Odd A.I. Bug

[Shadowhawk827]

I managed to duplicate the improper attacks by invincible sentries bug that a few players have complained about relating to my Dawnguard Sentries mod.  The mod is supposed to be set up so that player character vampires and their followers are ignored.  Occasionally somebody reports that they ge attacked anyway, and that the Sentries cannot be killed despite switching their Essential / Respawn Only toggle (in the MCM menu).

 

For me, this bug hit after completing the Bloodstone Chalice mission and starting the Prophecy quest.  It's consistent too.  I played through from a few different saves and literally spent all last night (about 6 hours) stripping mods away from my load order trying to find the cause.

 

LONG story short and saving the detailed description of all the mod combinations I disabled and re-enabled, it *seems* like the problem is either in Skyrim / Dawnguard itself OR there is some odd bug in Dawnguard Sentries. 

 

At this point, I cut back the Sentries to a really simple AI system.  They're basically town guards with Dawnguard gear that can level higher than normal city guards.  No Dawnguard related factions at all.  No added faction relations at all since the town guards pretty much ignore anything but crimes and dragon or vampire attacks already.  Beyond that, they just walk in circles on a path of idle markers.  The only scripts I use are the Disable during Civil War sieges (so they don't interfere) and the MCM Menu one.  Point being I don't know what I could do to simplify and conflict proof my mod any further.

 

Oddly enough, I figured out how to fix the bug (temporarily?), regardless of the mods I was using; do a clean save with the mod.  Exit the game, disable the mod, start it back up, save and exit again, and then re-enable the mod and the Sentries go back to ignoring the vampire player & their followers.

 

Since the problem occurred and the solution worked rather I was using 63 mods or literally just the Unofficial Patches, i'm not sure the mods had anything to do with it.

 

Here's the only "non-vanilla" script I have for the mod:

 

 

 

Scriptname DawnSentryMCMStates extends SKI_ConfigBase 
{Creates Dawnguard Sentries MCM Menu}

bool ImmortalCity = False
bool RedShirtBeGone = False
bool ImmortalOutside = False
bool ExteriorBeGone = False
bool PatrolImmortal = False
bool PatrolBeGone = False
bool RoriksteadImmortal = False
bool RoriksteadBeGone = False
bool CastleVampsBeGone = False

 

Function theInit()
     ModName = "Dawnguard Sentries"
     Pages = new String[1]
     Pages[0] = "Configuration"
EndFunction

 

Event OnConfigInit()
     theInit()
EndEvent

 

Event OnConfigOpen()
     theInit()
EndEvent

 

Event OnVersionUpdate(int a_version)
     theInit()
EndEvent

 

Event OnPageReset(string page)
     If (page == "")
          LoadCustomContent("Dawnguard Sentries/DawnguardShield.dds")
          Return
     Endif
     UnloadCustomContent()
    

     If (page=="Configuration")
          SetCursorFillMode(TOP_TO_BOTTOM)
          AddToggleOptionST ("MakeEssential", "Make Sentries Essential", ImmortalCity)
          AddEmptyOption()
          AddToggleOptionST ("DisableRedShirts", "Disable Dawnguard Recruits", RedShirtBeGone)
          AddEmptyOption()
          AddToggleOptionST ("ExteriorEssential", "Make Exterior Sentries Essential", ImmortalOutside)
          AddToggleOptionST ("ExteriorDisable", "Disable Exterior Sentries", ExteriorBeGone)
          AddEmptyOption()
          AddToggleOptionST ("PatrolEssential", "Make Sentry Road Patrol Essential", PatrolImmortal)
          AddToggleOptionST ("PatrolDisable", "Disable Sentry Road Patrol", PatrolBeGone)
          AddEmptyOption()
          AddToggleOptionST("RoriksteadEssential", "Set Rorikstead Sentries as Essential", RoriksteadImmortal)
          AddToggleOptionST("RoriksteadDisabled", "Disable Sentries in Rorikstead", RoriksteadBeGone)
          AddEmptyOption()
          AddToggleOptionST("VampireSentries", "Disable Vampires Outside Volkihar", CastleVampsBeGone) 
     EndIf
EndEvent

 

State MakeEssential
     Event OnHighlightST()
          SetInfoText("Sets Non-Recruit Sentries in Towns & Cities as Essential")
     EndEvent

 

     Event OnSelectST()
          ImmortalCity = !ImmortalCity
          SetToggleOptionValueST(ImmortalCity)
          If ImmortalCity == True
               DawnSentryEssentialToggleQuest.start()
          ElseIf ImmortalCity == False
               DawnSentryEssentialToggleQuest.stop()
          EndIf 
     EndEvent

 

     Event OnDefaultST()
          ImmortalCity = False
          SetToggleOptionValueST(False)
          DawnSentryEssentialToggleQuest.stop()
     EndEvent
EndState

 

 

State DisableRedShirts
     Event OnHighlightST()
          SetInfoText("Disables the Dawnguard Recruits in Dayspring Canyon")
     EndEvent

 

     Event OnSelectST()
          RedShirtBeGone = !RedShirtBeGone
          SetToggleOptionValueST(RedShirtBeGone)
          If RedShirtBeGone == True
               DawnSentryRedShirtDisableXMarker.disable()
          ElseIf RedShirtBeGone == False
               DawnSentryRedShirtDisableXMarker.enable()
          EndIf    
     EndEvent

 

     Event OnDefaultST()
          RedShirtBeGone = False
          SetToggleOptionValueST(False)
          DawnSentryRedShirtDisableXMarker.enable()
     EndEvent
EndState

 

 

State ExteriorEssential
     Event OnHighlightST()
          SetInfoText("Sets Sentries Patrolling Outside Riften & Solitude as Essential")
     EndEvent

    

     Event OnSelectST()
          ImmortalOutside = !ImmortalOutside
          SetToggleOptionValueST(ImmortalOutside)
          If ImmortalOutside == True
               DawnSentryEssentialExteriorSentries.Start()
          ElseIf ImmortalOutside == False
               DawnSentryEssentialExteriorSentries.Stop()
          EndIf    
     EndEvent

 

     Event OnDefaultST()
          ImmortalOutside = False
          SetToggleOptionValueST(False)
          DawnSentryEssentialExteriorSentries.Stop()
     EndEvent
EndState

 

 

State ExteriorDisable
     Event OnHighlightST()
          SetInfoText("Disable the Sentries Patrolling Outside Riften & Solitude")
     EndEvent

 

     Event OnSelectST()
          ExteriorBeGone = !ExteriorBeGone
          SetToggleOptionValueST(ExteriorBeGone)
          If ExteriorBeGone == True
               DawnSentrySolitudeDocksDisableToggleMarker.disable()
               DawnSentryRiftenExteriorDisableXMarker.disable()
          ElseIf ExteriorBeGone == False
               DawnSentrySolitudeDocksDisableToggleMarker.enable()
               DawnSentryRiftenExteriorDisableXMarker.enable()
          EndIf    
     EndEvent

 

     Event OnDefaultST()
          ExteriorBeGone = False
          SetToggleOptionValueST(False)
          DawnSentrySolitudeDocksDisableToggleMarker.enable()
          DawnSentryRiftenExteriorDisableXMarker.enable()
     EndEvent
EndState

 

 

State PatrolEssential
     Event OnHighlightST()
          SetInfoText("Sets Sentries Patrolling Between Riften and Dayspring Canyon as Essential")
     EndEvent

 

     Event OnSelectST()
          PatrolImmortal = !PatrolImmortal
          SetToggleOptionValueST(PatrolImmortal)
          If PatrolImmortal == True
               DawnSentryEssentialPatrolQuest.Start()
          ElseIf PatrolImmortal == False
               DawnSentryEssentialPatrolQuest.Stop()
          EndIf    
     EndEvent

 

     Event OnDefaultST()
          PatrolImmortal = False
          SetToggleOptionValueST(False)
          DawnSentryEssentialPatrolQuest.Stop()
     EndEvent
EndState

 

 

State PatrolDisable
     Event OnHighlightST()
          SetInfoText("Disables Sentries Patrolling Between Riften and Dayspring Canyon")
     EndEvent

 

     Event OnSelectST()
          PatrolBeGone = !PatrolBeGone
          SetToggleOptionValueST(PatrolBeGone)
          If PatrolBeGone == True
               DawnSentryPatrolUnitDisableXMarker.disable()
          ElseIf PatrolBeGone == False
               DawnSentryPatrolUnitDisableXMarker.enable()
          EndIf    
     EndEvent

 

     Event OnDefaultST()
          PatrolBeGone = False
          SetToggleOptionValueST(False)
          DawnSentryPatrolUnitDisableXMarker.enable()
     EndEvent
EndState

 

 

State RoriksteadEssential
     Event OnHighlightST()
          SetInfoText("Sets Sentries Patrolling Rorikstead as Essential")
     EndEvent

 

     Event OnSelectST()
          RoriksteadImmortal = !RoriksteadImmortal
          SetToggleOptionValueST(RoriksteadImmortal)
          If RoriksteadImmortal == True
               DawnSentryRoriksteadToggleQuest.Start()
          ElseIf RoriksteadImmortal == False
               DawnSentryRoriksteadToggleQuest.Stop()
          EndIf    
     EndEvent

 

     Event OnDefaultST()
          RoriksteadImmortal = False
          SetToggleOptionValueST(False)
          DawnSentryRoriksteadToggleQuest.Stop()
     EndEvent
EndState

 

 

State RoriksteadDisabled
     Event OnHighlightST()
          SetInfoText("Disables Sentries Patrolling Rorikstead Village")
     EndEvent

 

     Event OnSelectST()
          RoriksteadBeGone = !RoriksteadBeGone
          SetToggleOptionValueST(RoriksteadBeGone)
          If RoriksteadBeGone == True
               DawnSentryRoriksteadDisableXMarker.disable()
          ElseIf RoriksteadBeGone == False
               DawnSentryRoriksteadDisableXMarker.enable()
          EndIf    
     EndEvent

 

     Event OnDefaultST()
         RoriksteadBeGone = False
         SetToggleOptionValueST(False)
         DawnSentryRoriksteadDisableXMarker.enable()
     EndEvent
EndState

 

 

State VampireSentries
     Event OnHighlightST()
          SetInfoText("Disables Vampire Guards Patrolling Outside Castle Volkihar")
     EndEvent

 

     Event OnSelectST()
          CastleVampsBeGone = !CastleVampsBeGone
          SetToggleOptionValueST(CastleVampsBeGone)
          If CastleVampsBeGone == True
               DawnSentryVampCastleGuardDisableXMarker.disable()
          ElseIf CastleVampsBeGone == False
               DawnSentryVampCastleGuardDisableXMarker.enable()
          EndIf    
     EndEvent

 

     Event OnDefaultST()
          CastleVampsBeGone = False
          SetToggleOptionValueST(False)
          DawnSentryVampCastleGuardDisableXMarker.enable()
     EndEvent
EndState

 

 

Quest Property DawnSentryEssentialToggleQuest Auto
Quest Property DawnSentryEssentialExteriorSentries Auto
Quest Property DawnSentryEssentialPatrolQuest Auto
Quest Property DawnSentryRoriksteadToggleQuest Auto
ObjectReference Property DawnSentryPatrolUnitDisableXMarker Auto
ObjectReference Property DawnSentryRiftenExteriorDisableXMarker Auto
ObjectReference Property DawnSentryRedShirtDisableXMarker Auto
ObjectReference Property DawnSentrySolitudeDocksDisableToggleMarker Auto
ObjectReference Property DawnSentryRoriksteadDisableXMarker Auto
ObjectReference Property DawnSentryVampCastleGuardDisableXMarker Auto

 

 

 

Anybody see anything I goofed?  The MCM script seems to work fine and this is the only line I saw in the logs that pertained to my script:

 

[06/13/2015 - 01:30:40AM] Error: Unable to call GetFormID - no native object bound to the script object, or object is of incorrect type
stack:
[None].DawnSentryMCMStates.GetFormID() - "<native>" Line ?
[sKI_ConfigManagerInstance (0E000802)].SKI_ConfigManager.Cleanup() - "SKI_ConfigManager.psc" Line ?
[sKI_ConfigManagerInstance (0E000802)].SKI_ConfigManager.OnGameReload() - "SKI_ConfigManager.psc" Line 82
[alias PlayerRef on quest SKI_ConfigManagerInstance (0E000802)].SKI_PlayerLoadGameAlias.OnPlayerLoadGame() - "SKI_PlayerLoadGameAlias.psc" Line 6

 

With no specific line referenced, I'm not sure what native object to look for that it's not seeing connected to a script.

 

 

ANYWAY...  If anybody has any bright ideas what may be causing this, feel free to chime in.