Here's the scoop. I have an enchantment-based magic effect. I would like to prevent the player from using the effect until a perk is gained, via conditions either on the magic effect itself or on the enchantment effect item. The key is, I want to make sure any NPC can still use this effect.

Trouble is, I can't find a way to run a condition on the actor attacking with the enchanted weapon.

Running the condition on "subject," "target," or "combat target" all result in the condition being run on the person who is being attacked by the weapon. (Weird, since the "subject" that "owns" the effect, and that subject's "combat target" would have been opposite, you'd think?). If I run the condition (like HasPerk) on the player reference directly, it will get run on the player even when an NPC is using the weapon, and prevent the NPC from using it. There has to be some way to reference the actor using the weapon, no?

I am also open to scripting options, but I have already tried a scripted dispel() of enchantment effects and it isn't good enough, since some effects are too immediate to be prevented by dispel() (like Paralysis).

Instead of a perk can you do a global variable? There's a condition function to compare global values. Have it default to 0, and then change it when the player gets the perk.

Well, tried that originally, but then if the player doesn't have the perk and the global var hasn't been changed yet, NPCs won't be able to use the effect either, I think.

Guess not. Seems odd that the condition functions running on the wielder aren't working... They definitely work spells...

Papyrus would be too slow to catch it. You would to make remove the actual enchantment effect and then script it - Check if they have the perk and then DoCombatSpellApply...

Mm, good idea--I may have to give the replacement option a try.

The only thing to worry about is that you may notice a slight latency using papyrus :/