Starting the player with perks

[dkraz3175]

Hello all,

 

I'm new to the whole modding so forgive me if this is something easily fixable but I was wondering if there is anyway to start a character with perks.

 

I have created a perk that makes my character silent while sneaking and adds the DA02ArmorShadow effect but I have no way of adding it to my custom race (or any race). I tried to create an effect that adds the perk and then put it into an ability which shows up on my race specials list but it won't show up or activate in game.

 

When I add the perk to a skill tree and purchase it, it works just fine, but I want this to be a race specific skill and from what I know, I can't make a race specific skill tree or add skill trees at all.

 

I've tried making a magic effect with the condition of "IsSneaking" but that does nothing. I chose to make it a perk because I can set the entry point to "apply sneaking spell" and choose the spell I want to automatically be cast whenever my character is sneaking. Again, it works as a purchased perk but any magic effect that references it (under the "perk to apply" dropdown) won't work.

 

Fence is a good example for what I want to do. It's a perk you can but in the skill trees but there's an ability called "perkfence" in the CK that can be added in the race specials list and works with no problem.

 

Any help is appreciated.

[Maverick827]

How are you adding the ability to your character?

[dkraz3175]

I'm adding it in the race screen on the general tab.

[Maverick827]

http://www.creationkit.com/Race

 

  Quote

Specials: Any ability-type spells can be placed here, and will be inherited by all members of this race. (Note that if you try to add a special ability to a race that doesn't have any already, the Creation Kit doesn't recognize you've changed anything and won't save the change. To get around this, add the ability, make a change to some other option, and press OK. Now you can go back in and undo your other change if desired.)

Could this be the problem?

[dkraz3175]

  On 6/4/2013 at 8:05 PM, Maverick827 said:

http://www.creationkit.com/Race

 

  Quote

Specials: Any ability-type spells can be placed here, and will be inherited by all members of this race. (Note that if you try to add a special ability to a race that doesn't have any already, the Creation Kit doesn't recognize you've changed anything and won't save the change. To get around this, add the ability, make a change to some other option, and press OK. Now you can go back in and undo your other change if desired.)

Could this be the problem?

 

I doubt it as I read that too when searching for answers. I create my race by duplicating another race and then I change the specials. Even as a just in case I did what it suggested and made sure to change starting health each time and then going back in to correct it.

 

Thanks for the help though.

[Maverick827]

I think you'll just have to do more testing to track down what the issue is, because doing the following (what it sounds like you've already tried) doesn't leave much room for error:

ScriptName MyRacialAbilityScript extends ActiveMagicEffect
 
Perk Property MyRacialPerk Auto
 
Event OnEffectStart(Actor akTarget, Actor akCaster)
akCaster.AddPerk(MyRacialPerk)
EndEvent

Magic Effect > New

 

Effect Archetype: Script

Casting Type: Constant Effect

Delivery: Self

 

Papyrus Scripts: MyRacialAbilityScript

Properties > MyRacialPerk: Your Perk

 

-----

 

Spell > New

 

Type: Ability

Casting: Constant Effect

Delivery: Self

 

Effects: Your Effect

 

-----

 

Race > Your Race

Specials: Your Ability

[dkraz3175]

I haven't made any attempts to accomplish the goal via scripting yet. I looked into it and felt that it was a bit too advanced for where my skills currently lie. I'm still trying to figure out how to decipher most of the wording and descriptions in the CK (like how the backstab perk equals 6 times damage with a 2.0 multiplier applied to "sneak attack damage mult" while assassin's blade does 15 times damage with a 2.5 multiplier?). I noticed certain Magic Effects use strictly scripting but I don't know how to even look at them and try to figure out what I can take from it.

 

Is the script you posted above (MyRacialAbilityScript) already in game or would it be something I have to do on my own? I'd love to learn a bit about scripting but I don't know where to even start as it applies to this game.

 

Thanks for you help

[Maverick827]

Backstab and Assassin's Blade have values of 2.0 and 2.5 because they're cumulative. Notice how they say value = value * 2.0, meaning that it's taking the current value and multiplying it by 2, and the result of that is the new value. On their own, Daggers have a sneak attack bonus of 3x normal damage. Backstab increases this to 6x normal damage, so you have 3 * 2.0 = 6. Assassin's Blade increases this to 15x, so you have 6 * 2.5 = 15.

 

MyRacialAbilityScript is just a name I gave to the Script. You'd have to create that yourself. Skyrim uses a scripting language called Papyrus. You can learn about it here: http://www.creationkit.com/Category:Papyrus

 

Basically, what you do is you write code like that in some text editor (you can do it inside of the Creation Kit itself, though there are better choices) and then import it into the Creation Kit attached to something, like a MagicEffect or a Quest. For an editor, I would suggest Notepad++. Setting up Notepad++ to use Papyrus is a bit involved, but there's a guide for it here: http://www.creationkit.com/Notepad%2B%2B_Setup

 

In this case, that code I posted "extends ActiveMagicEffect," so you can attach it to a MagicEffect. Because it extends ActiveMagicEffect, you can have it listen for the "OnEffectStart" Event. When your MagicEffect "starts" (when the spell hits its target, or when you cast the spell on yourself, or when you use a Power, etc.) that Event is fired off. Since the script is listening for it, the code inside of that Event is executed.

 

So your race starts with a new Ability you create. Once the Ability is applied to your character (which should happen automatically on character creation if you add it to the race), its OnEffectStart event is fired. Since your script is listening for that, it runs the code inside, which adds your perk to the player.

 

If you don't want to set up Notepad++ right now:

 

1. Create a MagicEffect with the values I gave in my other post.

2. After it's created, go back in to edit it and look in the bottom right corner. You'll see "Papyrus Scripts."

3. Click "Add," select "New Script," and click "Ok." Name it whatever you want and leave everything else alone.

4. Right click on the script that's created and select "Edit Source."

5. Paste the code I wrote above into the window. Make sure the script names are the same. Save it with ctrl+s and let it compile (there shouldn't be any errors)

6. Click on the script and select "Properties"

7. Click on the Property and click "Edit Value." Select your Perk and click "Ok"

 

Now follow the rest of my other post. Make an Ability with this MagicEffect and add that Ability to your Race's "Specials."

[dkraz3175]

You have just given me at least a day's worth of learning and I thank you soooo much for it. I will be diving into everything you just posted and hopefully replying with my results in a day or two. Also thanks for clearing up the sneak attack bonuses. I didn't realize that daggers automatically received a triple damage bonus; it all makes perfect sense now.

 

I'll get into this ASAP and get back to you. Kinda wishing you hosted an online class in this stuff now, lol.

 

Thanks again.

[dkraz3175]

OK, so in the week it's been since last I posted I have dived the depths of papyrus scripting and damn near drowned.

 

First off, Maverick827, your advice (while extremely helpful) didn't work for me. I'm certain it's because of my ability though as the method and coding work just fine for other perks that I tested it on.

 

I think the problem is the ability itself so I think I'll bring this thread to an end and seek help with the scripting for the ability in a separate thread. Thanks again Maverick827, you introduced me to a whole new way of getting what I want from this creation kit and after a week of failed attempts and partial successes, I think I'm ready to learn more!