Elder Scrolls Forum: something totally different...

i'm working on a mod to add random quests and npc's (a la Daggerfall) to Morrowind. A beta with many features already implemented has been uploaded to the summit; here's the readme:

Morrowind Inhabitants v1.0

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Description
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Ever feel like your character is the only person in all of Vvardenfell who ever actually does anything interesting? Ever feel like the entire world revolves solely around you, with NPCs simply waiting for you to come along and trigger a quest? Ever get bored with the predictability of quests, or feel like you've run out of things to do? Morrowind Inhabitants was designed to change that.

This plugin adds randomly-occuring NPCs to the cities and wilderness of Vvardenfell. With Morrowind Inhabitants installed, you'll find new life in Morrowind. Hunters scour the grazelands for game, while pickpockets and bards roam the streets of Vivec seeking their fortunes. Travelers make their way along the roads, stopping to rest at inns and taverns along their journeys. Merchants transport their goods from one city to the next, sometimes stopping to trade with passers-by. All of these NPCs have specific behavior. Some are after your gold, while others seek your help.

In addition, you will find that existing NPCs now have more interesting quests for you. Randomness is an important element in Morrowind Inhabitants. You may be asked to collect a bounty on a dangerous wild animal, or undertake a sacred Oath while making a pilgrimage to an obscure shrine. The rewards for these quests, while balanced for gameplay, are definitely worthwhile.

Below are descriptions of the NPCs and quests added by Morrowind Inhabitants.

{- Random NPCs -}

Pickpockets now appear in cities. They may attempt to rob you. If successful, they will run off with your gold. You may chase them and recover the stolen money. If you lose the thief, you lose your gold as well. If you catch a thief in the act of stealing, you may pursue him and, if he's caught, turn him in to the guards. (Currently you can't turn in a thief, but you can still recover your stolen gold).

Hunters appear in the wilderness. They may request your help tracking down a region-specific creature, but insist that you allow them to bring down the kill. They will reward you with secret lore if you can track down the creature before sundown. - not fully implemented yet.

{- Random quests -}

Alchemists may ask you to assist with experimental potions. They will provide a random list of needed ingredients and send you off to gather them. When you return with the required ingredients, you will receive a random potion with extraordinary properties.

The Imperial Legion offers a bounty on a new creature each week. These bounties can be received from officers of the Imperial Legion (Rank Champion or higher). After receiving the bounty, report any kills of that creature to an officer of the Legion (Rank: Champion or higher) before the bounty expires to receive your reward. The more creatures you kill, the greater your reward.

Monks can administer sacred oaths to your character. You will undertake an Oath, for instance to abstain from the use of weapons, and make a pilgrimage to a random tomb. Once there, you must rid the tomb of guardians and rest in order to be rewarded for completing the Oath. - Note: one Oath, which requires you to wear no armor, is currently broken.

{- Miscellaneous quests -)

- Members of the Twin Lamps will pay handsomely for your assistance in ridding Vvardenfell of slavery. Bring the bracers of any freed slaves to a faction member to be rewarded.

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Technical Details
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In making this plugin I made every effort to avoid conflicts with the game itself or with other plugins. All dialogue topics have been made as unique as possible. Where unique leveled lists were not possible, random NPCs have been added to existing lists using the Tribunal leveled list functions to ensure compatibility with mods that alter these lists (such as Giants). The number of global scripts running simultaneously has been kept to a minimum. Dialogue is filtered according to class or faction, so the plugin will work with mods that add new npcs, and no existing dialogue topics have been touched.

Modifications have been made to the original slaveScript, which should not cause conflicts unless another mod alters that script as well. Currently this has no effect on the behavior of slaves. An additional room has been added to the cell "Tel Aruhn, Underground", and a new NPC just outside of the entrance to that cell.

This is a BETA version. The features mentioned in the Description above have all been implemented and tested to the best of my ability. However, you may encounter some glitches, which should be reported in order to ensure a quality mod. Features which remain unimplemented at this point include:

{- NPCs -}

Traveling Merchants - these merchants cart their goods along the roads of Vvardenfell with the help of a packguar. They will gladly stop and trade with any passersby, but some cannot be trusted, and they may prove hard to track down again if you find you've been taken advantage of.

Witches - these women can be found gathering herbs in the wilderness. They may ask for your assistance, but be careful, as witches are known for trickery.

Bards - bards seek their fortunes in the cities and towns of Vvardenfell. Unfortunately, a poor reputation often precedes them, so they may need your assistance in finding a tavern in which to ply their trade.

Bandits - encountered in the wilderness, these ruffians have one demand: your money or your life.

Beggars - these impoverished folk will follow you around the city streets begging for gold. They are an annoyance but there are several ways to get rid of them.

Travelers and Pilgrims - these travelers, often found along roads or in towns and taverns, are on their way to a specific destination. If you are heading the same way, they may accompany you to help make the journey less dangerous.

{- Quests -}

Bereaved commoners may ask that you return the ashes of their dead to their proper resting place within a tomb.

NPCs may be challenged to a duel in the Arena of Vivec.

Traders may send you to retrieve valuable artifacts from random shrines and caves.

You may be asked to retrieve the goods lost on sunken ships.

Smiths can forge unique customized weapons and armor with raw materials you bring them.

Slaves that you free can be escorted back to a slave trader where they can be resold, or to a safe house from which they can return home. Additionally, you can choose to steal slaves for your own personal use, or some may be so grateful for having been rescued that they will follow you freely as a companion.

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About the author
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This plugin was created by scruggs. Please, if you're going to use part of this plugin in your own mod, ask permission and give credit. It's common courtesy. If you find any problems with this plugin, please contact me at sxyrth@aol.com.

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I'm having a lot of fun coming up with new ideas for this mod and implementing them. If anybody has suggestions for other types of quests/npcs, lemme know.

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long-time lover ... part-time space traveler
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