All of a sudden when I open the console following combat I see multiple instances of the line "SSotA: Player fighting, NPCs waiting". Been playing the game nearly a year and never experience it before. To the best of my knowledge they appeared after using Wrye Bash to remove World Children (if that's the right term) for two mods. But I have since restored those mods original ESPs and still get the console messages.

What do they mean? Are they harmful? Do they bloat my saves?

Thanks in advance!
-Decrepit

SSotA is an abbreviation found in some of the resource files for The Ayleid Steps, so I'd guess those are related to the console messages you're seeing. Removing world children has nothing to do with it since console messages are generated by scripts.

They shouldn't pose a problem unless there's a limit to how much the console buffer will hold.

Oho! Just this morning I discovered that I had downloaded and installed the original version of Ayleid Steps 3.2, which contained the wrong BSA. I then DL'd the new 3.2 and used its BSA to replace mine (leaving the original 3.2 ESP in place). Timing wise, I think the console message DID right appear after moving to the newer BSA. I'd totally forgotten about it.

I'll bring it to the Aylied Steps creator's attention, but otherwise leave it be for now.

Thanks a bunch!
-Decrept