You can't get the staff these days can you? I'm working on a mod which adds Dawnguard outposts to Skyrim near or in cities and towns rather than plonking NPCs down who work 24/7 as they have no barracks and no sleep package. Three outposts have been completed so far but the problem run into is that NPCs are not using their patrol idles reliably when they should. This is most apparent when fast travelling.


For instance, I have created a new building outside Whiterun and placed the refs of six NPC in the internal cell, linked to patrol idles outside the stables and inside the city. When fast travelling to Whiterun the NPCs in the city are not there even if advance time one hour at a time. If I go looking for them 3 of the NPCs are still in their barracks and leave to go to their patrol markers when I enter the cell.


It seems NPCs don't like exiting interior cells and travelling to patrols for some reason unless you chase them up.


Hopefully someone can shed some light on why some of the NPCs are not patrolling when they should as until I can figure this out the mod is on hold.


Problem is not:

Game save, I've tested with clean saves...


Dawnguard Sentries and Outposts WIP File:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B297M_-UOeUsYTJBendUeGdmUWM/

http://martinjamesmods.blogspot.co.uk/

I just looked at the file, and I believe your issue is that there is no package to tell them to go to the patrol marker. I had a similar issue with an update I am doing for one of my mods.

Even though you have them using the DefaultMasterPackageList, you have interupted that with the sleep package that you have given them. Try and create another package for them using a Travel and Guard or a Travel and use Idle package template that starts when they wake up from the sleep package. When you stack the packages, make sure they run in chronological order.

If you have not had a lot of experience with AI packages have a look at these.

https://youtu.be/laQE59mP4p8

https://youtu.be/KpEhFgFeTmY%C2%A0

Thank you for you reply johng58 and for kicking my AI into a different direction.


I couldn't think what was wrong as I thought NPCs only needed linking via Linked Ref same way patrol markers are linked and that was it. I couldn't think of anything else and all the other threads I read were of no help. I should have checked out Darkfox127's videos...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbs1pGzpK4U

Thanks again, I'm sure you're right on the money with your suggestion. I'll have a go with it in a while.

Added linked patrol AI Packages to all Whiterun Dawnguard with a schedule and still they don't usually turn up when they should. Method for testing, install, fast travel to Whiterun and check if guards turn up between 3pm and 9am. Oftene they can be found still in the Whiterun Dawnguard outpost cell or just exiting the Whiterun Dawnguard outpost cell and starting to walk to their patrol idle.

Dawnguard Sentries and Outposts WIP File with patrol AI package:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B297M_-UOeUsRm9EaVVYTWdQSDg/