Learning Scripting

[Deleted49413338User]

How many hours would you say it takes to learn scripting, and, is it similar from one program/game to the next? Or is Papyrus only really used on Bethesda games?

 

I keep trying to figure out just tiny things involving scripts but... it's like an alien language to me. It feels like every tutorial and CK page expects you to know the basic language already. I will admit, I have not yet committed to the youtube tutorials for beginners as most are at least 1 hour long it seems, and interest is a factor, as well as how I wanna spend my free time.

 

I have interest in 3D modelling and have learned Photo editing long ago as an interest, but for some reason, having a visible 3D model to manipulate or a picture to edit, just captivates my attention in a way that the script language just doesn't.

 

I seem to have a lot more patience to learn these things that to me seem tangible, to see the immediate results.

 

I am 40 this year and never grew up with computers or used one in any of my employment roles. I played console games since I was a kid but only just over a year ago got my first PC for gaming.

 

I had always loved Bethesda games and had discovered modding on my XB1 when it first became available for console. I immediately wanted a PC after that. haha

 

I find all aspects of creating a mod pretty straight forward but I hit scripting and its like everyone is talking another language. I think mainly its because there seems to be an expectation that surely everyone knows the basics.

 

So, Did most you guys who use scripts teach yourself or did your education or work help you with understanding the basics? just curious. Like, someone like SKK seems to know every aspect of every script in the game. I guess there is no way people would put in that much time if they didn't find it interesting, like I do with the 3D model aspects of things.

 

And, I just should say, All I have learnt is basic blender and outfit studio stuff. I am interested but am a loooong way off of creating something that looks like it should belong in a game. Using other peoples assets is not like creating your own of course.

 

 

I know...I should just watch some beginner youtube 2hr long videos I know.. But damn, It just seems so boring. I am never going to really use most of it but occasionally like atm, I just want to do something simple and it's not working as intended.. I feel like a small thing should be a small amount of time to look up and understand but it seems with scripting, you kinda need to understand it as a whole? idk..

 

 

[SKKmods]

>Like, someone like SKK seems to know every aspect of every script in the game.

 

Yes I became a bit obsessive with Fallout 4 from the retro-future art and classical music (like, no one knows Sorochinsk and that was just playing on the radio) which has cost me over 3,000 hours.

 

I am not a software developer, but have been in the industry. Excel formula and macros are my speed, so the Papyrus event driven methods were tough to grok. Especially when you forget == and to fill in properties ALL THE TIME ;)

 

My top tip is to start learning with quests, the Bendu Olo quest tutorial. Even if you never ever make a quest, they are the system that ties the game engine together. The more you can use quest services the less you have to hand roll in your own scripts, I rest my case with RefrerenceCollectionAliases.

 

Then have an objective which solves a problem for you. Mine was an automatic item to junk component scrapper without having to transfer inventory items (SKK Scrapper - as copied in Fallout 76) which got into multi threading scripts and all sorts of fun.

 

Thing is, it is hard so you gotta wanna do it for an outcome.

[pra]

You have to have at least a basic understanding of programming. Papyrus is a programming language. It has it's quirks and there are some things which are different from something you'd use as a software engineer, but in the end, it's still a programming language.

 

You might try searching for some very basic programming tutorials/exercises. Just to understand the very basic concepts, like variables, conditions, arrays, loops, functions, etc.

 

And, well, I am a software developer. IMO, most programming languages are pretty much the same. You understand one, you understand them all.

[Deleted49413338User]

Thanks for your replies, It kinda comforts me to hear you both have a background in the industry. perhaps I am expecting too much from myself with being self taught and my zero knowledge in this field.

 

It seems like it should be something easy since there are so many mods that use scripts, but also I should acknowledge that there is a whole generation that probably had basic programming as an option in high school and others that went on to higher education and careers in the industry.

 

My generation, we still had typewriters in school but we did have a computer class. I remember learning about Dos Shell? Though I can't remember anything about it now, dam that was like, centuries ago.

 

And as Pra says, it is all kinda similar, which I suspected.

 

 

I guess I gotta put in at least a few hours to learn this stuff, I'm pretty impatient. lol thanks for the tutorial recommendation SKK, will check it out.

Edited February 18, 2019 by Guest

[MarkusTay]

You have to have at least a basic understanding of programming. Papyrus is a programming language. It has it's quirks and there are some things which are different from something you'd use as a software engineer, but in the end, it's still a programming language.

 

You might try searching for some very basic programming tutorials/exercises. Just to understand the very basic concepts, like variables, conditions, arrays, loops, functions, etc.

 

And, well, I am a software developer. IMO, most programming languages are pretty much the same. You understand one, you understand them all.

I used to program a LOT back in the 70's (back before there were monitors), and have an excellent knowledge of BASIC, and now when I look at Papyrus (or anything in C/C+/etc.), it all looks very familiar to me... some 40 years later. Bolean logic is Bolean logic -- it never changes (much like war LOL). If you understand binary, and 'opened' and 'closed' (and string variables), you can program... even when you're a dinosaur like me.

 

So YEAH, I agree 100%.