NPCs with practice melee package sometimes practicing ranged

[TheRomans]

I have noticed that NPCs in a practice melee package sometimes practice ranged instead. Is there a way to prevent this other that simply removing the practice melee package from their AI? I do not want companions wearing out their bows and using up the magicka charge in them. I have previously removed any practice ranged packages from them.

[Striker879]

The game processes packages from the top of the list down and runs the first one it comes to that satisfies conditions (time, percent chance, available equipment etc). Make sure their practice melee is listed above their practice ranged and that they have a melee weapon in working condition in their inventory.

[TheRomans]

I had already removed the practice ranged package from their AI in the CS. They are running the Practice Melee package but still sometimes do practice ranged.

[Striker879]

Could be that because they have arrows and a bow in their inventory and have a higher skill in Marksman than either Blade or Blunt the game "substitutes" practice ranged for the practice melee that you have left for them. Do a test by using the console to bring their melee skill up to the same or higher than their ranged (so "getav marksman" then "getav blade" and then "modav blade x" where x brings their blade up to or slightly above their marksman result). If my theory is correct then they should always practice melee as long as they have a blade weapon in inventory.

 

If it does turn out I'm right then the only option for actual gameplay may be take away all of their practice packages away or live with them using the bows even when you'd prefer they don't. Don't know about how you are in your game but my guy always has gold out the whazoo from about level 10 or so ... I'd just cart them off to see a smith and pop in to see Vigge or similar on a regular basis, though with them I guess I wouldn't mind fixing their stuff and recharging myself (generally I use smiths and Mage's Guild for that so that stuff doesn't get repaired beyond 100%, though for recharge it doesn't seem to matter if you recharge yourself or use the guild, the items still don't stack in containers).

[bobbyskel78]

just reading along. i found it funny you said stack, MOO has the 'herder's crook' and the pick axes. they are stackable and for a mage character the crook can be used for blocking and the pickaxe for attacking, if you have two of both they constantly reset to 100 health.