There is a mod that works for SE. I assume it doesn't work with LE otherwise someone would have ported it over already. But feel free to investigate if you want to.
Had this problem with a mod that was meant to change a base game NPC's appearance. Method 2, the set weight command, fixed the gray face for my case. Edit: Although, I have to do it every time I enter a new area with the NPC as a follower and when loading back into a save file. So it's not a permanent fix...
I tried the option of using the creation kit to recreate the facegen of some custom NPCs (part of a mod), but apparently the creation kit can't do the process right, generating only a default face for all NPCs and with a corrupted texture . What do you suggest in this situation?
There are a few very common causes for the Black face bug.
The first and easiest to fix, is caused by mod assets loading out of sequence with mod esps. A mod esp, defines what assets to use, and how a face should look. Mod assets are all the parts of a mod that are not the esp. During the loading of the game, the esps load in a certain load order, if the assets load in a different order, you get the black face bug. Fix: Change either the asset load order to match the esp, or, change the esp load order to match the assets. Be aware, that any NPC overhaul patches apply, and they should be applied directly under the NPC overhaul.
The second most common cause is related to the first with a twist. Many mods change different aspects of the game, but in doing so, they forward some NPC face data from the vanilla game, essentially creating a load order issue with assets vs esp as in the paragraph above. The solution is to place your NPC overhauls below this esp along with their assets.
Another very common issue is corruption of files. Sometimes files are corrupted. How and why is unimportant, what is important, is knowing it can happen. Simply reinstalling those files will generally fix the issue.
Race Records can be the cause of black face as well. Skyrim.esm established race record face data organised in a particular order. Dawngaurd then came along and rearranged that order in only some race records. Further, they have only rearranged them for one particular sex of a particular race in some cases. Be aware that vampires also have separate race records. So if only female breton vampires have black face, or any variant of sex/race/vampire, then it could be caused by race records.
Assets in skyrim or any Bethesda game, can overwrite the same assets from other mods or the base game. Only the last asset is used. Like assets, esp records also overwrite the same records above them, and only the last record is used. This is what allows the game to be modded. NPC records contain all the base instructions for the use of that NPC by the game. Mods that alter NPC behaviour often do so by editing NPC records and need a patch that forwards both instructions into the game. Having multiple patches for the same NPC is redundant as only the last patch will be used. Therefore it is critical that all the patching is done in a single patch. This is where Mator Smash comes in. (Google it) It is pretty good at forwarding the correct data into a single patch. It isn't perfect, but it is far better then ignoring the problem.
One last point to make. Loose files alway overwrite the same files in a .bsa. This means that any loose file will overwrite a .bsa regardless of load order. This will also cause issues with NPC overhauls. NPC overhauls should use loose files or all of your NPC Overhauls need to be archived so they follow the load order/asset order rules.
It's been a long time since I've played Skyrim and I feel like I knew this once before, but my Google-fu is weak on this one. How does one control the load order of the assets? I'm almost certain that this is the cause of my particular issue and it's presented on a new game with freshly-merged mod files and the facegen files have all been properly re-exported to reflect their new plugin association.
If you can explain how to dictate asset load order, or even just point me in the right direction, I'd surely appreciate it!
And to the mod author: Thank you for this plugin, since it did actually work for me as a quick fix, but also thank you for putting all these solutions in one place. I remember the few times this happened to me in the past I'd have to scour for a while lol
I use Mod Organizer. I can adjust the asset order just like the esp load order. Manual installs would need to keep track of which NPC overhaul was installed and the order it was installed in, so the esps can then be arranged to match. NMM, if i remember correctly, is very similiar to manual installs, and vortex is more like Mod Organizer i think. LOOT rules would then need to be tweaked to account for your load order. I also recommend that NPC Overhauls be added to the late loaders group as they should be loaded very late in the load order. Optimally, just before a bashed or smashed patch.
I found a mod that overhauls npcs for a better appearance. The mod in question https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/23755 appears to have taken a similar route to your instructions and has overhauled the unique npcs.
After reading your instructions and seeing that mod I downloaded and it appears to have fixed the issue I had with the vanilla npcs and given them a better look.
What happens if you don;t have steam or origins installed but instead downloaded skyrim LE From a different site that has nothing to do with both parties but still install the black face fix mod and its still there and say if you arn't running one or the other stated programs, can you still use the mod?? Need help!!
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Edit: Although, I have to do it every time I enter a new area with the NPC as a follower and when loading back into a save file. So it's not a permanent fix...
The first and easiest to fix, is caused by mod assets loading out of sequence with mod esps. A mod esp, defines what assets to use, and how a face should look. Mod assets are all the parts of a mod that are not the esp. During the loading of the game, the esps load in a certain load order, if the assets load in a different order, you get the black face bug. Fix: Change either the asset load order to match the esp, or, change the esp load order to match the assets. Be aware, that any NPC overhaul patches apply, and they should be applied directly under the NPC overhaul.
The second most common cause is related to the first with a twist. Many mods change different aspects of the game, but in doing so, they forward some NPC face data from the vanilla game, essentially creating a load order issue with assets vs esp as in the paragraph above. The solution is to place your NPC overhauls below this esp along with their assets.
Another very common issue is corruption of files. Sometimes files are corrupted. How and why is unimportant, what is important, is knowing it can happen. Simply reinstalling those files will generally fix the issue.
Race Records can be the cause of black face as well. Skyrim.esm established race record face data organised in a particular order. Dawngaurd then came along and rearranged that order in only some race records. Further, they have only rearranged them for one particular sex of a particular race in some cases. Be aware that vampires also have separate race records. So if only female breton vampires have black face, or any variant of sex/race/vampire, then it could be caused by race records.
Assets in skyrim or any Bethesda game, can overwrite the same assets from other mods or the base game. Only the last asset is used. Like assets, esp records also overwrite the same records above them, and only the last record is used. This is what allows the game to be modded. NPC records contain all the base instructions for the use of that NPC by the game. Mods that alter NPC behaviour often do so by editing NPC records and need a patch that forwards both instructions into the game. Having multiple patches for the same NPC is redundant as only the last patch will be used. Therefore it is critical that all the patching is done in a single patch. This is where Mator Smash comes in. (Google it) It is pretty good at forwarding the correct data into a single patch. It isn't perfect, but it is far better then ignoring the problem.
One last point to make. Loose files alway overwrite the same files in a .bsa. This means that any loose file will overwrite a .bsa regardless of load order. This will also cause issues with NPC overhauls. NPC overhauls should use loose files or all of your NPC Overhauls need to be archived so they follow the load order/asset order rules.
If you can explain how to dictate asset load order, or even just point me in the right direction, I'd surely appreciate it!
And to the mod author: Thank you for this plugin, since it did actually work for me as a quick fix, but also thank you for putting all these solutions in one place. I remember the few times this happened to me in the past I'd have to scour for a while lol
LOOT rules would then need to be tweaked to account for your load order. I also recommend that NPC Overhauls be added to the late loaders group as they should be loaded very late in the load order. Optimally, just before a bashed or smashed patch.
After reading your instructions and seeing that mod I downloaded and it appears to have fixed the issue I had with the vanilla npcs and given them a better look.