Blender Model To Skyrim SE Follower Help

[Malesus]

Anyone know any good guides on the process of turning a blender model into a follower npc? Can't seem to find anything completely clear, and the only thing I did find was turning a 3d blender object into an object in game. I know next to nothing about blender and the process of making a follower myself, but I'd also rather not spend $300 to commission a custom follower.

[traison]

Never done it myself, but I would start with these:

• PyNifly, may also be known as "io_scene_nifly", for importing an exporting nif files among other things.
• Animation_Tools_N2 for fiddling with tri files. You'll need this for the obj files for all face expressions, phonemes and such.
• Outfit Studio, could be used to test expressions and might be needed at some stage.
• CK and xEdit to create a custom race with your new head and/or body for the NPC to use.
• Microsoft DirectXTex for working with dds files.

Edit: I have files archived here as well if something can't be found online anymore.

Edited July 25, 2025 by traison

[Malesus]

Appreciate it.

[lunemauve88]

Hi,

I've never made an NPC because it takes a long time, but I had this old PDF on my desktop. I don't know if it still works. 

Otherwise, for Blender, you need the badDogSkyrim add-on, which allows you to import NIF files and export NIF files and even animations. I haven't tested it for animations. 

You also need the Creation Kit 
and its CKPE add-on (Creation Kit Platform Extended).

 

I hope you enjoy watching it and that it helps you. 

 

https://github.com/Perchik71/Creation-Kit-Platform-Extended/releases/tag/build_2_ver_6

https://github.com/BadDogSkyrim/PyNifly/releases/tag/V21.3

 

 

Tutorial NPC.pdf