LE Devotion

[CptCOOTS]

A Little About Me

I'm a junior-woodchuck when it comes to modding. I've produced two minor equipment mods (Hircine's Raiment and Meridia's Favor). I am, however, a pretty smart dude with advanced degrees in mathematics and an occupational familiarity with coding. I have some free time and I really like doing this sort of thing.

 

About Devotion

I was recently playing a Vigilant of Stendarr run through, mostly having to RP, and I hated how much I was crippled by forsaking daedric artifacts (especially given all the sweet deadric artifact mods I have). I thought about living a "good" life and how serving the nine in some meaningful way (like all at once) would be a daunting task for anyone. Indeed, nearly every NPC in Skyrim seems to wholly only follow a single divine. I've been inspired by Requiem, Grace of Divine, Witchhunter spells, Patrons Gods of Skyrim, and Blessing.

 

In a nutshell I want players to gain benefits for avoiding doing bad things. The higher your level, the greater the benefit (it is no big thing if you're level 1 and you haven't committed a murder or picked a pocket and it is entirely another if you're level 65). Furthermore, performing actions that each divine would view favorably will boost your standing with them. Finally, dealing positively with daedra will be viewed negatively. This includes killing in their name, wielding their artifacts, and using soul gems (this could be contentious but could be offset with something like Witchhunter spells mechanic).

 

I haven't decided yet how I would want the choice of divine to occur, but I'm thinking a player choice that cannot be changed without reverting back to square 1. In other words, suppose I worship Arkay from level 1 to 30 then I would have 30 levels worth of good behavior (possibly having done cool things like killing undead and necromancers because he hates that s#*!). Now I decide it would be awesome if I served Zenithar (because money and stuff). My "good deed" meter would reset my effective level to 1, relevant things like destroying daedric artifacts would carry over, and only some portion of the deeds that Zenithar values would now apply.

 

What Following a Divine Entails

Akatosh, Arkay, Dibella, Julianos, Kynareth, Mara, Stendarr, Talos, and Zenithar each has their sphere of influence, the thing over which they reign.

 

Akatosh - The Dragon God of Time and chief god of the pantheon. Akatosh rewards you for taking advantage of the time he's given you. The rewards for leveling while not committing "evil" acts are the steepest and he rewards the most per daedric artifact destroyed.

Arkay - God of Funerals & Burial Rites. Arkay rewards greatest for those that hunt undead (skeleton, draugr, and vampires) and necromancers. Also, an ability should be implemented to immolate a dead body and thus denying it the ability of ever being undead. This would take in game time to pile them and pyre them.

Dibella - Goddess of Beauty and Sexual Desire. She rewards you for beauty which.... Skyrim has a definite lack of. For now all I can guess is that she rewards you for making jewelry and using persuasion over intimidation. Perhaps a brothel mod mechanic or something to that effect could really round her out. Or maybe the implication of having a follower of the opposite sex.

Julianos - God of Wisdom and Logic. He rewards you for seeking knowledge. Reading books and having perks spread out across skills is something he rewards above all other. Additionally, delving into "ancient" sites like Dwemer ruins and old crypts and learning dragon words all contribute.
Kynareth - Goddess of Nature, Wind, and the Sky. She rewards you for movement, like travel around the continent, light armor, archery, and all nature-like things. Think of her as the less debauched version of drunk ass Hircine from the Hunterborn mod.

Mara - Mother-Goddess and Goddess of Love. The longer you're married the better. Not sure of what else.

Stendarr - God of Mercy and Justice. According to the Vigilants you will be killing daedra, werewolfs, and vampires and losing "standing" by getting good at Conjuration.

Talos/Tiber Septim - God of War and Governance. Winning brawls, beating up people, learning shouts, and trashing the Aldmeri Dominion.

Zenithar - God of Work and Commerce. Earn reputation with Zenithar by crafting items and making cash.

 

What Following a Divine Grants

Skyrim deities are free with their crappy blessings that last for a few hours and amulets. Devotion to one of the divines should reward you a lot. Destroying Daedric artifacts, not committing crimes, and not murdering that wanker in Whiterun who keeps talking about the cloud district takes a bunch of dedication. The numbers for each boost granted are left off because they grow with your devotion.

 

Akatosh - +% Magicka Regen (more when not moving), + Magicka, & +% Movement Speed.

Arkay - +% Health Regen (more when near death), + Health, & +% damage against undead.

Dibella - + Speechcraft, +% Speechcraft learn rate, & + Illusion.

Julianos - +% all skill learn rate, + Mana, & -% spell cost.
Kynareth - +% Stamina Regen, + Stamina, & -% shout cool down (more of each when moving).

Mara - +% Healing, -% Restoration cost, & +% Restoration learn rate (more when near death).

Stendarr - +% Health Regen (more when blocking), +% blocking and ward effectiveness, & -% stamina to block.

Talos/Tiber Septim - + Melee and Unarmed, +% Destruction Damage, & +% attack speed and -% shout cool down (more when you are more injured).

Zenithar - +% Prices, +Smithing and Speechcraft, & +Carry Capacity.

 

What I Can Do

I can make all the magic effects, I can link that to praying.

 

What I Can't Do

Not sure how to write quests (never tried and I'm intimidated).

Not sure how to track "devotion" and implement that as the magnitude for the magic effects (scripts also seem intimidating).

 

Anyone game for collaboration?

 

 

 

[Bricius]

This is a cool idea and while I cant say I can actually help beyond voice acting, I can at least point to a mod whose scripts you could look at. The Champion of Kynareth mod (http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/39928/?) tracks youre actions and if you perform X amount of evil deeds you lose your ability to shapeshift. Perhaps look there for the tracking and just set the magnitude of the magic as a percentage based on those numbers tracked? Im afraid I cannot help with writing quests. I am more then willing to help with them in concept but I know very little about Skyrim coding.

[Perraine]

Maybe link it somehow to praying at a Shrine. Activating a shrine currently bestows a "blessing" from that particular divine, which lasts until the next time you activate a shrine (except for the instant cure all diseases spell) What you could possibly do is implement a daily/weekly requirement to activate a shrine to your chosen god,

 

There are many temples and shrines already in game, and I'm sure a few more could be added without much difficulty, plus all the Hearthfire Houses have the option for a Shrine Stand (they could RP those into "temples" for themselves I guess.) And actually seeking out and finding all the shrines to "your" god, so that you don't lose "devotion progress" would be a great little side adventure, :) No "quest mod" required ;D Perhaps tie it into (or at least borrow from) Realistic Needs and Diseases?

[AraFox]

This sounds pretty slick actually. If you need any help, PM me. I can create npc's and quests if needed. I do have a few other projects on my plate not to mention a full time job, but I can volunteer time here if you get this going. :)

[BobbyP92]

A little like the recommendation to tear the champion of kynareth mod apart for inspection, there's also thunderchild which tracks your devotion to kyne. So maybe it's worth comparing the scripts for those.

[Bricius]

Something Id like to point out is there is already a mod similar to this called Religion (http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/67663/). That mod however only lets you act like a priest and get the different bonuses, spells, and so forth. Perhaps taking it a step further with your mod is having someone like AraFox help make quests a daily/weekly/however you set it up/adjustable in mod configuration? quests ranging from different things for each god, like Stendarr may send you after a group of Daedra Worshippers or Arkay to clear out a crypt of undead, showing your extra 'Devotion' to these gods. In addition perhaps look into a form of hallowed garb for each god to show who you follow more and perhaps grant unique bonuses? Sorry for the ramble of ideas, trying to toss stuff out to help make it unique and as stand outish as possible.

[CptCOOTS]

Wow this is cool I didn't get notified of replies.

 

This is a cool idea and while I cant say I can actually help beyond voice acting, I can at least point to a mod whose scripts you could look at. The Champion of Kynareth mod (http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/39928/?) tracks youre actions and if you perform X amount of evil deeds you lose your ability to shapeshift. Perhaps look there for the tracking and just set the magnitude of the magic as a percentage based on those numbers tracked? Im afraid I cannot help with writing quests. I am more then willing to help with them in concept but I know very little about Skyrim coding.

I'm going to do that now. Thank you for the heads up!

 

Maybe link it somehow to praying at a Shrine. Activating a shrine currently bestows a "blessing" from that particular divine, which lasts until the next time you activate a shrine (except for the instant cure all diseases spell) What you could possibly do is implement a daily/weekly requirement to activate a shrine to your chosen god,

 

There are many temples and shrines already in game, and I'm sure a few more could be added without much difficulty, plus all the Hearthfire Houses have the option for a Shrine Stand (they could RP those into "temples" for themselves I guess.) And actually seeking out and finding all the shrines to "your" god, so that you don't lose "devotion progress" would be a great little side adventure, :smile: No "quest mod" required :laugh: Perhaps tie it into (or at least borrow from) Realistic Needs and Diseases?

I like the idea of having to find a shrine, or all shrines, as part of the devotion (like it can fade if you haven't been all over), I was thinking of also having something like a craftable/portable shrine and borrow from portable containers/campfire so it could be erected where ever the player considers home (a shrine on solstheim could be a b&@*$ to find ;) ).

 

This sounds pretty slick actually. If you need any help, PM me. I can create npc's and quests if needed. I do have a few other projects on my plate not to mention a full time job, but I can volunteer time here if you get this going. :smile:

If I move forward with this, and that is a distinct possibility. I'll at least get it to the phase where I need the scripts to feed into the magic effects blah blah blah. I mean I'll get it to like an alpha stage with activation objects and can test the abilities then I'll know more of what I am having trouble doing.

 

Something Id like to point out is there is already a mod similar to this called Religion (http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/67663/). That mod however only lets you act like a priest and get the different bonuses, spells, and so forth. Perhaps taking it a step further with your mod is having someone like AraFox help make quests a daily/weekly/however you set it up/adjustable in mod configuration? quests ranging from different things for each god, like Stendarr may send you after a group of Daedra Worshippers or Arkay to clear out a crypt of undead, showing your extra 'Devotion' to these gods. In addition perhaps look into a form of hallowed garb for each god to show who you follow more and perhaps grant unique bonuses? Sorry for the ramble of ideas, trying to toss stuff out to help make it unique and as stand outish as possible.

Wow, Religion is very similar. Like crazy similar. Prayer/meditation is the major component and when you do so it calculates sin vs. virtue and blesses you accordingly. The major difference is that Religion requires time spent in prayer where I was planning to make it a function of how "long" you've lived piously (where life is measured in levels not in game time). Also Religion offers absolution through bearing curses while I avoid such mechanics. It almost seems like it would boil down to personal taste (like when people pick SkyRe over Requiem etc... etc...).