Technical Doc

To ensure that certain quests and events in the game account for the follower increase and additional functionality of followers introduced by the Busy Follower Framework, it was essential that some base game scripts were edited.

Other mods that make changes to the same scripts may undoubtedly run into compatibility issues with the Busy Follower Framework, and although I do try to create some key patches for my mods, it's simply not feasible for me to continue to do so for every mod that somebody reports a compatibility issue with.

This is the nature of modding your game. You run the risk of changing key components on the base game and other mods that interact with each other.

This doc hopes to outline some of the areas you are likely to either encounter issues or need to take into account when modding your game and creating compatibility patches either for yourself or the community as a whole.


Disabled Base Game Systems

Rather than attempting to edit and overhaul the vanilla follower system, BFF for the most part instead disables the vanilla system and replaces it with a new one built from the ground up. This was far easier to manage and allows for more flexibility when changing and adding new features.

DialogueFollower

This is the quest used for the standard follower system and has been disabled, leaving only the misc dialogue referenced and one alias for purchased trolls to use.

DialogueFavdorGeneric

For some reason and I cannot fathom why, Bethesda split the follower dialogue from the rest of the follower dialogue. This quest also has elements disabled, opting to instead use the dialogue in the BFF quests.

FreeformSkyHavenTemple

This quest is used for the Blades recruitment system whereby you would normally walk up to Delphine with your current follower and speak with her to recruit them into the Blades. Elements of this quest and its dialogue have been amended to account for multiple followers, instead, checking that you have spoken with the follower you wish to recruit and prepared them for induction into the Blades.

DLC2DialgueTelMithryn

This quest holds the dialogue for Dragonborn followers and is also disabled as it's included in the BFF quests.

HirelingQuest

As you may have guessed, this quest holds the dialogue and system for hirelings specifically. This has also been disabled and opts to use the system from BFF.

DLC2HirelingQuest

The same as above, this holds the dialogue for hirelings dialogue but for Dragonborn hirelings. This is also disabled, opting to use the BFF system.

DialogueAnimalTrainers

This quest holds the dialogue for the purchase of dogs and has been disabled as BFF has its own governing quest and scripts for dog purchases.

punPOITundraMarshDog

This is the quest that governs the dialogue for Meeko and has been amended to link with the BFF animal companion system. if you install my dog framework A Dog's Life and place it after BFF in the load order, that mod will do a similar thing and overwrite changes made by BFF.

DLC1HireableDogs

This quest as you may have guessed controls the dog purchasing system for Dragonborn dogs. This has been integrated into the BFF system instead.


Base Game Script Edits
Fair warning, much of the below are rough notes taken during development and might need some decoding to make any sense. ;)

• DBEviciton - QF_DBEviction_0006F9A5 - Removed the modding of the playerfollowercountglobal as this is no longer going to be required for Cicero following.
  

• DLC2MQ05 - DLC2_QF_DLC2MQ04_020179DE - The script fragments have been redirected to point toward the BFF system for Frea being force dismissed.
  

• BYOHRelationshipAdoption - BYOH_TIF__010192B9 (Replaced) - Replaced the TIF script on the topic for allowing dogs brought home to be adopted. Also changes a few conditions in the dialogue to match the new system.
  
  

• DLC1RV06 - DLC1_QF_DLC1RV06_010058CA - Redirected the script fragments to point toward my BFFQuestLink script to run a function for dismissing the passed reference which in this case is your spouse as she needs to be dismissed once turned into a vampire.
  

• DLC2DialogueRavenRock - Checks for followers and then moves them all to be on the boat, also disabling their AI before moving them off the boat and re-enabling AI.
  
  

• C00 - CompanionsHousekeepingScript - Commented out the script function IF statement for checking the player count and instead pointed it to my BBFQuestLink script to run through all potential current following actors and send them home. This prevents interference with the storyline, breaking immersion.
  
  

• DLC1VQ06LockInScript - Changed to point towards the new system and run through followers to dismiss them, sending them home if they are not Serana.
  
  

• BladesChangeOutfitScript - Changed the script accoufnt for Blades equipment being taken away and needing to be added back on.
  
  

• MS10 - MS10QuestScript - Redirected the function in the governing script to point to my own BFFQuestLink script and move all potentially following followers and animals.
  
  

• BYOHHouseBuilding - BYOHHouseBuildingScript - Redirects the function to my BFFQuestLink script to dismiss your steward.
  
  

• DLC2_dunMQ02 - No changes made as it appears to teleport one follower as part of a scene which isn't needed with recall and would also have the potential to do more harm than good.
  
  

• FreeformSkyhavenTempleA - FreeformSkyHavenTempleAScript - Re-directed the script functions to run a function within my BFFControllerFollower script that prepares your follower for blade duty. They are then assigned to the now unused vanilla follower alias.
  
  

• DLC2KagrumexQST - DLC2_QF_DLC2KagrumezQST_0203166D - Redirects two script fragments to point to my own system for animal recruitment for the two Dwemer followers.
  
  

• QF_RelationshipMarriageWeddin_0007404E - Added the property for the BFFControllerFollower script to dismiss your followers once the wedding kicks begins.
  
  

• QF_RelationshipMarriageCourti_00074793 - Added the property for the BFFControllerFollower script to dismiss your spouse once the wedding is confirmed.
  
  

• MG06 - QF_MG06_0001F256 - Edited the script fragments where all current followers and animals are moved to a marker out of the way. Referred to my BFFQuestLink script to run a function for running this on all potentially following followers.
  
  

• MQ201 - QF_MQ201_00035D5F - Added a script line to dismiss current followers to prevent them from being dragged into the party with you as the vanilla game only moves the player to prevent followers from joining. This will not work as the Recall feature may pull followers to the player once their location changes and arrive at the party.
  
  

• DLC1VQ03Hunter / DLC1VQ03Vampire - DLC1VQ03MothpriestFightScript - Redirected the script functions to point toward my own BFFQuestLink script to force combat to stop on all current followers and animals to account for the extra followers in the framework.
  
  

• dunPOITundraMarshDogQST - QF_dunPOITundraMarshDogQST_000D980B - Redirected the script fragments toward my own system.
  
  

• DLC1NPCMentalModel - DLC1_NPCMentalModelScript - This is setting some temp follower to you and trying to increase and decrease the follower count without filling in the alias. Commented out the count and allowed them to follower without affecting follower count.
  

• Adjusted the conditions of Serana's dialogue to check current followers compared to those waiting at home.
  

• Also redirected the script function for dismissal to utilise the BFF system.
  
  

• DLC1VQ02 - DLC1_QF_DLC1VQ01COPY0000_01002F65 - Redirects the script fragments to use my BFFQuestLink script to move potential followers and animals to a specific location.; This is potentially to kick them out of the Soul Cairn if they got dragged in with the player.
  
  

• MQ301 - QF_MQ301+00044C56 - No changes actually made here but it is worth noting that the script is referring to the default player alias and sending a RegisterForSingleUpdate() request.
  
  

• DLC1dunRedwaterDenQT - DLC1_QF_DLC1dunRedwaterDenQST_01007C4F - Redirected the function to point toward my script BFFQuestLink and move the current followers and animals to the player's location.
  
  

• DLC1DialogueHunterVampireBlock - Replaced a collection of dialogue script fragments and renamed them to point toward the BFF system.
  
  

• DLC2DialogueSkaalVillageGeneric - DLC2_TIF_0202BF03 (Replaced) - Replaced the dialogue fragment script to point to the new BFF system.
  
  

• DLC2BookDungeonController - dlc2bookdngeoncontrollerscript - Edited the script porperty to point toward the first follower in BFF who can speak various lines. If Frea is following you however, she will instead be placed into the book alias and will speak the lines laid out in the Quest Scene.
  Edited the main script controller on the quest to change the property and add Frea.