LE Dynamic Family Life (A Humble Mod Request)

[ViolentSound13]

Hello,

 

 

There are tons of mods out their dedicated to all aspects of game mechanics in Skyrim. There is one particular mechanic that always has felt weak and bland. That aspect happens to be domestic life. Although you are able to purchase a home in various cites, or build your own in various locations, get married and with Hearthfire adopt children. It's always felt bland, boring and honestly the weakest aspect of the game

 

While I realize Skyrim isn't a social sim, and being husband/parent isn't integral to the experience , I still think that a mod can offer real improvements to this area and offer a better opportunity to take a break from dragon slaying, crypt raiding, bandit hunting...you get the point. There have been so many mods out there that fix different areas of gameplay, and there have been (some) mods that improve some of the family life, such as being able to adopt more kids...But there has not been a mod that enhances this aspect. It would be great for immersion, allow you to spend hours of extra time in game. Basically, this mod would make it so that, If you've completed all that there is to complete, then you can spend the rest of your time living life in skyrim, and have it be entertaining and eventful. Hours of possible content.

 

I have some ideas to start this, but i feel there would be so much more to add this. But basic ideas would be, More dynamic and random events for you wife and family. This could lead to better relationship building and mini quests that you would have to complete. Paying taxes...This one is simple but based on the home you own, you'll have to pay taxes on the building, which means you'll have to have a steady flow of income. Your Children and Wife would have loads more to do during their day to day, and more options for your wife to work.

 

Your wife will make breakfast and dinner everyday, and you will be able to eat at the dinner table with them. Kids can go to school at certain times of the day, make friends, make enemies and must be home before dark. Kids can be taught various different skills, and based on the skills it may take them a while to learn. Some kids will be born with signs which affects what skills come naturally to them.

Your wife will clean, take your children out to visit places, and if they choose, work at an inn or a store. You or your wife must go shopping at the local stores, to find ingredients needed to make dinner.

There would be loads more dialogue options as well, that improve your relationships. Housecarls can also play a very large role to the family Dynamic

 

There would be more jobs you can do to help out around the city, (If you own a Hearthfire House you can turn it into a working farm, harvest materials and ship the out to the nearest holds receiving income and being self sufficient can help reduce costs)

 

 

Most of these ideas are limited to vanilla cities, Hearthfire homes i'm sure there is a plethora of things you could add, i just can't think of any right now. This mod request is focused on improving the overall life aspects to Skyrim, so you can feel more apart of it.

 

 

Now i know nothing about modding, so I have no idea how realistic any of this would be. I know it would take a long time to make, and I'm not sure there is anyone out there who still has the patience to develop so much time into making a mod such as this. But i think it could be a great improvement of the Role-Playing elements in Skyrim, and can even turn into something that's DLC sized.

[BakedTreat123]

That sounds like an awesome mod, hopefully someone out there takes the challenge. Good luck to anyone who does.

[Krovi]

I'm going to bump this thread because what you have just said it's completely correct, Hearthfires is pretty cool, but somehow I think that Hearthfires has so much potential to make the domestic life more playable, I've been hunting for such mods ever since I got Hearthfires and I haven't been able to find anything, the closest mod I was able to found was Companion Vilja and Interesting NPCS. They may not have those points you wrote about but at least they have a few scenes with children and makes the family life more active.

 

I am one of the biggest supporters of making a mod that could improve the domestic life in a more dynamic way, such as mini-quests, scenes, etc...

If I had the resources I would put my entire attention into making a mod for all of us Hearthfires lovers but alas I don't, my rig is just a potato in steroids so I am able to run skyrim but the CK just kills my Computer.

 

I'm saving up to buy a custom computer so I can make mods for skyrim and when that time comes I'll make sure to create such a mod, and I'll search for voice talents so they could help me making it, but for now. It would be very nice to see someone with enough modding knowledge and love for Hearthfires to make such a mod.

 

But I feel you man, I hate seeing people using their wives as only vendors and interacting with their children is just a Chore instead of being someting dynamic, random and smooth. I've seen followers using the Favor system or Relationship system where your relationship with said NPC increases or decreases, someone told me that making such things it's a "kick-in-that-place-that-shall-not-be-named" but I agree with the OP, it would add TONS of content to Hearthfires.

 

Hell, if I could I would even make Custom, voiced, and with custom AI Spouses NPCS for all my Hearthfire and Immersion brothers and sisters, but as I stated before, I don't have the resources nor the skill, but I am eager to begin modding.

[varsaigen]

I have plans to make a Family Mod very close to this already. Though mine is still a long ways away (Too many things to do, and not enough time to do them. Also a list of projects to complete), this thread is much closer to what is possible than another mod I recently read on the same subject. (It got crazy)

 

On this subject, I had been thinking of what is simple:

---Scheduling: Children may follower spouse to their shop on some days, while attending classes in the city on others, or helping around the farm. On other days, they might play in the woods, or in the house during certain hours of the day. Family meals, scripted with a number of dialogue options and scripts for topics (voice acted preferably).

--- Interaction: Custom animations like hugging, kissing, reading with children, etc. (I'm actually looking into Paired Animations for a carry option I can use in my mods. Carry wounded, livestock, pets, children, etc.) Play songs around the fire.

 

Much of this is simple enough to create in the Creation Kit, though one might have to set up paths and boundaries for wandering. There would be little we'd have to add to further expand it. But suggestions are welcome. (Just keep it sane) :D

[CaptainCanada23]

varsaigen, I would be one of the first people to download that mod because ever since I got hearthfire I've been looking for mods that enhance this. Every idea here is great and I hope someone makes this possible for all us Hearthfire and immersion fans. I've seen other threads that want to add things like, tucking children in bed, apprencticing them for jobs like blacksmithing, and actually interacting with your family instead of saying, "hi how much money do you have for me?" or "hey son here's a piece of candy, now go somewhere else." It would add so much to the game after you've done everything and make skyrim a little more interesting. Good luck to anyone attempting this, I hope to see it on the nexus or steam soon.

[kdridders]

I'm currently planning/making a modding framework for this very idea.

 

I'm currently working on a up to date marriage mod to overhaul the current system. The framework will eventually try to include everything from courtship -> grand kids haha (well maybe too far :P)

 

I'm only good on the scripting side of things so voice actors, modelers etc would be needed should the mod get anywhere ;-)