UPDATE: Added a version that does not require RBP to work.


Fearabbit's Bearded NPCs - BETA
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1. Description:

Adds bearded versions of Redguards, Nords, Bretons, Dunmer and Orcs. Changes several NPCs (all in all: 125) to one of these races.
BETA version. Not all races are done, changes are still possible, basically an extensive (and hopefully playable) proof-of-concept mod.
Possibly requires Race Balancing Project in order to function properly (feedback appreciated). In any case, it is currently dependent on it, so if you want to try it out WITHOUT RBP, you have to remove the dependency with Wrye Bash.

Bretons got all possible beard styles, though I tried to focus on the French beard by Hel Borne for now.
Nords get all Beards except the Fu Manchu and the French beard, because they don't seem appropriate.
Redguards get mostly black or grey beards; many got the Fu Manchu because they used to have a little bit of an Asian flair to them in previous games (did you know Gaiden Shinji was a Redguard and not a Tsaesci?).
Dunmer got the Fu Manchu (not sure if there are actually any NPCs with it though), the French style and the "circle beard" (Beard03).



2. Installation:

Extract the archive to Oblivion/Data and click "yes" if asked to overwrite existing files. Activate the ESP file. I put it at the end of my load order, but other positions have not been tested; feedback is appreciated.



3. Issues, features not yet implemented and other information:

- This mod has not been tested very much. I have tried it out several times in order to see if it works, but I haven't checked for conflicts or other problems at all (I didn't notice any either, if that helps.) Feedback appreciated.
- All of madmole's beards use the Upper Teeth slot. However, I have not yet included scanti's Merged Teeth mod, so I guess all NPCs who use madmole's beards won't have upper teeth. Thought I should mention it.
- I had RBP's NPCDiversity plugin loaded while adding the beards, because I wanted them to look right when used together with that plugin. Some beard colors still don't look completely right; however, WITHOUT that plugin it will definitely be worse. Feedback appreciated.
- You might feel like certain NPCs should definitely get a beard or some definitely shouldn't, or they should get a different one than I currently gave them. I didn't much think about their personalities when adding the beards (only considered good looks and their class). Feedback appreciated.
- As far as I know, this will show NPCDiversity's changes to NPCs, including new haircuts (which are the reason I made this dependent on RBP). I don't know if the haircuts that will be shown without NPCDiversity will be the ones from the vanilla NPCs, or some "default haircut". Feedback appreciated.
- Better Redguards will not work with the Redguard "beard races", so they'll look less dark than the ones without a beard.
- Altmer and Bosmer have not yet been done, because there aren't enough beard styles available for those. Imperials might never get done since I imagine them as a clean-shaven race mostly... and with the current number of different styles, I had to make some cuts.

All of these are important points that need to be considered for future versions. Even more important are severe bugs, conflicts or other issues, however. If you stumble across any, please contact me, make a comment on TESNexus or post in the thread on the official forums.

What this mod really needs is more beards. Currently, many NPCs might look very similar. I hope some modelers will feel encouraged to try themselves at some new styles, or maybe at enhancing the currently available styles.



4. Credits

Hel Borne: "Fu Manchu" beard, "French" beard.
Madmole: Beard01, Beard02, Beard03, Beard04, Mustache.




If you want to use this mod as a base for your own endeavours, feel free to do so, you don't need to ask for permission (just be sure to give credit to the creators of the beards).