Hi all,

I am working on my first full mod to share, a standalone follower. However, I wanted one that was not just a walk up and get them to follow one, so I wish to add a quest to gain their services (much like the ones in the vanilla game). I (think) I have the actor and equipment sorted out, but I’m less sure on setting up the quest, so I figured I would ask those with more experience than me the best way of achieving the various stages.

My quest outline is as follows (not the most complex quest I know!)

0. Add helping the potential follower to a merchant under the “I’m looking for work” category.

10. Talk to follower about helping them. (This could also be the first stage if the player encounters the follower before the merchant.)

15. Return to follower if declined helping in (10)

20. Follower explains that they were attacked by bandits whilst out hunting and several valuable items were taken before follower was left for dead. The follower wants the Dragonborn to recover a ring and circlet, they may keep the other items (sword & bow) if they succeed. If the player agrees to help the follower will tell them to start by asking about the bandits at an inn near where the attack happened. Follower heard the bandits call their leader by name.

30. Talk to innkeeper about bandits. Innkeeper suggests a location where they might be found.

40. Travel to location and find bandit camp. The camp has been ransacked and all the bandits are dead except the leader who is dying. With his last breath he explains they were attacked by a rival group who took all their loot and abducted his sister. He begs the Dragonborn to free his sister (adding freeing her as an optional step) He will tell where the rival gang are based and then dies.

50. Find the rival gang’s hideout and enter.

60. Add the find items and (optional) save sister steps.

70. Find sister locked up, and free her/kill her/leave her locked up.

80. Face bandit leader and defeat him, recovering items from him (or perhaps from a locked chest he carries the key for).

90. Return to follower with items and have follower available to follow.

100. (Optional) return weapons as well as jewellery, in which case the follower rewards the Dragonborn by training them 1 level in 2 or 3 skills.

110. Finish Quest.

So what I need to know is the best way of achieving these stages along with a couple of other things relating to the stages. First thing is – are there any additional/intermediate steps I should include to make it work/flow better?

Specific questions:

1. How do I make sure that the Followe does not have the “Follow me” option until after the quest is completed?

2. I wish to have the (potential) follower roaming/visiting shops etc. when first encountered, but need a home location for them to return to if the Dragonborn later dismisses them from service. What is the best way to achieve this?

3. I need the Bandit camp (3 or 4 tents and equipment) to only appear after the Dragonborn has spoken to the innkeeper about the location (step 30). How do I achieve this?

4. What is the best way to make the dying bandit leader tell his story, then die? (Like the hunter in the Falkreath werewolf quest.)

5. I want to make the final bandit location a permanent one, so it is possible that the Dragonborn might stumble across it before getting the quest. For this reason, I want to be able to add the Bandit leader, sister and treasure, only after completing step 40 (talking to the dying leader.) Also, if it has been previously cleared I would like the other bandits to respawn before the player gets there.

6. Once the items are returned to the follower I need the follower to equip them and become available to follow the player. What is the best way to do this?

7. What is the best way to do the last optional step and give the training to the player?

If anyone can answer any of these or point me at an appropriate tutorial I would be very appreciative. I *think* I have the rest of it figured out, but I’ll find out for sure when I get as far as playtesting the quest!

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and for any help you may be able to give.