The idea I would like to attempt to implement, is being able to combine soul gems, so that the soul values are additive. So, take a grand soul gem, combine with another grand soul gem, and you end up with a 'combined' soul gem, with a soul value of 3200. (using base game values.) Now, it seems like these values are controlled by game settings, and it doesn't appear that I can add another one? (right clicking in the game settings window in the CS does nothing, not sure if this is standard behavior, or, if it might have something to do with CSE???? (construction set extender))

This is the first hurdle, if this one is insurmountable.... I am done. If I can get past this...... well, then I should be able to roll with it.

Let me get this right. You don't want to change the value of iSoulLevelValueGrand, but add another level above it?

I don't believe that's going to be possible. But maybe the new gems don't need to be part of that sequence.

I could imagine a script intercepting the Enchanting menu and allowing the new "uber-soul-gem" items you create to be used in place of the regular gems. You'd also have to do the same in inventory for "equipping" one, and fire up a clone of the charging menu to use it for the recharge. The tricky part would be getting the "uber-gems" to appear in the right inventory section. That special one for Traven's soul goes in as a Misc Item, not a gem, and the Soul Tomato is a soul gem only because it impersonates a regular Grand gem.

Of course, if you can do the first one, then you could just allow two or more gems to be used for the initial enchantment, and avoid the whole problem. Recharge can be done one gem at a time, and you wouldn't need any new items in inventory.

Being able to add a level above Grand would be the ideal, however, if that is not possible..... you present some interesting ideas on how to get around it. Don't know much about XML yet though, so, trying to figger out how to convince the enchanting menu to allow more than one soul gem might be interesting... (I see a steep learning curve in my future.....) As for equipping them from inventory, intercepting the 'recharge' menu, and giving a choice of recharging, or ADDING to max charge shouldn't be out of the question. Might have to look at that as an alternative.

Looking in the CS, I don't see anything that specifically notes an item as a soul gem..... but, maybe copying an existing one, and changing paths for the model, icon, and such might have it categorized as such?

I suspect that the Soul Gem for Arch Mage Traven's soul was purposely done as a misc item, so that you COULDN'T use it for enchanting something.