When I edit my mod (NPC follower), NPC disapears/bugs/something

[tur4]

I'll try to be as detailed as I possibly can be.

 

1. Made a NPC/follower mod with creation kit. Mod worked fine. Placed character in the world. Tested out, could get married/follow, no problems. I wasn't happy with a tiny detail with the NPC's appearance.

 

2. Opened creation kit.

 

3. Double click pluggin under file -> data -> then hit ok.

 

4. Load my mod in creation kit that was working just fine.

 

5. go to actors, double click my npc that I made. Character mod screen opens up. .

 

6. I go to appearance tab, change appearance very slightly (changed complexion, thats all).

 

7. Go File -> Save -> enter new name for pluggin (it won't let me save over old one as it says its "open" or "active" or something like that.

 

8. Closed Creation kit. Open game. Tag right data folder. Load mod back up to the point where after I was married to NPC. (on the save, the character was following my player and was married to my player and standing right in front of my player when i saved) but when it loaded up the NPC was no where to be found. They were right in front of me when I saved. Now nothing. Figured it might have bugged due to change.

 

9. Load up earlier save on same character before my player ever met the new NPC. I go back to where i recruited them... and where they should be, only this time no one is there. My save that I reverted to was outside solitude, and the NPC is in dragon bridge.

 

10. I then load up creation kit, check the building I had them in. They are no longer in that location in the creation kit save. I think odd, well I'll readd them.

 

11. I then readd them back to that location, save the file under another different name, then close creation kit.

 

12. This time, instead of loading back into game, decide to check the creation kit again first. So start creation kit back up. Reload the new file back into creation kit. Now, the entire NPC is missing in the actors part. No name of NPC. Nothing. It was just there when I saved 10 seconds before! . I check the dragon bridge, nothing just placed them at and saved.

 

12. I have done everything i can think of to fix the problem. Nothing works. Seems permanently bugged. I have reloaded dozens of times. It always does the same thing.

 

Is it not possible to edit a mod/pluggin after you make it? Every time I make even the slightest change it completely messes everything up. I'm so frustrated having had this same bug or whatever it is 3 times now and having to remake NPCs over and over. Thats 3 followers that are now bugged and I can't get them to appear in skyrim. I'm just stumped. I know there is a high chance I'm doing something dumb, but since the documentation for this is extremely lacking... I honestly don't mind admitting I don't know what I'm doing. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

[tur4]

Does anyone know? I don't mind figuring it out myself if someone could even point me in the right direction.

[tur4]

Anyone know why its doing this? TY.