Mod Request: Minimalist *basic* horse command.

[BlackSpider]

Okay, so we've all seen the horse command mods on TESSource and other places, but they all seem too much or unstable. Let me outline exactly what I mean (And if anyone knows of a *stable* mod that does these (And nothing else), please let me know!)...

 

----

 

Commands:

 

Stay : Horse uses default behaviours. Stays, or wanders, or returns home if you go too far.

 

Come : Horse (If within a given range) comes to you. Preferably a warp-to-xxx-meters, then approach to maintain some realism.

 

Follow : Horse follows within a certain range, and stops if you enter sneak (Must re-issue follow command afterwards), so you can *easily* make it wait if you see enemies ahead.

 

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That's it. As with another mod I've seen, it'd be handy if one command (Spell) did them all. As an example...

 

[PsuedoCode]
Command(HorseFollow) {
  if (HorseMode = HorseSit) {
  if (HorseDistance < 50m) { Horse follows; HorseMode = HorseHeel }
  if (HorseDistance > 50m) && (HorseDistance < 300m) {
	 Horse comes
	 When (HorseDistance < 50m)  { Horse Follows }
	 HorseMode = HorseHeel
  }
  if (HorseDistance > 300m)  { Horse ignores command and returns to default behaviour } //To prevent horse getting stuck. If it's >300m, something went wrong. Horse will eventually return to it's stable, per default behaviour.
  }
  if (HorseMod = HorseHeel) {
  if (HorseDistance < 50m) { Horse stays still until HorseDistance > 300m; HorseMode = HorseSit }
  if (HorseDistance > 50m) { Horse ignores command and returns to default behaviour } //Horse has to be close to hear stay command. Prevents accidental  other-side-of-map command issuing.
  }
}

Command(SneakOn) {
 Execute(HorseStay) (Or perhaps Default behaviour, see further down for reasoning)
}
[/PsuedoCode]

Obviously, distance variables are just guesses, I'm not entirely sure how the in-game measurments correspond to real-world. I've just used nice round examples. When following, a value of 20m would be good. See the examples below to get an idea of what distances I really mean, in-game. (Making the follow-distance variable, by way of console or popup would be handy, too)

 

20m = Width of IC West Bridge.

50m = Fairly close, but by no means on top of you. (Example: Distance from IC West bridge exit > Weye Inn (Weynon, or whatever it's called) door)

300m = Quite a distance (Example: IC West gate > Weye Center)

 

(I also hope my psuedocode isn't too hard to grasp... as php is my witness, I'm stuck in my old ways)

 

 

As an example of the usage, consider a trek out for plant-harvesting. You take the horse, but you need to be unmounted to (easily) harvest plants. You unmount, issue follow, and start wandering. If you sense danger, you sneak. The horse stops there, you head off to dispatch the hostiles, then issue a come command and resume harvesting. The horse catches up and follows again.

 

The same technique would work in the case of deer hunting, or fish whacking, or if you're road-walking through a known-bandit area, saves you mashing to get off the horse and kill them. I'm sure we all know the handyness of a horse that follows you.

 

I hope my post is easy to understand, and I really hope somone can come up with something. I'd do it, but I'm useless with TECSet.

 

As I said, if a **stable** mod is available that does this already, please post a link. I've tried a few, and they all either do too much (Follow in to towns, flee on sneak, get stuck in oblivion plane etc) or are unstable (Horse/Dog Whistle mod is unstable, causes odd crashes), or too bulky (Seperate commands for each action, etc).

 

Additionally, as mentioned in the previous paragraph, many of the other mods directly effect the "normal" horsey behaviour. Such as running away. With, for example, Shadowmere, who is an able combatant, you don't want him fleeling. Hit sneak, and you want him to enter his usual "get 'em" behaviour, not "oh dear, I think I left the kettle on" behaviour.

 

A book for learning the skills would be good, as apposed to the common "have-to-buy-a-horse-first" thing. I've played many hours, and never bought a horse. From Weynon-paint, to Shadowmere etc.. A book to learn them from, or just by speaking to a stable-hand perhaps. Maybe even a quest, but not a restrictive you-must-buy-one rule.

 

Oh, and all commands/theories to apply *only* to the last horse ridden. If you want to gather all your horses in one place, you have to walk to them and take them. No easy-come-here-all-you-boys theory. (ever tried to reign&pull 3 horses at once?)

 

 

Thanks in advance, I'll monitor this post for responses :)

 

- Spider.