[WiP] Unique Locations

[Nahkin]

Unique Locations
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I thought I would open a thread for my current WiP Mod Unique Locations. You may know already my pics I post about the Mod. The intention of this thread is to get more ideas what exactly I should do with my locations or where to build new ones. And when it would be time to release it. I am working also on other Mods or Homes I try to refurnish or clutter up. Today I thought why not making a thread where people (who would like) could contribute their ideas. I just finished another unique location yesterday and today was comming the next one into my mind.

The mod will feature new Unique Locations spread all over the map of Skyrim. This mod currently only depends on Skyrim.esm and also Update.esm. I think that I will also stay that way and not include the DLCs, as not everybody has them or likes them.
At the time my mod was growing I asked myself a few questions about the sense and the direction. I have to say that I personally use the mod for claiming different artifacts I downloaded.
Well now I would like to ask you some questions:

• Should it be just a mod which adds several places to explore ?
• Would it be good to leave some locations unmarked on the map ? (for example the Mammoth Ribcage)
• Should every location be ownable by the player ? (currently most locations hold inhabitants like Summoners or Thiefs you can kill)
• What should you get from the location ? (place there Weapons and armors from Modders ?)
• What ideas you got for new locations?
• Where would you like to see new locations ? (I always search fancy new locations to place my buildings; You can also just tell me a location and I think about what fits there)

If you interested or would like to put in your ideas, feel free to do so. I would be happy .
Thank you very much for your attention and the time you invested to read that post .


Current Locations (game ready)
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Note in this section I only will post the outside of the location. You can find more pics about the location in my Gallery. Or later on than in the game. Ofc not everything the mod offers is shown in the screen shots. You should also explore it .
(Excuse the long post but Thumbinals don't work)

 

Last Updated: 03.05.2013

Old Mage Tower


Mammoth Ribs


Goldbrands Grave


Forestking Tower


Fisher Hut


Fairy Wood Cave


The Chill

 

Hidden Sewer

 

Dwemer Cabin

 

The Battlefield

 

The Graveyard

 

Journeyman's Camp

 

 

The Well

 

Eremits Cave

 

 

Thanks for reading and don't forget to enjoy the game !!

Nahkin

Edited May 3, 2013 by Nahkin

[Ithlia]

These shots look amazing.   I'm looking forward to exploring this mod.

[InsanitySorrow]

Good stuff

[lilith]

These look great!

[WillieSea]

My two cents.

I don't think of 'unique locations' as only houses, dungeons, abodes of some sort.

 

I get the most joy when I explore and come across a burning wagon. Or a circle of mushrooms with a wizards wand laying in the center. Or burning remains with a flame cloak spell tome laying nearby. Just simple little stories where 'something' happened and makes you wonder... The loot is nice too.

[Nahkin]

@all: Thank you very much for that kind words. Thats why this community is so great . Cookies for all

 

@Willie: Yeah I also seen your post under one of my pics. I already considered doing so. Still I am not sure if I should add map Markers to some of them only or to all.

Also not every location will be a fully functional house. For example the old mage tower currently holds a Summoner, which lives there and can be defeated. But you won't find there a crafting station or display stuff or anything like that. Just a Mage tower with enchanting station and Alchemy and also some storage.

 

The mammoth Ribs also for example are only a small camp, where currently a Hunter lives. It has only some crates a small box and a fire place. You won't find there fancy stuff to display or even mannequins.

 

On the other side the next unique location I think will be a sewer themed Thief or bad boy hideout where you can also live.

[WillieSea]

If its a medium sized, decent home that does not look temporary or would be blown away in a strong breeze, I would give it a map marker.

If its just a burning wagon, or lean-to, or circle of mushrooms, I would not give it a map marker.

 

Map markers should be reserved for locations the player would want to go to, over and over again. Otherwise, your just cluttering up my map with markers.

[Nahkin]

Well I don't want to clutter the map up with markers. But currently I am doing locations the more or less are small buildings or hidden caves or sth. like that. For other locations you can only reach them if you are at a vanilla one. For example the Fisher hut and the Fairy Wood Cave. Also the Mammoth Ribs.

 

I really would like to add my own personal map markers. Anyone got an idea if thats working ?? Or anyone done this before?

[blitzen]

There are mods on the Nexus that add markers to the official secondary locations identified in the Strategy Guide, so those authors would know exactly how to do it. Or you can download the mods and look in the CK to see what they did. I use the Atlas Map Markers mod. It also covers DG and DB DLCs. So even things like mammoth bones and small ruins with corpses have markers.

[WillieSea]

Map markers are easy.

Open the Static tab and scroll down to 'MapMarker'.

Drag it to where you want it 'centered'.

 

Double-click on it in the render window (were you dragged it) and you can change the settings using the properties tabs of the map marker object.

Name, detection radius, icon shown.

[Nahkin]

@Willie: Haha thank you very much for the tip but that I know  .

I meant I want to create my own Map marker Symbol. A unique symbol for Unique Locations. That I can choose than in the Map Marker symbols tab. So I don't have to use the vanilla ones. I dunno how I would do that.

Edited April 12, 2013 by Nahkin

[InsanitySorrow]

IIRC the SkyUI guys mentioned it's not possible to add new map marker icons, it's another part of the game that's hardcoded and we cannot touch. At least for now anyway, you never know if modder's will find away around it.

[Tamira]

Custom mapmarkers: Just at the moment there is a discussion going on at the official forums about the same question

http://forums.bethsoft.com/topic/1454707-how-can-i-create-a-new-map-marker-type/

[Nahkin]

@Tamira: thanks will look that thread. Didn't know thats a hard problem . Thoguht many modders already done this.

Well For the moment I am using vanilla map markers for those who get one.

For example if you view the latest one Dwemer Cabin it won't get one because it's near a well known Dwemer Ruin. So only those who are in the Reach or sth. would get it.

[Nahkin]

updated again ^^..

Now next idea was a hunted mead hall ? But where to place it?

[Nahkin]

So little update. Heads up just adding more buildings or locations till I got stuck up to 20. Than i'll release it.

 

So any further ideas are welcome here .

Oh and benath topic is HOT . yeee ^^.