Smilodon improves the combat experience by enhancing combat AI, adding mechanics such as timed blocking and attacks of opportunity, and making combat faster by increasing lethality. It is lightweight and uses minimal scripting.
Requirements
This mod does not have any known dependencies other than the base game.
Other user's assetsAll the assets in this file belong to the author, or are from free-to-use modder's resources
Upload permissionYou are not allowed to upload this file to other sites under any circumstances
Modification permissionYou are allowed to modify my files and release bug fixes or improve on the features so long as you credit me as the original creator
Conversion permissionYou can convert this file to work with other games as long as you credit me as the creator of the file
Asset use permissionYou are allowed to use the assets in this file without permission as long as you credit me
Asset use permission in mods/files that are being soldYou are not allowed to use assets from this file in any mods/files that are being sold, for money, on Steam Workshop or other platforms
Asset use permission in mods/files that earn donation pointsYou must get permission to earn Donation Points for your mods if they use my assets
Author notes
I don't believe in mod copyright. You are free to:
- include this mod in mod packs - create and publish compatibility patches - create and publish derivative mods - fork this mod - use my custom assets or scripts in your own mods (with the exception of assets I used from other people with permission; you can tell by the folder name they are in)
......without asking for permission, as long as you credit me and send me a link to your work.
If this mod is no longer available for download at any of its official hosts (Nexus, Bethesda.net, Steam Workshop) because it has been deleted or the hosts disappeared from the internet, you can upload it elsewhere as long as you credit me.
(None of these permissions are granted if you sell your mod for real money.)
File credits
This author has not credited anyone else in this file
Game settings - Removed scaling NPC level boost.
- Reduced fNPCHealthLevelBonus from 7.50 -> 6.00.
Version 1.07SSE
Dynamic combat - Effects are no longer applied to Tolfdir.
Game settings - Reverted fMagicCasterSkillCostMult from 1 -> 0.5. (NPCs don't typically have cost reduction perks, so this multiplier acts as a replacement for those perks and setting it to 1 is not right.)
Version 1.06SSE
Miscellaneous
- Renewed asset archive. (This should help out people whose game suddenly ignores external assets for no reason.)
Version 1.05SSE
Attacks of opportunity
- Critical strikes against sitting targets now only apply if the target is humanoid (fixing an issue where perching dragons are affected).
Miscellaneous
- Enemies considered weak by the game (low level bandits, etc) now deal 50% -> 75% damage.
Movement types
- Increased turn speed while casting a spell from 90 -> 120.
Version 1.04SSE
Dynamic combat
- Fixed missing features from 1.02SSE.
Animations
- Added entry point for Stamina floors below which an actor's power attacks and bashes won't go through (use the mod configuration power to set floors).
Version 1.03SSE
Dynamic combat
- Added half of the equation to allow the Focus on the Prey perk in Ordinator to prevent bow interruptions.
Misc
- The initialisation message is now correctly a notification instead of a dialog box.
Version 1.01SSE
Dynamic combat
- Fixed Stamina drain not applying when you hold a drawn bow.
- Swimming only drains Stamina when you are actually moving.
Game settings
- Fixed dual cast game settings being the other way round.
Donations
Both straight donations and premium membership donations accepted
Smilodon is a spin-off of Wildcat for Skyrim Special Edition. It is compatible with the PS4 (albeit in a cut down version) and XB1 and removes some controversial features. Its feature set is similar to Wildcat, but less expansive and therefore closer to a vanilla experience.
Improved combat AI: modified combat styles and game settings.
Attacks of opportunity.
Timed blocking.
Faster combat: deal and take more damage.
Unintrusive, low script load.
Can be dropped into an existing load order as a complete combat package.
Comes with a "Smilodon" configuration power to enable or disable various features.
Rrrrawr
Improved combat AI
Combat styles and combat related game settings have been turned up, making opponents much more relentless and decisive.
Dynamic combat (Not available on PS4)
Various actions cost Stamina:
Attack (one-handed): 10
Attack (two-handed): 15
Fully drawing a bow: 15
Holding a drawn bow: 5/second
Swimming: 5/second
Actors that are out of Stamina are considered fatigued, slowing down movement by 15%. Stamina regenerates up to 50% slower when below 1/4 Health. Can be disabled using the "Smilodon" configuration power.
Actors hit by an attack or damaging explosion while drawing a bow are interrupted, throwing off their aim or ruining the shot. Use the "Smilodon" configuration power to optionally enable other forms of stagger for a more brutal experience:
Wound stagger: Actors stagger when they fall below 1/4 or 1/8 Health.
Burst stagger: Actors stagger upon taking damage equal to 30% of their remaining Health in combat.
Blocking an attack within 1 second after raising a shield or weapon blocks 20% more damage and briefly staggers a melee attacker. Can be disabled using the "Smilodon" configuration power.
Increased lethality
Deal and take more damage.
Novice: x2.50/x1.00 (was x2.00/x0.50)
Apprentice: x2.00/x1.25 (was x1.50/x0.75)
Adept: x1.50/x1.50 (was x1.00/x1.00)
Expert: x1.25/x2.00 (was x0.75/x1.50)
Master: x1.00/x2.50 (was x0.50/x2.00)
Legendary: x0.50/x3.50 (was x0.25/x3.00)
The optional Realistic Damage plugin sets damage dealt and taken to realistic levels. Damage is fair for both sides and greatly increased, making combat much more deadly. This is more immersive, but perhaps easier to exploit if you are a powergamer:
Novice: x2.00/x2.00
Apprentice: x2.50/x2.50
Adept: x3.00/x3.00
Expert: x3.50/x3.50
Master: x4.00/x4.00
Legendary: x5.00/x5.00
Spell costs: +50%
Bow damage: -25%
Damage reduction to massive targets: increased to 3/4.
Attacks of opportunity
Deal and take attacks of opportunity with weapons and unarmed attacks. Can be disabled using the "Smilodon" configuration power.
When the target is...
Drawing or holding a bow: +25%
Power attacking: +50%
Casting a spell: +50% (ward spell negates)
Struck from behind: +25%
Staggered or paralyzed: +25%
Struck in melee: +25%
Sleeping or sitting: Critical strike for 10 times critical damage
Massive: -50% damage and spell magnitude (dragon, centurion, giant, mammoth)
Below 1/4 Health: +25%
Above 3/4 Health: -25%
Game settings
Changes to game settings to make combat feel more realistic.
Offence:
Auto aim on bows and crossbows is greatly reduced.
Stamina regeneration in combat increased from 35% -> 65%.
Stamina regeneration delay after running out now lasts up to 3 -> 5 seconds.
Bash cost reduced from 40 -> 15 points of Stamina.
...
Defence:
Cap on blocking/resistances reduced from 85% -> 80%.
To install: Add the mod to your load order and activate it. To uninstall: Use the "Smilodon" configuration power to disable all features, then fast travel and uninstall.
Troubleshooting
NPCs seem to be much stronger after I reload a save: There is a bug in Skyrim that causes NPCs to gain their perks twice when you reload a save, making them overwhelmingly strong. Whenever you reload a save or die, make sure to reload it twice and do not use quick reload. This is a bug that affects the vanilla game and all combat mods and game overhauls.
I die a cinematic death (killmove) despite having high Health: There is a bug in Skyrim that causes killmoves to ignore armor, making them much stronger than they would normally be. Use a mod to disable or nerf killmoves against the player, such as Violens.
Fistfights (brawls) immediately end or turn into a real fight: The "Brawl Bug" is a common issue with many gameplay mods and hard to avoid due to the way Skyrim brawls are implemented. Smilodon comes with a copy of the Modern Brawl Bug Fix included to solve this issue. If it does not, you may have the outdated Brawl Bugs Patch in your load order after Smilodon (as a standalone mod or included with another mod such as Enhanced Blood Textures). Either remove it or add the Modern Brawl Bug Fix to the end of your load order.
I deal or take suspiciously much or little damage compared to the advertised difficulty multipliers: You may have another mod loaded below Smilodon that modifies difficulty multipliers, overriding Smilodon.
I want to disable Stamina costs and/or stagger: Use the "Smilodon" configuration power to disable these features.