I've been reviewing some of my old plugins with a view to releasing updated versions of them. One of the things I did with some of them was document the plugins with Journal entries (only accessible via the Construction Set or Journal console commands). I'd like to revamp that approach to make it more generally useful. Here are some of the ideas I've had so far:

• A Library cell with books containing the Readme files from my various mods. (Probably with the empty cell in a .esm Master file).
  
• A Librarian NPC in that cell with topics such as how to contact me, information about the plugins, and some tips and spoiler topics; books and dialog managed from the individual plugin .esp's. Not sure about any possible object or dialog merging issues.
  
• A conflict-averse naming convention that would allow other modders to use the .esm file to enable in-game documentation for their mods as well.
  
• Some way for the player to access the Library cell without having to memorize a CoC command. Maybe a teleport that returns the player to his original spot once he leaves the Library. I'm not sure I can prevent a player from using the Library as his home base, though.

Comments and suggestions are welcome.

This is a great idea. I can just imagine a community filled library cell where one can go in-game to get data on a mod. I think that :

- the NPC that represents each mod should have a name that instantly conveys to the player which mod they belong to.

- If players wish to add their own rooms they do so in an orderly and logical fashion and keep the size to the same as everyone else's. It shouldn't deteriorate into a dog's breakfast of cells and rooms.

- the librarian NPC should wear clothing that most conveys which mod they're from

That's it for now but I'll have some more later, I think.

I actually don't see the point, or usefulness of this. Those who need the readmes the most don't use the CS, and those who do can extract information from the mod itself, find the author on various forums, write email etc. without visiting a special cell.

It's a nice idea, but it would have to include something more, than just normal information about mods.

Maybe just a book in the Census and Excise office (or something) would be more efficient than a whole library?

See->

Nice idea - though I've always used wrye mash to store and access the readme's

It's a great idea, shiva7663. I can't count the number of times I had to check some info in a readme and hence had to leave the game. Alt tab and Morrowind do not play along well on my system.

IMO, there should be only one cell and one librarian NPC.

About the player using it as a base; disable the menu so they can't drop anything. Don't include containers and make it illegal to sleep there. I can't think of any other way to prevent dropping items, off the top of my head.

I don't know why, but I think an regular online database for readme's would be a bit more useful.
You know, alphabetize them by the mod they represent, date them by version, make 'em searchable, and all that good stuff.

That group of cells in particular is manhandled by all the plugins that alter the Chargen system; I'd like to avoid fiddling with it to lower the chance of conflicts. That's why I proposed a unique cell for the Library.

As for travel to and from the Library, I'd like to not break immersion if possible, which is why I'm looking for a method that doesn't involve the player having to use the Console. A lore-compatible transport to the realm of Hermaeus Mora, for example.