RobCo Whirligig Sentry

Version 2.1


Description:

Workshop craftable aerial Sentry (miniature Vertibird) for protecting Settlements


Notes:

  • Whirligig: "Wireless High-Reliability Independent Government-Issue Gunship"

  • Six (6) models available: Minigun, Gatling Laser, Incendiary, Seeker Rocket, Gauss Cannon, Prototype Disruptor.

  • Craft-able at Workshop stations, with availability influenced by the Gun Nut and Science skills.

  • Similar to "Turrets" but with mobility for enhanced enemy detection, suppression, and elimination.

  • Whirligig Sentries can be attacked by enemies, and potentially damaged and destroyed.

  • Helipads can be damaged and eventually destroyed - which neutralizes their corresponding Sentry.

  • Once destroyed, things can be repaired using the normal Workshop method.

  • Detected enemies are optionally marked with a Red Diamond; enabled by default but can be disabled.

  • Adjustable settings via any mini-Helipad or a craftable Whirligig Sentry Control Terminal.

As with other settlement defenses, sentries and sentry helipads can be attacked and destroyed. Destroying either of those automatically results in the destruction of the other. A destroyed helipad must then be repaired in order to restore its sentry to active service.

Workshop construction entries for sentries and sentry control terminals are in DEFENSE>WHIRLIGIG.  They are created dynamically and hence should (in most cases) be compatible with mods that alter the game's original build menus.


Additional Information:

See the Whirligig Sentry F.A.Q. for further details as well as usage Recommendations.


Robco Marketing Blurbs:

When staying behind to guard a settlement is *not* an option: Robco Whirligig Sentry ®

Think RobCo - When The Going Gets Tougher Than Tough!

- * -

"RobCo Whirligig Sentry", "RobCo Has Your Back", "Whirly", and"Team Whirly" are Registered Trade Marks of RobCo Industries; All Rights Reserved.


Installation:

Install using a mod manager, or unpack the mod and copy the .ESP (or .ESL) and .BA2 files into the game's \DATA folder, then enable the mod.

Place this mod's file below all other Vertibird mods, and also below the file of my Whirly companion if installed.


Install ESP or ESL?

If you are reaching the maximum allowed number of .ESP installs, and want to install more mods, then install the .ESL versions of those new mods ...

Back-in-the-day, many players were reaching the maximum number of allowed .ESP installs, so Bethesda introduced a way to permit more via .ESL files.

The Light Master (.ESL) file is an optimized file format introduced in the Fallout 4 v1.10 update. Using Light Master files allows more plugins (mods and patch mods) to be installed than previously possible with .ESP files. For .ESP files there is a limit of 255, whereas a maximum of 4096 .ESL files can be loaded (but in practice is difficult to achieve due to other technical constraints).

Both file types can be used together, which means you can install just .ESP files if your install count remains below the .ESP maximum, or just .ESL files if your count remains below the .ESL maximum, or some of both such as using .ESP files initially and then adding .ESL files thereafter when the maximum for .ESP has been reached.


Upgrading ESP To ESL:

To switch from the .ESP version to the .ESL version of this mod, do the following:

1 ) Scrap everything created with this mod
2 ) Uninstall this mod
3 ) Load the current saved game
4 ) Create a new saved game while this mod is absent
5 ) Install the newest .ESL version
6 ) Resume play with that newly created saved game

Constructed items that were not scrapped will no longer be present in the .ESL version.


Requirements:

No special requirements.  DLCs are not needed.


Compatibility Limitations:

This mod and my other mods might or might not work correctly with mods that alter base-game locations, and base-game content, which my mods depend upon.

There is no support for compatibility issues with those, and there are no plans to provide compatibility patches.


Known Issues:

WARNING: This mod might or might not work correctly for Player Characters who have become "bad guys", either by allying with Raiders (etc.) or via the Nuka-World DLC. Use at your own risk if playing a Bad Guy, but please report related issues in as much detail as possible.

WARNING: This mod and my other mods might or might not work correctly with Transfer Settlements.

If companions receive a Marker and it does not disappear fairly quickly, then you may need to take those companions to a Helipad and stand nearby for a few minutes. Do that when there is no fighting happening, no enemies nearby, and the Sentry is hovering peaceably. And if it becomes troublesome, consider disabling the Marking feature at a Helipad.

Whirligig Sentries can be hampered by the presence of tall things (because of limitations in the game's AI), so avoid placement near tall buildings and tall trees.  Similarly, it is usually best to place mini-Helipads on the ground, not on structures or in high places.

The sentries are vertibirds, just like the regular large ones, and all of their audio is driven by the same animation files. Which means if you adjust the sentry volume you are also adjusting the other vertibirds as well. So adjust the volume (via the sentry's volume feature) to what is an acceptable compromise for you in terms of what is heard for sentries and what is heard for other vertibirds ... or (sorry to say) simply uninstall this mod. See the Sentry Engine Noise sticky post for details.


*** Known Conflicts ***

Sim Settlements and Sim Settlements 2 conflict with this mod in ways that can cause problems during play, and potentially damage saved games.  The underlying issue is that for unknown reasons those mods will inexplicably disable or delete sentry helipads.

Pip-Boy replacement mods that are not fully compatible with basic scripting functions for the standard Pip-Boy may cause this mod's settings menu to not be shown when interacting with a Helipad. In which case, craft a Whirligig Sentry Control Terminal via a Workshop and use it instead. The underlying issue is that some replacement Pip devices do not support all Pip features.


To Uninstall:

Uninstall with the mod manager that was used for the original install, or delete the .ESP (or .ESL) and .BA2 files.


Permissions:

This mod may not be reused in part or whole for any purpose other than its original intent. It may not be uploaded to any other web site. Get in touch with me if you wish to discuss things; for example, translation into a non-English language.


Change Log:

See the Change Log to review what is included in each update.


Credits:

Bethesda Softworks - for the original Models and Textures [I merely provided the ingenuity and scripting to bring Whirligig Sentries "to life"]


My Other Mods:

Workshop Menu Fixer can be found Here.

Shield Bubble can be found Here.

Qwirky can be found Here.

Sparky can be found Here.

Silver Streak can be found Here.

Silver Streak UFO can be found Here.

Whirly can be found Here.

Settlement Radar Station & Drone Defenders can be found Here.

Settlement Medic Bot: "Mister Medic" can be found Here.

Settlement Police Bot: "Mister Law" can be found Here.

Settlement Tidy Bot: "Mister Tidy" can be found Here.

Settlement Salvage Bot: "Mister Salvage" can be found Here.

Settlement Repair Bot: "Mister Mechanic" can be found Here.

Settlement Gardener Bot: "Mister Gardener" can be found Here.

Settlement Delivery Bots: "Mister Caravan / Mister Express / Mister Postman" can be found Here.

Carry-Your-Stuff Robots can be found Here.

Alien Disruptor can be found Here.

Alien Blaster Long-Barrel Fix can be found Here.


In Memoriam:

In memory of my Father (may he Rest In Peace) who was a model airplane maker (gliders & gas powered) and an RC enthusiast.


Enjoy!