General notes for people new to the mod or to version 0.3.x:
1 ) The version 0.3.x update series is a large and complex expansion, so you are advised to save frequently and keep a history of such saves rather than overwriting them as you play through the mod. And if you're installing this into an existing game, you should always keep at least one save game from before you installed, that you can revert back to in case of any problems.
2 ) For people new to the mod: it can be installed into an existing game--it does not need a new game, although see the list of Known Issues regarding the potential for a minor issue with Silver Hand labeling (and you'll probably need to reset Athis's outfit through the MCM). For obvious reasons this mod works best when installed before you join the Companions. To install after you've already joined the Companions, the most likely safe points would be while you're in Dustman's Cairn or Gallows Rock but before you kill the bosses in those locations. No guarantees, though.
3 ) The mod includes a Troubleshooting section in the SkyUI MCM that can help resolve some common issues.
4 ) There's a lot of silent dialogue in the Full Version. Particularly during one stretch in the middle of the questline. What can I say, I like dialogue. If you don't, then you may want to stick with the Requirements-Only Version of the mod.
5 ) The 0.3.2 - 0.3.8 updates make a number of changes to the whelps: armor, weapons, classes and skills, combat styles, etc. I have an article to list them in full. If you have been using a face replacer for any of the whelps, you'll need to position that facemod lower in your load order for it to continue to work; that will of course negate my changes for that NPC.
6 ) Dawnguard players in the middle of that DLC's main quest on the Vampire Lord side should decline Aela and Skjor's offer in the Underforge--choosing to accept hasn't been tested but could very likely break the quest.
I've tested the new content repeatedly, but I'm sure there will be bugs that I missed simply because this is a complex addition to an already complex Companions questline in a complex game; there are lots of variables. Your calm, detailed reporting of bugs will help make the mod better.
The post-questline "Purity" quests will not trigger due to changes made in the Unofficial Patch since my last update. This will be fixed in the next update to this mod (see below). If you're comfortable with TES5Edit, you can fix this in your game by opening ESFCompanions.esp and editing the "Coven" location alias on the CR13 quest: you need to set the "Allow Reserved" and "Allow Cleared" flags. That fix will work in existing saves.
Will this mod be ported to Skyrim Special Edition (SSE)?
I am slowly working on a new version of the mod that will work with Special Edition. I do not have an ETA for when it will be done. It is more than a simple port because a lot of the configurable settings were attached to the MCM code which requires SKSE and SkyUI--so I am needing to re-locate and re-test a lot of that code in order to make everything work without them.
Update 12 September 2017: the release today of an alpha version of SKSE64 for modders to test with is exciting and does move an SSE version closer to happening. I still don't have any ETA, but I am newly energized to put work into it.
Sorry I have not been posting much--I am not at all on the frontline against COVID or anything like that, but my work has gotten more busy, not less, due to the pandemic. There is some hope that may ease up over the next few months, but I obviously can't promise anything. Thank you to everyone for your continued interest in the mod, and I appreciate the help you're giving each other here. Stay safe and be well!
found this mod via a youtube vid i saw and as a player that almost always becomes a werewolf and joins the companions i thought it would bring alot to my gameplay, i was pretty dissappointed when i found out that this mod does NOT work with SE or AE versions of skyrim, as i use AE. i hope that things work out so that all of us SE and AE players can also enjoy your seemingly wonderful mod. even though i havent been able to use it myself some of the gameplay i saw on youtube looked great and the extra dialouge really added to the immersion.
also why are you denying ppl the ability to help out us SE and AE players with a port? are you one of those mod devs that only cares about credit and not the players using your mods? from what i have been reading in the comments it has been over 3 years since you said you would make the update but it still has yet to come out. Along with the fact that you are basically telling players to go fk themselves and port it themselves for "personal use". and on the note of making players port it for themselves with no support from you, there have been alot of issues with porting your mod using the normal methods.
Seems like a great concept and for OG skyrim players it apparently works fine, but i am going to call you on your sht DreamKing, you have had several people offer to help out due to your "work" situation and you have refused them all. it seems to me that you DO NOT CARE ABOUT SE/AE PLAYERS THAT WANT TO USE YOUR MODS. and i sincerely hope that you either get with the program or let someone else help.
Literally just resave the plugin in SE Creation Kit yourself. It would take you less time than you spent hammering out this post bashing the mod author for having an offline life.
Kinda there with you. I haven't touched the Companions for years in hope of an update. At this point I'm just hoping they're doing alright. First Covid, now another incoming economic collapse. People just can't get a break.
This could be a vanilla bug i keep reading about. I did not notice before but Farkas not giving purity quest before Vilkas. After i do Vikas's purity Farkas has his purity quest available. Problem is after marriage to Farkas he never gives radiant quests anymore. Keep reading about a glitch that you have to do Farkas purity first, I can never trigger it before Vilkas. btw. I like this mod a lot as it gives them lots of activities also you can decline the beast blood. After reading step by step instructions I converted it to SE and it works well.
AE/SSE users: When installing, extract the BSA, then use Creation Kit to convert the .esp to form 44, is just a matter of load as active file it in CK (this is important, have to be as active file), and then save and close CK. Done. Now the .esp is in form 44.
If you are using last version of CK, the header version of the plugin will be updated to 1.710000, and if you are playing in a version of Skyrim prior to version 1.6.1130, you will have to use Backported Extended ESL Support plugin in order to use a mod with the newer header. If you want to know where you can see the header version of any plugin, you can use xEdit to load the plugin, and in the File Header you will see the version. Can be 1.710000 (newer), or 1.70000 (before the last 2 updates)
Trying to use a plugin with the newer header version on a version of the game older, like 1.5.97, without the Backported Extended ESL Support (BEES) installed, will result in crush to desktop because older versions of the game can't read properly the new header.
In fact, anyone playing on any version of Skyrim SE prior to 1.6.1130 should definitely use BEES, is completely harmless and at the same time allow you to use mods created in the new version of CK.
Played this mod 5 years ago are so and it was truly amazing, gives such life to this questline, I fondly remember my time with. Hopefully one day we can have it on the SE version.
This is cool. thank you. I'd been using Don't Be a Milk Drinker on SE, was sad to see it's not on LE, but this seems to do the same thing? is this mod compatible with Improved Companions Quest Tweaks? https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/113393
The best Companions Overhaul ever, even being unfinished and buggy. It's really a pity that it still doesn't have an official port on SE so that even more people can get to know it.
4289 comments
1 ) The version 0.3.x update series is a large and complex expansion, so you are advised to save frequently and keep a history of such saves rather than overwriting them as you play through the mod. And if you're installing this into an existing game, you should always keep at least one save game from before you installed, that you can revert back to in case of any problems.
2 ) For people new to the mod: it can be installed into an existing game--it does not need a new game, although see the list of Known Issues regarding the potential for a minor issue with Silver Hand labeling (and you'll probably need to reset Athis's outfit through the MCM). For obvious reasons this mod works best when installed before you join the Companions. To install after you've already joined the Companions, the most likely safe points would be while you're in Dustman's Cairn or Gallows Rock but before you kill the bosses in those locations. No guarantees, though.
3 ) The mod includes a Troubleshooting section in the SkyUI MCM that can help resolve some common issues.
4 ) There's a lot of silent dialogue in the Full Version. Particularly during one stretch in the middle of the questline. What can I say, I like dialogue. If you don't, then you may want to stick with the Requirements-Only Version of the mod.
5 ) The 0.3.2 - 0.3.8 updates make a number of changes to the whelps: armor, weapons, classes and skills, combat styles, etc. I have an article to list them in full. If you have been using a face replacer for any of the whelps, you'll need to position that facemod lower in your load order for it to continue to work; that will of course negate my changes for that NPC.
6 ) Dawnguard players in the middle of that DLC's main quest on the Vampire Lord side should decline Aela and Skjor's offer in the Underforge--choosing to accept hasn't been tested but could very likely break the quest.
I've tested the new content repeatedly, but I'm sure there will be bugs that I missed simply because this is a complex addition to an already complex Companions questline in a complex game; there are lots of variables. Your calm, detailed reporting of bugs will help make the mod better.
The post-questline "Purity" quests will not trigger due to changes made in the Unofficial Patch since my last update. This will be fixed in the next update to this mod (see below). If you're comfortable with TES5Edit, you can fix this in your game by opening ESFCompanions.esp and editing the "Coven" location alias on the CR13 quest: you need to set the "Allow Reserved" and "Allow Cleared" flags. That fix will work in existing saves.
Will this mod be ported to Skyrim Special Edition (SSE)?
I am slowly working on a new version of the mod that will work with Special Edition. I do not have an ETA for when it will be done. It is more than a simple port because a lot of the configurable settings were attached to the MCM code which requires SKSE and SkyUI--so I am needing to re-locate and re-test a lot of that code in order to make everything work without them.
Update 12 September 2017: the release today of an alpha version of SKSE64 for modders to test with is exciting and does move an SSE version closer to happening. I still don't have any ETA, but I am newly energized to put work into it.
also why are you denying ppl the ability to help out us SE and AE players with a port? are you one of those mod devs that only cares about credit and not the players using your mods? from what i have been reading in the comments it has been over 3 years since you said you would make the update but it still has yet to come out. Along with the fact that you are basically telling players to go fk themselves and port it themselves for "personal use". and on the note of making players port it for themselves with no support from you, there have been alot of issues with porting your mod using the normal methods.
Seems like a great concept and for OG skyrim players it apparently works fine, but i am going to call you on your sht DreamKing, you have had several people offer to help out due to your "work" situation and you have refused them all. it seems to me that you DO NOT CARE ABOUT SE/AE PLAYERS THAT WANT TO USE YOUR MODS. and i sincerely hope that you either get with the program or let someone else help.
Keep reading about a glitch that you have to do Farkas purity first, I can never trigger it before Vilkas.
btw. I like this mod a lot as it gives them lots of activities also you can decline the beast blood.
After reading step by step instructions I converted it to SE and it works well.
If you are using last version of CK, the header version of the plugin will be updated to 1.710000, and if you are playing in a version of Skyrim prior to version 1.6.1130, you will have to use Backported Extended ESL Support plugin in order to use a mod with the newer header.
If you want to know where you can see the header version of any plugin, you can use xEdit to load the plugin, and in the File Header you will see the version. Can be 1.710000 (newer), or 1.70000 (before the last 2 updates)
Trying to use a plugin with the newer header version on a version of the game older, like 1.5.97, without the Backported Extended ESL Support (BEES) installed, will result in crush to desktop because older versions of the game can't read properly the new header.
In fact, anyone playing on any version of Skyrim SE prior to 1.6.1130 should definitely use BEES, is completely harmless and at the same time allow you to use mods created in the new version of CK.
Hope it helps.
https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/113393