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About this blog

Greetings everyone! This page contains my various Bethesda blogs. At the time of this update, it contains my troubleshooting playthrough series, my Skyrim modding diary, my mod cleanup case study series, and my Shout Like a Virgin beta test blog. You can access all the entries from the sidebar on the right side of your screen.

 

Playthroughs

I've recently exceeded the 1000 mod threshold, and it's time to start periodically doing brief playthroughs to ferret out hidden conflicts and other bugs. In this series, we'll do shorter, more focused adventures where we try to tell an interesting story and also talk about what problems we ran into them and how we addressed them.

 

  • Charley's Story: Charlotte Ellison survived a nuclear war by spending more than two hundred years in stasis. Now she has to survive in a very new world, facing very new threats. A Fallout 4 playthrough.
  • The Spider's Web: Kirstia's search for answers has taken her to the island of Solstheim. Now she must uncover the secret of The Teacher - also known as Mephala - and continue the journey to master her powerful magical heritage. But can she survive as her enemies, new and old, close in? 
  • The Curious Case of Forrien Hlaalu: A year after she returned to Northpoint, Kirstia is back in Skyrim and looking for answers. The strange events that occured during her search for Sybil Fjotra continue to trouble her, as does the ongoing influence of the strange gods of the Forsworn. After a chance encounter over drinks, a wizard from the College of Winterhold sets her on the trail of a scholar who may have the answers she needs...
  • The Search for the Sybil: Exiled from Skyrim to the remote land of Northpoint, Kirstia Bjissen has fallen on hard times. Just as she hits rock bottom, a voice speaks to her and charges her with a sacred quest that will take her back to her native land - and likely into danger. Can Kirstia find the new Sybil of Dibella before her past catches up with her?
  • Shout Like a Virgin: Miraculously saved from death, Monilee of High Rock finds herself in Skyrim, a land riven by civil war and harboring dark secrets. While she tries to build a new life in this foreign land, she's haunted by half-remembered dreams, and in chasing them she discovers her role in the turning of the ages. However, Monilee has not gone unnoticed by powers outside the mortal realm. Used as a pawn in the struggle between Nocturnal and Dibella, it will take all her wits, endurance, bravery, and stubbornness to reclaim sovereignty over her body and her soul.

 

Modding Diary

This series tracks my modding projects in-between playthroughs and case studies. The main focus will be on the technical processes of cleaning, editing, and integrating mods into a large load order configuration, including managing emergent multi-mod interactions. 

 

Modding Case Studies

This blog reviews the tools and techniques that authors and end users can apply to make their mods as stable and compatible as possible, as well as how end users can integrate complicated mods into a large load order setup. In addition to coverage of well known techniques such as automatic mod cleaning, this blog delves into more complicated issues such as navmesh repair. 

 

Entries in this blog

Kirstia's Adventure

Whispers in the Coals (Kirstia's Story, Chapter 1)

"Hear me, Kirstia."   The words shook me, snapping me out of the warm haze of the glowing embers. I'd spent my last copper Septim the night before buying a meager loaf of bread, and now I was well and truly destitute. The lord's bannermen had evicted me from my father's home weeks ago now, and without the coin to rent a room at the inn, I was reduced to passing the night behind the blacksmith's forge, borrowing what meager heat it had to offer.     "Hear me, Kirsti
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Mod Cleanup

Mod Cleanup Case Study - Ambient Slaves 0.2b - Part 6

Welcome back, everyone. Now that the navmeshes are all patched, it's time to wrap up some final matters and get everything neatly packaged.   Windhelm Dock Barrel and Fishing Poles Before we get into the top, level stuff, you might recall that there were a couple of static conflicts left at the Windhelm docks. In researching these, they turned out to be from an out of print mid - Argonian Hatchlings - so I'm not going to make a separate compatibility patch for this one. I'll just
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Mod Cleanup

Mod Cleanup Case Study - Ambient Slaves 0.2b - Part 5

Welcome back, everyone, and thank you for your patience with the delay. This week I ran into a stubborn crash bug related to Beyond Skyrim: Bruma that I am still working on diagnosing, and which interrupted my work on this project. For now I've uninstalled BSB so I can focus on this effort and on preparing for my next playthrough.    Last week, we went through and reviewed about half the navmesh conflicts in AS. We'll start by working on the other half, and if time permits then we'll m
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Miscellaneous

Help me plan my next story blog!

Hi folks, I wanted to take a moment to cross-post this poll from the forums. I am looking to start a new narrative blog in January, and I'd love your input on the kind of adventure you want to see. If you're seeing this because you follow my blog posts, I'm especially interested in your input and hope you can take the time to fill out the poll!
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Mod Cleanup

Mod Cleanup Case Study - Ambient Slaves 0.2b - Part 4

Welcome back, folks. When we left off in part 3, we had just concluded that AS had a major conflict with navmesh FC127, where substantial navmesh fixes from the unofficial patch were getting reverted by AS. However, we also determined that the changes did not overlap (other than existing in the same mesh). Today, we are start by cutting the FC127 navmesh at the lines marked in green below. We'll keep the north pier area from AS and weld it onto the rest of the USLEEP version of the navmesh. At t
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Mod Cleanup

Mod Cleanup Case Study - Ambient Slaves 0.2b - Part 3

Welcome back, everyone! After a little break during the busy part of the week, it's time to get back to work on Ambient Slaves 0.2b. If you haven't read Part 1 and Part 2 yet, I recommend you do so first, as by now we're pretty deep into the project.   To recap, here's what's on the agenda still:   We need to go through the navmesh conflicts and create determine which ones need compatibility patches. We'll review the two ways to accomplish this. After working with t
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Mod Cleanup

Mod Cleanup Case Study - Ambient Slaves 0.2b - Part 2

Welcome back everyone! If you're new here and haven't read Part 1 yet, I recommend you start there. It has some background and setup information that I won't repeat here, and it also covers navmesh deletion repair, which we've finished for this mod and won't be rehashing.     SolitudeWorld - Prison Overhaul Conflict When we left off, I had just identified a conflict between Ambient Slaves and Prison Overhaul Patched in the plugin file. What had looked like a benign conflict i
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Mod Cleanup

Mod Cleanup Case Study - Ambient Slaves 0.2b - Part 1

This entry is something a little new. With permission from the author, I'm going to go through version 0.2b of Ambient Slaves and talk about clean modding, conflict resolution, and some of the tools that mod authors and end users have at their disposal. The goal here isn't to criticize @gargamel9, but rather to delve into some of the hidden challenges that exist with Skyrim and how we can overcome them to support bigger, more stable mod lists.   Getting Started Before we start mes
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Monywyr's Adventure

Chapter 32: The Thalmor Inferno

Monywyr took a moment to examine the Redguard's corpse, being careful to avoid touching or disturbing the black soul gem.    "You know," Rosa said, "I've seen the Thalmor do a lot of bad things, but somehow I'd never thing they'd stoop to soul stealing."   "Believe it," Rigmor answered. "Whatever you've seen here in Skyrim is just scratching the surface of what they're capable of. Look there, do you see those tools," she pointed to a long iron implement, something like an ove
Monywyr's Adventure

Chapter 31: Descent to Fort Black

Beyond the rough camp, the mine shafts started to gradually slope upwards. After a time, the party passed into a more developed section of the mine, with log stairs laid down on the steeper slopes and wooden doors separating distinct sections. Before Monywyr could extinguish his halo and cleave to the shadows, however, a roar turned all their heads to the gloom at the head of the stairs. A lone bandit observed them, urging on the source of the roars - a troll and a chitinous monster that could o
Monywyr's Adventure

Chapter 30: Breathless

"Did you think Nocturnal would just let you leave?" the ghostly figure asked.   Monywyr tried to answer, but cold steel clamped tight around his throat.    She continued then, smiling thinly as she explained, "I'm not sure what power hid you from my mistress' sight for these past days, but... steps have been taken to rectify that error. Any you... there's a fitting punishment in store for you." The ghost turned, walked from the tent, and vanished.    Struggling to d
Monywyr's Adventure

Chapter 29: Damsel in Distress

It must have been nearly midnight when Monywyr arrived at the old border post that marked Riverwood's southern limit. He wondered if Lucan Valerius would remember him - remember Monilee, that is - but somehow he doubted it. Really, Monywyr was more concerned with just getting in the door. He knew he had the gold to afford a night at the Sleeping Giant, but Rose's urgency pushed him to avoid delay.   And yet, delays found him. The gaggle of elves dressed in golden armor was impossible t
Monywyr's Adventure

Chapter 28: Rebirth

"Approach, my child, and choose how your new life shall begin..."   Monywyr felt a presence behind him. Just moments ago, he was sure he was alone in the cell. Now... he was not so certain. Dim memories flitted through his mind, of another life, and of a dream of pine and lavender. He knew that when he turned, he would once again face the idol of Mara.     Monywyr considered delay. The transformation Nocturnal had subjected to had been anything but painless, and hi
Monilee's Adventure

Consequences (Monilee's Adventure, Part 27)

"I've been meaning to ask you something," Lucien said, "got a moment?"   Monilee nodded her assent as she lounged on one of her new home's comfortable chairs.    "Look, you know I'm not very good at practical things. You know... combat."   Edippa chuckled, "I don't know, there's plenty of... practical things you're good at."   The scholar blushed for a moment before driving on. "What I mean is, I rely on you to win our battles and... I shouldn't. So I supp
Monilee's Adventure

Defiance (Monilee's Adventure, Part 26)

After her and Lydia had redressed, Monilee asked her if she was alright.   "That was amazing," the warrior answered.     "I cannot deny it," she continued. "You're a lover like none other."    "I'm glad I made you happy, Lydia."   They talked for a time longer on the road back to Whiterun. Lydia shared her misgivings, her concerns that Balgruuf might have failed to live up to his promise to see that she was valued and cared for. They talke
Monilee's Adventure

The Problem with Lydia (Monilee's Adventure, Part 25)

They were back in the Moorside Inn, doing their best to ignore the fleeting, curious glances from the other patrons. Whispers of Dragonborn occasionally reached the table and Monilee had to suppress a great urge to stand up on her table and harangue the barflies, demanding some quiet and privacy.    "If you're thinking what I'm thinking," Shayna said, "it would be even better if you took the opportunity to demonstrate your thu'um. That'd shut them up."   Monilee scoffed, "Oh,
Monilee's Adventure

Searching for the Horn (Monilee's Adventure, Part 24)

Monilee closed the book with a thump, trying to digest the words she had just heard in her mind.   "Everyone," she said, "Nocturnal is up to something."    Shayna smirked. "When isn't she?"   "True enough," Monilee conceded, "but I think we have only a little time before we're caught up in her schemes again. I think the time's come for us to retrieve the Horn."   "At last," Lydia said, "I was starting to think you had forgotten about it entirely."  
Monilee's Adventure

The Mysteries of Dibella (Monilee's Adventure, Part 23)

"What happened?" Lydia asked, "you vanished... and now you're back."   "It was Nocturnal, she summoned me to her... to somewhere else. Wait," she paused for a second, "how long was I gone?"   Edippa chimed in, "Just a few minutes. We were getting ready to start searching for you when you returned."   "Hmm," Monilee said, "it felt like I was gone for... a day, maybe more."   Shayna considered that, "You may have been in the Evergloam. Sometimes time, especi
Monilee's Adventure

Winning Favor (Monilee's Adventure, Part 22)

Exhausted and thoroughly frustrated, Monilee did her best to wash herself of the mess the ritual had left behind, gratefully accepting a helping hand from Edippa.    "You have to trust in Dibella, my daughter. If the time was right for you to be free of this curse, she would have interceded. Sir Biggs meant well, but he tried to defy destiny, and that can never end well."   "Perhaps," Monilee conceded, "But I was so close. I could feel myself break free from Nocturnal, but ju
Monilee's Adventure

Freedom Restored? (Monilee's Adventure, Part 21)

Auryen Morellus looked positively giddy as he took the jade warrior off of Monilee's hands.    "You've found it? Oh, you have! Excellent. Yes, I have just the place for this. Thank you, here's your reward."   Handing over a small purse of coin, the Altmer added, "What about the other relics? Any luck?"   Monilee shook her head apologetically, "I'm afraid not. We've run into some... complications." She had gotten better at speaking through the metal contraption Noctu
Monilee's Adventure

Recapitulation (Monilee's Adventure, Part 20)

Lucien Flavius' eyes gogged back and forth between Monilee and Shayna as he digested what he was hearing.    "Oh yes," Shayna said with an over-the-shoulder poke of her thumb, "I was sitting right over there. I was like 'oh, look at me, I'm the mighty hero, would you like to leave something special in my ass?' It got poor Monilee so worked up."    As the party worked on their ale and venison dinner, the Winking Skeever hummed with life around them. If anything, the crowds in

Test Report 21 - Toys v0.6 / SLaV v8.02 Pre-Playthrough Review

Hi folks, today @VirginMarie released a critical update for Toys that hopefully will solve the Cascade System Failure that eventually halted playthrough #1. Additionally, at the same time she rolled new versions of Shout Like a Virgin and Toy Story to support the framework updates. Because of time constraints, I won't be starting a new playthrough tonight, so this report will focus entirely on checking the files with external tools and confirming that the installation tests both pass.   
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Test Report 20 - Playthrough #1 wrap-up

Hi folks, I hope you've been enjoying Monilee's playthrough so far. As you know from chapters 18 and 19, this profile has run into an unrecoverable failure state that is going to require a new game launch. To summarize the issue:   At new game start, everything seemed OK. There were small delays observable during the standing stone love animation when outdoors, but this is a known issue for Toys and wasn't a concern. First noticed about 7 hours into the game, forcegreet from
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Monilee's Adventure

The Iron Mask (Monilee's Adventure, Part 19)

The battle began instantly. As soon as the Monilee opened the crypt doors, Draugr poured forth and the party rushed to meet them. Edippa demonstrated her claim to power against the undead, wreathing the deathless warriors in fire that quickly consumed them. But a more potent foe led the charge - a masked woman in splendid white robes, wielding a beautiful curved sword in the Akaviri style. Quickly, she focused on Monilee, who reached for her own sword only to find her wrists yet again bound toge
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Monilee's Adventure

A Quest For Dibella (Monilee's Adventure, Part 18)

Author's note: During her analysis of a papyrus log - see notes below - @VirginMarie noticed unexpected behavior that is likely to cause long term problems with this save; specifically, on-load update functions for Toys and SLaVE were not appearing in the log when expected. We're still analyzing, but to ensure that we are generating accurate test data, it's likely that will soon export my characters and start a new game using version 8.0.1 (or whatever the latest release is at the time). Hopeful
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