Also, for all those artists out there who are interested, contact me on the forum, I need to be able to re-texture the default Snow Sabre Cat. Accessories such as collars, war paints, maybe even scars or full skin overlays. Thanks!
This is a message I sent to the creator of the bear follower Grunt. just replace Grunt with pogo.
Grunt: Thank you for this! My favorite mod of the week.
Here are some good future ideas, I know its a lot but I think you will like them once you read them. They are well thought out and explained. And based on what I've seen in the game as a player and what I've seen on this site it just might be possible (hopefully...it took me 4 hours to come up and lay all this out simply). Please make my dream animal mod happen.
This mod is awesome but if its possible can you add an option or something (Quest) where we get him as a tiny cub and have to nurse and feed him to the size he is in the second picture with different physical stages like baby cub> young cub> cub> little bear> "teen" bear> young adult/post adolescence bear> adult bear. We have to feed him meat, veggies, milk and water (along with whatever else bears eat) or he will die (increasing amounts as he grows, starts with just milk). This adds a purpose for all those food and misc stuff we hoard. Also since he is/will be huge can you give up an option to ride him (when not riding the saddle is automatically hidden in his storage)(obviously he isnt as fast as a horse but maybe implement something like a Pumping Iron equivalent to make him almost) and teach him tricks like to retrieve kills (shot deer, drugar basically anything that doesnt weigh more than 1.5x his current wieght) (maybe in the mcm menu have it set that we can set the num of bodies he can retrieve at once 1=realism 5=convenience), attack a designated target... We could also teach him to hunt on his own. And in different stages of his life he will/might require more training ie more whistles to come back from roaming off. He could roam off at random non combat times (when you fist find him up to teen stage he might run off if his health gets too low but can be called back) when he roams off there is a chance that he might have brought back some "extra goodies"-What do you have there? (ask to see inventory) or die (See cub levels line 2: 95%>85%>70%>50%>35%>15%>1%). Possibly have it be configurable but it should take a long time for him to age into the beast of an adult we want him to be (and maybe later on you can do different wild animals).
Make him have an interesting backstory like you find him near his moms dead carcass hungry and wet he has a distain for all things Elvish(excluding non city wood elves and orcs)+vamp+hagraven/sorceror+anything else you want. This is because the hags and vamps were at war or fighting and the thalmor stepped in and killed them. Grunt's (in my opinion the name should be customizable) mom was under a spell by the hags went rabid and made to fight the vamps and later the altimer. For killing his mom Grunt hates elves and will develop low favoribility, even hatred for elves (excluding non city wood elves because of their nature-ish scent and orcs) and those wearing elvish armor (INCLUDING PLAYER and follower NPC's) and will be especially hostile to hags, vamps, sorcerers, and hostile elves (or hostile enemies equipped with any elven armor).
Possible additions:
~make him be treated as a companion in the since that he can go into holds and towns. obviously he has to wait outside (read: sleep to slowly recharge stamina/ lick wounds-paws to slowly recharge health) when the player goes into a building. also any movement slows down the already slow regen. ~tell him to go hunt= go away for half the day (or until called back, which ever first) comes back well fed---takes more food since he in no longer a baby cub. Levels: deathly/fatally hungry> very/really hungry> a little hungry> hungry> not hungry> fed> wed fed> stuffed and a little sluggish> overstuffed and sluggish. >squishable . Being overly stuff and sluggish makes him slower but take less damage and use less stamina when attacking. ~spar partner to help train and increase skills ~tell him to target specific types of people: those using staffs, bows, 2H, 1H daggers, dual wielders or 1h+shield, in the order you want or have it be random ~will growl when elves are near > when adult (and if user chooses to side with stormcloaks)> will growl when imperials are near as they are elven associates
My thought process for this system was something like in Dynamic Enemies - how the difficulty scales after every single encounter Things that cause high favorability: -going on hunts -sleeping -being around players spouse/ kids -good music
Things that increase favorability: -treats for good behavior ( sweet rolls, honey nut treats and New BEAR CLAWS) -belly rubs
Results of a higher favorabiliy: -more like to defend player in battle -less likely to attack player -less hostile to player npc's (including elves) -will never permanently run off -smart AI (flank enemies...) -wont flee til at a lower treshhold of health - possiblitliy of Ultimate Loyalty= will fight to the death with you against enemies (hardcore=mode he can die, normal= when his health reaches 0 he will "hibernate"/faint[think Pokemon] and player will have to carry him/*her* wink* wink*(adult 300lbs) to a safe place like a house and nurse Grunt back to health again. Each time his health reaches 0 it will take noticeably longer to nurse him/her back to life). To nurse player must bring him food, water and take him hunting like he was a cub. Takes more food since he in no longer a baby cub. Levels: deathly/fatally hungry> very/really hungry> a little hungry> hungry> not hungry> fed> wed fed> stuffed and a little sluggish> overstuffed and sluggish. ~able to be reanimated with expert or master level reanimation spell (map marker shows up for the spot where Grunt died) will love player even more
Things that cause low favorability: -leaving him at home -excessive beatings ie abuse (have the option in the mcm menu to toggle discipline in which you whip Grunt.) Whipping for bad behavior (for training and punishment purposes ONLY!!!! I DO NOT support animal cruelty. Too much whipping ie abuse, will cause negative favorability.) -no love -keep dismissing him
Things that decrease favorability: -any form of discipline ie. smack on the nose, whipping... -waking him up in the middle of the night -no treats
Results of a lower favorability: -sometimes attack you (in and out of battle) -more likely to run off during battle when having a higher threshhold of health, takes longer to train -"runs away" more often -takes more whistle/bear calls to bring him back (upper left hand corner: Grunt ignored your call) -if not fed either dies or runs away for extended time to hunt own its own (could die) -will permanently run away and/or fight you to the death. -able to be reanimated, will likely run away if player doesnt have treats/food/milk etc around before reanimation -possibility of Treachery and Betrayal: Should Have Seen This Coming!= Starts to growl really loudly for seemingly for no reason the BAM! a Vice Grip (see below) from behind 75% chance from behind 25% from in front. (INSTA-KILL)
Attacks: -swipe (single and double) normal strike (if double connects there is a little knock back and possible disarmament) -Power swipe ( ^ ) strike while on two legs instead of four (more power version of ^. ) -pound earth AOE (affects player too but if adult he/she has learned to control the power to make it so that the stagger effects are minimal to player while max to enemy, other wise ranges from 50-50 [effect not damage, causes both player and enemy to stagger and fall to ground, #=Player-enemy] all the way to 15-85 so thats its not OP) -Tackle(same as Lunge?) sprinting move much like the horse sprinting "through" person causing them knock back -Roar frightens enemies [who have targeted Grunt] causing them to do less damage (if at least young adult or weights more than enemy), enrages enemy causing them to do more damage (because they are insulted by Grunt's arrogance or because they seen him as pesky.) Distracts enemies who target player and other NPC followers (50% 2.5 - 3second paralysis 50% drop damage+blocking+archery accuracy of 35-40% for the next 5 sec) ("blocked" by a well place strike to the head) -(Shoulder)Lungeless than normal damage, if connects> big knockback (no block+weak armor= fall to ground>>>>ebony armor+high block=few steps back) -Pounce (Like a real life pounce) Bite+Lunge. If connects enemy is knocked to ground more little more than above average damage. -Bear Hug possible paralysis raging from 3 secs to permanent. critical hit! (must be up close, blocked by 3 hits anywear) -Bite power hit, critical hit! (must be up close, blocked with shield,) -Vice grip (goes for jugular) (animation= stand on two legs, pulls enemy in for Bear hug and bites neck) INSTA-KILL (can only be blocked by 3 strike to head or chest, Blocking doesnt work.)
Percentage chance for attack: -Swipe: 25% with another 50% chance of doing a double strike -Power Swipe: 17% with another 25% chance of doing a double strike -Pound Earth: 15% -Tackle: 12% -Roar: 100% at the beginning of fight (configurable?) every 7 sec (while in fight), duration: 1.5 sec If successful add buffs -Lunge: 12% -Pounce:8% -Bear Hug: 5% -Bite: 5% -Vice Grip: 3%
Weapons for/ to "give" to bear: -Filled teethAll teeth are as sharp as knives -Sharpened Claws All claws are as sharp as blades
Powers/Abilities -Your Powers are My Powers: <Insert Power Name Here> ex. I play as an Orc Your Powers are My Powers: Berserk. After spending so much time with the player Grunt has adapted a scaled down version of the players race ability and can use it twice a day (can set in mcm to only use once health is low) -Forceful Roar: Learned scaled down weaker version of Unrelenting force -Output damage from Grunt comes from training not player level but at max training Grunt will steadily scale to player level and damage output.
This mod with these additions and mcm compatibility can take this from being a great companion mod to the very best and almost mini-DLC like. To be completely transparent some inspiration was taken from: BFF Animal Companions and Wolf Follower - Dynamic Pet Including Hunger and Growth System but by the time I looked at those I already had most of these ideas. I just used them as references of expression mostly.
Sabre Cat? Lame. Come talk to me when you've domesticated a horker. JK, love the idea. Is Pogo killable, or does he crouch and yield when health is too low?
Haha, I shall create a Walrus one day. I have set him to essential, so if he does take too much damage and drops from 100 - 0, he will just lay there and regenerate his strength. Also, because he's essential, if you hit him in that stage, he will not die. Thanks! c:
I like this idea. Dogs in skyrim, for me at least, are irritating followers. Iv actually been shoved of a cliff by one. and the constant barking. Oh my.
But a power full cat the size, if not bigger then, a tiger
A rang of textures would be nice, id go for black my self. Hmm Ever read a book serries called horse clans. Intelligent telepathic cats that look very much like the ones in skyrim. Which went into battle along side there human allies in boiled leather armour mad for them. You could go a long way with this concept.
compatability with follower mods like AFT http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/15524/? What does making a human follower who only does melee, then changing its race the sabercat do for this idea.
One of the biggest reasons I made this was for the lack of animal followers, and as you said, Dogs can be VERY annoying. I have many ideas for this mod, ideas I had and ideas that you guys are giving me, but I'm struggling to add the things I want because I'm not extremely experienced with all the mechanics of the creation kit. As for compatibility with AFT I have not tried but I'm 90% sure it will work because nothing in this mod adds different mechanics to followers then there already are, but I will check. For the making of it, you cannot take a human follower and change it's race and expect it to work. You have to dupe the pre-existing Sabre Cat profiles and use those for the follower. In order to make a creature follower you have to take different, more detailed steps than making a human follower, so that it doesn't interfere with the other textures and animals of the game. Thank you for the comment!
Quite like this idea. Would be nice to see something unique about him, that sets him apart from the other sabre cats of skyrim. Maybe a different coloured hide, or some war paint ? Awesome idea though. Top work
Thanks man! c: I'm actually working on making him more unique, adding different combat styles and such. If I can I'll work on a re-texture so that he stands out against all the other Sabre Cats. I also plan to have him be able to use frost abilities e.g. Frost Breath. Thanks again for the nice comment.
Took a look at your mod in TES5Edit. It appears you may have accidentally modified two items in Breezehome and a couple of objects in Sleeping Giant Inn (aside from placing your NPC there). You may want to clean out those changes.
The cat is level 10, which may work ok at low levels, but you might want to consider having it level up with the player, so it can be useful later on in the game.
Finally, in the short description you say it is "talkative"...what do you mean by that?
Thank you for your comment! When I was placing the follower into the world, I accidentally moved a few objects in other places (errors of getting used to the camera), I will fix that. As for the follower being level 10, I had to adjust the values of his stats so he would not be extremely overpowered early on in the game for those who wish to pick him up as a companion. I hope to be able to have him scale with the levels evenly and more balanced. The talkative part is one of his features, he indeed can speak to and interact with the player. This was not intended at first but it was needed so that the dialogue options would show up. If I can find a way to fix this and just have the dialogue options show up without a required voice I will change it, unless people enjoy that, I shall keep it. Again thank you for the input.
Give Feedback
17 comments
Grunt:
Thank you for this! My favorite mod of the week.
Here are some good future ideas, I know its a lot but I think you will like them once you read them. They are well thought out and explained. And based on what I've seen in the game as a player and what I've seen on this site it just might be possible (hopefully...it took me 4 hours to come up and lay all this out simply). Please make my dream animal mod happen.
This mod is awesome but if its possible can you add an option or something (Quest) where we get him as a tiny cub and have to nurse and feed him to the size he is in the second picture with different physical stages like baby cub> young cub> cub> little bear> "teen" bear> young adult/post adolescence bear> adult bear. We have to feed him meat, veggies, milk and water (along with whatever else bears eat) or he will die (increasing amounts as he grows, starts with just milk). This adds a purpose for all those food and misc stuff we hoard. Also since he is/will be huge can you give up an option to ride him (when not riding the saddle is automatically hidden in his storage)(obviously he isnt as fast as a horse but maybe implement something like a Pumping Iron equivalent to make him almost) and teach him tricks like to retrieve kills (shot deer, drugar basically anything that doesnt weigh more than 1.5x his current wieght) (maybe in the mcm menu have it set that we can set the num of bodies he can retrieve at once 1=realism 5=convenience), attack a designated target... We could also teach him to hunt on his own. And in different stages of his life he will/might require more training ie more whistles to come back from roaming off. He could roam off at random non combat times (when you fist find him up to teen stage he might run off if his health gets too low but can be called back) when he roams off there is a chance that he might have brought back some "extra goodies"-What do you have there? (ask to see inventory) or die (See cub levels line 2: 95%>85%>70%>50%>35%>15%>1%). Possibly have it be configurable but it should take a long time for him to age into the beast of an adult we want him to be (and maybe later on you can do different wild animals).
Make him have an interesting backstory like you find him near his moms dead carcass hungry and wet he has a distain for all things Elvish(excluding non city wood elves and orcs)+vamp+hagraven/sorceror+anything else you want. This is because the hags and vamps were at war or fighting and the thalmor stepped in and killed them. Grunt's (in my opinion the name should be customizable) mom was under a spell by the hags went rabid and made to fight the vamps and later the altimer. For killing his mom Grunt hates elves and will develop low favoribility, even hatred for elves (excluding non city wood elves because of their nature-ish scent and orcs) and those wearing elvish armor (INCLUDING PLAYER and follower NPC's) and will be especially hostile to hags, vamps, sorcerers, and hostile elves (or hostile enemies equipped with any elven armor).
Possible additions:
~make him be treated as a companion in the since that he can go into holds and towns. obviously he has to wait outside (read: sleep to slowly recharge stamina/ lick wounds-paws to slowly recharge health) when the player goes into a building. also any movement slows down the already slow regen.
~tell him to go hunt= go away for half the day (or until called back, which ever first) comes back well fed---takes more food since he in no longer a baby cub. Levels: deathly/fatally hungry> very/really hungry> a little hungry> hungry> not hungry> fed> wed fed> stuffed and a little sluggish> overstuffed and sluggish. >squishable
~spar partner to help train and increase skills
~tell him to target specific types of people: those using staffs, bows, 2H, 1H daggers, dual wielders or 1h+shield, in the order you want or have it be random
~will growl when elves are near > when adult (and if user chooses to side with stormcloaks)> will growl when imperials are near as they are elven associates
My thought process for this system was something like in Dynamic Enemies - how the difficulty scales after every single encounter
Things that cause high favorability:
-going on hunts
-sleeping
-being around players spouse/ kids
-good music
Things that increase favorability:
-treats for good behavior ( sweet rolls, honey nut treats and New BEAR CLAWS)
-belly rubs
Results of a higher favorabiliy:
-more like to defend player in battle
-less likely to attack player
-less hostile to player npc's (including elves)
-will never permanently run off
-smart AI (flank enemies...)
-wont flee til at a lower treshhold of health
- possiblitliy of Ultimate Loyalty= will fight to the death with you against enemies (hardcore=mode he can die, normal= when his health reaches 0 he will "hibernate"/faint[think Pokemon] and player will have to carry him/*her* wink* wink*(adult 300lbs) to a safe place like a house and nurse Grunt back to health again. Each time his health reaches 0 it will take noticeably longer to nurse him/her back to life). To nurse player must bring him food, water and take him hunting like he was a cub. Takes more food since he in no longer a baby cub. Levels: deathly/fatally hungry> very/really hungry> a little hungry> hungry> not hungry> fed> wed fed> stuffed and a little sluggish> overstuffed and sluggish.
~able to be reanimated with expert or master level reanimation spell (map marker shows up for the spot where Grunt died) will love player even more
Things that cause low favorability:
-leaving him at home
-excessive beatings ie abuse (have the option in the mcm menu to toggle discipline in which you whip Grunt.) Whipping for bad behavior (for training and punishment purposes ONLY!!!! I DO NOT support animal cruelty. Too much whipping ie abuse, will cause negative favorability.)
-no love
-keep dismissing him
Things that decrease favorability:
-any form of discipline ie. smack on the nose, whipping...
-waking him up in the middle of the night
-no treats
Results of a lower favorability:
-sometimes attack you (in and out of battle)
-more likely to run off during battle when having a higher threshhold of health, takes longer to train
-"runs away" more often
-takes more whistle/bear calls to bring him back (upper left hand corner: Grunt ignored your call)
-if not fed either dies or runs away for extended time to hunt own its own (could die)
-will permanently run away and/or fight you to the death.
-able to be reanimated, will likely run away if player doesnt have treats/food/milk etc around before reanimation
-possibility of Treachery and Betrayal: Should Have Seen This Coming!= Starts to growl really loudly for seemingly for no reason the BAM! a Vice Grip (see below) from behind 75% chance from behind 25% from in front. (INSTA-KILL)
Attacks:
-swipe (single and double) normal strike (if double connects there is a little knock back and possible disarmament)
-Power swipe ( ^ ) strike while on two legs instead of four (more power version of ^. )
-pound earth AOE (affects player too but if adult he/she has learned to control the power to make it so that the stagger effects are minimal to player while max to enemy, other wise ranges from 50-50 [effect not damage, causes both player and enemy to stagger and fall to ground, #=Player-enemy] all the way to 15-85 so thats its not OP)
-Tackle(same as Lunge?) sprinting move much like the horse sprinting "through" person causing them knock back
-Roar frightens enemies [who have targeted Grunt] causing them to do less damage (if at least young adult or weights more than enemy), enrages enemy causing them to do more damage (because they are insulted by Grunt's arrogance or because they seen him as pesky.) Distracts enemies who target player and other NPC followers (50% 2.5 - 3second paralysis 50% drop damage+blocking+archery accuracy of 35-40% for the next 5 sec) ("blocked" by a well place strike to the head)
-(Shoulder)Lungeless than normal damage, if connects> big knockback (no block+weak armor= fall to ground>>>>ebony armor+high block=few steps back)
-Pounce (Like a real life pounce) Bite+Lunge. If connects enemy is knocked to ground more little more than above average damage.
-Bear Hug possible paralysis raging from 3 secs to permanent. critical hit! (must be up close, blocked by 3 hits anywear)
-Bite power hit, critical hit! (must be up close, blocked with shield,)
-Vice grip (goes for jugular) (animation= stand on two legs, pulls enemy in for Bear hug and bites neck) INSTA-KILL (can only be blocked by 3 strike to head or chest, Blocking doesnt work.)
Percentage chance for attack:
-Swipe: 25% with another 50% chance of doing a double strike
-Power Swipe: 17% with another 25% chance of doing a double strike
-Pound Earth: 15%
-Tackle: 12%
-Roar: 100% at the beginning of fight (configurable?) every 7 sec (while in fight), duration: 1.5 sec If successful add buffs
-Lunge: 12%
-Pounce:8%
-Bear Hug: 5%
-Bite: 5%
-Vice Grip: 3%
Weapons for/ to "give" to bear:
-Filled teethAll teeth are as sharp as knives
-Sharpened Claws All claws are as sharp as blades
Powers/Abilities
-Your Powers are My Powers: <Insert Power Name Here> ex. I play as an Orc Your Powers are My Powers: Berserk. After spending so much time with the player Grunt has adapted a scaled down version of the players race ability and can use it twice a day (can set in mcm to only use once health is low)
-Forceful Roar: Learned scaled down weaker version of Unrelenting force
-Output damage from Grunt comes from training not player level but at max training Grunt will steadily scale to player level and damage output.
This mod with these additions and mcm compatibility can take this from being a great companion mod to the very best and almost mini-DLC like.
To be completely transparent some inspiration was taken from: BFF Animal Companions and Wolf Follower - Dynamic Pet Including Hunger and Growth System but by the time I looked at those I already had most of these ideas. I just used them as references of expression mostly.
JK, love the idea. Is Pogo killable, or does he crouch and yield when health is too low?
and the constant barking. Oh my.
But a power full cat the size, if not bigger then, a tiger
A rang of textures would be nice, id go for black my self.
Hmm Ever read a book serries called horse clans. Intelligent telepathic cats that look very much like the ones in skyrim.
Which went into battle along side there human allies in boiled leather armour mad for them.
You could go a long way with this concept.
compatability with follower mods like AFT http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/15524/?
What does making a human follower who only does melee, then changing its race the sabercat do for this idea.
The cat is level 10, which may work ok at low levels, but you might want to consider having it level up with the player, so it can be useful later on in the game.
Finally, in the short description you say it is "talkative"...what do you mean by that?