LE Dark Elf, High Elf, Wood Elf and Orc children.

[KyleinMalta]

I think everyone knows about the Khajiit Child mod, can anyone make one like that but with different races not just human ones?

Thanks for reading just think it would be cool to have a dark elf character with a son matching his skin and facial features!

Edited February 18, 2013 by KyleinMalta

[Deleted1308005User]

I tried to do something like that, but with my skills I just encountered tons of issues. :biggrin:

Khajiit and argonians are easier to do, because their head size somewhat matches the basic child body/size, so it doesn't look weird.

However, when trying to re-size elf and adjust body and everything it just won't work correctly.
Maybe I tried to solve it from wrong end? I don't know.

Maybe it'd be easier to actually adjust the child to look like elf? (Long ears, slightly more narrow face and so)

[KyleinMalta]

Well thanks anyway :biggrin:

[redrew89]

I've thought about this for some time. Granted, my knowledge of the inner-workings of Skyrim/Hearthfire is limited, and all of what I'm about to say is purely theoretical. There is a very large chance that I'm completely off the mark:

 

In order to properly implement mer-children, I imagine it would require the addition of a second child race, derived from the original, with changes made to the facegen and facegeom files to more closely replicate the look of adult elves (pointed ears, narrower faces, eye color in the case of dunmer children). As well as texture alterations to account for the wider variety of skin hues. For orcs, the issue goes deeper, as we also have to account for the teeth.

 

Of course, that's just the physical aspects. What about their dialogue? Without skilled, competent voice actors willing to record dialogue for these additional children, one would have to resort to using existing dialogue and voice assets. This would no-doubt create inconsistencies. This is why I haven't bothered adopting any of the currently existing Hearthfire kids (Although, Sofie almost got to me. *sniff*). The one thing that irks me is that some of their dialogue post-adoption refers to features and characters in Whiterun. If I'm not living in Whiterun, this very quickly takes Volundrung to my immersion.

 

It's a nice thought, really. Shame that the devs at BethSoft hadn't taken the time to fully flesh-out the children currently in Hearthfire, as well as adding a bit more variety. I guess this is what happens when the deadline takes priority over product quality. I'm starting to see why many TES fans compare Hearthfire to the infamous Horse Armor DLC for Oblivion. It's a nice idea, but their just isn't enough to it to justify.

[KyleinMalta]

Thanks I'll mess around with it myself now.

[AlienSensei]

I think maybe the modders could just edit the classic childs faces, add a different skin tone, maybe some tusks? Doesn't sound TOO hard to me for somebody who can modell and create textures.

[ElvenHeroine]

Well there should be Orsimir children due to the encampments and Dunmer children due to the refugees. Bosmer and Altmer children are harder to understand, but maybe an Altmer/Imperial hybrid child for the Loreius Family, since Loreius is an Imperial and his wife Curwe is an Altmer.

[redrew89]

KyleinMalta, on 20 Feb 2013 - 04:24, said:

Thanks I'll mess around with it myself now.

Any progress on this? I'm toying with the idea of installing Blender and dabbling, with the prospect of making a functional dunmer son for my dovahkiin. Any observations, insights and advice would be appreciated.

 

EDIT:

 

My own observations:

 

- There are several child races already in the game: ImperialChildRace, BretonChildRace, NordChildRace, and RedguardChildRace, as well as Vampire races for the Imperial and Breton children. I assume that one is to account for Babette (spoiler), but the other is a mystery.

 

- I have not the faintest clue as to how one would go about making a custom child (using the default races or through adding a custom one). I spent, admittedly, only an hour messing with the CK, trying various things, but couldn't really come up with anything remotely passable. If an NPC is set as a member of a child race, or a race derived from one of said races, the facegen and facegeom become locked into the child headparts, making it difficult, without more experience.

 

Granted, I might be missing something. I know that my modding skills are extremely limited, but maybe there is someone out there with more knowledge, experience and skills that can make this a reality. In the meantime, Lucia needs a home, and I suppose I can always hold out for just one dunmer child. :P

AlienSensei, on 20 Feb 2013 - 12:53, said:

I think maybe the modders could just edit the classic childs faces, add a different skin tone, maybe some tusks? Doesn't sound TOO hard to me for somebody who can modell and create textures.

It's not as simple as it might seem. There are certain caveats to the way the child race(s) in skyrim is(are) implemented, that makes it rather finicky in adding any custom meshes and textures.

Edited February 25, 2013 by redrew89

[ElvenHeroine]

I tried to do something like that, but with my skills I just encountered tons of issues. :biggrin:

 

Khajiit and argonians are easier to do, because their head size somewhat matches the basic child body/size, so it doesn't look weird.

 

However, when trying to re-size elf and adjust body and everything it just won't work correctly.

Maybe I tried to solve it from wrong end? I don't know.

 

Maybe it'd be easier to actually adjust the child to look like elf? (Long ears, slightly more narrow face and so)

 

 

how about instead, keep the kid's head the same and just change the face a little, add elf ears, and make sure the skin color and eyes are appropriate (with under fangs for Orc children).