Weird NPC issues

[Vulon]

I'm having some really bizarre NPC issues. Things like multiple copies of the same individual NPC spawning - in Solitude, I noticed three of Gisli walking around, three of one of the wizards in the Blue Palace, and two Erikurs. I've also noticed that, with some NPCs, their lips simply won't move. I managed to fix the issue here and there by activating/re-activating a couple mods, but now it seems to be quite random. Almost 50/50. And even with some of the NPCs who have proper lip movements, I still get issues, such as their mouth "locking" into place if I exit the conversation before they're done speaking. As in, I continue to hear their voice, but their lips freeze in a certain position. It's really unusual.

 

I'm guessing I did something really stupid or something somewhere down the line. I've downloaded a number of body/skin/face/etc. retextures/meshes, and I've overwritten them, deactivated them, overwritten them with something else, and so on and so forth. It all seemed to be working fine until recently. Maybe that's the cause? I can't think of anything else. Any advice? Anyone else experience this?

[ripple]

Need to see your mod list/load order (in text format please, no pics).

[Vulon]

Alright; I must warn you, though, that it's pretty atrocious. I have too many mods for my own good installed, and the order's likely pretty bad. :P That being said, I manage to get everything working 99% of the time. Also, it's worth noting that I think I managed to fix the problem with lips not moving somehow. The duplicate NPC glitch still seems to be a problem, though.

 

Load Order -

Skyrim.esm

Update.esm

Dawnguard.esm

HearthFires.esm

ApachiiHair.esm

AP Skyrim.esm

ClimatesOfTamriel.esm

Evil Lair of Hydra.esm

moonpath.esm

ORS_SolitudeGate.esm

SPIKE.esm

Vigilant of Stendarr Quests Master.esm

TERAArmors.esm

OblivionHairPackAIO.esm

RaceCompatibility.esm

Unofficial Skyrim Patch.esp

USKP_addon.esp

USKP_addon ENG.esp

RaceCompatibilityUSKPOverride.esp

BabetteReplacer.esp

Vex.esp

ExpandedSnowSystems-CoT.esp

IceBreaker's Improved Reverb-v0.02-Cleaned.esp

Improved Combat Sounds v2.2.esp

ClimatesOfTamriel-VanillaNights-Lvl-1.esp

ClimatesOfTamriel-Interiors-Warm.esp

Prometheus_BeastSkeletons.esp

BellyachesNewDragonSpecies.esp

Birdsofskyrim.esp

Bloody Cannibalism.esp

Usefulremains.esp

Chesko_LoreBasedLoadingScreens.esp

DYNAVISION Dynamic Depth of Field.esp

Footprints.esp

SkyUI.esp

iHUD.esp

WetandCold.esp

aassassinscraftables.esp

battleflute.esp

BlackSacramentArmor.esp

BlackSacramentDBReplacer.esp

Books+.esp

DarkNemesis.esp

dbarrows.esp

dbbownogloss.esp

dbdagger.esp

dbsword.esp

Decapitation-spell-and-raise-skull-minions.esp

Doom Heavy Set.esp

HentaiSuccubusArmor.esp

HentaiVoidArmor.esp

LFArmors.esp

listernersarmorset.esp

listenerscrossbow.esp

MorrowindArmor.esp

NewmillerCasualBikiniUNP2.esp

NewmillerShoesUNP.esp

On Dragon Tongue.esp

Remodeled Armor.esp

Schwertleite Set.esp

SED7-CBBE3-BM_ALLin1-EDITION.esp

SilverDragonArmor.esp

SkyHeels.esp

SleekSteel_StandAlone.esp

TERAArmors.esp

Veteran Nord Plate.esp

BetterDarkBrotherhood.esp

Forlorn Keep.esp

HF_Lakeview_Pool_and_Hotbath.esp

HF_Lakeview_North_Perimeter_Fence.esp

markarthbookstore.esp

moonpath_questdata.esp

Northern Bathhouses.esp

Saviik City.esp

ShadowScales.esp

SkyrimSewers.esp

SovngardeNordHeroes.esp

The Paarthurnax Dilemma.esp

Vigilant of Stendarr Quests.esp

Books+ (No skill books).esp

Guard Dialogue Overhaul.esp

Headtracking.esp

Kill Every NPC.esp

dD - Enhanced Blood Main.esp

VariedGuards.esp

bathhouse.esp

NerniesCityandVillageExpansion.esp

Oblivion Gates.esp

Better Vampires.esp

OblivionMankarSummon.esp

Improved Dragon Shouts.esp

Improved Dragon Shouts - Dawnguard.esp

UndressShout.esp

ShowRaceMenuAlternative.esp

Sneak Tools.esp

Sneak Tools Vanilla Hoods.esp

Sneak Tools Vanilla Masks.esp

The Dance of Death.esp

dD-No Spinning Death Animation.esp

ShakeIt.esp

LunariRace.esp

OhmesRaht.esp

OrientalRace.esp

SuccubusRace.esp

EMCompViljaSkyrim.esp

UFO - Ultimate Follower Overhaul.esp

Angelina Jolie.esp

CamillaValerius.esp

Thieves Guild Followers.esp

Victoria.esp

BarenziahQuestMarkers.esp

StatReset.esp

Marriage Options Redone (females v1.2).esp

Wet.esp

marriagedynamicoutfits.esp

Skyrim 20 Day Respawn.esp

Dollhouse_le_petite_Claudia.esp

MicroBikini Topless.esp

MicroBikini Bottomless.esp

MicroBikini.esp

CorpseGirl.esp

helgen torture chambers.esp

DarkLand.esp

ConjureSexyFemaleDremora_NoReplacer.esp

LundsHut.esp

Bandit breezhome.esp

BlindJenassa.esp

Cheatbook 2.2.esp

AlluringAllure.esp

SummonPlayerBook.esp

LingerieSetCBBE3_2ByNausicaa.esp

Skyrim Cafe.esp

Athena.esp

TERA Weapons.esp

SurSummerAssault.esp

Milos Hot Springs.esp

Playable Children PLUS.esp

PelagiusWingRemodel.esp

TheMeadStall.esp

Junky.esp

ExtraDrinks.esp

PiratesofthePacific.esp

COF_V1.esp

Castle Draco.esp

Vampire Slavers Den.esp

Dwemer_Skyship_Pegasus_v1.esp

Arena.esp

SavaGhost's pack o tests.esp

Vampire-Bats-Fix.esp

ABBM_Dyramisty_01.esp

ZaBorski_2_0.esp

DarkBrotherhoodMerchant.esp

CGDarkBrotherhoodReborn.esp

SpiderCreation.esp

CGSkyHavenReborn.esp

CGThievesGuildReborn.esp

CGHighHrothgarReborn.esp

CGNamiraReborn.esp

AstridEnd.esp

GardensOfRiften.esp

Shortcuts.esp

TG Headquarters Overhaul v.1.5.esp

Thieves Hideout.esp

Karliah.esp

Mjoll-test2.esp

Jordis-1_1.esp

Illia-1_2.esp

JenassaFace-1.esp

PsijicWatch.esp

WinterholdAbandonedHouseOnTheEdge.esp

DudestiaOutfitChanger.esp

Guard Build (HF) 1.esp

Better Followers - SBP.esp

Better NPC - Faction Pack.esp

Wild Horses of Skyrim.esp

VariedCouriers.esp

Spousetocustomhome.esp

ajd_soulcairnhome.esp

MennoHorses.esp

SignTown_by_YURIL.esp

Better Follower Improvements.esp

Horses for followers.esp

Horse Whisper.esp

armored-horses.esp

Convenient Horses.esp

VolkiharLabTeleportSpell.esp

RaceMenu.esp

RaceMenuPlugin.esp

dagi_raht_race.esp

MilkyGirlRaceAssassin.esp

MilkyGirlRaceMage.esp

MilkyGirlRaceWarrior.esp

Half Elf_FR.esp

Burning Sky.esp

RZW_ChubbyRaces.esp

Half Orc Race.esp

adragoniustower.esp

adura_skyrimmerchantmod.esp

adventurersandtravelers.esp

alcoholiceffect.esp

apocalypse - the core.esp

argoniantints.esp

dragonmeadbrewery-premesh.esp

enhancedgameplay-extendedwe.esp

explore tamriel.esp

explore tamriel2.esp

fckagrenacsinstantfortress.esp

followerwander2.esp

gabby companion.esp

hammerfell.esp

here there be monsters.esp

hf-movespouse.esp

inorra.esp

lakeviewmanorupgrades.esp

leara frey.esp

massive2.esp

mountaincabinv1.esp

newheimdall.esp

quest_andtherealmsofdaedra.esp

quest_nomercy.esp

quest_seaofghosts.esp

quest_sorcery.esp

quest_thebiggertheyare.esp

realisticskoomamodv1.esp

sos - the dungeons.esp

sos - the wilds.esp

spousestore.esp

swordoftheninth.esp

the valenwood project.esp

transformative_mod_01.esp

Delphine Makeover.esp

Better and Younger Lydia - Voice only.esp

JessicaAlba.esp

AelaTheHuntress.esp

Marriable Serana.esp

serana.esp

Blacksmithforge water fix.esp

3DNPC.esp

WATER.esp

Skyrim Flora Overhaul.esp

TheEyesOfBeauty.esp

ethereal_elven_overhaul.esp

LiFE.esp

 

 

Active Plugins -

Update.esm

Dawnguard.esm

HearthFires.esm

ApachiiHair.esm

ClimatesOfTamriel.esm

moonpath.esm

ORS_SolitudeGate.esm

SPIKE.esm

Vigilant of Stendarr Quests Master.esm

TERAArmors.esm

OblivionHairPackAIO.esm

RaceCompatibility.esm

Unofficial Skyrim Patch.esp

USKP_addon.esp

USKP_addon ENG.esp

RaceCompatibilityUSKPOverride.esp

Vex.esp

ExpandedSnowSystems-CoT.esp

IceBreaker's Improved Reverb-v0.02-Cleaned.esp

Improved Combat Sounds v2.2.esp

ClimatesOfTamriel-VanillaNights-Lvl-1.esp

ClimatesOfTamriel-Interiors-Warm.esp

Prometheus_BeastSkeletons.esp

Birdsofskyrim.esp

Bloody Cannibalism.esp

Chesko_LoreBasedLoadingScreens.esp

DYNAVISION Dynamic Depth of Field.esp

Footprints.esp

SkyUI.esp

iHUD.esp

WetandCold.esp

BlackSacramentArmor.esp

BlackSacramentDBReplacer.esp

dbarrows.esp

dbbownogloss.esp

dbdagger.esp

dbsword.esp

LFArmors.esp

MorrowindArmor.esp

On Dragon Tongue.esp

Remodeled Armor.esp

Schwertleite Set.esp

SED7-CBBE3-BM_ALLin1-EDITION.esp

SilverDragonArmor.esp

SleekSteel_StandAlone.esp

TERAArmors.esp

Veteran Nord Plate.esp

BetterDarkBrotherhood.esp

markarthbookstore.esp

moonpath_questdata.esp

Northern Bathhouses.esp

Saviik City.esp

Books+ (No skill books).esp

Guard Dialogue Overhaul.esp

Kill Every NPC.esp

dD - Enhanced Blood Main.esp

VariedGuards.esp

bathhouse.esp

NerniesCityandVillageExpansion.esp

Oblivion Gates.esp

Better Vampires.esp

Improved Dragon Shouts.esp

Improved Dragon Shouts - Dawnguard.esp

UndressShout.esp

ShowRaceMenuAlternative.esp

The Dance of Death.esp

dD-No Spinning Death Animation.esp

LunariRace.esp

OhmesRaht.esp

OrientalRace.esp

SuccubusRace.esp

EMCompViljaSkyrim.esp

UFO - Ultimate Follower Overhaul.esp

Angelina Jolie.esp

CamillaValerius.esp

Thieves Guild Followers.esp

Victoria.esp

BarenziahQuestMarkers.esp

StatReset.esp

Wet.esp

marriagedynamicoutfits.esp

Dollhouse_le_petite_Claudia.esp

MicroBikini Topless.esp

MicroBikini Bottomless.esp

MicroBikini.esp

DarkLand.esp

Cheatbook 2.2.esp

SummonPlayerBook.esp

Athena.esp

TERA Weapons.esp

Milos Hot Springs.esp

Playable Children PLUS.esp

PelagiusWingRemodel.esp

TheMeadStall.esp

Junky.esp

ExtraDrinks.esp

PiratesofthePacific.esp

COF_V1.esp

Arena.esp

SavaGhost's pack o tests.esp

Vampire-Bats-Fix.esp

ABBM_Dyramisty_01.esp

ZaBorski_2_0.esp

SpiderCreation.esp

CGHighHrothgarReborn.esp

GardensOfRiften.esp

Shortcuts.esp

TG Headquarters Overhaul v.1.5.esp

Thieves Hideout.esp

Karliah.esp

Mjoll-test2.esp

Jordis-1_1.esp

Illia-1_2.esp

JenassaFace-1.esp

PsijicWatch.esp

WinterholdAbandonedHouseOnTheEdge.esp

DudestiaOutfitChanger.esp

Guard Build (HF) 1.esp

Better Followers - SBP.esp

Better NPC - Faction Pack.esp

Wild Horses of Skyrim.esp

Spousetocustomhome.esp

ajd_soulcairnhome.esp

MennoHorses.esp

SignTown_by_YURIL.esp

Better Follower Improvements.esp

Horses for followers.esp

Horse Whisper.esp

Convenient Horses.esp

VolkiharLabTeleportSpell.esp

RaceMenu.esp

RaceMenuPlugin.esp

dagi_raht_race.esp

Half Elf_FR.esp

Burning Sky.esp

Half Orc Race.esp

explore tamriel.esp

explore tamriel2.esp

gabby companion.esp

hammerfell.esp

hf-movespouse.esp

spousestore.esp

swordoftheninth.esp

the valenwood project.esp

Delphine Makeover.esp

Better and Younger Lydia - Voice only.esp

JessicaAlba.esp

AelaTheHuntress.esp

Marriable Serana.esp

serana.esp

Blacksmithforge water fix.esp

3DNPC.esp

WATER.esp

Skyrim Flora Overhaul.esp

TheEyesOfBeauty.esp

ethereal_elven_overhaul.esp

LiFE.esp

 

[ripple]

1) NPC mods are....finicky. Wrye Bash for Skyrim won't merge NPC records, even if they are not true conflicts (e.g. one mod edits an NPC's hair, another mod edits that NPC's inventory). A merged patch via TES5Edit might do it, although I haven't played around much with the TES5Edit merged patch function. Alternatively, you can just manually make your own NPC compatibility patch in TES5Edit. I suggest this because you seem to be using a lot of mods that modify individual NPCs, and I wager some of them will conflict. For that matter, the quickest way to see why you have duplicate NPCs is to check your mods in TES5Edit. Right now it *sounds* like there could be a mod in your load order that is intended to modify vanilla NPCs, but is instead duplicating them because the NPC's base ID in the esp plugin do not match the vanilla game base ID.

 

2) I recommend not installing more than one playable custom race mod. Unless you are using 'Mod Organizer' or sharing your computer with other Skyrim players, there is just no good reason to clutter up your character creation menu and game installation with multiple custom race mods since you can only play one character. It's just a recipe for disaster. From what I can see, you can remove at least half a dozen mods from this large load order just by trimming your custom race mods.

Edited January 10, 2013 by ripple

[Vulon]

I think I follow you. Truth be told, I just recently got Skyrim for the PC and started modding, so there's a number of processes I'm not familiar with whatsoever. I have TES5edit downloaded, as well as boss, and I've tried using both, but I couldn't quite grasp what to do with them. I do agree with you about the race mods, most definitely. I could certainly stand to remove a number of them, and I'll do that.

[ripple]

I think I follow you. Truth be told, I just recently got Skyrim for the PC and started modding, so there's a number of processes I'm not familiar with whatsoever. I have TES5edit downloaded, as well as boss, and I've tried using both, but I couldn't quite grasp what to do with them. I do agree with you about the race mods, most definitely. I could certainly stand to remove a number of them, and I'll do that.

 

With BOSS, basically you just run it and let it set your load order for you. The only additional step is to read the BOSS log to see if there are any esp's not recognized by BOSS. A lot of new mod users forget to do this and let those mods load at the bottom of their load order, when they need to be re-ordered manually using whatever mod manager you have. The biggest challenge is to figure out where they should go in the load order, and the only reliable way to make that determination is to load all the esp's in your load order in TES5Edit, so you can check the unrecognized esp's against the other esp's in the load order to see if there are any conflicts between them. If you spot some conflicts in TES5Edit and you are not entirely certain what should be done with them, you can post some screenshots here and I am sure more experience mod users will be able to help.

[Vulon]

Thanks! I thought Boss sorted the load order, but the couple times I used it seem to either not do anything or de-activate a huge chunk of my list. I might mess around with TES5edit if I can't find a solution to this duplicate NPC issue. I'm not sure how I've managed thus far, but I've been able to get most of my mods working properly with only a few issues here and there. I'm a little wary about changing things up, but if I end up with more issues, I'll give it a shot.

[ripple]

Oh, I totally forgot another thing: cleaning

 

You can try and clean your mods based on the instruction in this guide (and you should definitely clean the esp's flagged in the BOSS log). That might clear up your duplicate NPCs issue altogether.

[Vulon]

Again, thank you! You've been quite helpful indeed. I'm looking into cleaning my mods at the moment, hopefully that does the trick. :D