Whiterun Guard Won't Unlock Gate

[SamDoehart]

So I recently started a new playthrough of skyrim with quite a lot of mods installed. I know that can cause instability but so far I haven't been having any issues. However, I just got to Whiterun and encountered my first real problem. The guard who comes up to you when you cross the drawbridge to the gate won't let me in. He just keeps following me around while I'm in the gate area, repeating the "Halt! Whiterun is closed..." dialog until I leave the gate area, at which point he returns to his post until I enter the area again. I tried turning off the one mod I know affects guard AI, but the problem persisted. Has anyone else encountered this or a similar problem? My load order is below.

 

 

 

0 Skyrim.esm

1 Update.esm

2 Unofficial Skyrim Patch.esp

3 Dawnguard.esm

4 Unofficial Dawnguard Patch.esp

5 HearthFires.esm

6 Unofficial Hearthfire Patch.esp

7 Dragonborn.esm

8 Unofficial Dragonborn Patch.esp

9 ApachiiHair.esm

10 ApachiiHairFemales.esm

11 ApachiiHairMales.esm

12 ClimatesOfTamriel.esm

13 RSkyrimChildren.esm

14 Master of Disguise - Legendary.esm

15 HighResTexturePack01.esp

16 HighResTexturePack02.esp

17 HighResTexturePack03.esp

18 Unofficial High Resolution Patch.esp

19 ActuallyUniqueUniques.esp

20 EnhancedLightsandFX.esp

21 Piratelords Loot Adjustments.esp

22 ELFX - Exteriors.esp

23 ELFX - Dawnguard.esp

24 immersive roads.esp

25 ELFX - Dragonborn.esp

26 SMIM-DragonbornTernFix.esp

27 SMIM-DungeonsCliffsIceSkirts.esp

28 SMIM-FurnitureChestSnowFix.esp

29 Better Embers.esp

30 Skyrim Particle Patch for ENB - Flame Atronach Fix.esp

31 Vividian - Weather Patch CoT.esp

32 ClimatesOfTamriel-Dragonborn-Patch.esp

33 TrueStorms.esp

34 CoT-WeatherPatch.esp

35 Vividian - Extended Weathers - CoT.esp

36 TrueStorms-CoT-WeatherPatch.esp

37 Supreme Storms - Cot Version.esp

38 CoT-WeatherPatch_DB.esp

39 CoT-WeatherPatch_NL3.esp

40 CoT-WeatherPatch_Snow-40.esp

41 CoT-WeatherPatch_SupStorms.esp

42 TrueStorms-SupremeStorms-CoT.esp

43 mintylightningmod.esp

44 MintyLightningMod_COT_Patch.esp

45 RaceMenu.esp

46 RaceMenuPlugin.esp

47 MatureSkinComplexions.esp

48 dD - Realistic Ragdoll Force - Realistic.esp

49 SC_KhajiitMorphs.esp

50 Blacksmithforge water fix HF.esp

51 RSChildren - Complete.esp

52 RSChildren_PatchUSKP.esp

53 WondersofWeather.esp

54 Differently Ebony.esp

55 aMidianBorn_ContentAddon.esp

56 Glass Variants.esp

57 Smoking Candles.esp

58 Smoking Torches.esp

59 DeadlySpellImpacts.esp

60 DeadlySpellImpacts - Two Fire.esp

61 dD - Enhanced Blood Main.esp

62 dD-Dragonborn-Dawnguard-EBT Patch.esp

63 dD-Reduced Wound Size.esp

64 DragonBoneEbony_Replacer.esp

65 SkyUI.esp

66 Dual Sheath Redux.esp

67 CL EbonyBladeDagger.esp

68 Auriels_Arrows.esp

69 AurielsBowEnhanced.esp

70 Unique Uniques.esp

71 HARODATH_ImmersiveSoulgems.esp

72 Tools of Kagrenac.esp

73 DovahBlingBraceletsScr.esp

74 DovahBlingJewelrySignetRings.esp

75 DovahBlingJewelryUniques.esp

76 CL BladeofSacrifice.esp

77 CL Nettlebane.esp

78 Painkiller's_Hrothmund's_Axe.esp

79 Beards.esp

80 Brows.esp

81 NB-Scars.esp

82 JKs Skyrim.esp

83 3DNPC.esp

84 ELFXEnhancer.esp

85 SDO Full-LOD - The Morthal Swamp Complete.esp

86 GloriousEnviroments.esp

87 fallentreebridges.esp

88 NPC_Overhaul_V_1_.esp

89 USKP_NPCoverhaul_Patch.esp

90 Breezehome_Fully_Upgradable.esp

91 SkyFalls + SkyMills + DG + DB.esp

92 SoS - The Wilds.esp

93 ClimatesOfTamriel-Dawnguard-Patch.esp

94 Cloaks - Dawnguard.esp

95 Blacksmithforge water fix DG.esp

96 SoS - Civilization.esp

97 Birdsofskyrim.esp

98 ClimatesOfTamriel-Sound.esp

99 SoS - The Wilds-PatchCoTSounds.esp

100 ClimatesOfTamriel-Sound-Dawnguard-Patch.esp

101 SoS - The Dungeons.esp

102 Improved Artifacts - Dragonborn Collection.esp

103 Werewolf Race.esp

104 aMidianborn_Skyforge_Weapons.esp

105 DovahBlingJewelryReplacer.esp

106 Immersive Travel Hardcore.esp

107 SkyFalls Dragonborn Small waterfalls.esp

108 SoS - Civilization - PatchCoTSounds.esp

109 FCO - Follower Commentary Overhaul.esp

110 AmazingFollowerTweaks.esp

111 AFT_NoFriendlySpellDamage.esp

112 BOS_Cluck_Fix.esp

113 Convenient Horses.esp

114 Convenient Horses - Faster Sprint.esp

115 Default Teammate Weapon Draw Distance.esp

116 BetterDGEntrance.esp

117 SoS - Civilization-PatchELFX.esp

118 BirdsHFclean.esp

119 skyBirds - Airborne Perching Birds.esp

120 CinematicFireFX.esp

121 Nakum'aFollower.esp

122 RaccanFollower.esp

123 DoRakFollower.esp

124 FjolfrFollower.esp

125 MorthanaFollower.esp

126 ELFX_2_0_BFU_Patch.esp

127 Point The Way.esp

128 SDO Full-LOD - Waterfall Effects.esp

129 RealisticWaterTwo.esp

130 RealisticWaterTwo - Legendary.esp

131 Watercolor_for_ENB_RWT.esp

132 Skysan_ENBHorseTrough.esp

133 Cloaks.esp

134 SMIM-FarmhouseFlickeringFix.esp

135 UniqueBorderGates-All.esp

136 SDO Full-LOD - Whiterun Trundra Creeks.esp

137 SMIM-ShackRoofFixes.esp

138 SoS - The Dungeons-PatchELFX.esp

139 Aetherial Crown Improved.esp

140 Skyrim Flora Overhaul.esp

141 Verdant - A Skyrim Grass Plugin.esp

142 SFO - Dragonborn.esp

143 Blacksmithforge water fix DB.esp

144 SMIM-ShackRoofFixesDragonborn.esp

145 Blacksmithforge water fix Vanilla.esp

146 Shortcuts.esp

147 UniqueBorderGates-All-BetterDGEntrance.esp

148 isilNarsil.esp

149 Harkon's Sword Improved.esp

150 CanalHome.esp

151 Ra'ZorFollower.esp

152 SantanaFollower.esp

153 Nettlebane Improved.esp

154 Thane Weapons Improved - Hearthfire Patch.esp

155 Lost Art of the Blacksmith.esp

156 dagger.esp

157 Enchanting Freedom.esp

158 enchantmentcleanser.esp

159 enchantmentcleanserdlc1.esp

160 enchantmentcleanserdlc2.esp

161 WerewolvesOccurringNaturally.esp

162 ToL_SKSE_by_Brevi.esp

163 UniquePlayerWerewolf_3.0.esp

164 3DNPC - Winterhold Mods Patch.esp

165 SDO Full-LOD - Giant Campfires.esp

166 DudestiaMultiMarriages.esp

167 UniqueBorderGates-All-PointTheWay.esp

168 ApachiiHelmetWigs.esp

169 JoRakhaFollower.esp

170 ThromaireFollower.esp

171 ZarjiFollower.esp

172 BagamuFollower.esp

173 EirukiFollower.esp

174 HuskerFollower.esp

175 OkanRuFollower.esp

176 RusselFollower.esp

177 Upgrade Leveled Items Spell.esp

178 Werewolf Race Dragonborn.esp

179 DSerArcheryGameplayOverhaul.esp

180 LFox Improved Night Eye No Blur.esp

181 nighteyetoggle.esp

182 Predator Vision.esp

183 togglevampiresight.esp

184 Bashed Patch, 0.esp

185 Dual Sheath Redux Patch.esp

 

 

[Bugnexus7]

If you bypass the fight between the giant and the Companions (it never loads because you never got close enough to that location), sometimes the triggers that spawn the guards don't fire. I've had that battle fail to trigger (and thus the guards failed to trigger) by quickly running from Riverwood, over the hill and around the farms on the left side, reaching the Stable without ever going near Honningbrew Meadery. Looking back towards the farm, I noticed the giant battle had never started. Oddly, running back to Aela didn't trigger the battle--Her and her friends just stood about, no giant in sight. I reloaded a save and followed the road and everything worked fine. Not sure if you did this, but is a potential cause.

 

I use Alternate Start and every play-through of mine begins in The Sleeping Giant, followed by a WALK to Whiterun, following the roads. I watch the giant battle, talk to Aela about the companions (yeah, whatever), and then wait for her to walk all the way into Whiterun, allowing time for her to open the gate with HER key.

 

Weird uGrids settings will do strange things to the triggers for events like the giant battle, so I simply use the default uGrid settings. Altering the timescale can also effect some triggers--keep it at 20 (default) until you've spoken to most of the important people in Whiterun.

[SamDoehart]

The battle with the giant triggered just fine and I did take part. I've tried two alternate start mods, and both CTD right after character creation >_<

 

Edit: Well, I actually have managed to get Random Alternate Start working, but still having the same issue.

Edited September 5, 2015 by Koori254

[jones177]

Approach the gate. Open the console. Type unlock press return. Get out of the console & the gate will open.

[SamDoehart]

Well, I figured out another way. I got the mod Shortcuts and after I entered Whiterun through the shortcut, I was able to come and go through the gate as normal, though I didn't actually "discover" Whiterun until I entered it through the gate the first time.

[jones177]

Now I use Alternate Start & usually visit Whiterun before I start the main quest. When I do start the quest the door is always open.

 

Later