Regarding Skyrim Special Edition (SSE): I will not be transferring this mod to there. If anyone wishes to take this idea and create and support their own publicly released mod for SSE, please feel free.
all: IsharaMeradin suggested we flip the mods and offer the two follower mod as the main download since it improves on a number of items.
follower position is controlled by dialogue.
I suspect we will have different issues instead of bliss so we may reverse this later, but lets see how it goes. The two user version works fine with one.
Please clear up my confusion: You have 2 files. Top file is listed as single follower. Bottom file listes as multiple followers. Which is the "main file" that you said now is the multiple follower mod? I'm using AFT and travel with 1-3 companions, depending on my mood. 2 are custom ai followers (Ceriwiden and Celestine) and the other is a vanilla standalone follower.
I'll try the one listed as Multiple first and start testing. Will report back.
EDIT: Multiple followers mod file IS listed correctly. Download that file if you're using more than one follower. Also, all 3 followers tested individually and in pairs. Working correctly, although test was short duration. Mod is uncluttered and working nicely. Good work, Tony! Endorsed.
Only one problem: Now I'm going to have to walk everywhere we go. Vyktoria's HH walk is truly a thing of beauty with triplets
They are both "main". The single follower version is the original. The multi-follower version was done by tonycubed2 to use dialogue as a means of making it compatible with any other mod that modifies the DialogueFollower quest. Use either one, not both.
Sticky: Multiple Followers Version ******************************************
Note: There are TWO mods here you can download. The original version by IsharaMeradin, and the one I modifed and uploaded in optionals.
The purpose of my modified mod is to provide support for multiple users, and to automate the ai. The original mod supports one user, one pet. It also edits a quest event that is used by most follower mods, making it incompatible in varying degrees. However, for the many people who do not want extra followers this is more than fine. Last, the original mod relies on hot keys to control the one follower, whereas the ai is automated in th emultiple follower version.
Even if you only have one user, you can use the multi follower version just fine.
Version 1.0, just uploaded , is working well.
It has its own forum, called "Multiple Companions".
Installation:
-Save your game in three different save slots (save with three different names. This will allow you to go back after you are done testing. -Uninstall 1.0alpha -Install multiple follower version found in optionals -Start Skyrim, then go to the Followers as Companion MCM memu to assignt a hot key which you will use to activate and deactivage the mod -Activate mod -If you have AFT immediately disable the option for auto idle mode , using the dialogue with yourfollower. -To have a follower walk on the left or right, select the appropiate response in the dialogue menu. To ask him to stop it and follow behind, select the option "fall back" - It takes up to 15 seconds for a npc to change and use a new package. This is a skyrim vanilla number. - It is best to start walking until they are in position, then run or trot. You may have to slow down to let the followers get in position.
The mod won't start until you make your choices in the MCM menu and you press the hot key for toggling follower position (behind/beside). Up until that point, the follower will continue to use the original follow package.
*********************** If you use the experimental feature to keep NPCs and a wandering follower from pushing you around and you use the Face To Face mod, set Face to Face to use 3rd person instead of 1st person (if you play in 3rd). The camera will lock and Face To Face will be unable to track the actor you are talking to. It isn't perfect, but it is a workable solution.
************************ Since I've been asked a couple times I looked into it. The 1h sword animation is the "spell sword extra" from Pretty Combat Animations
************************ tonycubed2 has been given editing access to this mod. Going forward he will be providing support for the soon to be released multi-follower and custom follower compatible file.
Released because there is no way I can test every possible scenario. Let me know if there are issues but there is no guarantee that I can fix anything.
Very nice, much needed proof of concept, yet, one of the most broken mods i have ever had the displeasure of experiencing. Followers just randomly run off into the sunset, "bye, have a great time" style.
That is mainly my version doing that. I have some new ideas though. This is one of those mods that I was never happy with my version of it. I will try once more..
Not intended to work with animals and never stated that it should. Furthermore, when I attempted to include animals, the animal follower would not move beside but rather start walking away in a straight line. They were still considered a following animal as when toggled off they would return. I gave up on them as their AI is even more "wonky" than the playable races AI.
I have never liked the way followers literally follow the Dragonborn, almost like a stray animal, or an apparent social inferior. Sure, our hero or heroine is in the driver's seat, but this should not diminish the position or value of a teammate.
Why not have a companion who walks with you, close behind; or, my favourite, side by side? And in a conveniently adjustable way, no less, as you have shared with us?
Getting back to this mod... Hello, Ishara! Having installed the multi-follower version I was trying to make my follower(s) walk in front of me. Is that possible?
Also You said "the multi-follower version by toneycubed2 is dialog driven rather than using the hotkey setup from the MCM menu". So how can I change the back\front offset for multi-follower version? I am actually experimenting with the one follower so far. What I want is I want him to walk in front of me with a side offset. And I want him to do this when I am in 1st person.
I don't know much about all the changes made in the multi-follower version. I just know that he had stated that he had set it up to use dialog instead of the hotkeys and that he left the MCM stuff alone cause he didn't know what was safe to remove and what wasn't.
You can test it out and see if changing offset values on the MCM is still possible with the multi-follower version. If they do affect the multi-follower positioning, then you'd need to change the front/back offset to have the follower be in front of the player. Tho it might look weird since they won't turn until the player turns. And given the propensity for them to always stare at the player, they might walk backwards. You can certainly test it out and see what happens.
*** Ishara, I've started with MF (multy-follower) version, and I've been playing around with those values for quite a while. I can see no changes in follower's position tho. Headtracking is not a problem to me. I can set the distance to 0 with the help of RDO (Relationship Dialogue Overhaul).
All I want is to have my follower(s) in front of me when I move forward. I am sick of having a tail. So far, I can't even change follower's position to the front one with the Regular (single-follower) version of the mod, tbh. *** Tony, are you an author of multy-follower version?
When testing with the single follower version, did you try both positive and negative numbers? If I recall correctly (and I do not have the game installed to test it out), positive numbers move the character further forward from the player. But you may have to go all the way to the end of the provided number range. Then trigger the AI to update just to make sure that the new values are being pulled.
EDIT: Saw you wanted this to affect 1st person, while I would think that the change in follower position should be visible in 1st person, Bethesda could have done something funky that overrides follower position when in 1st person. Confirm first that position changes when in 3rd person.
BTW, Is there a console command to trigger AI update? Because I can see notifications, but follower is stuck in regular behind position as soon as I start changing offset values.
There is a key bind in the single follower version that can be used to force an AI update. Otherwise do something that would trigger the AI update (i.e. draw sword, wait a moment and then sheathe sword, or sneak, wait a moment and then exit sneak)
But none of this will work with the single follower version if you are using a follower that does not use the stock follower system. Any mod added follower that uses its own system will not work with the single follower version. Those will need to have the multi-follower version and then there is still no guarantee that every possible follower will work with it.
I gave this mod an honest chance. I used followers added by mods as well as vanilla. I use multiple followers so that is the file that I used. This mod works as it says, however, the Skyrim NPC AI isnt very good to begin with and this mod makes them worse. My followers are constantly acting buggy, walking backwards, sideways, running off to God knows where, and just generally acting retarded. There are times that they calm down and follow beside me and it looks so awesome, but it only lasts for a minute or two. As soon as you encounter an enemy they attack and have lots of trouble calming back down. ha ha I think it's best to just keep them behind me so I dont see there inept AI.
This is NOT the fault of this mod. It is Skyrim's AI. I have a mod for Fallout 4 that enables followers to walk beside you or in front and it works well because the AI in that game is MUCH better than Skyrim. I gave this mod my endorsement because I think that this is as good as you could make a mod like this for Skyrim without a total upgrade of Skyrims AI. Thanks for the mod.
I've downloaded followers as companions and use Sofia as my follower but the mod isn't working. She always walks behind me and lags behind. I've followed the instructions on how to install the mod and fiddles in the MCM settings but nothings changed. Just wondering if anyone has had the same issue and if there's a fix or whether it's happening because my follower is a custom one and not a vanilla one. Thanks! Also sorry if this has been posted before
For custom followers you would need to use the multi-follower file that tonycubed2 adapted. It is dialog driven rather than using the hotkey. The MCM in that version is pretty much pointless but tonycubed2 wasn't sure what to cut out and so left it all in.
But Sofia has a built in walk beside option as indicated on its description page. You should not need this mod to get her to walk beside you. Check the documentation that comes with Sofia for any instructions on how to get her to walk beside the player character.
Love this mod, feels like I have bodyguards as I walk around Skyrim. One thing that I noticed lately though is that the ones I assigned stopped talk idly. I mean they still talk like during battles, etc. but somehow they stop commenting on caves, crypts, etc. I mean nothing major and I barely notice this anyway, the only time I noticed it was when I assigned different followers to my left and right and then the ones who were previously my companions finally has started idle chattering.
May have something to do with the greet distance needing to be adjusted to 1 below the side distance at which they are placed at. Without that change, they'd constantly talk. It got on my nerves when testing so the greet distance was adjusted as necessary.
But I didn't do anything specific that would prevent them from saying those location based comments. I do recall hearing them with this mod in use, but come to think about it, it was usually when I was already in stealth or had a weapon drawn and the follower had moved back.
Wonder if by being "forced" to the side of the player, they cannot determine their own location and thus fail one of the condition checks required by the dialogue statement...
I know this is late and I said I didn't mind, but since I really liked your mod and I actually do kind of mind, where in tes5edit can you adjust the greet distance for the mod? I see a lot of jargons and numbers that I really do not want to mess up. Except for that, to make the follower chatter when following beside me.
EDIT: Never mind, I actually got it to work. In the pack data, I just set the flags to allow idle chatter and some other flags except the say hello to player. Now my bodyguard talks at least, finally.
Like the mod but I also use PC Head tracking and my follower is constantly walking sideways looking at me, no only does it look stupid but its creeping me out. Tried to find a way to cut it off ( PC Head Tracking ) for my follower but cant seem to find a solution.
Known issue. Something to do with following causes them to look in the direction of the player whenever possible. Ever notice with multiple followers how whenever you are stopped they all just stare at you? Walking beside makes that more noticeable. No idea how to resolve.
im not sure but u prob could use RDO as on its configuration it allows to change the number of cells that use npc to track the player then maybe just trial and error till the problem is aleviated
I do not know. You can try the multi-follower version and see if it works for you. If you do, ignore the MCM menu. The multi-follower version uses dialog rather than a hotkey.
I created the single follower version (I don't use multiple followers). I did not do the multi-follower version. tonycubed2 adapted the single follower version and made if functional so that one could use multiple follower mods.
664 comments
I will not be transferring this mod to there. If anyone wishes to take this idea and create and support their own publicly released mod for SSE, please feel free.
follower position is controlled by dialogue.
I suspect we will have different issues instead of bliss so we may reverse this later, but lets see how it goes. The two user version works fine with one.
Just stopped by to say thank you for this! I was having a hell of a time getting the original version to work for me.
I'll try the one listed as Multiple first and start testing. Will report back.
EDIT: Multiple followers mod file IS listed correctly. Download that file if you're using more than one follower. Also, all 3 followers tested individually and in pairs. Working correctly, although test was short duration. Mod is uncluttered and working nicely. Good work, Tony! Endorsed.
Only one problem: Now I'm going to have to walk everywhere we go. Vyktoria's HH walk is truly a thing of beauty with triplets
******************************************
Note: There are TWO mods here you can download. The original version by IsharaMeradin, and the one I modifed and uploaded in optionals.
The purpose of my modified mod is to provide support for multiple users, and to automate the ai. The original mod supports one user, one pet. It also edits a quest event that is used by most follower mods, making it incompatible in varying degrees. However, for the many people who do not want extra followers this is more than fine. Last, the original mod relies on hot keys to control the one follower, whereas the ai is automated in th emultiple follower version.
Even if you only have one user, you can use the multi follower version just fine.
Version 1.0, just uploaded , is working well.
It has its own forum, called "Multiple Companions".
Installation:
-Save your game in three different save slots (save with three different names. This will allow you to go back after you are done testing.
-Uninstall 1.0alpha
-Install multiple follower version found in optionals
-Start Skyrim, then go to the Followers as Companion MCM memu to assignt a hot key which you will use to activate and deactivage the mod
-Activate mod
-If you have AFT immediately disable the option for auto idle mode , using the dialogue with yourfollower.
-To have a follower walk on the left or right, select the appropiate response in the dialogue menu. To ask him to stop it and follow behind, select the option "fall back"
- It takes up to 15 seconds for a npc to change and use a new package. This is a skyrim vanilla number.
- It is best to start walking until they are in position, then run or trot. You may have to slow down to let the followers get in position.
The mod won't start until you make your choices in the MCM menu and you press the hot key for toggling follower position (behind/beside). Up until that point, the follower will continue to use the original follow package.
***********************
If you use the experimental feature to keep NPCs and a wandering follower from pushing you around and you use the Face To Face mod, set Face to Face to use 3rd person instead of 1st person (if you play in 3rd). The camera will lock and Face To Face will be unable to track the actor you are talking to. It isn't perfect, but it is a workable solution.
************************
Since I've been asked a couple times I looked into it.
The 1h sword animation is the "spell sword extra" from Pretty Combat Animations
************************
tonycubed2 has been given editing access to this mod. Going forward he will be providing support for the soon to be released multi-follower and custom follower compatible file.
Released because there is no way I can test every possible scenario. Let me know if there are issues but there is no guarantee that I can fix anything.
Why not have a companion who walks with you, close behind; or, my favourite, side by side? And in a conveniently adjustable way, no less, as you have shared with us?
Very pleased with this mod; endorsed.
Hello, Ishara!
Having installed the multi-follower version I was trying to make my follower(s) walk in front of me. Is that possible?
Also
You said "the multi-follower version by toneycubed2 is dialog driven rather than using the hotkey setup from the MCM menu".
So how can I change the back\front offset for multi-follower version?
I am actually experimenting with the one follower so far. What I want is I want him to walk in front of me with a side offset. And I want him to do this when I am in 1st person.
You can test it out and see if changing offset values on the MCM is still possible with the multi-follower version. If they do affect the multi-follower positioning, then you'd need to change the front/back offset to have the follower be in front of the player. Tho it might look weird since they won't turn until the player turns. And given the propensity for them to always stare at the player, they might walk backwards. You can certainly test it out and see what happens.
Ishara, I've started with MF (multy-follower) version, and I've been playing around with those values for quite a while. I can see no changes in follower's position tho.
Headtracking is not a problem to me. I can set the distance to 0 with the help of RDO (Relationship Dialogue Overhaul).
All I want is to have my follower(s) in front of me when I move forward. I am sick of having a tail.
So far, I can't even change follower's position to the front one with the Regular (single-follower) version of the mod, tbh.
***
Tony, are you an author of multy-follower version?
EDIT: Saw you wanted this to affect 1st person, while I would think that the change in follower position should be visible in 1st person, Bethesda could have done something funky that overrides follower position when in 1st person. Confirm first that position changes when in 3rd person.
But none of this will work with the single follower version if you are using a follower that does not use the stock follower system. Any mod added follower that uses its own system will not work with the single follower version. Those will need to have the multi-follower version and then there is still no guarantee that every possible follower will work with it.
This mod works as it says, however, the Skyrim NPC AI isnt very good to begin with and this mod makes them worse. My followers are constantly acting buggy, walking backwards, sideways, running off to God knows where, and just generally acting retarded. There are times that they calm down and follow beside me and it looks so awesome, but it only lasts for a minute or two. As soon as you encounter an enemy they attack and have lots of trouble calming back down. ha ha
I think it's best to just keep them behind me so I dont see there inept AI.
This is NOT the fault of this mod. It is Skyrim's AI. I have a mod for Fallout 4 that enables followers to walk beside you or in front and it works well because the AI in that game is MUCH better than Skyrim.
I gave this mod my endorsement because I think that this is as good as you could make a mod like this for Skyrim without a total upgrade of Skyrims AI.
Thanks for the mod.
Also sorry if this has been posted before
But Sofia has a built in walk beside option as indicated on its description page. You should not need this mod to get her to walk beside you. Check the documentation that comes with Sofia for any instructions on how to get her to walk beside the player character.
But I didn't do anything specific that would prevent them from saying those location based comments. I do recall hearing them with this mod in use, but come to think about it, it was usually when I was already in stealth or had a weapon drawn and the follower had moved back.
Wonder if by being "forced" to the side of the player, they cannot determine their own location and thus fail one of the condition checks required by the dialogue statement...
EDIT: Never mind, I actually got it to work. In the pack data, I just set the flags to allow idle chatter and some other flags except the say hello to player. Now my bodyguard talks at least, finally.
Tried to find a way to cut it off ( PC Head Tracking ) for my follower but cant seem to find a solution.
i use many followers, not just 2. i believe to teamwork
can i use your mod or not?
thank you
but why you just create for 2 ?
many of Followers mod UFO support multi Followers
this should be worse :D
The multi-follower version, possibly.