I need to initialize some non-persistent settings every time the game starts.

I set up an auto-start quest with a script that sets the settings then runs stopquest. But it only runs the first time, then is ignored because the save game has a record that the quest has already run.

I may be missing something, but is there a simple, reliable way to run a script every time the game starts?

There are two FOSE functions that may be relevant.

GetGameLoaded Description: returns 1 after a game is loaded on a per-script basis. For each script that calls GetGameLoaded, the command will return true exactly once each time the game is loaded and false thereafter. < this will run even when a save is loaded.

GetGameRestarted. Description: returns 1 when the game is restarted on a per-script basis. For each script that calls GetGameRestarted, the commands returns true exactly once per game session. Useful for situations in which a script must set certain object properties or settings each time the game is started.

Brilliant. GetGameRestarted is exactly what I need.

I don't know if this will be of help, but if you don't want to use FOSE, perhaps a OnLoad begin block is what you need? Or is it a global variable in a quest?

OnLoad is for when the model renders (even if disabled). Without FOSE, a script could be made to run all the way through and only once per save load using a "Constant" global set to 0 by default as a check.

scn RunOnceAfterLoadingSaveQuestSCPTBegin GameMode    If bDoOnceGLOB        Return ; Minimize resource consumption    Else        Set bDoOnceGLOB to 1        ;Do stuff    EndIfEnd

Since the "Constant" global's value won't persist in a save, it will revert to 0 and ensure everything happens, but only once per save load.

If you opt to go the FOSE route, I'd recommend GetGameLoaded rather than GetGameRestarted as you'll probably want your script to run after loading any given save to ensure things aren't botched by saved data if one loads multiple saves between game restarts.

Interesting. I did not know that about globals.

Regarding my application, GetGameRestarted actually works better. I am using FOSE to add a setting to the users .ini file. I just need to add it once every time the game engine starts, since it is not information stored in the save. But thanks for the "gotcha" warning.

Another use for constant globals - nice!

Vanilla's GetGameLoaded. The idea stemmed from your ideas pertaining to the FOSE global, so thanks for adding that tool to my toolbox as it's come in quite handy since.