Interesting NPCs

Current Version : 1.77

Interesting NPCs is an extensive effort to add numerous new NPCs to skyrim, with thorough and complex dialogue trees that match up with established lore and fit in well with existing characters. Each character has an individual complex history and where applicable checks on gender, race and skills are made, including both overt and hidden checks on Speech skills and others. Voice-acting is provided for over 15 of the characters now, the others provided with silent audio to allow for easy reading of those roles not yet filled. No current Steam version is available due to filesize limits on that system.

At the time of writing, the released version is 1.74, containing 77 NPCs, 42 of which have complete voicesets for their dialogue. A version with only the voiced characters is available as well.

Downloads

http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=8429

Installation

The normal version can simply be dragged and dropped into the Skyrim Data folder; minor updates are offered both as full downloads and smaller patches that can simply be applied to the previous version. Larger patches with a lot of changes and bugfixes generally don't lend themselves to this and thus a complete download is required. Any new version can simply overwrite existing files.

A BSA version may be available, depending on people requesting it. There has been one in the past but it got few downloads.

Current Features

- Adds dozens of active and participating NPCs throughout Skyrim, also interacting with each other where logical.
- Adds over 125,000 words of Player and NPC Dialogue.
- 3 Quests (Currently.)
- This mod contains 67 characters in total at this time, 40 of which have voices. (Full list available on mod page.)


Besides these, the following quests are included (Those in Italics are included in the full version only due to reliance on unvoiced NPCs.)


Upcoming Content

More NPCs.
Several new voiced NPCs.
Additional Quests featuring the new NPCs.
Additional Scenes of NPC interaction.

Update Notes


Screenshots

Some screenshots of the various NPCs in dialogue :

http://static.skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/images/8429-1-1329331701.jpg
http://static.skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/images/8429-1-1329757992.jpg
http://static.skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/images/8429-2-1330726036.jpg
http://static.skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/images/8429-2-1330726188.jpg
http://static.skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/images/8429-1-1331162392.jpg
http://static.skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/images/8429-1-1331767365.jpg
http://static.skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/images/8429-1-1332562498.jpg
http://static.skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/images/8429-3-1333062480.jpg
http://static.skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/images/8429-1-1332484726.jpg
http://static.skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/images/8429-1-1333217196.jpg

Video / Audio

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj-nqZaD8PU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRZMe6RrjwQ

http://soundcloud.com/jay-rossouw/jay-fironets-song-take-2 (by Jay33721 and Kristakahashi)

Afterthoughts

Due to the large number of open voice acting roles, anyone with decent audio equipment is free to send a PM to myself or Kris (the primary author of the mod, here or via Nexus itself. Auditions preferably using existing lines from the script that can be downloaded from the downloadpage on Nexus - mostly judged on audio quality and general acting as well as whether or not the voice fits the character. Preference for certain characters should be noted early lest multiple people end up doing the same thing.

Credits (+Videos of voiced characters)

Kristakahashi gets creditfor the lion's share of writing and NPC design as well as the original concept.

Alex721 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj-nqZaD8PU&feature=relmfu#t=02m05s
Aranas - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRTg2Ok3K_I&feature=relmfu, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf22ac2BJd4
Aricole - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_tJcab2rfU
Arisen1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9RM6zydDwk, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0fEGHj4tRk, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxXhZbDwDF4
Brian Wood - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSpJ8iW9iKI
Darksun45230 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07DffOtVlT4&feature=relmfu
DOPR5 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj-nqZaD8PU&feature=relmfu#t=01m18s, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj-nqZaD8PU&feature=relmfu#t=04m09s
DutchDude - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KhWCX2FyDc
Euther - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iipWjulBdtw
Giramor - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJ4EVORUPIs&feature=relmfu, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdSQkWGiQKQ&feature=relmfu#t=00m11s, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iMXoRwNO8I, Jadro'Ra
Jay33721 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfNRsi9hBPM&feature=relmfu, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhiNUO_dr0M&feature=relmfu#t=01m50s, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhiNUO_dr0M&feature=relmfu#t=01m27s, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj-nqZaD8PU&feature=relmfu#t=03m45s, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj-nqZaD8PU&feature=relmfu#t=02m48s, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez-d_yWGf3U&feature=relmfu, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiYmMmkbRlk
jezdamayel - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVhfFlGD1hI, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTUUVL86qt0, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqN7OUkINpc
Jonathan Murphy (jonincharacter.com) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HZBxoWujTA
Julian Shanahan (night_ranger26) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iF7nUJD59TA
Kelly Camelio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4X5-Bjsfck
Nextmastermind - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EME_t7ZN5jI
Nile Zam Jones (Zammuel) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoe9nid7mXY&feature=relmfu, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttbELq6IkP4&feature=relmfu, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTnw4KN39HQ, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXEWRohkI74
Paxson Helgesen (@thatpaxguy) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9gTDBYxopM&feature=relmfu
reecpj - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPJb230s7TE&feature=relmfu
Stormbringer246 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMoJ-1WuFnk&feature=relmfu
Tom Shortridge - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYs_RrL4Cb4&feature=relmfu
Viridiane - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_mLbUiRlek, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMq38CD17zY

WRITERS
Aranas - Griffith, Morrigan
Jay33721 - Averna
Roarian - Relic (Dialogue and Quest)

SOUND EFFECTS
Jay33721 - Special Vocal Effects for http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj-nqZaD8PU&feature=relmfu#t=03m45s, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj-nqZaD8PU&feature=relmfu#t=02m48s, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez-d_yWGf3U&feature=relmfu

SOUND EDITING
Aranas - Moris, Salty-Throat, Melea
Jay33721 - Eleanor Book-Worm
Roarian - Melea Retakes and Fixes

Yes, the comment was tactless and needlessly aggressive, but there is a valid point behind it.

"Ain't" is not lore-friendly vocabulary, and in a mod that advertises itself as being lore-friendly, that makes the presence of an unfitting word even more blatant. I would suggest "shan't" as an alternative, it means the same thing, and it also fits the game's language style better.

Nevertheless, this is your mod, OP, and I am not trying to tell you how to make your mod, merely offering my own two cents as to how you could make it better.

I'll pass the info along - I am on the mod, but I'm hardly the only one (or the main author for that matter - i just do stuff like this. XD)

Not sure how it isn't lore-friendly myself though - is there something about it I'm not getting? I hardly see the current NPCs going around constantly going with medievalspeak. -shrug-

Yeah, as if the word ain't doesn't have any place in Skyrim, even though I'm positive that I've heard some characters in the vanilla game use that word, sometimes as parts of double negatives no less. I suggest looking at I think the male brute voice type and verify if any of the recorded voice files actually use the word "ain't." If it doesn't really need a change, then I guess it would be okay, if it turns out that they actually say something closer to "aren't," then you might want to make an edit. I would look into it right now if I had the time, but maybe I could look into it a little later.

Anyway, regardless of that, I looked at the rest of the screenshots, and I think Roarian actually did a pretty good job with creating dialogue that's consistent with the writing in the vanilla game, at least judging by the screenshots, anyway.

Just to be clear : Kris wrote most of the dialogue, I just did the one character and odds and ends besides. ^-^

If a form of "ain't" was good enough for Jonathan Swift it is good enough for me.
Started it's form in the 17th century but was later regarded by the upper classes to be vulgar use of the language.

I don't see the problem using it in a speech pattern, even if it is only a couple of hundred years old. And as pointed out, it is used already in Skyrim - I think Viola uses it amongst other NPC's.

Cheers!

Ahem...

From Skyrim original dialogue, just listing a couple...

There ain't much more to tell... they're haunted and you should stay away.
I ain't scared of nothin'
Come on, I can take anyone. And that ain't just the mead talkin'.
I'd sell her for that, but you ain't got it.
That would work, except you ain't got.
Uh, oh. You ain't gonna hurt me again, are ya?
I ain't going to lie, it's still pretty bad.
But I've got a right to browse, don't I? I ain't hurtin' anyone.
It ain't so bad. I miss living with my parents back in Helgen, though.
Now ain't this a surprise.
Ain't nothing pretty about a corpse. No matter how fresh.
lyin' little harlet... that brat ain't mine...
Ain't nothing for it. They're still in charge.
It ain't fair to Sven or Faendal to keep tuggin' on their heart strings like that.
You ain't made me that stew in a long time.
Ain't no goin' back.
Well, look at us, getting married. Life in Skyrim ain't all bad, huh?
Well, ain't gonna find her here.
He ain't one for talking, especially with folk he don't know.
Some folks think it's my town too, but it ain't.
Ain't nothin' a boy can do that I can't do better.
Mother wants me to work at the mill. But I ain't nobody's slave.
Ain't every day we get visitors in Riverwood.
It's not good for a little girl. Ain't... ladylike.
I cook. Ain't much else to tell.
I ain't lookin' to make friends.
They ain't. And they aren't gonna.
Drink ain't gonna kill me. Not today, anyway.
Well, you're makin' friends all over, ain't ya?
Ain't somethin' you'd give up lightly.
Look, it ain't my business ta tell the Dark Brotherhood its business.
I ain't paying your fine if you get caught.
Work the smelter. Ain't much else to tell.
Ain't my life hard enough?
It's too bad the orphanage ain't letting us kids get adopted.
Grelod ain't going to like some stranger just hangin' around.
I ain't begging. I just need a job.
Guy ain't worth it.
The answer ain't gonna be any different the next time.
You know... you ain't so bad.
They're half-naked. That ain't right.
My pa used to say there ain't no use worryin' about the things you can't change.
I ain't sayin' he was perfect, but he knew what it meant to be a Nord.
Keepin' the palace clean an' the lords fed ain't easy work, but it's honest work.
I ain't askin' for much, just a few septims.
Ain't got one.
Pinemoon Cave is down to the southwest, but it ain't fit for exploring.
Somethin' just ain't right about that Sybille.
Ain't many visitors come to the dungeon.
It just ain't there at all.
Ha! That ain't nothing.
You ain't a Nord.
Ain't you ever seen one before?
Well, I ain't interested.
Hope you ain't here to cause trouble.
Ain't no doubt about it.

Funny thing - I went through the exported dialogue of skyrim, and this is what I found :

125 instances of the word "ain't"
17 instances of the words "ain't no" in conjunction.

Sounds and looks like good work to me, I like some of those lines of dialogue. When writing it is fine to use the word "ain't" if a character is speaking, but of course, the narrator should not use that word. In this case, a character is speaking, so there is no issue. Very, very fussy in my opinion and complaining about it being less immersive is silly, people talk like that in real life and already in Skyrim too.

Thanks - I didn't really intend this to get into a what-word-is-lore-friendly debate, though - especially about a word as common as this in Skyrim itself. (For comparison, aren't only appears about 50% more often.)

No, idea. I haven't played the mod, and I don't intend to in its current state.


That's my choice, ain't it?


No need to quote Skyrim to me. I came across quite a few "ain't" and "ain't no" in Skyrim by myself. Your point being? Because Skyrim does it, you've got to do it too? Ain't that just swell...

Well, I don't like it, not in Skyrim, and not in your mod. If I want to play Skyrim I have no choice but to play it unless there's a mod that rewrites all diagloge. Your mod on the other hand I can choose not to play. In my opinion "ain't" and the stupid contradiction "ain't no" has no place in Skyrim, period.

Ah - so familiar. The critic who hasn't even looked at what he's critiquing beyond a screenshot.


-Shrug- if that's what you like to get upset about, sure.


Face it, Skyrim's got plenty of slang, and the kind of phrasing used in Moris' character is consistent with similar characters already in the game (mostly brutish dudes.) I think that constitutes being consistent with the established language, and if you have to get upset about it, I suppose this ain't the game for you.

What is going on in here?!?

I personally love the mod. Keep up the good work guys/gals.

Moving on from this ridiculous debate--this looks like a fantastic way to improve the ambiance of the game. Are any of the new NPCs marriageable? It could be interesting to have more, y'know, connection to my PC's spouse (only got married on one PC, on account of the shallowness of the system).

Or is it not that kind of mod?

I like this mod. The vanilla characters in Skyrim are soooooo booooooring. Actually having fun talking to people now.

Alright, I wasn't entirely clear on who wrote it before. Thanks for the clarity.

And about the word "ain't," I would like to point out that it is actually a pretty old word. Not sure if it's a word I would have used in the vocabulary for Skyrim dialogue, since I'm not completely certain as to how long that slang term has been in use, but it is in use by vanilla NPCs, so it really isn't bothersome in my opinion to use in new dialogue. But at least it's a historical word, and not some street talk word that was made up about twenty years ago.

On topic: this mod looks awesome. I'm pretty psyched for the quality of the work I've seen done on it so far.

I removed some posts that sidetracked the thread because some members seem a bit unclear how to provide constructive criticism in such a way as to useful, rather than trying to be "funny", or simply coming off as rude.

Yeah, if any more comes from that whole debate, I'll just ignore it - I shouldn't have replied in the first place, I suppose. Cheers.


There's no folk in there now that can be married, but that's an inevitability, I think. Right now it's a spot of trouble to get followers that don't spout default dialogue - similar issues will happen here, I guess. If it's doable, though, some excellent spouses with actual stuff to say should be doable.


I'm mostly surprised by how ridiculously little most of them have to say. Outside some main quest people, most have like 5 lines, if that. Seriously. I think the smallest one in this mod has like 50.


Right, and I never thought it looked out of place anyway. Funnily enough stuff like 'okie dokie' is also in Skyrim.


Thanks, the standard's set fairly high.


Thanks, I shouldn't have responded in the first place, I think. -sigh-

This looks great! I'll be sure to include it once I decide to play again.

Looks like I ain't done my homework.

As long as no one starts spouting out: "hell", "earth", etc. I'm happy.

My next game will likely revolve around this mod i like the idea so much, shoulf be simple:

Survival horror game
Vanilla NPCs= brain dead zombies
This mods characters= survivors I need to save.
Shouldnt be too big of a stretch.

-snicker-

44 occurences of 'hell'
16 occurences of 'earth'

Examples:




-snicker-

It's hard to avoid all hells and earths while writing fantasy dialogue, because it's just so common in the idioms. The easiest way would be to introduce some substitute words for these, but while I used to try that in the book I'm working on, in the end I said "to hell with this" and stuck to the familiar hells, earths, hours and minutes even. Sure, it may slap the immersion in the face a lil' bit, but in the end every fantasy is a convention and to say hell/earth/hour is still a convenient thing to do. Because usually such familiar phrases won't even catch the reader/player's attention, they'll skim over them while following the plot as they're completely inconspicuous due to their very common usage as language forms.

I myself like to get very much immersed in what I read/play, but I've never been bothered by such things really And I believe that if Skyrim's convention is to use hell/earth freely as figures of speech, there's hardly any reason for modders to avoid it.

I know I'm late to the party, so go ahead and don't reply to me I'll shall clear the dance floor now.

Guess it all depends on how it's used. Stuff like:
This is the finest bar on earth.
Or
Yeah Im definitely going to hell for that.

Wouldnt make much sense, though... Yeah, putting Nirn, or dreamsleave/oblivion/void/dagons deadlands, etc. instead wouldnt have the same ring.

-Shrug- I suppose if any fic's gonna get language critics it's one like this, though.

Next version should be out soon.