Change custom follower head size

[mentosfresh]

I downloaded a custom follower mod which has a head that is a bit too small for the body. It comes with a custom skeleton and I've read you can edit head size in nifskope. The problem is when I look at that skeleton in nifskope I can't seem to find a head bone anywhere. Is there an easy way to add a head bone to an existing skeleton? I'd say my nifskope skills are pretty bare bones. Pun intended. 

[traison]

My nif-fu is really weak but I'm fairly certain the body skeleton is for the body mesh only. I think what I'd personally try is seeing if racemenu has access to nioverrides on npcs. See my post here if you don't have access to that feature through another mod already.

Edited October 12, 2022 by traison

[anjenthedog]

Bodyscales may be the trick. Check for head size in Racemenu's body scales section. I know you can't edit facial features (eyes, mouth, nose, cheeks, etc), but you may still be able to adjust NPC head size via the body scales tab, presuming of course, that you have a mod that allows calling Racemenu for an NPC (see The Manipulator for one possible mod. Afaik NFF also has a hook into the NPC flavor of racemenu

 

Edited October 12, 2022 by anjenthedog
punctuation

[traison]

3 minutes ago, anjenthedog said:

Bodyscales may be the trick. Check for head size in Racemenu's body scales section. I know you can't edit facial features (eyes, mouth, nose, cheeks, etc), but you may still be able to adjust NPC head size via the body scales tab, presuming of course, that you have a mod that allows calling Racemenu for an NPC (see The Manipulator for one possible mod. Afaik NFF also has a hook into the NPC flavor of racemenu

 

 

Body Scales would be the nioverride thing I mentioned yes. Forgot what it was called, thank you.

[anjenthedog]

yeppers and np. I figured you had to be referring to that, although tbh, I wasn't 100% sure it's an nioverride feature (not nearly as code savvy - or aware if you prefer - as you) , just one of the many things I fiddle with in Racemenu and have learned almost entirely by the empirical method, without any direct linkage to what the underlying "mechanisms" are. (in this case, apparently nioverride)

Edited October 13, 2022 by anjenthedog

[mentosfresh]

Thanks guys for the recommendations. I had time to mess with it tonight and tried downloading some NPC racemenu editing mods. I guess should mention I'm trying to do this in VR which is making things more complicated. Every time I try to open racemenu on one of those mods, racemenu is not compatible and looks like the image I linked. Back to the drawing board for me. 

[anjenthedog]

Ok...let's try this experiment.

 

Open nifskope

 

Open the head model (nif) for the NPC

 

Under BSFadeNode, in the block list window, look for NINode Value: NPC Head (something something  << idk if it's consistent model to model)

Now, under block details, look for the entry Scale.

 

Spoiler

Perhaps changing that value and saving will alter the head size.

 

I've never done that specific edit before, but it seems feasible

 

I'd make a backup of the source file (nif)  prior to making the edit, just in case you get any negative outcome (black face, neck gap, etc), although I don't *think that an edit like this will screw with the shader, or (cross fingers for good luck) screw with the neck gap.

 

 

Edited October 15, 2022 by anjenthedog

[mentosfresh]

That's actually the approach I've tried to mess with the most. Both altering the head size node and even the scale of the fade node. Sadly neither of them reflected in game.

 

I read that scaling nifs requires converting the nif to LE, making the scale change, and converting it back to SE but I'm not sure if that is accurate because I didn't have any success with it.

 

I've also read that head size is dictated by a head node on the skeleton which was the idea my original question was based around.

 

I feel like the answer is in Nifskope somewhere (at least if I can't use Racemenu scaling in VR.) I'm just not versed enough in it to find it. 

 

 

I never thought a seemingly simple scale change would leave me scratching my head for so long lol.   

[imai8312]

I was dealing with this same issue just now. Editing the skeleton nif is definitely the correct route. In my case I needed to reduce the scaling on the Neck and increase the scaling on the Head. Fortunately the follower already was a custom race so I was dealing with a unique skeleton for that one NPC. If they are a default race it would be best if you can change them to a custom race so that they are using a unique skeleton. If you need help editing the skeleton in Nifskope maybe this screenshot can help. It takes a little trial and error to find the right amount of scaling. Keep in mind if you scale down the neck you need to compensate and do more scaling increase on the head.