With the release of version 1.5, we're entering into a new form of BHKS. Things are about to get a little (lot) more complicated for the mod and for me. Version 1.5 (and any hotfixes) will be the last version that has no hard requirements and the last version that can be ported to console. In the next major release, V2 and V2.5, we're going to be making the most of much more modern modding mechanics (see what I did there?) like SKSE, Base Object Swapper, OAR, SPID, and more. This will also set things up for the next plans — sequels. V2.5 will be the end of this mod, but not the end of BHKS as V3 and V4 will be individual add-on mods for BHKS. Why? Well... file bloat for one, and the add-ons will have some unique systems that may or may not work with existing saves. Backwards compatibility is important to me.
So where next? Well I've added just a little bit to the roadmap on the description page...
So where next? Well I've added just a little bit to the roadmap on the description page...
THE ROADMAP FOR VERSION 2 OF BHKS-TNG
*Sorted in order of getting done first. Importance divided by difficulty*
*Sorted in order of getting done first. Importance divided by difficulty*
- Creation of book detailing Highreach’s history
A fully authored in-game tome that chronicles Highreach Keep’s founding, key events, and notable figures—serving both lore buffs and a new quest hook. - Move Highreach Keep into Skyrim’s main worldspace
Relocate Highreach Keep south along the Jerall Mountains so that entering via a cave‐load door opens into a cloned (but modified) Dayspring Canyon; it remains its own worldspace but is now integrated into the province map for seamless access. Road-signs around Skyrim will be added to vanilla posts and Northern Roads. - Popularity system
A comprehensive approval-rating mechanic tracking the player’s standing across each hold, with impacts on morale, religion, economy, domain upgrades, quests, festivals, justice rulings, town-crier events and more—unlocking buffs and dialogue as popularity rises or decreases. - New dialogue and voices for Highreach guards
Write and integrate fresh patrol, greeting, and alert lines—voiced via ElevenLabs—for all guard types to make city security feel dynamic and immersive. - Become High QUEEN of Skyrim
Mirror the existing High King mechanics for female characters by updating titles, dialogue, quest checks, and UI so a woman can ascend under identical conditions. Gender overrides will be added to MCM (!). - Economics overhaul
Rebalance taxation, trade income, and expenditures (construction, maintenance, festivities) so ruling the crown meaningfully steers your gold flow, with dynamic pricing and city budgets. Economics will be a major factor in the ruler's popularity. - High King’s Treasury System
Expand the new in-game “King's Ledger” UI book and scripts to log taxes, soldier/guard pay, maintenance, repairs, petitions and decrees, festivals, banquets, diplomacy events, assassinations, and player donations—automating adjustments to the treasury’s coffers both via tracking texts and visual assets in bank. - Unique NPC creation for Surgus recommended council roles
Generate tailor-made advisors (Master of Coin, Royal Steward, etc. as well as existing roles) who can only serve their specific offices, each with custom stats, dialogue and scripted duties—greatly expanding what each council member can do past vanilla NPCs. - Full companion quest for Veldar Darkstrider
Design a multi-stage questline exploring Veldar’s Telvanni exile, including loyalty trials and rewards like unique spells or gear. - Full companion quest for Kelal The Black Fox
Craft a storyline of duels, bounty hunts, and a final showdown for the charming sellsword Kelal, reinforcing his bond with the player (and possibly a visit to Hammerfell). - Create a High King coronation scene
Build a scripted, cinematic ceremony—complete with animations and staged dialogue—for when the player officially claims the throne. - Remake the guild hall interior
Redesign the council chamber with new seating, banners, lighting, and functional idle markers for each member, enhancing both form and function. - New Highreach Castle King’s Guards
Populate the castle with a distinct guard force—unique armor sets, patrol routes, and recruit slots—to replace generic guards. - Diplomatic Petitions & Decrees
Let NPCs submit formal requests (land grants, pardons, funds) in court and choose to grant, deny, or defer them—each choice affecting hold stability and loyalty. - Herald & Public Announcements
Add a town-crier NPC who delivers major rulings (tax changes, new Thanes) in public squares, triggering small local buffs or events. - Court Trial & Justice System
Implement a courtroom where captured criminals stand trial under the player’s bench; verdicts reward special items or risk uprisings if justice is mishandled. - Randomized Threat Events
Periodically spawn dynamic crises (dragon attacks, bandit raids, Thalmor incursions) that the player must address by leading troops or issuing guard assignments. - Player Domain Upgrades
Offer build-and-upgrade options (stables, watchtowers, archives) for Highreach—each costing resources and granting tangible gameplay benefits. - More roles (personal assassins, couriers, Nobles, Thanes, Housecarls, etc.)
Expand court functions by adding these staff positions, each with unique scripts, dialogue, and unlock conditions tied to player progress. - Court expansion (jesters, cooks, bards, servants, etc.)
Flesh out daily court life with new entertainers and staff—complete with bespoke rooms on an added floor and basement, idle animations, and banter. - Invite guests for parties or other events
Implement a social system to send formal invitations for feasts, tournaments, or weddings—boosting relations and offering exclusive rewards. - MCM Settings
Provide an in-game Mod Configuration Menu page that lets players toggle features, adjust tax rates, view popularity polling, manage armor customization and other UI-driven systems. - Convert major dialogue to ElevenLabs for vanilla NPCs
Re-synthesize select vanilla lines (e.g., Erikur, Dengeir, Ulfric, Elisif, royal greetings) via ElevenLabs so they match the mod’s tone and minimize immersion breaks. - Royal Guard Armor Customization
Add a console recipe or MCM panel allowing on-the-fly recoloring of guard trim and application of hold-specific emblems. - Seasonal Festivals & Events
Introduce four annual celebrations in Highreach—with themed decorations, temporary vendors, mini-quests, and limited-time items. - Hold Caravans & Trade Routes
Launch merchant caravans between holds; let the player assign escorts, set tolls, and negotiate exclusive trade deals to boost income. - Knighting Ceremony’s
Expand the basic knighting feature into a full ceremony—complete with animations, dialogue, and optional housing for honored NPCs. - Mobile Royal Court
Enable a one-day traveling court that holds hearings in other holds, temporarily affecting local loyalty and commerce. - Add additional voiced banter and idle dialogue for court NPCs
Write and integrate more idle lines for advisors and staff, each tagged for emotion and matched to voice files to reduce repetition. - High Priest Blessing Rituals
Extend the priest role with weekly blessing ceremonies that apply buffs or alter minor weather patterns in each hold. - Army/guard/troop customization (equipment, classes, race, etc.)
Allow players to outfit and classify troops (heavy infantry, archers, mages) with distinct gear sets and ability bonuses. - Council Seat Mini-Game
Add a small puzzle where seating the five advisors around the table grants perks—like tax boosts, unique dialogues or morale boosts—for correct arrangements. - Soldier/troop ranks: promotion and level-up option
Track guard service and let soldiers earn ranks—unlocking stat increases, special gear, or titles as they progress.
This isn't exhaustive by any means. This list may grow or shrink over time. With the popularity of BHKS-TNG, V2 grew WAY past its original scope. Which also means that it grew way past its original release timeline. I don't have an estimate at all, but I think a summer release is now a little ambitious. But the wait will be so worth it.
3 comments
My heart was racing from excitement reading each one haha 😄