Obviously Unicorns of Skyrim has changed a lot over the past few updates, but at this point it's mostly done, I think?
It needs some decent gameplay testing to make sure everything works as intended, is balanced, fun, and reasonably realistic. I spend most of my time at the moment just reloading the game or riding around Skyrim to check everything actually works, so it's harder to test the more subtle stuff that way.
I have a few textures and meshes I want to update at some point (e.g. one of the Night unicorn skins has awful mismatched seams and I want to update some specific things like hooves and horns), as well as some new designs I may upload later. I've been putting that off because once I start painting, I'm going to forget to fix other things and won't have time to play :D (a single unicorn skin can easily take hours, just due to all the over complicated edge details I need to make sure match up and having to run it through three programs, and then check again in game where it often looks entirely different). I also want to update the N textures for better roughness and lighting effects and maybe give some of them more or less glowiness in general. I've failed very badly at trying to change the meshes in any way, but making more delicate deer like unicorns, and proper foals, would be nice in future.
I should probably add some placed unicorns without levelled lists at some point, but Skyrim is very big and I haven't got a good concept for how many to add and where yet (one or two? many herds? Rideable only? Random colours?)
I'd like to update the 'is a crime to hurt unicorns' aspect, and somehow add support for Kynareth or Hircine related NPCs/effects/locations and find a few specific ways to add the enchanted items into the world.
I plan to check for other mods that need patching, but I've patched everything I currently use so I'm guessing a bit as to what else needs a patch.
Overall, this is an excellent time for feedback from anyone who is actually playing with this mod - I'll appreciate hearing about anything that works or doesn't work for you, anything you'd like a patch for, and any new features you'd like to see.
Haha, I just opened this page to check something a second before you commented and did a doubletake when I refreshed. I'm glad to hear you are enjoying it!
I'm really enjoying it myself, I keep forgetting it's my own mod (which is good, it stops me constantly quitting out of the game to go make changes). I have a lot of ideas for expansions and just general tidying up, once I stop getting distracted by all the other mods I'm trying to make.
Dangit, it means there is a small typo/extra space in the code, the fomod creator does that sometimes.
You fix it by either waiting for me to get to the computer,
opening the moduleconfig XML file in notepad++ yourself and deleting the extra space on the line mentioned,
or just opening the download file and installing everything you want manually to the data folder.
edit: Fomod is fixed, and yep, it was just the usual extra space in the select type (because I changed it, I think). The one time I didn't triple check it...
Thank you very much! Ya, life be like that.... the one time ya don't double/triple check is the only time when it goes wrong. I feel that. Edit: downloaded and it is installed :D
Such a lovely mod and great for my fantasy themed mod list. One question, if I may. Do you plan to release a patch for Skyrim to distribute the unicorns without the use of the console? Many thanks and great work!
I'm glad you like it! That's definitely a plan - I'm still in the 'making sure all the base mod bits work' stage, so I haven't figured out distribution yet (currently I'm testing the summons spells which keep crashing for no good reason. The spell works, the unicorn works, but when I combine them, it CTDs on me... >.< - once that's working, I can add a spell book into the game). The wild ones are meant to be somewhat skittish and less gregarious than horses, more like deer (I'd actually like to use a deer mesh for them, I just need to figure out how to edit that to add a horn), while the tameable ones need to act more like standard mounts, so I need to see how they actually behave right now. And then decide where to even put them.
I started with Chanterelle because I have a save there anyway so it's easiest to test but it would be very easy to patch it into other existing horse mods, using the levelled list. I'll probably start by making patches for those or mods that add reindeer herds, then figure out how to actually create new unicorn placements for a standalone version. If there's one you already use, I can probably start with that one ;)
Sounds like a complicated process. I admire your skill and determination. Wow, that would be amazing! I look forward to seeing what you create in the future. As it happens I do use one of the mods you mentioned. I use Reindeer Herds by Mihail! Here's a link if you'd like to give it a shot. https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/100853 I'm sure permissions are fine but maybe ask just to be sure? Happy modding! I'll track this mod for future releases. Many thanks again for your efforts! Also, have some kudos!
So complicated. Ten times more complicated than I expected, at every step!
I have Mihail's reindeer installed already, so that gets to be the next patch - just uploading now. It's a simple patch, I just replaced existing reindeer rather than adding additional creatures. I'm not actually sure it works properly, but at least it's mostly done so I can check it while testing other things.
Ooooo an update, how wonderful! Many thanks again for these wonderful mods. It may be complicated, but look at you go, you're making amazing progress and achieving your goals. I have no doubts that you'll accomplish what you desire and maybe even be a featured mod. I.... may have snuck in a vote. lol. Anyway, I'm off to test and enjoy! If you don't hear from me that means that it works a treat!
Thank you so much, this started out as a single new unicorn retexture and it's blown up enormously on me, the encouraging feedback has been lovely (and given me a reason to finish setting it up as a proper mod!).
I am pretty sure something won't work properly, here's hoping I find it before you do :P
13 comments
Obviously Unicorns of Skyrim has changed a lot over the past few updates, but at this point it's mostly done, I think?
Overall, this is an excellent time for feedback from anyone who is actually playing with this mod - I'll appreciate hearing about anything that works or doesn't work for you, anything you'd like a patch for, and any new features you'd like to see.
I'm really enjoying it myself, I keep forgetting it's my own mod (which is good, it stops me constantly quitting out of the game to go make changes). I have a lot of ideas for expansions and just general tidying up, once I stop getting distracted by all the other mods I'm trying to make.
What is this error and how do I fix?
edit: Fomod is fixed, and yep, it was just the usual extra space in the select type (because I changed it, I think). The one time I didn't triple check it...
Edit: downloaded and it is installed :D
I started with Chanterelle because I have a save there anyway so it's easiest to test but it would be very easy to patch it into other existing horse mods, using the levelled list. I'll probably start by making patches for those or mods that add reindeer herds, then figure out how to actually create new unicorn placements for a standalone version. If there's one you already use, I can probably start with that one ;)
I have Mihail's reindeer installed already, so that gets to be the next patch - just uploading now. It's a simple patch, I just replaced existing reindeer rather than adding additional creatures. I'm not actually sure it works properly, but at least it's mostly done so I can check it while testing other things.
I am pretty sure something won't work properly, here's hoping I find it before you do :P