Windhelm is broken, scenes and dialogue do not work

[TheAmazingDerpMan]

On my most recent game, I have encountered several major issues with Windhelm. First and foremost, none of its citizens have any of their unique dialogue, and none of its scenes play. The opening scene with the Nords bullying the Dark Elf does not start, and talking to people only causes them to say the basic "Need something?", "Hmmm?", or "What can I do for you?" lines, and none of the ones that set them apart (i.e. "The townsfolk call me Captain, because I used to be a sailor.")

 

Because of this, I'm inclined to believe that the "DialogueWindhelm" quest, which holds all of their unique lines, had not started properly. However, attempting to start it with console commands does nothing, and I am trying solutions in the CK to get it to start and function, but to no avail so far.

 

But wait, it gets weirder. None of Windhelm's merchants (blacksmith, general store, innkeeper, etc.) will give me the option to barter. This one isn't an issue of a quest not starting properly, as all merchant bartering is handled by the "DialogueGeneric" quest, which works perfectly fine in all the other cities. The cherry on top is that the White Phial apothecary is closed and locked 24/7, for no apparent reason.

 

Why would this only occur in one city? Is it an error with factions?

 

I have not begun the Civil War. I have the Unofficial Patches, but they are only a few of over 100 mods I'm running. I'm still going through my load order to try and determine a culprit, and will probably take the opportunity to do some spring cleaning in my data folder. If anyone can help me out, it would be much appreciated.

Edited June 17, 2013 by TheAmazingDerpMan

[ripple]

Post your BOSS log (with the messages), including the list of plugins not recognized by BOSS if one is generated. Enclose them in spoiler tags so they don't clutter the screen.

[TheAmazingDerpMan]

All right, I've just run BOSS, and this is what it churned out:

 

Summary Tab:

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Plugin Type Count Recognised (or sorted by user rules) 113 Unrecognised 43 Inactive 14 All 156 Plugin Message Type Count Warning 0 Error 6 All 36

• Your masterlist has been updated to revision 7209 (2013-06-17).
• No change in recognised plugin list since last run.
• Note: Latest BOSS thread
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• Note: Your SKSE is up-to-date.

 

SKSE Tab:

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• SKSE Version: 0.1.6.15
• CFM_extensions.dll
• TKHitStop.dll

 

Recognized Plugins:

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These plugins are recognised by BOSS and have been sorted according to its masterlist. Please read any attached messages and act on any that require action.

• Skyrim.esm Active
• Update.esm Active
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• Lanterns Of Skyrim - All In One - Main.esm Active
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• SkyMoMod.esm Active
• portal2mod.esp Active
  • Contains dirty edits: 5 ITM, 0 UDR records. Needs TES5Edit cleaning. A cleaning guide is available here.
• HighResTexturePack01.esp Active
• HighResTexturePack02.esp Active
• HighResTexturePack03.esp Active
• Ash Pile Expiration.esp Active
  • Error: Delete. Already included in Unofficial Skyrim Patch.esp.
• bardsfix.esp Active
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• CombatMusicFix.esp Active
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• Unofficial Skyrim Patch.esp Active
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• chopping_block_wood_fires.esp Active
  • Error: Delete. Fixed in Bethesda's official update February 2013.
• Unofficial Dawnguard Patch.esp Active
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• Unofficial Hearthfire Patch.esp Active
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• alchemysatchels.esp Active
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• Lanterns Of Skyrim - All In One - Default.esp Active
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• oblivious horses (ess stam speed).esp Active
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• ORM-Arvak.esp Active
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• smeltdown_ingots_osr.esp Active
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• DeadlyDragonsArmory.esp Active
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• nightingaleportal.esp Active
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• dd - realistic ragdoll force - realistic.esp
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• VampireInverterDG.esp Active
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• Solstheim Climate Overhaul.esm Active
• okaazah.esp
• joethemudcrab.esp Active
• slightly reduced npc greetings.esp Active
• mehrune's razor increased proc.esp Active
• practical shouts.esp Active
• nightingalebladetemperingfixtestv1.esp
• so_ikarop.esp Active
• wuuthradimproved.esp Active
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• uncle sheo dawnguard.esp Active
• uncle sheo hearthfire.esp Active
• uncle sheo dragonborn.esp Active
• conjure_coffin_dawnguard.esp
• fasterhorses.esp
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• random_patches.esp Active
• housepurchasefix.esp Active
• landlord.esp

 

There are a few in here which aren't actually set to load, i suppose that calls for more extensive spring cleaning

Edited June 17, 2013 by TheAmazingDerpMan

[TheAmazingDerpMan]

UPDATE: I've done some digging in TES5Edit and it does seem that this quest not being present/running would also affect the bartering dialogue options not being available, as well as stores being permanently closed, so there is no problem with DialogueGeneric. I have also used the program to clean my masterfiles, and the .esp's which needed it.

 

I'm going to create a spell with a scripted effect which will test whether or not the quest is running, starting, or stopping, and display messages accordingly. I'll have results in just a bit.

 

RESULTS:

 

Some luck, I've found that a Stop quest command followed by a reset quest command restores the unique dialogue, but it still hasn't taken care of the vendors. I'll have to sort out a workaround for them.

Edited June 18, 2013 by TheAmazingDerpMan

[ripple]

1) Cleaning: clean the plugins flagged by BOSS as containing 'dirty edits' using TES5Edit, including the patch and DLC plugins. You'll need to remove identical to master entries as well as undelete/disable deleted references.

 

•   Quote

  savaghost's pack o tests.esp Active

  • Contains dirty edits: 39 ITM, 106 UDR records. Needs TES5Editcleaning. A cleaning guide is available here

   

• It's been a while since I've seen a mod with this many deleted references. This is very amateurish work, if the mod author does not know that deleted references can cause CTDs if they are referenced by another mod loading later in the load order (which is why they need to be set to disabled instead).

 

2) Maintenance: go through the entire BOSS log and look for any error messages, then attend to them. For example...

 

•   Quote

  • Ash Pile Expiration.esp Active
    • Error: Delete. Already included in Unofficial Skyrim Patch.esp.
  • bardsfix.esp Active
    • Error: Delete. Already included in Unofficial Skyrim Patch.esp.
  • CombatMusicFix.esp Active
    • Error: Delete. Already included in Unofficial Skyrim Patch.esp.

   

Since you have USKP, these mods should be uninstalled. There were a few errors I saw when I skimmed the log, so make sure you catch them all.

Try disabling the plugins not recognized by BOSS to see if one of them is the 'culprit.' Is this only happening in Windhelm? Have you tried any other cities?

[TheAmazingDerpMan]

Okay, this is slightly awkward. I've managed to fix it, even though I still can't pinpoint how it happened.

 

I've done a lot of cleaning in TES5Edit and removed several plugins which were returning errors, including the ash piles, bards fix, combat music, and savaghost's pack. Even after that, it still didn't work.

 

So, I wrote a script to stop the quest, reset it, and force several aliases to the correct actors, and now all the dialogue and merchants are working just fine. A couple of the scenes didn't fire, but I can live without them.

 

I get the feeling I may never know what caused it, but hopefully nothing like this will happen again now that I'm taking better care of my data folder

 

Still, thanks for responding

 

 

P.S. - Windhelm was the only city affected by this. It all centered around the DialogueWindhelm quest

Edited June 18, 2013 by TheAmazingDerpMan

[ripple]

You can actually just use console to stop/start specific 'quests' (after getting their quest ID from the wiki). I suspect one of the mods containing 'dirty edits' probably 'overwritten' something not intended and caused the (quest) dialogue to not start. Another good reason to clean plugins.

[mandalore1928]

hey I just got the exact same thing on my most recent file.

no scene starting and only generic Dialogue on every NPC in Windhelm.

 

I just started a new save with exactly the same mods loaded and get no problem <.<

Also none of the mods mentioned in your list is one I recently installed

 

Can you tell me the kind of console workaround you used to fix the dialog windhelm quest thing?

or send your script?

 

for now I'm just going to pretend people in Windhelm don't like me :D

[Luckskiwaker]

3 Years and no answer? I have the same issue. And in a new save I don't have it.

So, just like the last post:

Can you tell me the kind of console workaround you used to fix the dialog windhelm quest thing?

or send your script?

[darkphoenixff4]

  On 7/31/2016 at 1:07 PM, Luckskiwaker said:

3 Years and no answer? I have the same issue. And in a new save I don't have it.

So, just like the last post:

Can you tell me the kind of console workaround you used to fix the dialog windhelm quest thing?

or send your script?

Three more years, and I have the same problem. It's Windhelm specific.