Placing unique items in world / on NPCs

[redeye123]

Greetings;

 

I've done a bit of searching here... without much success, so I'd like to ask for help on this matter. I apologize if this has been asked/resolved before... perhaps you could then link me to particular threads/posts?

 

I've created a couple of unique items (artifact rings from previous Elder Scrolls games currently, more items to come) and I would like to place them in some fitting locations (or on particular NPCs) all over the world.

 

I've also thought of some ways to manage/check different situations when the mod is enabled the first time or being updated:

 

- when enabling the mod to check if said NPC is still alive - if yes equip him the item, if not, leave it somewhere on the ground in a dungeon

This I could do by placing the item on the ground, setting it to "initially disabled", perform a one-time script check if NPC is alive - yes->eqiup item, no->leave item in place, then enable it. (using a similar way as buyable home decorations work?)

Or is there a way of placing the item on the ground solely with a script?

 

- when updating the mod to keep track of whether or not the player has picked up a particular item so it would not spawn another copy of it in its original place

This I think would work by attaching a script to each item that when picked up, it would add a corresponding hidden perk to the player - and in the above mentioned one-time script check determine to enable only items which haven't been picked up yet.

I understand it would quickly become a huge mess with individual tracking scripts+perks for each item, so another way to store this information on the player persistently would help a lot... maybe a dummy quest (or some other thingy) to carry an array of item names, like a checklist of some sort? an editable formlist?

I hesitate to use any of the (seemingly unknown/unused) actor values due to possible conflicts or unexpected side effects.

 

- to get a list of (currently living) bandit chiefs from a number of particular dungeons, randomly selecting one of them and equip him the item (if that item hasn't already been looted, of course)

I don't really have a clear idea about this one... maybe a radiant quest? Or will a script suffice, or again a (more static) formlist?

 

These are mostly only assumptions, as I haven't yet thoroughly researched the methods... so I'd appreciate any info or possible different/more elegant ways to handle all this.

 

Or possibly when all else fails, as a last resort I'll probably make the stuff craftable.

 

Also on a somewhat related note a poll about powers and the likes... so I'd welcome thoughts about this, as I've found I haven't been using shouts or powers much in combat in my two previous playthroughs as destruction mage and thief (adept and expert). My third character is a warrior (master diff.), level 17 at the moment with only FUS and the redguard Adrenaline Rush power, so...

[David Brasher]

I like spells and lesser powers and enchanted items. I do not like greater powers. Once a day is not enough. (And half of the greater powers are really lame and not so helpful.) I do not care if greater powers are free and cost no magicka. My character stays busy and is constantly in action. I might cast my other spells 100 times for every time I get to use a greater power. If you are really paying attention and playing well, greater powers are usually used up for the day and unavailable. If you are playing in a more sloppy or casual manner, you just never use your greater powers. You are used to them not being there, or not being useful twice, so you just don't even bother to look to see if they are available, and you fill all your hotkey slots with really useful stuff you use multiple times every day.

[jet4571]

I prefer if you add an item that it be a constant effect when equipped if it is an armor or jewelry item. A 1 time use would be more hassle than it is worth to equip it, use, then swap back to a constant effect item. or you equip it and now have 1 slot used that could be for something more helpful instead.

 

The only reason to have a 1 time per day use would be if it opens a particular location or buffs a crafting skill than has no armor buff. Ring Of Greater Enchanting type of thing...

 

*edit

 

You could also use a level list to have it appear randomly on bosses. just create a new level list that includes the new items. set the chance of it being there to a low number like 5% or less. then add that level list to Boss NPC's inventory. Same thing with chests. you could duplicate a boss chest and place it in various dungeons. have the level list in the chests inventory.

 

This would save allot of time with scripting and make the items completely random and more valuable when you find one. If you happen to find one you already have... Bad luck.

Edited March 8, 2012 by jet4571