Would this be allowed?

[link182]

So thereâs a mod that i really like https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/2303 called become a bard part of this mod allows you to wield a lute that can then be played what Iâd like to do is recolour one of the standard default vanilla lutes.

 

However, for it to be compatible I think Iâll have to at least look at the mod as a basis so that the lute can play music like the ones in the mod.

 

All the mod would technically have is a custom lute that I made with in game assets but be compatible with the other mod would this be ok or frowned upon?

Iâd be using this on console so I donât think there would be any way of doing it without uploading it.

[IsharaMeradin]

Have you checked to see if the playable lute utilizes the same texture path as the stock lute? Cause if it does, you can simply replace the stock texture and the playable one would be affected as well without having to do anything to the mod with the playable loot.

[link182]

Not yet I believe itâs the same model however, wouldnât changing it this way remove the original lute? Thatâs something I was hoping to avoid.

[IsharaMeradin]

Multiple objects can use the same model (NIF file) and by extension textures (DDS files). Editing the NIF file or DDS files will change how all objects using those files appear in-game but will not remove their FormID records. Is it possible to make a change that renders something invisible or have other issues, yes. But that is part of modding, making changes and testing to ensure the changes worked correctly.

 

Even if the mod in question uses a different texture path by means of a texture set record or copied and renamed NIF file, you could get their permission to release a re-texture mod that provides only the DDS files necessary to override their original textures.

[link182]

So Iâve looked at it a bit more all the models seem to be standard Skyrim models using a blank armor as the basis for an equip âable lute but using the bog standard lute for the nif file. The way the mod works when the lutes equipped it allows you to activate a power is still properly need to look at how they made the lute armor and follow that example would that be considered stealing?

 

I donât want to take any credit for this and if I can Iâd happily publish it private only.

[IsharaMeradin]

You can credit a mod as a source of inspiration (without needing permission) and use that mod to examine how things were done, but recreate whatever records with different Editor ID names and hopefully with different Form ID numbers. You have limited control over what numbers are used for the records, those are assigned by the Creation Kit sequentially as records are created.

 

I would suggest to make a twist on the idea. Instead of creating an armor that when equipped provides a power which can be activated, create a playable misc object version of the lute. Misc Objects can run the OnEquipped event in papyrus, they just don't stay equipped. It would be set up like a toggle, equip once to automatically start playing, equip a second time to stop playing. The player could then favorite the playable lute and use one of the number keys to start and stop as desired.