making an .esm rather than an .esp

[DoInK]

right.

so i'm still learning the ins and outs of the construction process, and i wanted my first mod to be a simple switchup. for humor purposes i made a Richard D. James head, and, as is done in his videos, intended to use it replace every single other head in the game. well, rather than go about gathering up my massive head collection and storing it away so that i could batch copy/rename the rdj head to replace them, i'd rather a more shareable, less brutal solution. however, i can't seem to give the esp version the authority to override the original morrowind esm.

 

so my question becomes, is there a difference in scripting between the esm and the esp file? or is it just the extension.

 

any input would be appreciated.

[Marxist ßastard]

ESM files have a lower priority than ESP files, and, by extension, have a rough dependency system.

 

ESM files are to be used only in situations where they are necessary -- they aren't going to solve many problems that do not have something to do with doubling, and, in fact, usually create more problems than they solve. Additionally, there isn't some special functionality that the ESM format gives you -- it is not some magic whatzit that can allow you to do the impossible.

 

There is no "authority." There is only priority, and, as I said earlier, ESP files have a lower priority than ESM files, meaning that they are immeasurably better suited to tasks requiring you to "override" anything contained in an ESM.

 

As for the head idea... No. Just no.

[UberBender]

ESM files have a lower priority than ESP files, and, by extension, have a rough dependency system...

 

...There is no "authority." There is only priority, and, as I said earlier, ESP files have a lower priority than ESM files...

Little confused MB?

[Marxist ßastard]

What kind of explanation do you seek?

[UberBender]

you mistyped?

[Marxist ßastard]

Well, ESP files have a lower priority in the sense that they are loaded only after ESM files, but thus have a higher priority in the sense that their code will override any records in ESM files.

 

So, even in error, I am correct.