The disturbing Lydia problem...

[Sunja44]

I use mods like Skyrim Beautiful Followers, Warmaidens, BTRH Waifu to "beautify" my followers. It's the best solution in my eyes, because you are able to change the appearance without the need to create a CK .esp with tons of master dependencies from Apachii, SG Hairs, brow mods, Eyes of Beauty etc. In addition those mods use exported Race Menu / ECE facegeoms aka head nifs and self made face tints. Those follower mods come along with their own folder structure where all files are contained, facegeom, facetint, hairstyle, eyes, brows, face textures and even the whole body mesh and texture if you want. 

 

Those mods work absolutely flawless for all my followers, be it housecarls, Hearthfire housecarl like Rayya, Uthgert, hireable follower like Jenassa or even special followers like Serana, Mjoll, Annekke....with the exception of one follower...guess which one...

 

I used several follower mods for her, I shifted her .esp to the end of my load order, I disabled and enabled her, I did the setNPCweight command and scaled her to 100 and back to 1 again, nothing works. After installing the mod and activating her .esp she appears in game with a dark head bug without any change to facegeom, hairstyle, eye color, browtype etc. When I load the .esp in CK everything look fine.

 

She is nothing special at all, no marriage script, no former changes, no other special mods that might change just her. Other mods that might affect her - like AFT, Femine Females, MHIYH etc. affect all other followers in the same way. She has the same settings in AFT for example as every other follower too. I never learnt her spells or other stuff. She was as usual the first follower I met in game, but I met Iona and Mjoll for example far before I installed a follower beautification mod for them too. I can change Mjoll's and Iona's appearance as I wish, I can't change anything concerning Lydia by follower mods. Whenever I change my normal female body and face textures (a mix of SG Female and a CBBE conversion of the new Fair Skin Complexion from Nexus) the change works for Lydia too. 

 

Besides that, I know that opposite gender anims can be "baked" into your save game irreversibly, if you do not install correction mods like Feminine Females or No More Females Walking Like Machines, before you met the NPC in game and this may apply for scripts too, but I have never heard about that for facegeoms, facetints etc. aka meshes and textures.

 

Me seems as if the game engine can't find the path to the according follower mod Lydia folders (which contain the hairstyle, eyes, the fitting face textures etc.).

 

My issue seems to be not that unique, there are other people who had that issue and especially with Lydia too, but google finds just threads, but no solutions.

 

Active Mod Files:

 

00  Skyrim.esm
01  Update.esm
02  Unofficial Skyrim Patch.esp  [Version 2.0.7]
03  Dawnguard.esm
04  Unofficial Dawnguard Patch.esp  [Version 2.0.7]
05  HearthFires.esm
06  Unofficial Hearthfire Patch.esp  [Version 2.0.7]
07  Dragonborn.esm
08  Unofficial Dragonborn Patch.esp  [Version 2.0.7]
09  hdtHighHeel.esm
0A  HepsyHair.esm
0B  JSwords.esm  [Version 14.0]
0C  Lanterns Of Skyrim - All In One - Main.esm
0D  SGHairPackBase.esm
0E  TERAArmors.esm
0F  Schlongs of Skyrim - Core.esm
10  ZaZAnimationPack.esm
11  SexLab.esm  [Version 1.57]
12  SexLabAroused.esm
13  SBF Borgakh.esp
14  SBF Ugor.esp
15  Feminine Females.esp
16  PuppetMaster.esp
17  PuppetMasterSwallow.esp
18  AmazingFollowerTweaks.esp
19  Convenient Horses.esp
1A  Default Teammate Weapon Draw Distance.esp
1B  Brawl Bugs CE.esp
1C  RaceMenu.esp
1D  RaceMenuPlugin.esp
1E  RaceMenuOverlays.esp
1F  AK_RM_Pubic_Styles.esp
20  AK_RM_Pubic_Styles_Classic.esp
21  AK_RM_Pubic_Styles_Superhairy.esp
22  BS-TheHag_Overlays.esp
23  FreckleMania.esp
24  KJ Tattoos 4K.esp
25  Neithteam Warpaint.esp
26  RaceMenuOverlayCompilation - CBBE.esp
27  RaceMenuPluginXPMSE.esp
28  The Coenaculi.esp
29  The Coenaculi_Makeup.esp
2A  titkit.esp
2B  Brows.esp
2C  SGEyebrows.esp
2D  KS Hairdo's.esp
2E  SGHairPackAIO.esp
2F  Eyes of Aber.esp
30  IridumEyes2.0.esp
31  MikanEyes All in one.esp
32  TheEyesOfBeauty.esp  [Version 9]
33  The Eyes Of Beauty - Elves Edition.esp
34  Babette.esp
35  SBF Adelaisa.esp
36  SBF Aela.esp
37  SBF Anneke.esp
38  SBF Aranea.esp
39  SBF Beleval.esp
3A  SBF Brelyna.esp
3B  SBF DB-Inisiate.esp
3C  SBF Eola.esp
3D  SBF Frea.esp
3E  SBF Illia.esp
3F  SBF Ingjard.esp
40  SBF Iona.esp
41  SBF Jenassa.esp
42  SBF Jordis.esp
43  SBF Mjoll.esp
44  SBF Njada.esp
45  SBF Rayya.esp
46  SBF Ria.esp
47  SBF Serana v2.2.esp
48  SBF Uthgerd.esp
49  SkyUI.esp
4A  AddItemMenu.esp
4B  Atlas Legendary.esp
4C  Auto Unequip Ammo.esp
4D  Book Covers Skyrim.esp
4E  dD - Enhanced Blood Main.esp
4F  dD-Dragonborn-Dawnguard-EBT Patch.esp
50  dD - Realistic Ragdoll Force - Realistic.esp
51  EnchantedArsenal.esp  [Version 2.23]
52  ERSO 30 - Better Enemy AI Dawnguard&Dragonborn.esp
53  Facelight.esp
54  FISS.esp
55  FNISspells.esp
56  Footprints.esp
57  Footprints - Ash.esp
58  Headbomb's Better Sorting - Ammo.esp  [Version 2.06]
59  Headbomb's Better Sorting - Books.esp  [Version 2.06]
5A  Headbomb's Better Sorting - Food (Normal Weight).esp  [Version 2.06]
5B  Headbomb's Better Sorting - Ingredients.esp  [Version 2.06]
5C  Headbomb's Better Sorting - Miscellaneous.esp  [Version 2.06]
5D  Headbomb's Better Sorting - Potions (Normal Weight).esp  [Version 2.06]
5E  Headbomb's Better Sorting - Soul Gems (PseudoVanilla).esp  [Version 2.06]
5F  Headbomb's Better Sorting - Spells.esp  [Version 2.06]
60  iHUD.esp
61  NoxWCC.esp
62  SkyTweak.esp
63  Schlongs of Skyrim.esp
64  SOS - B3lisario UNP Addon.esp
65  SOS - Smurf Average Addon.esp
66  SOS - VectorPlexus Muscular Addon.esp
67  SOS - VectorPlexus Regular Addon.esp
68  LoversVictim.esp
69  SexLab Cumshot.esp  [Version 1.5.2]
6A  SexLabMatchMaker.esp  [Version 5]
6B  MoreNastyCritters.esp
6C  SexLabNudeCreatures.esp
6D  SexLabNudeCreaturesDG.esp
6E  SexLabNudeCreaturesDB.esp
6F  HentaiCreatures.esp
70  SexLabStatsManipulator.esp
71  SexLab Submit.esp
72  display-model.esp
73  sr_FillHerUp.esp
74  xazPrisonOverhaul.esp
75  aMidianborn_Skyforge_Weapons.esp
76  AncientDraugr.esp
77  Aradia Kato Outfit.esp
78  Bishu Osafune ju Morikage.esp
79  CharmingHighHeels.esp
7A  CrimsonTwilightArmor.esp
7B  DarkStandalone.esp
7C  DovahBlingJewelryStandalone.esp
7D  Earrings Set1.esp
7E  Elemental Staves.esp
7F  Female Barbarian.esp
80  FS_UltimateAssortment.esp
81  Fudou Myouou.esp
82  GamEngagementrings.esp
83  GQJ_DG_vampireamuletfix.esp
84  Gwelda Armor Pack.esp
85  HDT Piercingsets.esp
86  HDT System Tera BOOTS.esp
87  HorusGuildWars2.esp
88  isilNarsil.esp
89  JSwordsDistributionBalancePlugin.esp  [Version 14.0]
8A  JSwords_Load_Screens.esp  [Version 14.0]
8B  KameleonArmorBS.esp
8C  Lady of Death.esp
8D  LadyLaceCloaks_EN.esp
8E  Mavari Armor.esp
8F  MidnightBreed.esp
90  Minou Aradia Leather Thief Armor CBBE TBBP.esp
91  NewVampChainsCuirass.esp
92  NewVampChainsGloves.esp
93  Nicos Raven Swords.esp
94  NoldorArmor.esp
95  Northgirl.esp
96  NS_HuntingGroundsOutfit.esp
97  Osare Panty.esp
98  PND.esp
99  R18pn - lingerie Set.esp
9A  Remodeled Armor - Underwear.esp
9B  Remodeled Armor - Vanilla Replacer.esp
9C  Remodeled Armor - Vanilla Replacer - Dawnguard.esp
9D  Remodeled Armor - Vanilla Replacer - Dragonborn.esp
9E  ScarletDawnArmor.esp
9F  sextoys-calyps-2.esp
A0  SexyVest.esp
A1  ShreddedTrissMash.esp
A2  Silverlight Armor.esp
A3  Sotteta Huntress Armor.esp
A4  Sotteta Necromancer Outfit.esp
A5  Sovngarde Steel Armor and Weapons.esp
A6  Strap.esp
A7  TBBP_Ribbon_Armor.esp
A8  tbmChrysamere.esp
A9  Tembtra Thief Armor.esp
AA  TERAArmors_CBBE.esp
AB  theRoadstrokersRogueSorceress.esp
AC  Ursine Armor Pack.esp
AD  valkyrja.esp
AE  VesWhoreOutfit.esp
AF  Werehide.esp
B0  WildHuntress.esp
B1  yangyang_SavageArmor.esp
B2  YotoHatamonba.esp
B3  BellyachesNewDragonSpecies_TougherFactionlessDragons.esp
B4  Dragon Cliff Manor.esp
B5  Elisdriel.esp
B6  MoonstoneCastle.esp
B7  SkystoneCastle.esp
B8  WinterstoneCastle.esp
B9  AshRocks.esp
BA  Better Dynamic Snow.esp  [Version 2.4]
BB  HARODATH_ImmersiveSoulgems.esp
BC  HearthfireChimneys.esp
BD  MoonGlow.esp
BE  RAIN.esp
BF  SMIM-DungeonsCliffsIceSkirts.esp
C0  SMIM-FarmhouseFlickeringFix.esp
C1  SMIM-FurnitureChestSnowFix.esp
C2  SMIM-ShackRoofFixes.esp
C3  SMIM-DragonbornTernFix.esp
C4  SMIM-ShackRoofFixesDragonborn.esp
C5  EpisodeParallax.esp
C6  SRTODragonbornParallax.esp
C7  Skyrim Flora Overhaul.esp
C8  SFO - Dragonborn.esp
C9  Unique Grasses.esp
CA  RealisticWaterTwo.esp
CB  RealisticWaterTwo - Legendary.esp
CC  Watercolor_for_ENB_RWT.esp
CD  WATER Plants.esp
CE  SkyFalls + SkyMills + DG + DB.esp
CF  SkyFalls Dragonborn Small waterfalls.esp
D0  Skysan_Icicle.esp
D1  SoS - The Dungeons.esp  [Version 1.23]
D2  SoS - Civilization.esp  [Version 1.02]
D3  SoS - The Wilds.esp  [Version 1.13]
D4  mintylightningmod.esp
D5  randomthunder.esp
D6  Supreme Storms.esp
D7  RevampedExteriorFog.esp
D8  Serenity Volumetric Fog.esp
D9  RelightingSkyrim-FULL.esp
DA  ELE-Interior Lighting.esp
DB  ELE DG-Interior Lighting.esp
DC  ELE HF-Interior Lighting.esp
DD  ELE DB-Interior Lighting.esp
DE  SoS-ELEPatch.esp
 

 

 

[dork42]

Have you tried playing an unmodded Skyrim (to test) and running up to Lydia to see if she has the error?

Are you using NMM or MO?

Tried any savegame cleaners?

[Sunja44]

I use Wrye Bash and I use the Save Game Script Cleaner mod quite often, but I wonder what I should clean concerning Lydia, there are no orphan scripts in my game that just change her.

 

I will test an unmodded game with just the ordinary masters (maybe the Unofficial Patches and her .esp. I have a clean save somewhere around I might test too.

[dork42]

Maybe an old tintmask/mesh from a prev. mod didn't get reconnected properly back to Lydia. Now how to access/find that... above my pay grade, heh  Possibly in the other option in the script cleaner

 

Is the Lydia mod left out of your load order on purpose, I'm not seeing it? Have you tried the all-in-one SBF? Or a completely different Lydia mod like Gol's Housecarls
http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/59943/?

[DarkMatter]

I do the same with most NPCs in the game. I install several different Overhauls and pick the ones that suit my tastes.

I've learned that it's important to let them overwrite each other in the correct order and with the correct files plus the correct load order.

Did you use the FaceGeom files from the mod you want to use and let them overwrite the others and let the .esp load after all other that change Lydia's appearance?

You probably did, but it's better to ask.

Another thing you could try is delete all references to Lydia in the other .esp's that might change her appearance but that are not the one you want to use.

One last thing you could try might be exporting the FaceGeoms from the .esp you want to use per Creation Kit and after that manually place the ones from the mod into the specific folder.

[Pops57]

Lydia's SBF .esp is missing.  I use SBF myself.  Also, if you're not trying to get rid of Uthgerd's scars, you might wanna consider using the single .esp version of SBF - it'll save you some mod space.

[Sunja44]

Yep, Lydia's esp is missing because the mod is uninstalled....and of course I activated the .esp as I installed it formerly.

 

At moment I have around 225 esps and I have issues to find new must have mods. As long as I am not close to the 255 limit I use the single esp options from the follower mods, it's easier to change single NPCs or replace them by other mods (Warmaidens for example).

 

I use Wrye Bash for installing, because you see really well all overrides and of course I took care that no old facetint or facegeom (named by Lydia's ID) was left in the meshes and textures folder.

 

...but I will give that fagendata extraction thing a chance, sounds like an idea.

[Deoxyribonucleic_acid]

such bugs only occure if you have installed two or more mods that change her apperance in diffrent ways so simple said you have two follower mods that have modded lydias apperance you have the body from one and the face from the other.

 

Solution has allready been given due

 

Did you use the FaceGeom files from the mod you want to use and let them overwrite the others and let the .esp load after all other that change Lydia's appearance?

You probably did, but it's better to ask.

Another thing you could try is delete all references to Lydia in the other .esp's that might change her appearance but that are not the one you want to use.

One last thing you could try might be exporting the FaceGeoms from the .esp you want to use per Creation Kit and after that manually place the ones from the mod into the specific folder.