Can't talk to followers anymore

[FreakyDeluxe]

First of all, I am sorry if this is the wrong topic and I would kindly ask to move this post.

 

To my problem:

 

At a seemingly random point during the game all my followers became silent. I can still give them commands, however, by holding down the E button.

 

This is especially annoying as I have to talk to Serana to proceed in the Dawnguard quest line...

 

My PC:

i7 3770S @ 3,1GHz

8GB RAM

Zotec NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti with 2GB VRAM

 

 

 

Output from LOOT

 

 

• Skyrim.esm
  CRC: C665FD56
• Update.esm
  CRC: 56A06335
  Delev, Relev
• Unofficial Skyrim Patch.esp
  CRC: 455F10F3
  Version: 2.0.1
  Delev, Names, Relev
• Dawnguard.esm
  CRC: A288B464
  Delev, Relev
• Unofficial Dawnguard Patch.esp
  CRC: D8A443E5
  Version: 2.0.1
  Delev, Relev
• HearthFires.esm
  CRC: F4DDC851
• Unofficial Hearthfire Patch.esp
  CRC: 923B658C
  Version: 2.0.1
  Names
• Dragonborn.esm
  CRC: BE4E1A0F
• Unofficial Dragonborn Patch.esp
  CRC: 414A4C22
  Version: 2.0.1
  Delev
• Falskaar.esm
  CRC: 809ED26C
  Version: 1.1.2
• ClimatesOfTamriel.esm
  CRC: 918881A7
  Version: 3.1
• MagicDuelReborn.esm
  CRC: 29C4F052
• HighResTexturePack01.esp
  CRC: D596F02A
• HighResTexturePack02.esp
  CRC: D596F02A
• HighResTexturePack03.esp
  CRC: D596F02A
• iHUD.esp
  CRC: 6633B25E
• ClimatesOfTamriel-Dawnguard-Patch.esp
  CRC: 9D7312A5
  Version: 3.1
• Nordic Carved Light Dragonborn ed..esp
  CRC: 7D32D494
• ClimatesOfTamriel-Dungeons-Hazardous.esp
  CRC: BDC66F4C
  Version: 3.1-
• ClimatesOfTamriel-Interiors-Warm.esp
  CRC: B61E85AE
  Version: 3.1-
• calyps-bosmer.esp
  CRC: 4DD42123
• ClimatesOfTamriel-Dragonborn-Patch.esp
  CRC: 9FFF2A85
  Version: 3.1
• Animations.esp
  CRC: 2FF1829
• MagicDuelReborn - Shouts.esp
  CRC: 2F3F4FEB
• Torch Sconce.esp
  CRC: 1B71CD8C
• ClimatesOfTamriel-Nights-Level-5.esp
  CRC: 7D4ED33A
  Version: 3.1
• Cloaks - Dawnguard.esp
  CRC: 56988D38
• Behemoth Dragon.esp
  CRC: F888A494
• Hothtrooper44_Armor_Ecksstra.esp
  CRC: 9229A0B4
• Footprints.esp
  CRC: BFAF15E8
• ImmersiveFP.esp
  CRC: 32393839
• OpenFaceGuardHelmets.esp
  CRC: 14C2E0C
• PM_DragonbornMusic_NoVanilla_v1.1.esp
  CRC: 7CE44F0A
• DYNAVISION Dynamic Depth of Field.esp
  CRC: 6747C29A
  • Note: Make sure you have not switched DoF off in your ini file. If you don't see any effect, open you Skyrimprefs.ini and look for "bDoDepthOfField". Make sure it is set to 1.
• StaticMeshImprovementMod-DragonbornTernFix.esp
  CRC: FBFBE09C
• Footprints - Ash.esp
  CRC: D3E16A61
• AHZmoreHUD.esp
  CRC: A1F06A08
  Version: 1.3.2
• UltimateCombat.esp
  CRC: 6E74ED29
• LordOfWar_TW2.esp
  CRC: 370BEBA1
• AOS.esp
  CRC: CE6F8F35
• dD - Enhanced Blood Main.esp
  CRC: 7AFD4E3E
• dD-Dragonborn-Dawnguard-EBT Patch.esp
  CRC: FE5C3763
• AOS_CoT 3.1 compatibility patch.esp
  CRC: DF9EF78
• ClimatesOfTamriel-Sound.esp
  CRC: 75A1B6EA
  Version: 3.1
• AOS_DGDB Patch.esp
  CRC: C87883FF
• Prometheus_No_snow_Under_the_roof_DG_DR.esp
  CRC: C3F441E4
• Helgen Reborn.esp
  CRC: 91F56C13
  Version: 105.3
• Undeath.esp
  CRC: AD76A514
• SkyTEST-RealisticAnimals&Predators.esp
  CRC: 8C405F08
• DynamicMerchants.esp
  CRC: 1431BE7D
• Hothtrooper44_ArmorCompilation.esp
  CRC: D9079EEB
  Version: 7
  [object Object], [object Object]
• lanterns.esp
  CRC: 90570630
• Light Up Dawnguard.esp
  CRC: 416233D4
• SkyUI.esp
  CRC: 9330CAF7
  Version: 4.1
• Malachit zu Vulkanglas.esp
  CRC: 7C9DC1DF
• PM_DawnguardMusic_NoVanilla_v1.0.esp
  CRC: 89A49894
• PM_DawnguardMusic_v1.0.esp
  CRC: 6A920A02
• PM_DragonbornMusic_v1.1.esp
  CRC: 64F668BE
• SFO - Expanded Diversity.esp
  CRC: 21631A9B
  • Note: Uninstall old version of Skyrim Flora Overhaul if using SFO - Expanded Diversity.esp
• Cloaks.esp
  CRC: D8F94C02
  • Warning: Contains 2 ITM records. Clean with TES5Edit.
• DeadlyMutilation.esp
  CRC: 5D0C081A
• PurewatersDB.esp
  CRC: 1CFB2B6B
• RaceMenu.esp
  CRC: 2765B7D0
• RaceMenuPlugin.esp
  CRC: 8A8A009F
  • Note: RaceMenuPlugin is optional and provides support to alter Height, Breast, Glute and Biceps. If you experience issues with it, disable RaceMenuPlugin.esp and inform the author.
• SFO - Dragonborn.esp
  CRC: C9DB0844
• Unique Region Names.esp
  CRC: EFF79A5
• StaticMeshImprovementMod-DungeonsCliffsIceSkirts.esp
  CRC: 55A8B3B0
• StaticMeshImprovementMod-FurnitureChestSnowFix.esp
  CRC: FA28D596
• StaticMeshImprovementMod.esp
  CRC: 7985AB43
• UFO - Dragonborn AddOn.esp
  CRC: 819B9DE8
• UFO - Ultimate Follower Overhaul.esp
  CRC: AC325F04
  Version: 1.2j
  • Note: For safe install need dismiss all your followers, save, delete all included mods, load again, save and install UFO. For safe uninstall or update see special instructions on mod page.
• Jaggarsfeld.esp
  CRC: FCCCA8BE
• MasterTheTimeAndSpaceTOGGLE.esp
  CRC: FA3FD6C7
• Skyrim Flora Overhaul.esp
  CRC: 3BF12671
• Purewaters.esp
  CRC: 6A32770E
  Version: 4.5
• AesirArmor.esp
  CRC: 8DF1944C
• Killmove Control.esp
  CRC: E6CBA913
• PersonalizedMusic - NoVanillaMusic_v5.0.esp
  CRC: 82CA8492
  Version: 5.0
• PersonalizedMusic_v5.0.esp
  CRC: EB119263
  Version: 5.0
• isilNarsil.esp
  CRC: DE29B539
• PurewatersDG.esp
  CRC: BA836796
• Decapitation-spell-and-raise-skull-minions.esp
  CRC: C3EF5FD3
• vMYC_MeetYourCharacters.esp
  CRC: 62589E59
• Equipping Overhaul.esp
  CRC: DF5214F4
• dovahkiinrelax.esp
  CRC: CCD13DD
• Unique Region Names - Dragonborn.esp
  CRC: A45E7668
  Version: 1.1
• Unique Region Names - Dragonborn COT Patch.esp
  CRC: 1F5558BD
  Version: 3.1
• unrelenting grip.esp
  CRC: 4F0B6ADE
• AOS_CTD_Fix.esp
  CRC: 5DEC311F
• EzEWorldMap.esp
  CRC: F8E6D1F6
• EzEMapSolstheim.esp
  CRC: 3A36C5F1

 

If you need any more info just ask.

 

I did not include the Boss log because i prefer using LOOT because it's up to date. If you need it for some info that only Boss delivers I will post it as an edit.

 

 

[FreakyDeluxe]

Bump

 

Nobody has experience with this issue?

 

:(

[KyuII]

I can't identify any mod that would potentially break the vanilla game and in turn affect followers in such a way in your list. The only mod that affects vanilla game explicitly is helgen reborn but it should not affect followers. Also can you explain what you mean by "silent" ? Does it mean that no dialogue options appear or if only certain dialogue options are off ? Is the problem with all followers or only with Serana ?

Afaik Serana has various glitches so you should check it out through UESP or wikia. With such a list of game it might be painful but try checking mod by mod by turning each on and off and checking if turning any of the mod actually fixes the problem. The last resort would be to clean potential garbage scripts in the save file or reinstalling the game.

[FreakyDeluxe]

First by silent I ment that even though I press E to talk to them nothing will happen. No dialogue menu. No greetings or something. I hear the same sound as if I would look into the sky and press E (a kind of clicky noise).

 

And yes the problems occurs on all three followers. But not those who were never in my group like Durak. I personally thought it had something to do with the defeat of Vyrthur. Because in this sceen all three of my followers fought him although I am supposed to have only one. Maybe that broke somthing because after that fight Serana refused to talk to me. I hope this makes sense to you :S

 

And finally to script cleaning. Funnily I just found a tool today to allow me to preform this task. It's called "Papyrus Data Transfer" and although it appears pretty powerfull I have never heard of it. Thus I had no idea how to use it and my first "cleaning" resulted in a blackscreen (no woories, I have a backup).

 

So I would be very happy to get some kind of tutorial so that I can actually clean my save.

 

When it comes to reinstalling I doupt that it would help at all because I do not believe that any game data is damaged

 

And, of course, THANKS for reading this wall'o'text and your support. Means a lot for me to be heard :)

[KyuII]

UFO might be at fault here, follower overhaul mods tend to present issues pertaining to followers so you should always check them for dirty edits and proper compatibility, also, your papyrus note might have something about it check it too.

On another unrelated note, I have heard of rumors going around that support for UFO is over now.

Use Save game script cleaner http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/52363/? and check if it fixes it.
I also use Tes5edit with mods when using any mod usually http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/25859/? unless it specifically says that its already been cleaned.

Edited July 12, 2014 by KyuII

[FreakyDeluxe]

Strange, I could swear I had all UFO esps installed…. However, I have reinstalled/redownloaded all UFO mods since the post of my LOOT output and thus I have since installed the Dragonborn-Hearthfire add-on. Bug persists still…

 

I also made use of the script cleaner but with no real success. After I watched the video provided in the mod’s description I tried to load my save, click on “Fix all #> “and then “Fix ScriptInstances”. But when I then tried to load my save but all I get is a black screen after the loading screen. Strangely I can hear immediately after the loading screen some footsteps so the game has technically loaded…

 

And Tes5Edit is also used by me, so all me mods should be cleaned before I use them.

 

But after all I think I have to uninstall all my mods and look for the faulty one. But I won’t be able to until tomorrow. As so as I have any progress I will post them here.

 

If you have any other idea I might check just post them, I’m going to read them J

[FreakyDeluxe]

So first off, sorry for my long absence. My mother’s PC just thought “What a good timing for going all mad”

 

But I finally got around to uninstall mod by mod. During this process, like after every 4th uninstalled mod, I loaded my save but never had any positive result.

 

However, there are also some mods I simply can’t uninstall. These are:

 

• Deadly Mutilation
• XP32 Maximum Skeleton
• Equipping overhaul

 

Whenever I uninstall one of them I get a instant crash when loading my save. No error massage or something similar.

 

Mods I did not uninstall because I don’t think they would cause any troubles anyway:

 

• SkyUI
• Personalized Music
• Dynavision
• Skyrim HD 2K
• Pure Waters
• Spell Master of Time and Space
• iHUD

 

One thing I noticed, however, is after I uninstalled UFO all my followers except Serana went back home. Although I could still not talk to Lydia or Erandur I could talk to any follower in Largashbur. But even more interestingly they were willing to follower me, although I have already Serena in my group, as if Serana was not even there. So I can have 2 followers at a time without UFO. So I think there is something wrong with Serena in general, not just a script being broken which makes her trapped in "can't talk to me because I am dead and regather myself"-mode or something like that.

 

After all I think XP32 is the faulty mod, but I don’t see any possibility to reset/uninstall this mod.

 

If any of you still have an advice or a tool which could help me please feel free to post it, but I honestly think this save is a dead end anyways :/

 

But thanks to you KyuII! You helped me a lot ;)

[saintgrimm92]

Sorry to necro a thread, but I thought instead of making a new one, I can build off of this one.

 

Some possible answer's for the last post about the xp13 skeleton:

As for your problem with xp32, if uninstalling it is causing crashes, it could have been installed incorrectly by a mod manager, or got messed up during download (that kinda stuff does actually happen quite a lot) OR... You have a mod that requires it. Are you using the extended or normal version? xpsms or xpsmse? If you're using xpsmse, then I'll assume you probably are using mods that require that skeleton (why else get the extended one?) such as HDT physics or something. If those are still installed and the skeleton is not, instant crash.

Another possibility is that skyrim is still trying to read that skeleton even after it's removed instead of the default skeleton due to scripts that are still running. Two things you could try is extracting the vanilla skeleton from the meshes BSA and placing it in the data folder (the correct path, not just plopping it in data, think its meshes>actors>character>something) and another possible fix is using the save game cleaner after uninstalling it to get rid of any stray scripts.

 

 

Details on my exact issue:

Now onto my thing... I'm having the same problem and I've googled and seen HUNDREDS of posts with a few different solutions, none of the solutions worked for me and there were at least a few people in the comments who it also didn't help. So to start, I'll explain the issue:

It started with Esbern. When I went into the vaults to find him for the main quest, he didn't talk, he didn't open the door, nothing. I tried reloading old saves, it was always the same. So I used console codes to get into his room, but he couldn't be activated, the "press E to talk" or whatever pop's up doesn't even pop up when I'm looking at him. So I used console commands to skip into the quest where he's following me back to riverwood inn. Back at Riverwood I realize that Serana no longer has the option to talk to, neither does delphine. In fact, only about 1/3 of my followers have the option to press E to talk to them (and pressing E anyway just does nothing).

So far, I've tried uninstalling UFO and using the script cleaner to no avail. I'm going to attempt to locate the exact mod causing the issue and find out why, but that could take some time, I currently have 126 mods and a lot of them can't simply be de-activated, they have to be entirely uninstalled, and I'll have to start on an earlier save to make sure the problem isn't already active and remaining even after the cause is removed.

 

 

Rambling on about my theory of what's wrong and describing some things I was going to try:

 

Just as a starting theory note: Most of the time, I play through Dawnguard before the main story, and most of these posts I've found mention Serana as a follower, so I kind of think she might have something to do with the issue. Will edit this post when I have more info.


EDIT: While reviewing some of the other posts that I mentioned, I realized one of them was on Playstation with no mods. So this very well could be a vanilla bug not caused by mods (at least as far as the esbern stuff goes). If the OP or anyone who has the problem sees this before I get it figured out, let me know if you've had the esbern problem too or if it's strictly followers and nothing seemed to "cause it" the way the main quest seemed to cause it for me.

EDIT2: Thinking that it may be vanilla/Serana related, instead of messing with mods, I reloaded waaaay back to before I started dawnguard. I had just completed the civil war and had the quest to get the horn of jurgen windcaller. I completed that quest with console commands and forwarded the quests 1 stage at a time until I was ready to return to delphine after the thalmor embassy quest. When I got to esbern's door, HE YELLED AT ME TO GO AWAY!!! (and after the convo, I could still talk to all of my followers)

Will do some more playing around and see if I can find a specific cause, such as serana being a follower or something.

THE SOLUTION:
EDIT3: I did some more back-tracking through saves and made a discovery. I was WRONG about Esbern being the cause. After leaving the Thalmor Embassy, Serana had already lost the ability to talk to her and I simply hadn't noticed... With more playing, I've discovered the cause of her losing the ability to talk to me was entering the Thalmor Embassy with her as a follower.

I've found enough like this to pinpoint a likely cause. My current theory is that having a follower mod, such as UFO, then entering a location where followers cannot go with you (such as 'Diplomatic Immunity' the thalmor embassy quest) bugs out followers and can cause them to no longer have the option to talk to them.

I dismissed all followers before entering the embassy and was able to recruit them back afterwards, then I was able to go to esbern with Serana as a follower without the quest bugging out; so in the end, UFO was in fact the cause, but uninstalling it and cleaning the scripts had no effect because the followers and Esbern were already broken in the save I cleaned (seems they were most likely broken from the moment I entered the embassy).

To be doubly sure of my theory, I loaded a save right before entering the embassy, kept followers and found Serana was missing the 'E to talk' option the very moment I got out of the embassy. I loaded the exact same save, sent all followers home, then went straight to her after I left the embassy and was able to recruit her and continue the game without issue.

I'm blaming UFO here, but as a Playstation user had the same problem with esbern, it could be a possible vanilla bug. To be safe, it might be best to dismiss followers before entering the embassy (or similar no follower locations), regardless of what mods you're using.

Edited October 30, 2019 by saintgrimm92