Skyrim Chain Beasts V0.10.2

Requirements

• SKYUI: For the MCM menu.
• ZAZ animation pack; created with v7, v8(+) also works (www.loverslab.com/topic/17062-zaz-animation-pack-v70-2017-05-16/).
  • and its prerequisites.
• SexLab
• FNIS (www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/11811).  (Using Nemesis instead may work, never tried it.)
• Some plugins have additional requirements, see plugins below.

Recommended

• Get up faster (www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/17491) or a mod with a similar effect.
• Fuz Ro D-oh:  To see any NPC dialog that has not been voiced (yet).

 

How to install (using a mod manager is recommended)

Latest version: v0.10.2.  A new game or clean save is needed if updating from before v0.9.3.

• Download & install SkyrimChainBeastV098.7z then download and install SkyrimChainBeasts0.10.2Patch-LE.7z
• Run FNIS for Users (may not be needed if v095 or newer was already installed).

 

Optional additions:

• If you want to have synthesized voices:
  • From Voice files by AndrewLRG install the SCB set.   (Or my old version of these lines if you prefer those for some reason.)
  • Download both `SkyrimChainbBeasts_Voices091.7z' parts to the same folder and install the .001 part (that is enough to install all parts if your mod managers supports multi-part archives, else repack to a single file), as well as any updates to the voice files. These contain lines not covered by AndrewLRG's pack.
  • Newest lines have not yet been voiced.
• If you want the player lines voiced through Dragonborn Voice Over (DBVO): the corresponding file (CIRI, FYE or file to help generate your own in XVASynth).
• Prebuilt armors are based on some UUNP preset. Use included bodyslide files to build your own preference (UUNP or CBBE based).
  • Note that sliders will only affect the body, not the `beast' part of the `armor'.

 

Upgrading from an existing game from before v.0.9.3 is not supported; use a new game or make a clean save first:

• Export your settings in the MCM (optional).
• Shut down the mod from the MCM  (recommended; prevents losing confiscated gear).
• Make a clean save. (Mandatory; will have issues without it)
• Then install as indicated above.

• (files) The user guide with detailed descriptions of the mechanics, the MCM and the quests.
• (files) Adventures of Bretny - The Klymer Tales; a Quest walk through as an Interactive Story/mini game. This branching story shows all ways of completing the Keeping up appearances (Destined to be a Soshal-Klymer) and follow up quest.
• (thread) a walk trough as an illustrated story posted in the support thread and an update that covers some of the newer content.
• (blog) Adventures of Brenty blog - Play through ; for now only Dream Quest.

Originally inspired  by an oblivion mod called chainbeasts this mod adds lots of different types of beasts made of metal and chains to Skyrim (and Solstheim) along with related mechanics and quests and sandbox game play.   These so called Chain Beasts try to capture their targets, stripping and restraining them rather than killing them.  Being captured can lead to a range of `punishments' ranging from being put on display for a while to ending up in the slave market.  These outcomes can be controlled with the extensive MCM menu as can general difficulty and fit with play style such as player as victim vs dominant, gender preferences and who is targeted.

 

Examples of free roaming; how and where to encounter Chain Beasts:

 

Main quest line and examples of other quests (requires at least base mod + integration plugin):

 

Mechanics - Capture

 

Mechanics - Escape

 

Plugin structure:

 

v0.10.2

• [Added] Convenience tweaks for adding to the captureable (non-playable) races (i.e. `custom race list'); 
  • Can also use the spell for this, so this is just for convenience.
  • Known non-playable races (for which it makes sense) are added to the captureable races (custom races list) automatically:
    • Astrid (she uses her own version of the nord race).
    • Known follower custom races if installed at starting new game/when updating to this version.
      • So far only : M'rissi (only one I found under the most popular followers on nexus that uses a custom race).
  • MCM options to add non-playable races to the captureable races (only appear if they are not already in the list).
    • Besides the auto added ones: Elders, Vampires.
  • If you'd like to have a custom, non-playable, race added mention: The exact name of the ESP/ESM and the form id of the race (you can find it eg in Xedit where you can also double check it's not playable (no flag `playable' under DATA>Flags (sorted)).
• [Changed] Added a note in MCM tool tips that `mask fix' only applies to new masks.
• [Added] Keywords for the summon mine / beast spells.
  • All mine creation spells have the keyword SCB_MagicMine. (Note: create `permanent mine' is instant, not a permanent effect.)
  • All summoning spells have the keyword SCB_MagicSummon, with specific keywords for beasts (k9), spiders, serpents and MPs (mobile prison-mammoth like) 
  • Also, spells that summon rusty/golden/silver beasts have the scb_rust/scb_gold/scb_silver keyword.
• [Fixed] Physical damage by Mobile Prison reduced, like for other beasts.
  • Likely not noticed before because other bugs made them drain stamina like crazy (until that got fixed in the previous version) so would capture before anyone got banged up to badly...
• [Added] Debug option to skip alignment to furniture for the PC
  • Angle/position may be off.  (Mainly meant as a possible work-around for VR users, but maybe it has other uses.)

 

Integration

• [Added] LM Conversation options about the speed whip
  • If you have one he will hint at what it's good for (listen very carefully, he will say this only once). His final remark depends on whether you've completed aspect of V.
  • If you don't have one, you can ask about slow victims, leading the LM to mention the whip and Belethor will start selling them if he wasn't already (one time conversation).
• [Added] If you walk around with SCB summons guards/targets may comment. 
  • With MCM option to disable this in the DEBUG menu.
  • Some comments you can further discuss with the guard (within 30 seconds and may need an active summon).

 

BAD(NoDB)

• [Fixed] Forwarded Mobile Prison fixes.

v0.10.1

• [Changed/Fixed] Optimized the Chain Beast bite stamina drain effect and fixed several bugs.
  • Allows list of conditions to be checked once instead of every second, giving a nearly 8x reduction. (All native code but still, with many beasts/victims around it could add up.)
  • Some effect conditions were incorrectly set leading to possible oddness (e.g. at a few levels the beasts would not have ANY drain, at high levels the drain would be astronomical (and way above `max drain' as all top 5 levels would be active at the same time - now it keeps increasing according to the added drain setting (till beast level 70 or max drain reached.)) - Might explain some earlier bug reports.
  • Lot of manual work in defining those, so hopefully I've done all of them correctly this time...
• [Changed/Fixed] Cleaning, removing some not needed keywords.

 

BAD(noDB)

• [Fixed] Recreated these plugins to bring them up to date.
  • Did not cover newer races/beasts. 
  • Broke recent fixes/settings (eg for the Mobile Prison Beast).

 

v0.10.0

• [Changed] Stripping limited to `strippable actors' (non-commanded NPCs)
  • When stripping would happen now instead the beast will try to: banish Deadra(summons), turn undead and demoralize most creatures (cause fear).
• [Changed] Optimized `stop combat with invalid actors' check 
  • Made it consider controlled actors (summons) and player team mates in its conditions
    • Should eliminate or at least significantly reduce `combat pauses' experienced with beasts fighting player teammates or summoned beasts fighting `non-targets' 
  • Converted checks from in-script to native to reduce script load a bit. (While it ran at most once in a few seconds, now it will only run if actually needed.)
    • Can take up to 3 seconds (down from 5-8) for a beast to realize it's attacking a now invalid target. 
• [Added] Hits by pheremone beasts now cause arousal 
  • Not ordinary beasts that randomly use the pheromone outcome, only the `official' ones with visual effect (WaW quest and mine). 
  • Effect implemented but not added before.
• [Fixed] Missing MCM text for new debug option.

 

Integration

• [Change] QoL tweaks for the dominant dream quest 
  • renamed the game from `Wack a Mole' to `Dream Wacker' - that pun was staring me in the face, how did I miss it before.
  • Renamed Victims to Ami(Ali), Bell(Bob), Cya(Cid), Dru(Don) so easier to see which lane (A-D) a messages concerns.
  • Also added name in score notifaction so clear where score/penalty came from.
    • Known issue: When it gets hectic, the messages may start to trail. (Property of the debug messages that are used for this.) 
  • Increased restart delay after device so they have time to say their post-punishment line.
  • Added some description and objective + additional objectives that will show when you do something relevant.
  • Changed orientation of `mist flow' to hint at what it indicates.
  • Disabled the remaining NPCs in the test zone (that is next to the dream area) so they don't trigger some random events (like `entranced') during the dream.

 

• [Fixed] Beitild not recognizing you've helped her in the MD aspect quest. 
• [Fixed] (Arena) Missing conversation options when a champion returns 
  • Had to choose other option first for them to appear, now  they should be available from the start.
• [Added] Allow access to the arena if you've `skipped' (why do I have to do all the work) the corresponding aspect quest.
  • Talk to the Lore Master about rumors. 
• [Fixed] Option to skip perk checks in Dark Mine, Dark Mind quest implemented but not actually visible in the MCM.
  • Meant as work around for unsupported perk overhauls, but can be used irrespective of that so put it under the gameplay options.

 

For Previous updates see:

Tips, Known Issues and Workarounds

 

 Permissions

 

Credits & Tools used (in no particular order)

 

Future plans

 

Voicing using XVASynth (since v0.5.0): Skyrim Chain Beasts now has synthesized voices..mp3

Well actually it's moved beyond a demo feature, almost all lines for which voice type models are available have been voiced, resulting in thousands of voiced lines. You will encounter only a very tiny fraction of these in any play through.