Renee's Modding Thread Options

[Renee]

Mod-making thread basically, which focuses heavily on quest-making. The first two tutorials (How to make a fetch quest and how to make a kill quest) are very hand-holdy. They are designed for those who are just starting to learn the art of quest-making. Other tutorials get more advanced, as my wacky ideas have pushed their boundaries.

Just click on any of the links in the post below this one.


Bethesda Units. (How distance compares in-game to real-life).

Xpadder Walkthrough page. Xpadder is a site which allows gaming controllers to mimic the key & mouse functions. Xpadder, or similar programs such as Joy to Keys, are absolutely crucial to get the most out of older games such as Arena, Daggerfall, Morrowind, and Oblivion, for those who prefer controllers. They can also be used for newer games (Fallout 3/NV or Skyrim) to provide alternate controlling scenarios during times when a game's native D-pad arrangement needs to be shut off.




This post has been edited by Renee: Apr 16 2024, 06:27 PM

[Renee]

Making a house for sale or rent. Game: TES IV: Oblivion

(This also works for Fallout 3, but there are enough differences between each game that Fallout will get its own post).

This one is going to explain how to make a house (or flat, or whatever sort of dwelling you'd like) into something we can not only buy, but also rent. And when we rent this space, we'll be able to make it rentable for an entire month.... or however long you'd like.

But why rent, when we can just buy?

Glad you asked. It's because in many cases (if we're keeping things somewhat realistic, as per the vanilla game's policy on housing prices), our character cannot afford the house he or she may want to buy. Not until later on, when lots of money has been accrued. Renting is cheaper, therefore we can get a place earlier. I also like the idea of having something to always spend money on. And it's just fun making this stuff up, and seeing it all work in-game.

We can create a new place to live, or we can use one which is already in the game, it doesn't matter. Here is my personal story on how the idea came about.




1a). CELL + RENDER windows
First thing to do is find the place's interior in the cell window, and then click on its Door Marker so now we're outside. Double left-click on its door. Give this door a Reference ID. I'm going to give this door a Ref ID called aaaFrontDoorRef.

1b). Click on the Lock tab too, and lock that door if it's not already locked. Or, lock that door with a tougher lock than it has. Click OK, closing the door's Reference panel.

1c). OBJECT window > Items > Key. Edit a key, save it as a New Form. If the door already has a key, this key can be used and a key won't need to be created.

1d). Reopen the door's Reference panel > Lock tab. Use the door's Key scroll-bar to find the key you just made. Again, if it already has a key, just keep using that one. Click OK.


2a). OBJECT window
Edit a named NPC. I wanted this NPC to also buy & sell stuff, so for convenience, I edited Velus Hosidius, the guy who runs the Merchants' Inn in the I.C. Market District. Since Velus is already a merchant, this will make setting him up easier. I edited his ID to aaaHouseAgent and changed his Name to Leyawiin House Agent.

Click OK, closing the NPC's panel.

2b). Place the NPC housing agent out in the world and give him or her a Reference ID. This NPC is going to be our agent who we rent the house from, or buy it from. So depending where we put him, we should alter his Faction, his AI, his Inventory, etc.

2c). Class can stay as MerchPublican, unless there's some specific reason to change it.

2d). Whoever you chose to edit, make sure to get rid of all his or her AI. If you want the agent to buy & sell stuff, you can keep any AI that has the "Offers Services" toggle on, just make sure to change the AI package's Cell Location to where the NPC has been placed. You can also add your own AI (making the agent travel or sleep or whatever) though that is optional.

2e). Get rid of any script too, by scrolling the scroll-bar up until it says NONE.

2f). Click OK and use the main tool bar to SAVE.

2g). Now, open up your NPC house agent's panel again. Start a new script. The script's Script Type will stay as Object, and the script itself is incredibly simple, compared to what Velos had.

-------------------------

scriptname aaaHouseAgentScript

short Rent

-----------------------------

2h). Close and save that script. Click OK (closing the house agent's panel) and reopen it. Find the house agent's script. Click OK again. And that's all for his script.

It's a good idea to leave the agent on-screen, in the Render window. Later on when conditions are being set up (as the quest is being made), the agent can be clicked upon to quickly set up some stuff that'll be gotten to in a few more steps.


3). QUEST window > Quest Data tab
Press the Q button on the main toolbar, and start a new quest. All the typical things that usually go into the Quest Data page will also be in this one. Start Game Enabled toggled on, GetIsPlayableRace == 1.00 under Quest Conditions, etc. The only difference is we don't have to set Priority very high. Matter of fact, it can be as low as 10, especially since the NPC we're dealing with won't be associated with any other quests.

4). Quest Stages tab:
A minimum of three quest stages go in the Index window. I am choosing 0, 5, and 100.

You can add more stages than this if you'd like to build some sort of story, and make this into an actual quest. But the basic build only requires three stages.

5a). Topics tab
Go ahead and give your NPC a GREETING. He / she will explain that there is a house for rental or purchase in his / her dialog. "How fares thee? My name is X, and I am the official housing agent here in X. Have you come to rent or buy a home today?"

There are three Conditions:

GetIsID aaaHouseAgent == 1.00 AND
GetStage aaaQuestName < 5.00 AND
GetScriptVariable 'aaaHouseAgentRef', Rent == 0

For the GetScriptVariable, when it asks for a reference, just click the "Select Reference in Render Window" button, and then double left-click on the agent. This'll set things up nice and quick.

.... that final Condition (the GetScriptVariable) is one I'd never used before, at the time that I made this mod. What this does is makes sure the agent ONLY says this greeting if we have not rented the place yet. Of course, this is the first time we're meeting the agent, so of course it hasn't been rented yet. But that line of code will show up several times later on, and it's got an ability to make sure certain dialog happens when the agent is spoken to, or does not happen.

Buying the place won't require this variable, because if we can afford to buy it, the entire quest simply ends. But if we rent it, the game needs to know whether or not we've already rented the place, so that the agent's dialog fits what is happening. This variable will also ensure that the game won't keep taking our money, if we accidentally try to rent after the place has already been rented. .

When we speak to this agent for the first time, this will bump the quest into a "middle" stage, which I'm calling Stage 5. This stage does not actually need a Log Entry (it's like if we rent a room from Velus, or any innkeeper; there is no need for a quest stage to appear). But it's important to make this quest move forward via SetStage. This way, we can add dialog which includes the moment that agent is first met, and also after we meet him or her. Dialog will be different in each situation, which adds some realism.

5b). So, in the Result Script add Player.SetStage aaaQuestName 5

Substitute your quest's name where it says "aaaQuestName."


6). Choices box: Add two dialog choices here: one which will lead to renting the space, another which will lead to buying it. aaaRent and aaaBuy.


7a). First, let's discuss renting. In the Editor ID, find the two Choices just added, and add them into this window as well. Now let's choose the Topic which will allow rental dialog.

7b). "How much to rent the place?" we can put under Topic Text. And give the agent a response. "It's your lucky day! The market has been down, and so we're asking for 300 gold per month," or whatever you think is appropriate.

7c). In the Conditions window, we can just copy/paste everything from the GREETING, including the Script Variable. The only difference will be the GetStage Condition, which will reflect that middle stage the quest has bumped to.

GetIsId aaaHouseAgent == 1.00 AND
GetStage aaaQuestName == 5.00 AND
GetScriptVariable 'aaaHouseAgentRef', Rent == 0

7d). Now, add two more choices in the Choices box: one which is a "Yes" response (aaaRentYes), and one which is a "No" response (aaaRentNo).

7e). Add these into the Editor ID window, and change the Topic Text for each into plain English. "Yes, I'd like to rent it", and "No, I changed my mind."


First, the aaaRentYes topic: Once we're back in-game, and at the moment when we wish to rent, there has to be some way for the game to know if the character has enough money. If the character can afford to rent it, there'll be a response for this. We'll also need to make a response which the agent will say if we can't afford to rent it. Go ahead and make both of these responses: "Very well, your house has been rented. You'll find its door unlocked for the next 30 days," or "Hmm, seems you haven't enough gold at this time."

8a). Let's say the agent is asking 300 gold a month, and our character can afford this. Here are what will go in the Conditions box for that response...

GetIsId aaaHouseAgent == 1.00 AND
GetStage aaaQuestName == 5.00 AND
GetScriptVariable 'aaaHouseAgentRef', Rent == 0.00 AND
GetGold NONE >= 300.00

8b). Toggle "Run on Target" ON for that final condition (the GetGold one). The character needs to have 300 gold or more, to make this response happen, and the game engine needs to be able to look into the character's inventory at this moment. If Run on Target is not toggled on, the game won't be able to "see" how much gold the character has.

8c). In the Result Script box, add the following.

aaaFrontDoorRef.unlock
Player.RemoveItem Gold001 300
Set aaaHouseAgentRef.Rent to 1
SetCellOwnership Cell

> Substitute 'aaaFrontDoorRef' with the Reference ID you gave the door of your rentable space.

> Substitute 'Cell' with whatever cell your character is going to be living in. This assumes (of course) the Player does not already own this cell. So in my game, that final script is SetCellOwnership LeyawiinCingorsHouse


Overall ... when the agent is spoken to, and we tell him or her we'd like to rent the place, what'll happen is the game will automatically unlock the place's door IF our character has 300 gold, or more. The game changes the place's Rent variable from 0 to 1, which causes the agent's dialog to follow a different path if we try to speak to him / her again. And finally, the game makes sure the cell now belongs to the player-character.


9). Now ... if your character can't afford the 300 gold, here are the Conditions for this...

GetIsId aaaHouseAgent == 1.00 AND
GetStage aaaQuestName == 5.00 AND
GetGold NONE < 300

... Again, make sure GetGold has Run on Target toggled ON. "Goodbye" can also be toggled on, making the NPC ForceBye us, because he or she's not happy that we're wasting their time.


10a). Make a second GREETING, this one saying "You're back. And the place is still available. Would you like to rent or buy it?" ... The NPC will say this Greeting after the place has been rented, but 30 days have passed, therefore the rental has expired.

10b). Again, include the same topic Choices (for renting or buying) which were included during the first GREETING: aaaRent and aaaBuy. These choices will lead in the exact same directions as they did after the first GREETING, which ensures that this quest is repeatable, giving us maximum choice all along.

Conditions look like this....

GetIsId aaaHouseAgent == 1.00 AND
GetStage aaaQuestName == 5.00 AND
GetScriptVariable 'aaaHouseAgentRef', Rent == 0.00

10c). Now, make a third GREETING. This one will show up after the place has been rented, but the rental has not expired yet: "You are back. How is your lovely home? You have already rented it, are you thinking of buying today?"

GetIsId aaaHouseAgent == 1.00 AND
GetStage aaaQuestName == 5.00 AND
GetScriptVariable 'aaaHouseAgentRef', Rent == 1.00

We have not written any "buy" dialog yet, but we'll do that in a moment. For now, just click OK (closing the quest window) and save. And reopen the Quest window.


11a). QUEST DATA tab
It's that time! Time to write a script, and it's going to be a timer script, just like in the post above this one. This timer script will allow the game to rent us the place for however long we'd like. Let's say we're renting it for 30 days. First make sure the Script Type scroll-bar is on Quest (not Object). Here is what should be started...

-------------------------------

scriptname aaaHomeScript

short Timer
short StartDay

Begin GameMode

End

=================

11b). Type that up and close/save it. Click OK (closing the quest window) and reopen the quest window.

11c). Find the script in the Quest Data tab's script scroll-bar. Click OK and reopen.

11d). And here is the rest of the script.

------------

scriptname aaaHomeScript

short Timer
short StartDay

Begin GameMode

If (aaaHouseAgentRef.Rent == 1)

If (Timer == 0)
Set StartDay to GameDaysPassed
Set Timer to 1

EndIf
EnfIf

If (Timer == 1)

If ((GameDaysPassed - StartDay) >= 29)

If (Player.GetInCell Cell != 1)

Set Timer to 0
aaaFrontDoorRef.lock 100
set aaaHouseAgentRef.rent to 0

Message "Your home rental has expired", 36

EndIf
EndIf
EndIf

End

----------------------------

So... this timer ensures that several things will happen. When the agent has been paid 300 gold, this begins the timer's script. After 30 days have passed, this script now LOCKS the front door with a "Needs a Key" lock. An easier lock can be placed here if you'd like. Just change 100 to any number between 1 and 99, if you want a situation in which the house can possibly be broken into. This door will ONLY Lock if the character is not inside the cell though, ensuring the character won't get locked in. There is also a message which tells the player when the rental terms are over, which will stay onscreen 36 seconds. This part is optional and may be game-breaking for some, but it helps to know if the quest is working, or not.

Finally, in the line which says StartDay, note that I put 29 instead of 30. The game always seems to add an extra day.

Optional: If desired, the game can also give the character the key, which opens the front door. Make this key a Quest Item, so it can't be dropped, and then picked up later on after the rental has expired. This key can get added via dialog, at the moment of rental (player.AddItem aaaFrontDoorKey 1 would go into the Result Script box). This key can also be removed after 30 days have passed. The Main Script is used to remove this key, once the timer is finished, by putting Player.RemoveItem aaaFrontDoorKey 1 into the second block of If/EndIf texts, under the line which says aaaFrontDoorRef.lock 100. Adding a key during the rental phase is more necessary in Fallout than it is in Oblivion (Fallout doors tend to lock themselves prematurely).


12a). TOPICS tab
Now, it's time to finally going to add dialog and Topics which will allow the agent to sell the place. Selling is not nearly as complicated as renting. Click on the Buy topic you created before, and change its Topic Text to something appropriate. "How much to buy the place?" or whatever. And add some appropriate text like as a Response. "It's your lucky day! We're asking just 2000 gold."

Conditions look like this:

GetIsID aaaHouseAgent == 1.00 AND
GetStage aaaQuestName == 5.00

12b). Let's say the place does cost 2000 gold. In the Choices box, make a choice which says includes a Yes response, and one which includes a No response: aaaBuyYes and aaaBuyNo. Add both of these into the Editor ID as well.

12c). For the aaaBuyYes topic, if the character has the 2000 gold, everything moves forward, and the entire quest comes to an end.

Conditions:

GetIsId aaaHouseAgent == 1.00 AND
GetStage aaaQuestName == 5.00 AND
GetGold NONE >= 2000

Make sure "Run on Target" is toggled ON for GetGold.

12d). Result Script is very simple: Player.SetStage aaaQuestName 100

12e). Make a second response for aaaBuyYes, in which the character wishes to buy the place, but hasn't got enough gold. "Ahhm. Seems you haven't enough. I asked specifically for 2000 gold!!!"

GetIsID aaaHouseAgent == 1.00 AND
GetStage aaaQuestName == 5.00 AND
GetGold NONE < 2000

12f). Toggle Goodbye on for this response, if the agent becomes haughty, angry, or whatever. Or maybe the agent remains cordial. Don't toggle goodbye, if this is so, and make the agent smile.


13a). QUEST STAGES tab
Go to the final stage (I am calling this Stage 100). Add a Log Entry, denoting that the house, the warehouse, the loft, etc. has been purchased. "I have decided to purchase the home.... bla bla bla."

Result Scripts should be....

Player.RemoveItem Gold001 2000
Player.AddItem aaaFrontDoorKey 1
SetQuestObject aaaFrontDoorKey -1
StopQuest aaaQuestName

> The "SetQuestObject" script is only necessary if the key has been made into a quest item earlier for the rental phase. If it hasn't, don't worry about this script.

> Since we're purchasing this house and the agent will never talk to us again, he / she simply gives us the key we made in step 1a.

13b). Don't forget to toggle Complete Quest on.


14). Topics tab
Finally, fill in the Topic and dialog which causes the PC to back out of buying the place. This is the topic I called aaaBuyNo earlier. "2000 is too much," or whatever. Again, the NPC's response can be haughty if you'd like. Conditions are just the same GetIsID as before, along with the GetStage pertaining to Stage 5, or whatever number you chose for the quest's middle stage.

Voila.

This post has been edited by Renee: Jan 31 2023, 08:01 PM