Using two-handed Sword as one-handed

[MeganJoanne]

Ok. Turns out it was very simple. The problems I was running into were because I was trying to manipulate a copy instead of just changing the original.

 

If you just want to take a two handed weapon from the game (or a mod) and turn it into a one-handed weapon, it's a pretty simple thing. First off you have to take the .nif files. You're going to have to edit the 1stPerson nif file, for example 1stpersonsteelgreatsword or 1stpersondwarvengreatsword or whatever. You might have to make the same changes to the regular file steelgreatsword.nif or dwarvengreatsword.nif. I'm not sure. I made edits to both files when I did it.

 

Load the .nif in nifskope, go to your block list, and then locate NiStringExtraData. Click on it. This will open the NiStringExtraData table. You will find a string entry that reads "WeaponBack" Don't bother with changing the numerical value as this seems to be a crapshoot. Instead click on the little "txt" icon and it will bring up a text box. In that box you can make your change. Type in "WeaponSword" and save the .nif file. You don't need to change anything else.

 

After this, go into the CK, select your item from the object list (not a reference in the render window) and change the appropriate fields from two-handed to one-handed. This part is pretty self-explanatory. I believe there are 3 fields in total, two of which are in the upper right hand corner. You can change the first to one-handed, the second to right-hand. I believe the only other part you changed was there is a box that asks about the animation used. (this might be under the art and sound tab) You can change that to the appropriate one handed animation.

 

If you have questions about that part I can look at the Ck again and give you more detailed steps, but it seemed self explanatory to me for anyone with the most basic knowledge of the CK.

 

If you want to make a new item instead of a replacer, it takes a few more steps and that's where I was getting issues. This is basically done by copying the .nif files (naming them something else), and then there are some additional changes in the CK needed. The part I was missing was creating a new 1stPerson World object for my first person view.

 

So I had just downloaded a new sword mod, Kemper's Gothic Slicer Kemper's Gothic Slicer at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and Community (nexusmods.com), and it only came as a greatsword which would be okay if I only wanted to play as a two-handed sword wielder (sometimes I do), but I checked it out in game and while the sword looked cool, seemed a bit small for a greatsword and also my character wasn't holding the grip of the sword completely with both hands, her lower hand wasn't even touching the grip. So I looked up on how to change a two-handed sword into a one-handed sword, found this topic here and read until the person posting, you, were sure you found and got the changes made correctly. It seemed easy enough, so I downloaded the nifskope and followed your instructions (I had already made the necessary changes in the esp prior to this in SSEedit only to discover I was holding an invisible sword and still had the greatsword on my back), then went into the game, used the additemmenu to get the sword... it is now a one-hander. I just learned something new, thank you so much for this.