Suggestions on where to test

[TabuKuroshi]

I just recently started trying my hand at modding my game, I have several mods created by others and it made me want to try my own.

 

I started with basic stuff placing items in the game and checking to see if I got it right. This was simple enough once I learned the process.

 

Last night I started trying out a new home. I am very hesitant at actually putting this thing in the world for fear I will override something else (I was not sure if just removing the mod would be ok and get it back, e.g I Override a tree or worse a vital area for a quest). What I tried to do is use the "testworld" the problem I encountered was getting in. I used the console and tried coc testworld, I also tried coe, using coe only put me in the spot selected within Cyrodiil.

 

I have gone to the "testinghall" One mod I have "Tona Collection" has a set of chest there which contain the clothes for that mod.

 

While in the "testinghall" I noticed an area called "hawkhaven" which seemed to be desolate around the edges of the town.

 

Would this be an ideal area to start testing exterior cells?

 

I apologize if I am asking a simple minded question, I prefer trial and error more times than not. I just don't want to start picking up bad habits and damaging my install. I just rectified the "black eye" problem, I learned a valued lesson. One mod at a time install it, test it. Then add another and repeat...

 

I thank you all for your help and patience. This is a great site, a lot of helpful information. Hopefully soon I can contribute some of my own work.

 

Edit: I went ahead and added it to Hawkhaven, it worked fine. It brought me to a new point.

 

When I start working on the interior, do I just overwrite it to the exterior .esp file?

 

Also I assume with the items already in the game, I will not have to specify mesh or textures in separate folders.

 

So Can I add all the items, etc... into the interior, save it to the .esp and load that in? I assume I have to add a scripted entryway as well.

 

Again Thank You for the help...

[bben46]

Any mod you put into the game can be taken out - It will automatically replace everything with the vanilla features.

 

I like to mod on a clean game - no other mods installed. The easiest way to get this (it's fully reversible) is

 

Bben's Oblivion Revert to Vanilla game

http://www.tesnexus....icle.php?id=340

Go ahead and convert your game to vanilla. This removes all mods and all parts of mods, And your saved games also. You may want to keep a save at the end of the sewer.

 

Then you can try your mod anywhere you want. After it works add all of the mods and saves back, - without your mod. Test to be sure everything works - then add in your mod and check to see that everything still works.

 

If you want a way to switch back and forth Here is a link to my dual Oblivion article.

http://www.tesnexus....icle.php?id=285

[TabuKuroshi]

Awesome Thank you for the info, I went ahead and added the house, added a door with a teleport feature and randomly assigned it to port me to the abandon mine. So far so good. I have to work on some placement issues.

 

I'm going to use the links you provided and "reset" my install, practice some then add things back to it, testing for conflicts along the way.

 

I appreciate the response bben46!!!

[The_Vyper]

Another thing you can do to check for quest areas: Download the Interactive Map of Cyrodiil and Shivering Isles. It shows all of the locations in the vanilla game and allows you to place you own map markers. I use it extensively.

[TabuKuroshi]

Thank You Vyper, that is very helpful!

 

I had another question if anyone can answer.

 

When I open the .esm (oblivion) file as well as in this case the Cute Elf .esp file. I do not find it on the list in the race section. The only ones that show up are the default races.

 

I don't like to mess with other peoples work, This would be an exploratory thing for the most part.

 

The reason I am trying to get in, is the fact that I like to use well tanned bodies (using the HGEC plugin) and when I get to a certain shade, the head does not match the body.

 

Again, I'm a noob so I'm probably missing something, moreover It is probably something to do with texture or mesh and I wouldn't be able to do anything with it anyway.

 

From my limited knowledge it seems that when you assign a skin tone, it is for the body and does not affect the head much if at all because it is from 2 different mods.

 

I appreciate any guidance and thank you for the help already given.