I've been working on a mod recently that adds a NPC to the game and some new items like potions. I want to release it but I used someone elses esp file with their mod on it. Can I release it and just give them credit for what they did? Or should I manually delete all their stuff? I did this because I could never figure out how to make my own esp file. I've always edited other peoples work, but now I want to publish my work and I don't want to take credit for what someone else has done.

There should be a readme included with the esp describing what you can/can't do with it. If not, you should try contact the author and ask for permission. I myself would just write my own code though.

I did write my own its just in with the other guys code. I'm having trouble making my own esp. I never did get a esp to work unless I edit someone else's. I need help making my own esp.

Open the CS with just the Oblivion.esm checked -- right after it loads click on Save and it should ask you for a name to save it under -- enter the name you want for your .esp --- that should create the new .esp ( to check close the CS - open it back up and go through the list of .esps to load find your new .esp and check it as the ACTIVE one and load the CS --- your .esp is loaded to create your mod and any saves will be saved under that .esp name (so each time you go to work on it load it as the active mod and save when finished ( it will not prompt you for a name since you loaded it as the active mod - saves will automatically be saved under that .esp name)

In that case you might want to consider using Tes4Edit and remove all the stuff from that other mod, or just start over and do what JDFan suggested.

I've tried that before and cs crashed. When editing a ESP it works fine. Is there a fix to prevent the crash? Or is there a blank ESP somewhere I can download?

I don't know of any blank .esps available, but if you PM me your email address, I'll send you one.

Note: Due to work, I probably won't be able to send it until around 10:00 PM tonight (nine hours from now, my time).

If you have Wrye Bash you can find a blank esp in Oblivion\Mopy\Extras\

What OS are you on and is the game installed to the program files folder ?? -- If so it might be a security permissions problem that is keeping the CS from creating a new file inside of that folder. (this is why it is suggested that you install the game to somewhere other than the high security Program Files folder when installing on Vista\Win 7 )

It does not matter now I have a blank esp to work with.