Serana and Follower Frameworks

[DirebearCoat]

So, I was reading, in various locations on the Web, that "Yes, you can use AFT, or EFF, or any other Follower Framework, with Serana."

I also read, "No.  You can't use AFT, or EFF, or any other Follower Framework with Serana."

However, I also read, "You have to finish the Dawnguard quest line before you can use AFT, or EFF, or any other Follower Framework with Serana."

So...  Which is it and why, or why not?

[Gunslinger808]

I don’t use AFT, NFF or any other as I use the Serana dialog add on.

However from what I’ve read, wait till the Dawnguard quest is completed as it may glitch certain quest if you give her certain commands via AFT or other during that quest since it’s so involved. 
Most notable is missing certain conversation lines or cues that further a part of the quest.

 

After Dawnguard if you haven’t modified her other than visually she should react like any other NPC regarding follower tweaks. 

[7531Leonidas]

If you use NFF, there is SPID-NFF-Add Ignore Token ( https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/82945 ).  Once Dawnguard is over, take the token away.  I don't remember having any problems w/Serana and NFF, however.  Once or twice, I have had to 'resetai' in the console for some NPCs, I don't remember if Serana was one of them or not.

I do use SDA with NFF, and haven't had any problems over the last couple of years, that I could lay at the feet of the combination.

Edited October 19 by 7531Leonidas
add SDA info

[scorrp10]

AFT integrates a follower upon using the universal "follow me I need your help" line.  Custom followers with their own 'recruitment' dualogue are not managed.   However, you get an "AFT make follower" spell that lets you integrate ANY NPC if you wish so.  

And yes, with vanilla Serana, best to integrate her after completing DG.  With SDA, it is best to not integrate her at all.

[SirCadsimar]

I use EFF and SDA, and I wouldn't import Serana into EFF even if I wasn't using SDA.  My playthroughs on PC haven't lasted long enough to complete the Dawnguard questline (always have issues with modded playthroughs and have to restart completely eventually, for various reasons like mod conflicts not detected by MO2, consistent CTDs in certain places or whatever), so I can't answer any questions about that (like importing her into EFF after that questline is completed, etcetera).
Once or thrice back when I was still on Xbox1 years ago, I imported her into AFT/iAFT, and that was a mistake.

Edited October 23 by SirCadsimar
even more info

[DirebearCoat]

Thanks for all of your replies.  That helped to clear some of this up, for me.

[AaronOfMpls]

Yah, you can have EFF installed, but Serana will stay outside it; she'll be controlled separately from your other, more standard followers.  She doesn't use the vanilla follower dialogs, and adding her to EFF's system risks breaking her (as far as I know), especially while Dawnguard's quests involving her are still in progress.

NFF apparently does have support for Serana (mentioned on the mod page).  Though I don't know the details offhand, and haven't tested it myself, since i haven't tried NFF myself.  (Been using EFF since well back in Oldrim.)