LE Noble Household

[ruewinter]

Mountains of treasure, parcels of land, honours in many holds, and custom homes... And most of it does nothin' and stands empty!

 

In a warzone with no shortage of orphans, widows, people catcalling proposals at me, and mercenaries sitting around waiting to be hired, it seems like I should be able to do more with my status and resources.

 

My request/idea is Noble House. And I am volunteering to help with what I can, which is mainly modelling/texturing and 2D design but I'm willing to learn other stuff. And if you know how I might achieve something, please tell me -- I'd like this mod for myself but I think it could be fun for others. Or if you like the idea, that's nice to know.

 

I'll break it into bullet points, with my suggestions, elaborations, clarifications, etc so anyone interested in helping with this can figure out what's doable and what isn't, especially in case it's a solo effort by me.

 

Mod Proposal: Noble Household

• Found a noble house - give it a name, a motto, choose your family colours for your heraldry and custom livery, hang your banner in and around your player home

I know a bit about heraldry so I can research and provide some design elements to work with, but having a custom crest would be far more engaging. I'm also learning about making custom outfits so I'd definitely be willing to design and texture those.

• Add members - extend the protection of your family name to people you choose (spouse, followers, orphans, random NPCs, etc)

A noble house has more than just blood relatives, but also extends the use, protection, and privileges of their name to anyone they choose. This could be wards (orphans), retainers (followers), or anyone they wanted to honour in a formal and lasting way. Like if you help out Neloth on Solstheim and he offers to make you one of House Telvanni. Or do it for giggles.

 

I figure dialogue options that would offer something like, "[Name], I would offer you a place in my household in [Location] as [Job Title]..." that then adds them to a custom faction.

• Hire - Pay people to guard from bandits and wild animals, to farm your gardens and collect from apiaries, process materials for you, sort loot you give them, look after your children, be companion to your children or spouse, hire children to be apprentices, etc depending on your location.

For example:

 

Build Lakeview Manor. Hire Camilla Valerius to manage it. If she likes you enough, she'll agree to move in as your steward.

 

When she settles in at Lakeview, she'll wear a Steward's Coat in your livery colours with your crest. I was thinking a few styles of coat would be a good idea and would be fun to try out for me personally. You'll also have Falkreath guards spawn at your residence, hired by Camilla for security.

 

Camilla periodically updates a Book of Accounts for Lakeview Manor with that home's employees, their jobs and salaries, any amounts owing, and total available funds. You deposit money in the Steward's Lockbox to which Camilla has the key. Alternately, issue requests such as to take money to deposit, to send a package of something (money, stuff) to another house, send a request for money from another house if you're not carrying any, etc. This will update the total on the Book of Accounts so you can just look at it to see if you're in the red or not. You can ask in dialogue for her to let someone go, or increase/decrease their salary. You'd start with some amounts owing: Camilla's guards will need paying, and her moving expenses -- nothing too hairy.

 

Adopt Lucia from Whiterun. Camilla will advise you by dialogue or letter that she's hired a governess/tutor (unique NPC) but thinks Lucia should have proper company, like a companion. If you agree, she'll say she'll make arrangements for whomever you hire with a set cost (i.e. provide a bed, chest, an outfit of livery, etc). Quest assigned: Find a Companion.

 

Offer the job of companionship (small stipend) to Alesan. He's got no better prospect so accepts and moves in. Next you see him, he's wearing your livery. You can give him gifts and he mostly acts like a normal kid. Ask the governess/tutor to sort your books, potions and alchemical supplies into containers in the relevant areas.

 

Then you see Ardwen standing around Whiterun's stables with nothing to do and offer her a job as Lakeview's gardener. She accepts, gets a bed of her own, and part of the day Lucia and Alesan will help her in the garden.

 

At intervals, Camilla distributes the wages out of the Steward's Strongbox. If you fail to refill it after a few payment intervals, Ardwen sends you a Courier message that she's owed back pay. If you let it slide too long, Camilla will send you an upset letter that people are threatening to quit, she's broke and needs funds, you deadbeat. Anyone who has not been a follower will leave after another interval or two -- they haven't been paid and you don't get the benefit of the doubt. Those who have been followers will stick around but confront you for back pay when you show up. If you owe back wages, you won't get cooperation until you pay up with an added sorry-for-being-a-jerk fee (in value, I figure you should be able to pay people in stuff).

 

Hire Noster to mind your forge. Pay for the servant housing that Camilla will arrange. Ask him to smelt things for you, or give him your crafting supplies for him to organize into storage bins. Maybe he could use an apprentice. Offer the apprenticeship to Sissel. Pay for the expansion to servant housing so she has a bed etc. She spends part of her day with the other children and part with Noster learning smithing and somewhat increasing efficiency of the smelting/sorting process.

 

Build Heljarchen Hall. Make Gregor your steward. Ask him to make room for your retainers, so he'll need to buy materials etc. He could ask for funds to buy fresh meat from local hunters for Heljarchen and the other houses. Send your inactive followers there. Hire some of the Honorhall kids for apprentices at fighting, and they'll work in the smithy, beat up dummies, etc. Ideally, their abilities would actually increase in event you think taking a kid along would be useful.

 

Life in a city would be a bit different, depending.

 

Buy Proudspire Manor. Marry Sylgja, tell her to move into Proudspire. She will receive her own Household Strongbox that will need stocking. Hire Anneke Crag-Jumper as her companion at Proudspire for a small stipend. Adopt Sophie and send her to Solitude. Offer Aventus Aretino a position as a companion to Sophie for a small stipend. Hire Ildi as a Tutor in music, so part of her day is spent in the children's room giving lessons. She'll be paid by Sylgja, etc.

• Rent - Rent rooms for gold or in exchange for keeping the home stocked

Hire Shahvee to manage Hjerim as a boarding house for dockside Argonians. Poach people from Haelga's Bunkhouse to make Honeyside more profitable.

• Updating book House Accounts - in your inventory, lets you know how your household is doing while you're taking a breaker from killing draugr.
• Scripted events - I thought it might be interesting if periodically someone gets sick and needs a visit from the local healer or alchemist, etc

Etc I'm trying to work out something that gives more reason to own houses and makes them feel more lived-in.

 

I haven't found a mod combination that works easily or naturally this way yet. I've got AFT, a multiple adoptions mod, a guild starting mod, Children Fight Back, and RSChildren, but I feel like it should be easier to set up an ad-hoc household.

 

Basically my desire to found a future noble household of wards, employees, and tenants is being unfairly frustrated.

[sLoPpYdOtBiGhOlE]

For adding NPC's of your choice to live in your house, then MHIYH 4.3 (My Home Is Your Home) does exactly that with the options of telling them where to sleep, work, eat breakfast and dinner.

Also offers forcing anyone to live anywhere you like, be it creature or humanoid.

Compatible with most other follower mods (when the user sets their setting correctly.

Supports up to 256 tenants with a MCM user interface to manage who they are housing and also quick travel to any tenant, their home, their work, sleep, breakfast and dinner locations straight from the MCM menu.

Assign groups of tenants or a single tenant to do duties.

(Lot's of little twiddle options to get things configured the way you like).

 

So I think most people just dl a house mod and use MHIYH to utilize filling their new house with what ever guests they like.

Edited August 28, 2015 by sLoPpYdOtBiGhOlE

[ElioraArin]

I love this idea & have been looking for something exactly like this for some time now - I really hope you get the support you need to get this up & running!

[ruewinter]

I love this idea & have been looking for something exactly like this for some time now - I really hope you get the support you need to get this up & running!

 

Thanks, I hope people more technically able than me can help. I have a sort of idea how the project could be approached but I don't have the expertise.

[ruewinter]

Well, some friends are interested in me pursuing this!

 

I have some story elements blocked out, a few characters, a few quests, etc.but it'll start out as a clothing mod first until I learn more. I'll be doing the designing and modelling, for those who are interested in fancy pants.

 

I'm trying to design to accommodate Frostfall and other users, so if anyone has content they'd like compatible for a mod, please let me know and I'll see what I can do.

 

My current plan for clothing is something like the below...

 

Outfit schemes

 

These are outfits that will be worn by specific characters or have been requested of me, but if so desired I can figure out crafting recipes.

 

Wanderer - wide-brimmed Odin hat and heavy wool robes (request)

Steward's wardrobe - coat, dress coat, ornate cap(s), necklace, brooch

House Guards - helmet, winter helmet, armour (steel and chain over coat), winter amour (fur trim and quilted coat), greaves, winter boots, gauntlets, winter gloves, oilskin (leather rain gear)

Rugged Traveler - light armour coat, fur trimmed light armoured coat, leather trouser, leather boot

Rugged Child - same but for kids

Fisher's Gear - oilskin jacket, canvas shirt, oilskin trousers, canvas ankle boots, rain hat

Hats

A lot of headgear requests, and not goofy stuff either.

Toque - a knit wool cap

Sun hat - straw with wide-brim

Oilskin rain hood - mantled leather hood

Ashland tagelmust - wrapped headcloth

Felt skullcap - simple felt

Felt flat cap - kind of Venetian

Felt cap - more like a military beret

Felt workman's hat - coiffed and tied under the chin

Linen coif - work cap for covering hair

Astrakhan cap - request

Karakul cap - like a sheepskin version of a folding garrison cap

Elegant Lady's Hood - kind of Tudor style

Fine Brimmed cap - asymmetrical peaked cap, unisex

Hats for kids are same as above, but instead of a Tudor hood it's more an atifet cap for girls.

Livery

These would be outfits for when the mod actually works.

Livery General Tunic - common walking-around tunic

Livery Work Tunic - tougher and reinforced

Livery Domestic Coat - lighter, worn inside

Livery Kilt - more modest than Conan's fur bikini

Livery Dress - the alternate to the kilt

Livery Slim Trousers - close fit

Livery Riding Trousers - more of a Turkish trouser (looser fit above boot)

Livery Wool Stockings - Gotta wear something with that kilt in when in Dawnstar

Livery Linen Stockings - lighter for milder conditions

Livery Riding Boots - knee-height leather

Livery Work Boots - leather and steel ankle boots

Livery Shoes - coloured ankle-high shoes

Livery Slippers - coloured slippers

Children's Livery

Might as well give them something to wear.

Child's Tunic - shortish

Child's Long Tunic - colder weather

Child's Formal Tunic - long

Child's Slim Breeches - similar to adult slim trousers but short

Child's Trousers - similar to adult riding trousers

Child's Wool Stockings - similar to adult style

Child's Linen Stockings - similar to adult style

Child's Night Shirt - a night shirt

Child's Light Breeches - pajama pants, underwear, etc

Child's Armoured Tunic - armoured w crest

Child's Winter Armoured Tunic - same with fur

Child's Sparring Mail - steel over a quilted coat

Child's Sparring Helmet - steel

Child's Sparring Gauntlets - leather and steel

Child's Sparring Leg Guards - leather and steel

Child's Mantle - with crest

Child's Hooded Mantle - with crest and hood

Child's Hooded Winter Mantle with Mask - furred with crest, hood, and mask

Child's Leather Belt - weapon belt

Child's Tagelmust- hooded, masked, for when you wanna visit the ash spawn

Child's Riding Boots - similar to adult

Child's Work Boots - similar to adult

Child's Rugged Boots - similar to adult

Child's Fine Shoes - similar to adult

Child's Fur Shoes - leather (dyed) and fur

Child's Slippers - similar to adult

Child's Fur Slippers - slippers with fur

Child's Leather Wristguards - leather (tooled)

Child's Rugged Work Gloves - leather

Child's Wool Gloves - thick but not for working

Child's Winter Gloves - fur and leather

Child's Fine Gloves - formal wear

Child's Fine Wristguards - formal wear

Spouse

"I like you best so have nice things!"

Bride's Livery - longsleeve and/or sleeveless dress in a few styles

Groom's Livery - longsleeve and/or sleeveless coat in a few styles

Fine Belt - for when there's a risk of vampire attack at the wedding

Wedding Coat - unisex embroidered short jacket (actually worn on wedding day)

Wedding Crown - flowers

Wedding Circlet - floral-patterned precious metals

Retainers

Be they mages or bladesmen, they should look sharp.

Lady's Livery - a few different styles of outfit generally corresponding to Nord, Redguard, Imperial, Khajiiti, Elven and Argonian styles, suitable for city or home

Gentleman's Livery - as above, multiple styles suitable for city or home

Retainer's Cap - flat cap with feathers

Retainer's X - any of the hats themed with livery colours

Retainer's Belt - sturdier than the fine belt but still nice

Retainer's Formal Light Mail - an armour set on the decorative side

Retainer's Formal Heavy Mail - still decorative but heavy

Life and Death

Maybe you like playing with the safeties off and the characters nonessential!

Burial Livery - to bury the dead in

Fine Burial Livery - to bury spouse or retainer should they not be essential

Child's Burial Livery - to bury children in should they not be essential

Silver Lily Circlet - for Fine Burial set

Floral Circlet - flower-crown burial option

 

General Stuff

 

Not falling into other categories, and/or occurring to me later.

 

Knickers - simple style

Socks - loose-looking

Bodice - bra, basically

Light Shift - night dress

Light Smock - undershirt

Light Breeches - pajama pants

 

Trying to be mod-friendly and inclusive. No saucy underwear included because I figured that was covered already by other mods, but I'm not against it.

 

Anything people think would be a worthwhile addition? This is a broad range, but I might've missed something. I've also had some requests to have some "unbranded" livery available for NPCs to wear. It's as good a project to strengthen my 3D and costuming skills as any.

[ruewinter]

Until I can solve this texture thing, I'll have to restrict this mod to joining an existing noble house, no choosing of colours, crest, or motto. Combining colour schemes efficiently is beyond my current abilities.

 

Unless someone knows how to achieve applying something like an overlay on clothing/armour...? I have looked but haven't found anything.