LE Butterfly followers

[allsmoky]

If you've ever run into the unmovable force of the tundra you know. Butterflies are tough! I'm no modder, but i would totally download butterfly, moth or dartwing companion. Now, I don't imagine they can carry much, wield weapons or anything else - in fact it may be more of a dog follower? I do imagine them having wicked chain lightning and any other lore-friendly aspects imagined by the creator. I don't know if anyone will take this on, but it would sure make me happy =D

[Saratje]

Butterflies aren't seen by Skyrim as animals. Rather, like the hawks they're static objects that uhm.. don't act static (well they do, with the hawks you just have to imagine a huge invisible monorail with a flapping hawk that rides it, that's how Skyrim interprets hawks). I assume butterflies are the same, but since they can flap they can probably be animated to follow you also. It would take someone who tried this before, or who didn't but is eager to try in order to get this to work. While I can't help out there, it should be doable for someone who knows how. Edited May 29, 2012 by Saratje

[uk33]

I would imagine butterflies are classed as items being as you can catch them and collect their wings.

[steve40]

Butterflies are "fake" critters. They are made to simulate flying by a script that calculates random "TranslateTo" commands that center around the spawner and nearby landing markers. Unlike actors and npcs, they have no movement or inventory packages as such. When you catch/kill them, the script silently moves a dead butterfly or butterfly wings to your position. It should be theoretically possible to have a script that calculates translation commands centered around the player, so you might be able to have butterflies that flutter around you. You would have clipping issues indoors I would imagine, butterflies are mostly oblivious to any solids objects nearby and will just clip through them. They are not capable of carrying anything or engaging in combat, either.

 

I have a new critter script in the pipeline, for a mod I'm working on. The prototype script is ready, but I have another mod to release soon (in a few days) and then I will get back to my new critter mod. I will consider your butterfly follower idea as a possible follow-up to this mod :thumbsup:

[MightyZ0G]

the easy way to do this isn't to make the butterflies/torchbugs/dartwings/moths into followers but to make a dog companion that used a butterfly/torchbug/dartwing/moth mesh.

 

the game would think it was a dog but you would see a butterfly/torchbug/dartwing/moth

 

 

simples ;)

 

 

admit it if you did a meerkat impression

 

[steve40]

@mighty zog: you think it is simple to do it that way :ohmy: Dog's can't fly, btw.

[MightyZ0G]

no, dogs can't fly. although the game has a physics engine, there isn't any real gravity and the animals legs don't actually hold it up off the ground, it is the co-ordinates of the pelvis that determine the altitude of the dog/butterfly/etc

give the custom dog companion an invisible body and use a butterfly mesh for the head and it will "look" like you have a butterfly following you around but, as far as the game is concerned, it will act like a dog and attack unfriendly npcs and monsters.

Edited May 30, 2012 by mighty zog

[steve40]

Hmmm...a butterfly that barks and wants to sit and lie down all the time... :rolleyes:

[MightyZ0G]

there are already mods that stop the dogs barking ;)

[steve40]

Yes, but what if I still want the regular dogs to be able to bark...?

 

I just don't think that this is an elegant or practical way to go about it. While it might be possible to attach a butterfly to a dog mesh, I would think that it would break the butterfly's animation, and the dog-like movement would be too weird anyhow. Might as well create a new butterfly creature from scratch. Something that's beyond my modding skills atm.