Is there a mod... : III

» Fri Jun 11, 2010 9:56 pm

So my latest character became the new Archmagister of House Telvanni today. I would love to be able to enslave the members of House Hlaalu, but the only mod I could find that lets you enslave NPCs is vampire embrace, and since my character isn't a vampire that isn't of any help to me. Is there a mod out there that lets you enslave any NPC you want? I would make one myself but I don't have the skill.

» Sat Jun 12, 2010 3:47 am

I'm working on one.

Dunno if it'll be released any time soon, if at all. The idea is to let players enslave NPCs, kill via "assassination" through dialogue (takes many variables into account, including what weapon you'll use for the task, and then attempts a "stabbing" that can either insta-kill, hurt-then-alert, or simply fail and alert), among other various evils. (Suggestions welcome.)

» Sat Jun 12, 2010 12:51 am

i was looking for something like that as an addition to the assassination plugin i use.
as you welcome suggestions i'll throw in my two pence here:

at first: avoid to "Sneak up, stop sneaking and talk quick enough".
ok it is just a matter of timing and it becomes pretty easy after a short time of practice, but this annoyed me nonetheless.
perhaps pop up a messagebox where you can choose either to attempt pick pocketing or "assassination".

about the assassination itself, i've some ideas:

Backstab (as you described) or Slit throat or whatever you prefer to call it
- depending on stealth, luck and short blade
-- possible results: insta-kill, hurt-then-alert, fail and alert

Knockout (H2H / Non-lethal)
- depending on stealth, luck and hand to hand
-- possible results: knockout (script cast spell drain fatigue and perhaps calm humanoid), fail and alert

Snap neck (H2H / Lethal )
- depending on stealth, luck and hand to hand
-- possible results: insta-kill, fail and alert

and some ideas how even warrior type players will get a slice of the cake:

Knockout (Blunt weapon / Non-lethal)
- depending on stealth, strength, luck and blunt weapon
-- possible results: knockout (same as H2H version but with a bit health dammage), hurt-then-alert, fail and alert

Impale (Long blade)
- depending on stealth, strength, luck and longblade
-- possible results: insta-kill, hurt-then-alert, fail and alert

Impale (Spear)
- depending on stealth, strength, luck and spear
-- possible results: insta-kill, hurt-then-alert, fail and alert

Choke to unconsciousness (H2H / Non-Leathal) an option for Brute-Force-Warrior-Characters with a bit of conscience
- depending on luck, strength and hand to hand / possible without sneaking, even in battle
-- possible results: knockout, fail (and alert, if not already in battle)

Choke to death (H2H / Leathal) an option for Brute-Force-Warrior-Characters with sadistic traits
- depending on luck, strength and hand to hand / possible without sneaking, even in battle
-- possible results: insta-kill, fail (and alert, if not already in battle)

Both choke variants should involve a "choking sequenze" since it doesn't just happen as quick as a wink.
i.e. cast a paralyze spell lasting a few seconds on player and victim. add a possibility to (manually or forced) abort choking if player is attacked by another enemy.

the "warrior type assassinations" involve 4 instead of 3 skill / abilitie dependencies to make it a bit more difficult for them to succeed i those rather stealth based actions.

to enslave a NPC the player must have a slave bracer in inventory and the NPC must be knocked out (either with one of the "assassinations" described above or simply knocked down with not more than 25 % health remaining).
the bracer will be removed from the player inventory and added / force equiped to the NPC.
maybe my next suggestion should be realized in a seperate mod, since it would extend the "assassination & enslave mod" beyond its purpose.

Spoiler

perhaps their "will to serve" might be dependant on how the player treats them.
i.e. as soon as a NPC is enslaved it would be rather difficult to let him do several actions like following (he will refuse several times, perhaps on random / dependant to players luck).
or the order "Stay here" would involve the possibility of the NPC tries to escape if player changes cell. (disable on random / PC Luck)
successfull threatening or "corporal punishment" will increase their will to serve rather quick but will also increase the possibility of a revolt (which should exclude to enslave this NPC again, so the player would have to kill him).
whereas [insert possibility of nice behaviour towards NPC here] will convince them a bit slower but they will become quite pleasant as soon as they accept their fate.
depending on the NPCs willpower there should be even the possibility that they refuse to follow orders at all and might even start fighting the player again regardless the bracer they wear.

» Sat Jun 12, 2010 7:25 am

I like those ideas. Most of them, however, are already on the mod's list of features.

I'm going to implement this all through dialogue instead of messagebox (I currently have no way of attaching a script to any NPC unless a voice clip is spoken). Instead of having options for different weapon-type assassinations, I have a script attached to the "assassination" feature that automatically detects what weapon you're holding, and whether or not the NPC is holding a weapon too. Then it checks the applicable skills involved, for both you and the NPC, and generates the outcome based on skill/chance. There will be no PC sneaking involved. The point of this mod is to implement a "sudden assassination" feature that lets you take advantage of those NPCs that trust you.

I haven't started working on the enslave part yet.. but yeah we will definitely need bracers, and probably NPCs that sell them too.