of too much endgame gold, resale value, and loot scarcity, including such mods as Economics of Skyrim, Trade and Barter, Trade Routes, and Loot Scarcity, but one remaining flaw that continually stuck out for me, even after implementing these mods into my load order, was the value of gold as a precious commodity.

 

In the scheme of Skyrim materials, gold really isn't all that valuable. A single large ingot, the size of a real life "good delivery" bar of gold bullion, which might be valued between $300,000 and $420,000, is worth only 100 septims in the vanilla game. In terms of value in the Skyrim economy, that's worth only around a dozen ales - and even less with the fbartermax/min merchant markup taken into account. This means that finding a large gold brick, such as one might in the trove of the leader of the Blackblood Marauders, or in the secret treasure of Velehk Sain, is not like finding a "treasure" at all. At most the level of reward of finding a gold brick is like finding a coupon for a single free lunch-pleasant, but hardly a worthy quest reward for an immersive world where mercenaries and hired adventurers would risk their lives to get it. If the choice was between adventuring for a gold brick and possibly dying versus just chopping wood about 20 times, I think the choice is clear.

 

The new value change in CCO which raises a gold ingot to 500 septims is a start toward redressing this, but the value of the gold ingot versus its visual mass is also a problem when one considers that in vanilla Skyrim, only two gold rings can be created from the entire block. Even if one upgrades this to 4 gold rings, the visual disparity alone is disturbing and upsetting to immersion. Besides, shouldn't gold be considered more valuable and precious just for the fact that it serves as the underpinning of the Skyrim economic system?

 

Contriving a fix for this problem that was one more puzzle piece for immersion was the original inspiration for this mod. As I will explain below, the main solution is a fix for the crafting system involving precious metals and gems. To do that I've implemented a new system of recipes composed of meshes representing smaller samples of precious metal. For the mod to truly be immersive, however, I soon realized that this fix would have to extend to every precious item in the game, including those added by mods. The makers of the jewelry mods on the Skyrim Nexus graciously allowed me to combine their work together into this mod so that this new system would carry throughout.

 

Mod Features:

Skyrim Gold Standard:

The typical gold ingot used in crafting has been replaced with a smaller, palm sized mesh that more accurately represents the portion of gold useful to a goldsmith or jeweler. This gold ingot is called the "Goldsmith's Ingot" and has the same formID as the vanilla object, meaning it will be compatible with all other mods that use gold ingots in their recipes. This goldsmith's ingot is valued at 500 septims and is considered to be 1/10 of the vanilla object mesh that had been called the gold ingot. The old large brick sized ingot has been re-created as a new object called "Imperial Bullion", and it has been placed in the world in the places where its low value counterpart was once placed - in treasure hordes, bandit-seized cargo of shipwrecks, etc.

 

Silver has also been shrunk to a jewelers' "silversmith's ingot", and has been valued at 40 septims. It's full, brick sized version is ten times the size and value at 400 septims. This makes silver 1/12 the value of gold. Other metals remain the same, with new 1/10 sized jeweler's portions now existing for all of them. Both small and vanilla large versions of the ingots have been distributed through appropriate leveled lists.

 

 

http://www.ockoreanmartialarts.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/smalleringot.jpg

(thanks to Oaristys for Blender work on small ingot meshes)

 

 

Finally, the palm-sized "jeweler's ingots" can in turn be divided into 4 rings. As these rings are in a form that can be broken, twisted, and bent, they serve as the core components for almost every piece of jewelry in Skyrim. This means that 1 Imperial Bullion=10 Goldsmiths' Ingots=40 Plain Gold Rings.

 

COPPER RING:

http://www.ockoreanm.../copperring.jpg

 

Realistic Substance Weights and Debased Septim Coins:

Crafting substances have been reweighted in proportion to each other based on their real life atomic densities. This was done by assuming a starting point of a .01 feather drake/septim coin of pure gold with a volume of 808.93 mm³ (the volume of a US Quarter). Using the density of gold at 19.32 g/cm³, a weight in feathers was calculated as if the "goldsmith's ingot" was constituted of the same mass as 200 septim coins, using this image as a reference: http://www.ockoreanm.../coinstacks.jpg This allowed me to arrive at the weight of gold in Skyrim in feathers, which means gold will have a consistent and realistic weight at any size.

 

Then, both for lore reasons and because of the inflated septim that really doesn't buy that much, I wanted to debase the septim more toward my valuation of 500 septims for one goldsmith's ingot. As the empire is on its last legs, it is not only reasonable, but completely realistic that the Empire would debase its coinage with base metal to pay its troops. This is consistent with the history of the actual Roman Empire in its final centuries as well as with historical periods of inflation such as that of the Weimar Republic. The septim is also visually much larger than a quarter - so I decided to debase the septim so that it was only 40% gold to 60% copper. Using some stoichiometry with the new density of copper at 8.92 g/cm³, I arrived at a proportional weight for copper in Skyrim versus gold of the same volume. Using the ratio from these, I was able to substitute the densities for every other crafting substance in Skyrim, as well as discover a universal feathers/grams ratio that could work for other mods as well. A smelter recipe to produce 1 goldsmith's ingot, 1 coppersmith's ingot, and 2 copper rings in exchange for melting down 506 septims was added.

 

I recommend "Antique Septim Retexture" to make it seem as though the septim has a high copper content. :-)

 

Jewelry Variety:

Having a new framework for jewelry making and crafting recipes would hardly be worthwhile if the 20 or so vanilla jewelry objects were the only things that could be crafted. Immersive Jewelry has incorporated created designs and jewelry objects with the permission of the following artists and mod authors:

 

Jewelry Collections:

Severus - Severus Collection Jewelry

Lautasantenni - Expanded Jewelry Crafting

Petrovich - UNP Jewelry

Gamwich - Engagement Rings

Yuril - Yuril Rings HQ

Aeterna - Aeterna Rings

Jen246801 - Jen's HD Rings

ZZJay - KD Circlets Redone

Johnskyrim - HD Armored Circlets

Newmiller - Newmiller Jewellery

Cleanz0r - Torcs

Jacknifelee- Velvet Cloaks

Saerileth - Gemling Queen Jewelry

Pfaffendril - Jewels of the Nord

Mr. Dave - Bob's Armory rings

PrivateEye - Rings of Old

Testtiger2 - Dovahbling

Favoredsoul - Ultimate Assortment

Elleh - Circlet Replacers

 

 

Individual pieces by Ghosu, Anton0028, Avenger86, Andre7890, Pete40, Edhildil, Merilia, and Ewi

 

 

Leveled List Distribution and Unique Artisans:

In the Vanilla game, Madesi of Riften claims to be among the last "Saxhleel Jewelers", who hawks "traditional Argonian craftsmanship". Likewise, Kerah of Markarth claims to sell the Redguard jewelry crafted by her husband, yet both sell the same vanilla jewelry that Fralia Graymane in Whiterun sells, and can be found in any crypt in Skyrim. Now Saxhleel jewelry will truly be unique, with Madesi's traditional offerings of the pearl and shell jewelry designed by Severus, or the claw rings designed by Mr. Dave of Bob's Armory. Kerah will sell some other unique Creola earrings designed by Severus, new amulets created by myself, as well as the ripple-pattern rings of Yuril that recall the Hammerfell desert sands. Fralia will sell the Nordic pattern rings of the Graymane smith, and Endarie in Solitude has a touch of Imperial flavor. You can also still find the vanilla rings and necklaces.

 

 

http://static-3.nexusmods.com/15/images/110/758255-1413702695.jpg

This is a sample of the Redguard specialized jewelry now found in Kerah's inventory.

 

Draugr jewelry leveled will also be altered so that certain types of jewelries won't be found on them as part of a further step toward making an "ancient" and "antique" feel for their items, in keeping with the spirit of mods like "Skyrim Coin Replacer".

 

New Uniques:

Several quest objects and unique jewelry rewards in vanilla Skyrim have made do with reiterations of vanilla meshes. Contibutions from the following artists and mod authors will give these items some variety:

 

(This list is just a sample!)

 

Fjotli's Locket, by Merilia

http://www.ockoreanm.../02/fjotli.jpg

 

Nightweaver's Band, by PrivateEye

 

http://www.ockoreanm...nightweaver.jpg

 

 

Locket of St. Jiub, by Andre7890

http://www.ockoreanm...4/02/stjiub.jpg

 

Sword of Queen Freydis, by Pete40

http://www.ockoreanm...ueenfreydis.jpg

 

Mage's Circlet, by myself

http://www.ockoreanm...magecirclet.jpg

Ancient Enchanted Ring of Saarthal, by PrivateEye

http://www.ockoreanm...chantedring.jpg

 

Diadem of the Savant, by Anton0028

http://www.ockoreanm...iademsavant.jpg

 

Circlet of Waterbreathing, by Severus

http://www.ockoreanm...erbreathing.jpg

Revelers' Charmed Necklace, by Avenger86

http://www.ockoreanm...mednecklace.jpg

 

Ahzidal's Rings, by FavoredSoul

 

True Geomancy:

Now the gemstone and the setting material of a piece of jewelry determines what type of enchantment is most suited to it. All 2000+ pieces of jewelry have been tagged with keywords which instruct the enchanting system to increase or reduce the potency of enchantments placed on them depending on the type of enchantment. The bonuses and penalties for the material types were drawn from countless references to real world occult lore, such as the works of pseudo-Albertus Magnus and Cornelius Agrippa, as well as references from history. For instance, as it was for the Romans, "onyx" will be disposed toward enchantments that make one excel in battle, and as it was said by Marbodius of Rennes, "if any one wished to strengthen his memory or become an eloquent speaker, he was sure to attain his end by taking possession of a fine emerald". Taking another statement from the 1604 Spanish work "de las Piedras Preciosas", "[emerald] is an enemy of all conjurations and sorceries, hence the arts of the magicians are to no avail if the emerald is in their vicinity when they begin to weave their spells". This means I have made onyx grant bonuses to weapon skill enchantments, while emerald is quite suited to fortify barter, speechcraft, or resist magic enchantments.

 

Setting materials such as gold, silver, or iron also have been tagged to influence enchanting, so that, for instance, the masculine energy of gold favors the proactive arts like destruction, whereas silver, sacred to the moon, influences the passive arts like illusion.

 

This has been tied in to Skyrim lore by the relation of the metals and gems to the planets, as it was for real world astrology and magic. Gold is sacred to the sun, Iron to Mars, etc. In Skyrim lore, the Aedra are considered "the Earth Bones" or Elnofey because they gave of their essence to be constituted in Mundus. The planets which orbit Nirn are considered to be the visual representation of their planes of existence. I will include books that detail the connection of gems and metals to the personalities of particular Aedra. Oftentimes strong clues are given by what material their necklaces or shrines are made out of.

 

Compatibility with CCO:

These items will also all be tagged for compatibility with the MCM menu in Complete Crafting Overhaul's latest iteration by Kryptopyr.

 

 

Progress:

 

More than 2000 pieces of jewelry have already been reworked for their recipes using the new system, or new recipes have been added if they didn't have them. This took the greatest amount of time and it is only after completing it that I have made this WIP post. Objects without ground objects from Newmiller's and Elleh's collections have received them, and all items will be revalued as well as tagged with keywords for True Geomancy as well as CCO.

 

To do:

 

The process of adding items to leveled lists has begun. I just finished implementing new reflecting circlets from Elleh in over 70 variants, and rings from TestTiger2 in 200 variants. All that remains is jeweled variants for Cleanz0r's torcs and Gamwich's Engagement Rings, and then valuations, recipes and enchantment tagging for Velvet Cloaks by Jacknifelee. I just finished Kerah's inventory, and will do Madesi's and Endarie's. I'd also like to make specialized leveled lists for draugrs and dwemer jewelry.

Edited October 19, 2014 by Forteverum

[AnkhAscendant]

This sounds frankly pretty amazing. For some unknown reason I'm a jewelry hoarder in Skyrim, and this really appeals to me. (I admit I clicked on the title thinking "how can jewelry be 'immersive'?" About the time you start talking about equations, I agreed with you. :P )

[Forteverum]

Thanks, Ankh. My line of thinking says that, since a game of Skyrim at its core involves repeatedly going into dungeons, retrieving loot, selling it, then going in again, that the quality and variety of the McGuffins you keep bringing back to sell just might be the MOST important factor of immersion. Dungeon delving is all about TREASURE, so treasure should be interesting , sparkly, and different each time you go. There's already tons of variety incorporated into the improvements in your armor and weapons thanks to the modding community, but the things you're actually finding that constitute this fantasy fortune you're amassing needed a final upgrade!

[Mattiewagg]

This sounds really good. I'll be tracking this.

[Forteverum]

Thanks Matthias. I am a big fan of Simple Taxes.

[Mattiewagg]

Thanks Matthias. I am a big fan of Simple Taxes.

Thank you too!

[Forteverum]

I've completed retextures and variants now for Armored Circlets, new meshes of Elleh's, and most importantly, Severus Collection Jewelry, which now looks better than ever and appears in 8 gem varieties. I do believe there is at least 3000 pieces of jewelry made for this mod. The enchanting and crafting schemas are also finished.

 

What is not finished are the leveled lists. Oh, I can throw them all into the vanilla leveled lists easily enough, but my intention was for there to be new leveled lists that separated ancient from modern jewelries. My question is, considering how long I have been at work on this (longer than one year now), should I upload the mod to Nexus now as is, or wait until the end of the month after I've deepened the leveled lists and finished other features like books and new recipe notes for sale in alchemy shops?

[Forteverum]

I have finished leveled lists for non enchanted jewelries. It proved to be a bit challenging because leveled items groupings are actually limited to 255 spots, like most entries in the Creation Kit. What I ended up doing was splitting all the jewelry into racial categories, but I still found myself filling each leveled list with the maximum entries and sometimes needing to split into three or more and feed them into one super leveled list for that racial category.

 

I have a question for the community:

 

The way I've set it up, you will find specific types of jewelry and only those types when in certain locations such as Dwemer Ruins, or another type in Nordic Ruins. You will not find Dwemer jewelry in ancient Nordic ruins, nor will you find, for example, Imperial or Redguard jewelry.

 

The question I want to ask is, would you like to ONLY find those types of jewelry in their specific crypts so that they are unique and otherworldly and never before seen, or would you be interested in the jewelry on bandits, shops, etc on the surface drawing from all leveled lists combined?

[reyzark]

cant wait for this, great work my friend.

[Mattiewagg]

Perhaps a version for both? I know it may be a lot of work but choice is awesome. Most people would probably prefer everywhere but I'd prefer ehm... racial, but with a small chance of the others. If that's not possible in a time frame you'd like, then just racial.