For those the mod doesn't work, move it to the top of your load order, right after the esm (or USSEP if you have it). If it doesn't help, then take a look at SSEedit (it's really not hard, search for tutorial to create a patch on youtube, you'll learn what you need, not less, not more) The mod basically copies every default data about Lydia. The only difference is the essential flag added. So if you have another mod conflicting with, just copy the essential flag from this mod to the conflicting one
I am sorry to say that Lydia is not immortal, npc's can't kill her, but one friendly hit while she is down and she dies, and i cannot bring her back with even console atm.. So i can see the usefulness in this mod, but i don't know about others, but like, Lydia is literally fricking running in front of me always so i will probs, carve her down again and again in a tough fight!
I will unfortunately not use this mod when she isn't safe from my axe, it happens way to often :s
Lydia isn't set essential because she is flagged as "protected." The only difference between essential and protected is that the player can kill protected people but no one else can. If she was essential and you accidentally hit her, she might attack you and wouldn't be killable.
I've had Protected followers, including Lydia, get killed by enemies. I know that your definition of protected status is the general conception, but is not entirely accurate. Protected is supposed to mean that no one but the player can kill the character, and is supposed to be applied to all followers. But most know that this is not the case. Possibly these parameters were true at one time, and changed in an update or patch. Followers can be killed unless they are set to essential, or have a specific protected flag during a quest, for example with a Companions quest.
You can check whether or not a character is protected or essential in the console with the isprotected or isessential commands.
*I posted below how to set any NPC as essential in the console.
You can make any NPC essential with the console. tilde (~) to open the console. Type: help nameofnpc 0. (So, for Lydia it would be: help lydia 0), hit enter. Then scroll up through the codes until you see their 8 digit BaseID #. Then type: setessential baseid# (where baseid# is the actual 8 digit code. So, for Lydia it would be: setessential 000A2C8E 1 Enter. tilde (~) again to exit the console. She cannot be killed now unless you repeat the process to toggle essential off and replace the 1 with a 0. (setessential 000A2C8E 0)
*Note that simply targeting the NPC in the console only brings up their RefIDs. Not the same as BaseIDs, and will not work that way.
*The Base IDs for all Skyrim NPCs can be found listed on numerous web pages.
All true with one exception: you failed to mention that nothing (including her) should be targeted while setting her essential, not even a clay pot. If you see her refID "A2C94" at the top of the console window, your command will not work. This is true for setting ANY NPC essential. Again, there must be no numbers visible at the top center of the console window. Otherwise "setessential" will fail.
p.s. You can always drop the leading zeros. "A2C8E" is just as good as "000A2C8E".
It does not matter if other codes are visible in the center of console, as you are manually typing the command which has nothing to do with anything targeted.
Folks, it's so simple, takes a few seconds to do, and works for any NPC: 1) Type "help lydia" in the console (without the quotations) hit Enter, to get her Base ID. It will appear as NPC_Lydia 000A2C8E 2) Type "setessential A2C8E 1" in the console (without quotations), hit Enter. It doesn't matter if she is targeted or not, in front of you or 4 miles away.
Done. She is now essential and cannot be killed by you or anyone, regardless of follower status or not. To remove essential status simply re-enter the command while changing the 1 to a 0. (setessential A2C8E 0)
Yes, the leading zeroes are placeholders and not necessary to type them. Console commands are not case sensitive.
The same can be achieved in the ck64 very easily, but I find the console a quicker and more convenient solution in this case.
Not to disparage the work of the mod author, as some users may not like to use the console, but to save anyone a plugin slot if they prefer.
I implore you to keep expanding this mod too There are mods for Fallout 4 - one for Caravans for New Vegas, below - that marks all traders protected, something similar in future would be appreciated as that worked a treat.
Just for reference: The small FO4 mod I used was this one http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/18296/? New Vegas essential companions http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/60817/?
Give Feedback
29 comments
If it doesn't help, then take a look at SSEedit (it's really not hard, search for tutorial to create a patch on youtube, you'll learn what you need, not less, not more)
The mod basically copies every default data about Lydia. The only difference is the essential flag added. So if you have another mod conflicting with, just copy the essential flag from this mod to the conflicting one
So i can see the usefulness in this mod, but i don't know about others, but like, Lydia is literally fricking running in front of me always so i will probs, carve her down again and again in a tough fight!
I will unfortunately not use this mod when she isn't safe from my axe, it happens way to often :s
I know that your definition of protected status is the general conception, but is not entirely accurate. Protected is supposed to mean that no one but the player can kill the character, and is supposed to be applied to all followers. But most know that this is not the case. Possibly these parameters were true at one time, and changed in an update or patch. Followers can be killed unless they are set to essential, or have a specific protected flag during a quest, for example with a Companions quest.
You can check whether or not a character is protected or essential in the console with the isprotected or isessential commands.
*I posted below how to set any NPC as essential in the console.
have you any idea how long that would take ?
tilde (~) to open the console. Type: help nameofnpc 0. (So, for Lydia it would be: help lydia 0), hit enter.
Then scroll up through the codes until you see their 8 digit BaseID #.
Then type: setessential baseid# (where baseid# is the actual 8 digit code. So, for Lydia it would be: setessential 000A2C8E 1
Enter.
tilde (~) again to exit the console.
She cannot be killed now unless you repeat the process to toggle essential off and replace the 1 with a 0. (setessential 000A2C8E 0)
*Note that simply targeting the NPC in the console only brings up their RefIDs. Not the same as BaseIDs, and will not work that way.
*The Base IDs for all Skyrim NPCs can be found listed on numerous web pages.
p.s. You can always drop the leading zeros. "A2C8E" is just as good as "000A2C8E".
Folks, it's so simple, takes a few seconds to do, and works for any NPC:
1) Type "help lydia" in the console (without the quotations) hit Enter, to get her Base ID. It will appear as NPC_Lydia 000A2C8E
2) Type "setessential A2C8E 1" in the console (without quotations), hit Enter. It doesn't matter if she is targeted or not, in front of you or 4 miles away.
Done. She is now essential and cannot be killed by you or anyone, regardless of follower status or not.
To remove essential status simply re-enter the command while changing the 1 to a 0. (setessential A2C8E 0)
Yes, the leading zeroes are placeholders and not necessary to type them. Console commands are not case sensitive.
The same can be achieved in the ck64 very easily, but I find the console a quicker and more convenient solution in this case.
Not to disparage the work of the mod author, as some users may not like to use the console, but to save anyone a plugin slot if they prefer.
As you're keen to do more, maybe make a larger mod to essential all companions!
I implore you to keep expanding this mod too
Just for reference:
The small FO4 mod I used was this one http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/18296/?
New Vegas essential companions http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/60817/?
Essential Housecarls by Hinaloth
http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/4708/?tab=1&navtag=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nexusmods.com%2Fskyrimspecialedition%2Fajax%2Fmoddescription%2F%3Fid%3D4708%26preview%3D&pUp=1