Do Skyrim dummy cells actually need navmesh data / floors / walls / etc?

[Deleted3412590User]

To clarify I mean dummy placeholder cells that would be literally impossible for the player to ever visit
unless they went out of their way to do it on purpose with a console command or script

I have only ever stored trivial references in those like scripted blank objects and it has never been a problem omitting
that data. Going to store an NPC or two though in a mod soon however. Anyone know if that data is needed? Thanks :)

[Evangela]

Dummy cells don't need any navmeshing unless you're using it to test pathing or ambushes(and even then ambushes have their own cell for testing). NPCs stored there will just stand there if there is no navmesh.

 

When I make a dummy cell, I just use the genkit and make a square room with four corners. I guess if you're really concerned(the player would first need to know the cell editor ID just to be able to coc there), just make sure the room has walls.

[Deleted3412590User]

Thanks for the comment. Yeah it seems fine. Released a mod with an NPC stored in an empty void until invoked, and it seems to work fine. Just get paranoid sometimes!

[Russia2012]

Is this a great way to add npcs into my world without having them all over the place. I am building a mod and was considering using it for my npcs to spawn. I figure if their package tells them to be somewhere that they will be there when I arrive. I figure if I create guards and have them spawn in a dummy cell. Once they are suppose to be at an Imperial camp they will be there according to their package. I understand they would not renter the dummy cell unless they are killed. This would e the purpose of the dummy cell. I understand i can have the respawn rates different for the dummy cell than the rest of the game. I would like to do this as it means It will make fixing problems easier as I will know where all the npcs are.