SSE Basic question about placing creatures outside

[LogicalD]

I realize this is a total beginner question, but I've been struggling all day simply trying to place a single creature in the area outside of Whiterun.

 

I'm trying to make a simple quest where person gives me a quest to go kill a creature outside.

Then I enable the creature and then go kill it.

 

At first I thought it was just my quest creature not showing up, so I just tried placing some random creatures. A few cows by the Whiterun stables.

 

I leave the area (across the map) then return, but there are no cows. Nothing.

 

It seems that no matter what I've tried I can't get even the simplest creature to show up in the game.

 

I've followed several tutorials, but they make it look simple. Click the actor and drag it into the window where you want it. I can see the cows standing on the path near the stables. I save the mod. Run the game, and they aren't there. Obviously I'm doing something very simple incorrectly.

 

Also I've noticed that when I'm looking around in the render window, most buildings, water, and roads aren't visible. I can find whiterun, but the farms and such around it don't draw. How do I get them to show up? that would make selecting a placement area much easier.

 

Any help is appreciated and could save my sanity. Thanks!

[LogicalD]

When I place my creature INSIDE there is no problem. I dropped a mudcrab in the Whiterun catacombs and it showed up no problem. Put the same mudcrab outside by the farms and it doesn't appear. I'm confused.

[LogicalD]

I found the answer after searching for a couple more hours. Worth it??

 

I did not know that "Whiterun World" is not the land outside whiterun. Instead that is what you can see when you are INSIDE whiterun looking over the walls.

 

When you actually go outside the walls you are in a different area. Tamriel -> Whiterun.

 

So if you put something in Whiterun world, you will never ever find it when you go outside. I had to put my creatures in Tamriel, Whiterun and boom, everything is good :)

[maxarturo]

A wise move will be to make your own creature and make him a "AI PAckage" to either stay in one spot or to patrol, this way your creature won't go wandering around.

Also his own fanction and to be hostile only to the player and his allies, this way your creature won't start chasing a rabbit and disapear from his location.