Skyrim Special Edition

About this mod

Redcap is a unique, voice-acted, immersive follower mod with over 2400 lines of dialogue, a ton of fun and useful features, several new quests, new locations, interactive commentary on many quests, and a pet boar named Bigpig who he can summon in battle! Redcap has a big personality and a lot to offer!

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REDCAP




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Overview

Redcap is a voice-acted & immersive Riekling follower with over 2400 lines of lore-friendly dialogue (with much more planned), a fully fleshed-out backstory, several original quests that build on existing Skyrim characters and locations, many unique, useful, & entertaining features and mechanics *see Features section below*, and a big personality that makes him MUCH more than what you would expect from a Riekling.  Redcap is inspired by custom mod followers like Inigo (who he has banter and interactions with!) and Lucien Flavius, and is *NOT* an animal follower or a vanilla Riekling with a new look; he has his own thoughts, opinions, and personality and will comment and react to many things throughout your adventures, including choices you make!  He also has a unique & fully custom appearance (which is explained in dialogue and in his personal quest) including a high quality new 3D model and custom textures for his helmet along with new textures for his skin, hair, armor, eyes, etc, and has his own custom follower framework meaning he can be used alongside ANY and all other followers (from mods or vanilla), some of which he will have interactions and commentary with!


Location & Backstory

You will find Redcap locked in the basement of Anise's Cabin (a short walk north of the Guardian Stones) There is an immersive roleplay reason to investigate Anise's Cabin added to the Sleeping Giant Inn in Riverwood for players who feel there isn't enough reason to break into an old woman's basement.

Redcap expands on the character of Anise by giving her new dialogue that plays out both in a scene with Redcap and with new dialogue with the player, along with details of her true purpose and experiments in a journal you will find in her basement when first meeting Redcap.  Anise is no longer a small, random encounter, but a true villain who may even have more of a role to play in the future...(if Anise is already dead when you recruit Redcap, you will still be able to recruit him and progress his quest as usual, you will just miss out on some unique dialogue and scenes that add a lot to the experience of the mod)

Redcap's unique appearance and ability to communicate more effectively than most Rieklings is lore-friendly, and explained both in dialogue and in Anise's Journal.  The inspiration for his name, appearance, and backstory is based on the redcaps from Dungeons & Dragons who are fey creatures often acting in the service of Hags or witches.


Features


  • Over 2400 lines of voice-acted dialogue including full Main Quest commentary (and the ability to actually interact and take part in progressing Diplomatic Immunity) and full commentary on multiple other questlines! (see below for list of quests Redcap comments on)
FULL LIST OF QUESTS REDCAP HAS COMMENTARY FOR: (note that almost all of Redcap's quest commentary happens through speaking to Redcap during the quest and NOT through idle comments, make sure to speak to him frequently to get the full experience!) 
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Skyrim's Main Questline (full commentary)

Solstheim Quests
- The Chief of Thirsk Hall (full commentary + an optional ending to unlock new dialogue for Redcap)
- Retaking Thirsk (full commentary)

Daedric Prince Quests
- A Night to Remember (full commentary, leads into Redcap's quest The Red God)
- Ill Met By Moonlight (full commentary + a new ending based on your choices, leads into Redcap's quest Bloodmoon Rising)

Creation Club Quests
- Blue In The Face (full commentary, requires CC Goblins)

  • Several new quests, some of which follow Redcap's personal story and some of which are unlocked by doing quests in the vanilla game!  All original quests will unlock new dialogue, new functionality and mechanics, and have a variety of rewards unique to the quest.
FULL LIST OF REDCAP'S ORIGINAL QUESTS: 
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Redcap's Main Questline
- The Cabin in the Woods (rescue Redcap from the clutches of the witch Anise)
- Back to the Rock/The Village (travel to Solstheim with Redcap and find his village)
- You Can Be a Bigpig, Too (reunite Redcap with his pet boar and obtain a new ally)
- The Hands of Fate (rescue a tribe of Rieklings and confront the slaver who captured Redcap)

New Daedric Prince Quests
- The Red God (requires A Night to Remember to have been completed *Redcap does not have to have been present for ANTR but dialogue will reflect if he was*, unlocks a unique Daedric artifact for Redcap and a pool of new general dialogue)
- Bloodmoon Rising (requires Ill Met By Moonlight and The Hands of Fate to have been completed *Redcap does not have to have been present for Ill Met By Moonlight but dialogue will reflect if he was* unlocks a new transformation mechanic and a pool of new general dialogue)
- Wereboar Art Thou (begins during Bloodmoon Rising, unlocks a powerful new armor set and a new power)

  • A pet Bristleback boar named Bigpig with a custom voice created with high quality recordings of real life wild boars (met and recruited during Redcap's quest) that Redcap can summon and desummon for battle
    Spoiler:  
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    Redcap will only summon Bigpig in battle if you choose the dialogue option in the About Bigpig... topic, this can be turned on and off at any time
    OR that can be used alongside Redcap as a complete additional follower (or not at all) - either will unlock new dialogue and interactions involving Bigpig, and you can toggle these options whenever you like!  Bigpig also has a custom feeding system that will give him a temporary vitality buff when given certain foods! 
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    You can feed Bigpig yourself using the dialogue option, or if Redcap is carrying any of the appropriate food items in his inventory he will randomly feed Bigpig around 3 times per day (or until he runs of out food) The buff temporarily raises Bigpig's maximum health, and does not stack, though additional feedings will refresh the buff's duration
  • Multiple custom appearance options via a unique custom armor system! (see combat section below)
  • Spearcrafting mechanic - If Redcap runs out of spears, bring him some firewood and he can craft more! (see combat section below)
  • Unique Stealth Mode - Redcap has a unique stealth mechanic that makes him ideal for sneaky playstyles, along with stealth-specific dialogue and the ability to pick any lock! (see combat section below)
  • Tavern mechanic - Give Redcap any alcoholic beverage in a tavern to unlock an entire pool of humorous drunk dialogue (he will sober up as soon as you leave the tavern!)
  • Unique temporary buffs from certain items!  Give Redcap sweet rolls to give him a sugar rush that increases his movement and attack speed for a short time
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    This effect stacks, giving Redcap more sweet rolls will increase the magnitude of the attack & movement speed increase. A maximum of 3 sweet rolls can be given through the dialogue option per 24 hours, though Redcap can randomly consume one additional sweet roll per day if he has one in his inventory 
     or Scathecraw which will give him a temporary vitality boost
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    This effect does not stack, and raises Redcap's maximum health for a moderate period of time. Giving him more Scathecraw will refresh the effect's duration, but not increase the amount of health the buff gives. The dialogue option to give Redcap Scathecraw will appear at a certain quest stage during the Chief of Thirsk Hall quest, though he will consume Scathecraw randomly from his inventory before that 
  • An equippable version of the Candlelight spell that will remain active indefinitely when equipped, doesn't require magicka, and does not use an equipment slot.  Redcap will use the Candlelight if it is left in his inventory, or you can take it from him and use it yourself! (he may have comments about you or specific other creatures using his light...)
    Spoiler:  
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    He will NOT be happy if you give one of the Thirsk Riekling followers his light! 
  • Custom Follow Distance Controls - You can tell Redcap to follow his usual distance, stay close, or follow further away, and freely switch between these options at any time!
  • A summon spell to summon Redcap to your side from anywhere (and additional dialogue when he is summoned in different situations!)
  • A player home (unlocked during Redcap's quest)

Interactions With Other Mods

  • Integration with Legacy of the Dragonborn - Redcap has been added to Legacy of the Dragonborn - Followers Patch (Inigo-Auri-Kaidan-Hoth-Lucien-Vilja-Remiel-Redcap) by the wonderfully talented gutmaw which will add displays for Redcap's unique items and give Redcap his own follower room in the LotD safehouse!!!  Redcap also has a Home Mechanic which will allow you to assign a home location for him to return to when dismissed, including the safehouse.
  • Follower interactions with Inigo by SmartBlueCat (158 lines of dialogue, tons of scenes and banter, Inigo comments on all of Redcap's quests & Redcap comments on the Langley quest, no patch required)
  • Follower interactions with Xelzaz the Argonian Telvanni Follower (421 lines of dialogue, tons of new scenes, commentary on Redcap's main quest, no patch required)
  • Follower interactions with Remiel the Dwemer Specialist (319 lines of dialogue, tons of scenes, full Remi commentary on Redcap's main quest, no patch required)
  • TRIPLE FOLLOWER INTERACTIONS WITH REDCAP, XELZAZ, AND REMIEL - With all 3 followers installed, special full party banter interactions will be unlocked with 163 lines of additional dialogue on top of the solo interactions, several scenes involving all three, and more!
  • Follower interactions with Nessa by Craftian (113 lines of dialogue, several scenes, Nessa commentary on Redcap's main quest, no patch required & will work with either Nessa's standalone or EZPG)
  • Commentary & Follower Interactions with Shellby the Shellbug Follower from Shellbug Hatchlings and Follower - Fathom's Creature Series available as optional patch
  • Follower interactions with Gogh the Goblin from Creation Club Goblins (over 150 lines of dialogue, commentary on Gogh's quest, and a new mini-quest to unlock the ability for Redcap to wield the Spear of Bitter Mercy!) available as optional patch
  • Commentary on Dreughs - Fathom's Creature Series available as optional patch


Combat


  • Redcap is a capable ranged combatant who uses Riekling spear-throwing animations & can equip and use any bow or arrows you give him.  He has a number of Riekling throwing spears when you recruit him, and can craft more for himself if he runs out
    Spoiler:  
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    If he has no spears in his inventory, a dialogue option will appear where you can ask him to craft spears from firewood. He can craft 50 spears per 3 firewood you give him
    He is carrying an invisible bow (with lore explanation in Anise's journal) which will allow him to throw spears or arrows without seeing a bow in his other hand.  He NEEDS a bow equipped to throw spears/arrows, you can choose the invisible bow to not see one, or give him any bow of your choice which he will hold in his off hand during battle (he will also benefit from any enchantments on an equipped bow like any other follower)  Redcap will ONLY fight at range, and will not equip/use any melee weapons you give him.
  • REDCAP HAS 11 CUSTOM ARMORS that along with changing his appearance offer various passive buffs!  Most of these can be crafted after asking him about armors, but certain special armors are unlocked by completing Redcap's quests or engaging in his other special mechanics!  Full list of armors and how to get them:

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Craftable Armors
Dwarven - (crafted at forge with a set of Dwarven armor) Resist Shock 50% (Heavy Armor)
Elven - (crafted at forge with a set of Elven armor) Resist Magic 25% (Light Armor)
Falmer - (crafted at forge with a set of Falmer armor) Resist Poison 50% (Heavy Armor)
Glass - (crafted at forge with a set of Glass armor) Resist Shock and Frost 50% (Light Armor)
Ebony - (crafted at forge with a set of Ebony armor) Resist Magic 50% (Heavy Armor)
Daedric - (crafted at forge with a set of Daedric armor) Resist Fire 100% (Heavy Armor)
Chitin - (crafted at forge with a set of light Chitin armor) Fortify Movement Speed + Resist Poison 100% (Light Armor)
Stalhrim - (crafted at forge with a set of heavy or light Stalhrim armor) Resist Frost 100% (Heavy Armor)

Special Armors
Pirate Hat - (obtained after completing The Hands of Fate) Fortify Health 30 points + Waterbreathing (Light Armor)
Sweet Roll - (obtained after giving Redcap 10 sweet rolls) Periodically consumed to give Redcap a movement/attack speed boost (Light Armor)
Blades Hat - (obtained by speaking to Redcap at Sky Haven Temple) Player takes less damage from and has increased crit chance on Dragons (Light Armor)


  • Redcap has a stealth mode that will automatically activate when the player sneaks and Redcap is following. He is entirely undetectable by enemies when in stealth mode (unless they bump into him) making Redcap an ideal companion for stealthy playstyles! There is also a lore explanation for the shadow magic that makes this stealth mode possible in Anise's Journal.
  • Redcap can fight underwater! Take him with you on underwater adventures and he can help defend you from pesky slaughterfish.
  • Redcap levels with the player, he will always be balanced and viable in combat.
  • Redcap does not affect the player's stealth detection, and will not trigger traps
  • Redcap has a friendly fire perk that prevents him from ever accidentally damaging you.
  • Redcap is essential; you don't have to worry about accidentally killing him.
  • After Bigpig is recruited during Redcap's quest, Redcap can be asked to summon Bigpig in combat (choose the About Bigpig... dialogue option to access)  Redcap will then summon Bigpig automatically when combat starts, and desummon him back to his pen when combat ends.  Alternatively, Bigpig can be used as a fully functioning additional follower, though he will only obey your commands if Redcap is currently following you.


Compatibility


Redcap has his own unique follower framework, which means he is compatible with and can be used alongside ANY followers both from mods or the vanilla game.  He does not use the vanilla framework OR the vanilla animal follower slot in any way, and in fact has specific commentary and interactions with every vanilla animal follower if used alongside them!

Redcap, like every other follower with a custom framework, is INCOMPATIBLE with Amazing Follower Tweaks (AFT), as AFT automatically imports all followers into its framework by simply having it installed, which breaks them and causes irreparable damage to their AI on any save that AFT was present on.  Even when a custom framework follower has a script that attempts to add the follower to AFT's blacklist and prevent it from managing them, those scripts often fail, and it only takes them failing once for AFT to infect and ruin the follower. So to be clear: You should *never* have AFT installed alongside ANY custom framework follower (Redcap or otherwise) and if you use it alongside Redcap it will break him and he will not function as intended.

Other follower frameworks, like NFF, that do not automatically import followers into their frameworks, can be installed alongside custom framework followers (including Redcap) as long as you *do not use them to manage custom framework followers in any way*

Configurable Commentary Rate Slider should NOT be used with any mod follower, as it will break follower interactions, quest progression, and many other things by preventing important Idle lines from firing. Idle lines are not just random chatter comments as that mod implies, they are in fact used for many important things in follower mods, which that mod will break. All follower interaction scenes between mod followers, for example, are started through Idle lines, so if you want your followers to work properly, do not use that mod or turn its settings back to vanilla values if you already have it installed (it is included in popular mod packs, you may have it without realizing)

Redcap adds some small additions to a single location in Solstheim outside of Redcap's Village (which is its own interior cell, won't conflict with anything, and is entirely follower-friendly), and in the unlikely event that another mod alters/adds something in that exact spot there could be conflicts.  There are also some additions to one of the tiny islands near Solstheim, so again if another mod adds anything to that same spot it could conflict.  I have tested Redcap extensively with over 1500 mods in my game and have chosen locations that I do not think have been used by any other mods, but I thought it was worth noting which vanilla areas have been added on to just in case.

The bridge outside of Redcap's Village is navmeshed, and followers can walk on it.  However, there can be an issue with the entrance of the bridge when used with unmodded vanilla water where the water's current can pull followers to one side as they try to get onto the bridge.  This is unfortunately unavoidable due to the very high placement of the current pull from vanilla water, if you want to fix this entirely I suggest using Realistic Water 2 (which does not have this issue), however to help Redcap get onto the bridge/close to the Village when doing his quest while using vanilla water, you can always use his summon spell.


Future Plans

  • More dialogue and quest commentary!  Plans to include Daedric Prince quests, full Dragonborn DLC commentary, & more
  • Additional Redcap quests are planned for future updates that will expand on the events of his current quest
  • Patches for Creation Club content like the Goblins quest CC Goblins Patch and Gogh Interactions up now!
  • Patch for EVG Animated Traversal to add parkour spots to Redcap's new locations EVG Animated Traversal Addon up now in Optional Files!

Credits

Voice Acting:
Redcap - FathomX
Manos - FathomX
Siodmak - FathomX
Lon - FathomX

Mod Creation, Writing, Scripting, Everything Else - FathomX

Redcap's wonderful custom helmet model and textures were done by @NorthWindBlue (Discord)

Wereboar resources - SpikeDragonLord, jboyd4, & Dogtown1

Winter Wolf Armor & Mask resources - hifoo 

Pirate Hat resources - Mr. Dave

Straw Hat resources - GolinskiRH

Mod page fan art by macabre-changeling and afamoore

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