Devious Device related mods to help remove DD items

[Plaguetard2.0]

As the title suggests, I'm looking for more mods that would assist the PC in removing DD items. Currently I have Devious Interests. It does well enough most of the time. I only use a handful of DD related mods, and while I'm not completely opposed to them, I only find them relatively enjoyable for around 10 minutes or so to deal with, and then I want to find ways out of it. Currently, if it takes too long I just remove them via DD menu, but I was trying to figure out what other mods give more immersive "ish" ways to remove them.

 

So.,.. if you're familiar with mods that integrate release scenarios, I'd be happy to check them out. I did a search for "Devious" but realized plenty of mods without that in the title could have the functionality.

[DonQuiWho]

3 hours ago, Plaguetard2.0 said:

As the title suggests, I'm looking for more mods that would assist the PC in removing DD items. Currently I have Devious Interests. It does well enough most of the time. I only use a handful of DD related mods, and while I'm not completely opposed to them, I only find them relatively enjoyable for around 10 minutes or so to deal with, and then I want to find ways out of it. Currently, if it takes too long I just remove them via DD menu, but I was trying to figure out what other mods give more immersive "ish" ways to remove them.

 

So.,.. if you're familiar with mods that integrate release scenarios, I'd be happy to check them out. I did a search for "Devious" but realized plenty of mods without that in the title could have the functionality.

 

Just got to the end!  Thought I'd better offer apols for the Wall of Words! And the typos, but it's late and I'm not redoing them all!  And just realised I'm assuming you're using SE.  These notes are based on playing SE 1.5.97.

 

Key thing to take out of it is that you need to work out what playstyle you want, strategic, tactical, and level of risk, and then pick the mods, and their settings, that you want to use to then fit that

 

DQW

 

I use this mod primarily, ie Devious Helpers - link below. 

 

I ignore the playtime with followers aspects, so can't really say how they perform.  Not heard anything bad about them though

 

My playstyle tends to be to 

 

1: Ensure that I can craft DD keys.  Most interesting way of doing that is to have to go to College of Winterhold first, and do the Secret Bookcase quest included in DD5.2 (and prior versions).  Enrole at the College, Steal the keys from Urag's desk, open the Secret Bookcase, remove all the books, read them, and, Bob's your Uncle, you can craft keys at a forge, I Iroin Ingot for 1 key, There are other mods that allow you to craft keys but that's very straightforward, and always a fun start to any game

 

2: Recruit some followers and form your exploring party.  Craft a LIMITED number of keys, distribute them round your party (I normally go for 7 restraint, 2 Piercing and 1 Chastity, but do whatever suits)  I also put at lease two sets (ie 7, 2, and 1) in the horse saddlebag)  Convenient horses is great

 

3 Then go exploring, delving into trapped containers, fightying baddies etc

 

Depending on your mod mix, you may be able to supplement your keys, or lose them.  If you open trapped chests DDs may be equipped (DCL and DEC are good at that) on the player and followers.  Using Bane Masters version of Defeat with AndrewLRG's addon, if you get defeated, the baddies can also equip DDs on the Player and followers

 

DD Helpers then comes into its own. 

 

If your player's hands are unrestricted, and your keys weren't nicked by the bad people, you can use your keys to unlock yourself.  But remember that your cache of keys will reduce, so you need to think where you are, how far you may still have to go, and do you want to risk using every key and have nonne left for later encounters.  Same goes if you decide to remove DDs that were equipped to followers.  Hand are essential, but you may decide to carry on in boots etc. 

 

If your player's hands are bound, you can't use keys so you may need to ask followers for help.  If the player is gagged, and the follwer not, talking and asking for help is simple.  If both are gagged, no comms are possible.  And if followers hands are also bound, they possibly can't help at all.  And they will only be able to help you out of DDs if they can access a key in the first place, either in their inventory or your's.  If everyone is out of keys, you need a rethink ... Risk trying to open some more chests.  Might find a key, or might make it worse

 

The big advantage of playing like that is that you can balance out inconvenience and risk.  Without some sort of help in the depths of a dungeon, before this mod, and then others like it, became avalable, the only thing you could do was retrace your way right back through a dungeon, out the front entrance and then go hunting for a blacksmith.  OR much worse, unless you are totally masochistic and freakily submissive, spend forever trying to get DD to let you 'struggle' your way out of a device - the Biggest pain in the butt ever invented in the history of DD gameplay)   That scenario CAN still happen, but the risk of that sort of pointless effort is greatly reduced. 

 

It also makes the gameplay require a lot more strategic thought, over and abobve the basic tactical punch ups.  And you have to balance up mod settings for things like % risk on trapped containers etc until you get to a point where you have a set up that matches the level of difficulty, inconvenience, and above all, CHALLENGE, that you want to set for yourself to play at

 

This isn't an exhaaustive list - eg DCL has a similar post event tie up the player and followers, but it's limited to 2 followers - but other mods that might appeal include - links below

 

Better NPC Support for Devious Devices 0.7 beta 1 SE     

 

- Not only does that help keep DD's 'fixed' to the PC and NPCs, It also allows you to set a chance for Followers to 'struggle' out .  I have set those to 0% chance as I was finding that the followers could shrug almost everything off far too quickly and it tended to make the game to easy.  There's no need to think and plan your strategy if the followers are always going to be able to get you out of as hole.  The rest of the mod is pretty much indispensible with a basic DD5.2 setup

 

Deviously Accessible

 

- Think this is the new kid on the block, and I haven't really used it myself, but I think it allows key crafting etc.  You'd need to read the description in detail.  I had a squint, but whilst it had a lot thatw as good, I wondered if it might not make some things just a bit easy.  Depends how hard you want the game to be

 

Hope that's of some help

 

DQW

 

 

 

 

Edited November 23, 2024 by DonQuiWho

[Plaguetard2.0]

1 hour ago, DonQuiWho said:

 

Just got to the end!  Thought I'd better offer apols for the Wall of Words! And the typos, but it's late and I'm not redoing them all!  And just realised I'm assuming you're using SE.  These notes are based on playing SE 1.5.97.

 

Key thing to take out of it is that you need to work out what playstyle you want, strategic, tactical, and level of risk, and then pick the mods, and their settings, that you want to use to then fit that

 

DQW

 

I use this mod primarily, ie Devious Helpers - link below. 

 

I ignore the playtime with followers aspects, so can't really say how they perform.  Not heard anything bad about them though

 

My playstyle tends to be to 

 

1: Ensure that I can craft DD keys.  Most interesting way of doing that is to have to go to College of Winterhold first, and do the Secret Bookcase quest included in DD5.2 (and prior versions).  Enrole at the College, Steal the keys from Urag's desk, open the Secret Bookcase, remove all the books, read them, and, Bob's your Uncle, you can craft keys at a forge, I Iroin Ingot for 1 key, There are other mods that allow you to craft keys but that's very straightforward, and always a fun start to any game

 

2: Recruit some followers and form your exploring party.  Craft a LIMITED number of keys, distribute them round your party (I normally go for 7 restraint, 2 Piercing and 1 Chastity, but do whatever suits)  I also put at lease two sets (ie 7, 2, and 1) in the horse saddlebag)  Convenient horses is great

 

3 Then go exploring, delving into trapped containers, fightying baddies etc

 

Depending on your mod mix, you may be able to supplement your keys, or lose them.  If you open trapped chests DDs may be equipped (DCL and DEC are good at that) on the player and followers.  Using Bane Masters version of Defeat with AndrewLRG's addon, if you get defeated, the baddies can also equip DDs on the Player and followers

 

DD Helpers then comes into its own. 

 

If your player's hands are unrestricted, and your keys weren't nicked by the bad people, you can use your keys to unlock yourself.  But remember that your cache of keys will reduce, so you need to think where you are, how far you may still have to go, and do you want to risk using every key and have nonne left for later encounters.  Same goes if you decide to remove DDs that were equipped to followers.  Hand are essential, but you may decide to carry on in boots etc. 

 

If your player's hands are bound, you can't use keys so you may need to ask followers for help.  If the player is gagged, and the follwer not, talking and asking for help is simple.  If both are gagged, no comms are possible.  And if followers hands are also bound, they possibly can't help at all.  And they will only be able to help you out of DDs if they can access a key in the first place, either in their inventory or your's.  If everyone is out of keys, you need a rethink ... Risk trying to open some more chests.  Might find a key, or might make it worse

 

The big advantage of playing like that is that you can balance out inconvenience and risk.  Without some sort of help in the depths of a dungeon, before this mod, and then others like it, became avalable, the only thing you could do was retrace your way right back through a dungeon, out the front entrance and then go hunting for a blacksmith.  OR much worse, unless you are totally masochistic and freakily submissive, spend forever trying to get DD to let you 'struggle' your way out of a device - the Biggest pain in the butt ever invented in the history of DD gameplay)   That scenario CAN still happen, but the risk of that sort of pointless effort is greatly reduced. 

 

It also makes the gameplay require a lot more strategic thought, over and abobve the basic tactical punch ups.  And you have to balance up mod settings for things like % risk on trapped containers etc until you get to a point where you have a set up that matches the level of difficulty, inconvenience, and above all, CHALLENGE, that you want to set for yourself to play at

 

This isn't an exhaaustive list - eg DCL has a similar post event tie up the player and followers, but it's limited to 2 followers - but other mods that might appeal include - links below

 

Better NPC Support for Devious Devices 0.7 beta 1 SE     

 

- Not only does that help keep DD's 'fixed' to the PC and NPCs, It also allows you to set a chance for Followers to 'struggle' out .  I have set those to 0% chance as I was finding that the followers could shrug almost everything off far too quickly and it tended to make the game to easy.  There's no need to think and plan your strategy if the followers are always going to be able to get you out of as hole.  The rest of the mod is pretty much indispensible with a basic DD5.2 setup

 

Deviously Accessible

 

- Think this is the new kid on the block, and I haven't really used it myself, but I think it allows key crafting etc.  You'd need to read the description in detail.  I had a squint, but whilst it had a lot thatw as good, I wondered if it might not make some things just a bit easy.  Depends how hard you want the game to be

 

Hope that's of some help

 

DQW

 

 

 

 

 

This is an amazing response. Thank you so much!!

[CaptainJ03]

Devious Lore has some mechanics to get in and out of DDs, and with the Training (available form Lore Mongers) it gives you a reason to wear DDs in Dungeons.

You can buy keys and outfits, you can ask your followers to unlock stuff (even the things DD Helpers won't touch) and you can ask them to tie you up.

And it has a struggle mechanic (like DD Escape Overhaul on LE) with configurable difficulty.

 

 

[belegost]

All of the above is well and good, but just get Unforgiving Devices.

 

It makes getting out of devices, any devices, actually fun. With an actual minigame that you can influence with your actions, has feedback, progress bar, and offers you several methods to tackle the removal. No more clicking and waiting for animation to end, praying to gods of rng to be merciful.

Edited December 7, 2024 by belegost