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Current Mood: creative

Over the Valus Mountains

Well this makes for a nerve-wracking way to start.

The "point of beginning" that I've chosen is the path up to Kemen, way up in the Valus mountain range. The idea is that a few members of the Royal Guard escorted the family west across Morrowind's mainland (not to protect them, but to herd them to the border). On reaching the border, the guard reminded Aeronwen and Neldor (in front of their children) that if they ever so much as set foot back over the border they would be disobeying the King which would be grounds for imprisonment. At that point the family is on their own.

In this play-through they already have their new home bought and paid for. They are carrying the deed and the keys, but before they can begin their journey to it, Aeronwen and Neldor have to take their children and their animals up the steep Valus mountains and down the other side. On the west side of the mountain the path turns into a switch-back, which is far better than going straight down but still makes for a dangerous journey. In this screenshot they can't think of anything other than getting their group down the mountain without someone falling and breaking their neck (I think the pet foxes have the easiest time of it).

( Read more... )

I was resolved that I wasn't going to write any of this, but this whole thing is writing itself inside my mind even if I don't turn it into a journal entry.

Entry tags:

oblivion

New Leather Armor

With all the times I've gone through the Oblivion armor mods at Nexus, how in the world did I miss this?

New Leather Armor
New Leather Armor - Male Version

Neldor is wearing the dark leather version while Aeronwen is wearing the lighter one (they each look good in both versions).

It was well worth taking the time to go through the mods again. I wasn't expecting to find this gem in the midst of all the "stripper armor".

Current Mood: contemplative

They Did Not Arrive By Boat

I just finished doing my pregame set up for when Aeronwen and Company come to Cyrodiil. That's always a lengthy process. I set the time scale to 1x so that I don't end up having hours or even a day go by while Aeronwen is porting around everywhere. The process involves going to Anvil to activate the COBL Luggage, going to the testing hall and various shops to grab the armor and clothes they would have had with them on arrival, get the pet foxes, the donkey, ponies, horses, camping gear, and of course the wigs and other accessories they use. Basically everything that they would have had when they left Morrowind.

The last thing is to place then at the location where the official start would be. Before setting the time scale back to 5X I'm thinking of having them port to Cheydinhal which is next to the Morrowind border. The reason being that they would not have traveled to Cyrodiil by boat. They traveled by land so I'm feeling inclined to have this game start at the point that they cross the Morrowind border.

To me that makes more sense then just plopping them down at the Imperial City docks.

Current Mood: amused

Entry tags:

highwood,
oblivion

The "Elder West"?

This almost feels like Aeronwen and Gloria managed to slip out of the Elder Scrolls universe and ended up in the Old West. Or perhaps I should say, the "Elder West".

...Sounds like a possible new game. ;)

This is my new desktop wallpaper. :) I took the shot when I was just having Aeronwen ride around Highwood/Anvil/Gold Coast and enjoying the scenery. Although Aeronwen likes cozy little Millstone (as do I), I have to agree with Neldor about Highwood; it's the better place for a family. It's near Valenwood, has a larger house, doesn't feel so walled in and cut off from everything, is near the town of Anvil (but not TOO near), and the children have a lot more room to play and ride their ponies.

[I have a bad case of "the grass is greener at the other farm" when it comes to Highwood and Millstone.]

If I were to replay my "Family in Cyrodiil game", I think I would forego the whole "ride around aimlessly trying to find a home" and just say that Aryc really pulled some strings and managed to get a good price for Highwood for them. The whole "kill the insanely strong lich to get the key" would be done off-camera (even using the console kill command to get by him).

So...yeah...these are my ramblings after spending the evening riding back and forth around the Gold Coast.

Current Mood: contemplative

Will likely "Retcon to Skyrim"

I recently decided to clean up my Oblivion mod list, mainly removing things like house mods I'm not using and the Vilya mods. This will of course wreck the game I had in progress since Oblivion seems far less forgiving about mods being removed mid-game than Morrowind, but oh well. I will not yet at this time delete the Cyrodiil journal entries, nor am I planning a do-over, for what I have written basically sums up the characters' relocated lives. Aeronwen and Neldor would never do the main quest, nor do much hardcore adventuring since they have children to raise. So it's just "acquire a farm or two and live their lives".

Another reason I'm not bothering with a do-over is that after all these years my husband and I finally have Skyrim. We haven't installed it yet and I don't know when we will, but we have it. When we do finally install it I'll play a vanilla game and go through the main quest which takes place in the Fourth Era. After that I may very well start a new game and roleplay that the game-world exists in the Third Era, which means Aeronwen and her family are still young, alive and well. And Skyrim would be the place that they relocate.

Skyrim may be colder than what they're used to, but I think they would like it far more than Cyrodiil. Even though I don't have the game installed yet I've been browsing Skyrim mods and bookmarked those that look interesting (such as one that adds some unique colored horses, including a palomino). I've found mods for farms, farm animals, mods that pertain to having children in the home, etc. Oddly I have not yet found a mod that adds pack donkeys, but surely I'm just somehow missing it (we have to have Oliver).

So along, with playing Morrowind, I'll keep browsing Skyrim mods so I have an idea what I want to work with when I'm finally ready to turn my version of TES4 into "Third Era Skyrim".

Current Mood: contemplative
Current Music: 1883 Theme by Brian Tyler

1883 Series, Musings, and Character Ponderings

( .....cut for length, screenshot, and what might be spoilers for some people..... )

Current Mood: impressed

The Shimmering Soiree Dresses

I believe Vallisara and Aeronwen like their new dresses. They really appreciate the effort that went into bringing them to Morrowind. ( Read more... )

Current Mood: impressed

Even More Wigs

I had to try out the new hair resources that

pasque generously shared. :)

( Read more... )

Current Mood: creative

Out in the Bitter Coast Rain

Helseth, just look at her! That's your little girl! Don't you feel bad at all?
I don't care if you are the King. You have no heart! None whatsoever.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: accomplished

Adding Animations

I've been playing around with the Sit Down mod and have ended up with what might be a confusing system if I'm not careful. When using the mod "right out of the box" a newly created character does not use the sitting/lying down animations, but instead has access to a number of different idle animations, such as the more relaxed "hand on the hip".

Cut for screenshot: ( Read more... )

There is also a looking around animation, one of reaching up and touching the side of the character's head, a hand on the chest with head bowed animation, and a few others. And although I installed this mod for the sitting animations, I really like being able to use these idles. So, New Aeronwen #1 is set up with a copy of the "fresh out of the box" Sit Down mod.

I then installed a version of the mod that has the player character edited in the CS so that the sitting animations are attached. Note: I NEVER have both Sit Down mods checked at once.

New Aeronwen #2 was made using the edited Sit Down mod, which means the mod works properly, allowing her to sit, kneel and pray, and lie down. She can do things like use the bed in her cottage.

Cut for screen: ( Read more... )

What I think I'm going to do is use one New Aeronwen for the main game and use the other as a "Stunt Double". The question is, which should be which?

I'll be spending some time jumping into the game and playing around on both but I have a feeling that the one who can sit/lie down will be the stunt double, while the one who has access to the idles will be the main game. It just seems to me that I would use those idle poses more often than the sitting/lying down/praying animations.

We shall see. Whatever the case, it's nice that she can do more than just stand there at rigid attention.

edited to add: It seems like the "Idles Aeronwen" can be used more spontaneously. As she wonders around I can see her stopping to look over her shoulder, or do the animation that looks like she's pushing her hair out of the way. It could feel tedious to be playing the "Sitting Aeronwen" and have to bring in the Idles Double anytime I want her to look over her shoulder or place her hand on her chest as she draws a deep breath.

It's much easier for her to be in a situation where she would sit/sleep and then momentarily load the Stunt Double save and place the double in the same environment to get the screenie.

Lastly; her updated hair is now in fact her hair and not a wig. Now she can wear items from the necklace mod without loosing her beautiful golden waves.

Current Mood: amused

Entry tags:

oblivion

So Twin-like

It's currently another dark stormy day in Cyrodiil so the family is staying indoors. While Aeronwen was working on a painting she noticed that the twins were lying on the floor along the wall reading.

Is it me or is this very...twin-like? ( Read more... )

Current Mood: pleased

Entry tags:

oblivion

They Needed Some Pillows

I decided to redo the "Cuddle by the Fireplace" screenshot from the last fic entry. Anytime I looked at it I thought, "Neldor really looks like he needs a pillow".

So I did a search and found Decoration Pillows at Nexus. I tossed down a few in the area where Neldor's head would be and...I think they both look much more comfortable.( Read more... )

Current Mood: accomplished

Entry tags:

oblivion

Highwood Shop - Version 2

Wow that didn't take long at all. Anyway, I remade the Highwood Arts and Brews Shop and I think it turned out a little better than the first version. Before I officially add it to my load list I'm going to go back in an fix the lighting. Even after the shop opens it's too dark in there. I also need to adjust some paintings which are crooked on the walls. ( Read more... )

Why Did I Not Make a Backup

Before attempting to move the shop I had a nagging feeling that I should make a copy of my modded Trade and Commerce mod. But...I didn't. Don't ask me why. The frustrating thing is that I know better than this. Anyway, I moved the shop to Pell's Gate and...now the mod crashes. And I can't figure out how to fix it.

Soooo...I have to start over with an original copy of the mod, which means I have lost all the work I did turning it into the sort of place where Aeronwen would sell her crated items.

*head hits desk*

The good news is that my current game still works.

Current Mood: pleased

Entry tags:

oblivion

Customizing the Shop

I wasn't sure if customizing the inside of the Trade and Commerce shop would work, but it did. ( Read more... )

Current Mood: contemplative

Entry tags:

oblivion

Trade and Commerce Mod (and new potions)

Another mod I was glad to find: Retextured Potions. The vanilla Oblivion potions weren't bad, but a little dull. These retextured ones make me want to set them out on a shelf.

And the other mod I've been taking a look at is Trade and Commerce along with the Trade and Commerce Update/Patch.

Using a test save, I consoled myself the needed funds to buy the shop, the shop's furniture and hire a shop keeper, and I must say I like the way the store is set up to sell the player's items. You can of course sell the usual armor, weapons, and other things you get from dungeons, but you can always specialize. In Aeronwen's case, she would sell her potions and crafted items. This is the sort of mod I've always wanted in Morrowind; a place where crafted items could be sold. I've heard that there are such mods for Morrowind, but I've never found one.

The only thing I wish was different is the location. The shop is in Chorrel, right next door to Northern Goods and Trade. Seed-Neeus and her daughter are such nice people. Like a number of people who left comments, I feel bad about opening a shop right next to hers that could take away from her business. Of course from a roleplay standpoint it might not be so bad if the shop is selling Aeronwen's potions, pottery, paintings and bolts of cloth that she has woven.

Another reason I wish the location was different is because it's not close to any place where Aeronwen's family could end up living. Ideally I would have liked the shop either in Anvil (near Highwood) or Cheydinhal (near Millstone).

On the other hand, perhaps it's good that the shop is in a more neutral location since I will likely be greedy and have the family end up owning both farms; Millstone first since it's more like a private farm and the baddie they need to kill is a bit easier than the horrible lich they have to deal with the get Highwood, which seems more like a "commercial farm" with its brands of drinks and honey bars.

Anyway, there appears to be no problems in the test save and could be something for Aeronwen and Neldor to shoot for down the road since they don't really like raiding caves and basically killing bandits for a living. No matter where they are living, they can occasionally take a break from tending their farm and go to Chorrel with a load of crafted items to add to the store's inventory.

Current Mood: amused

Entry tags:

oblivion

Another Valenwood Relative

As I mentioned in this blog's previous entry, my Hidden Elf is working her way through Oblivion's main quest with Vilja. The two characters have seemed like a good fit (though admittedly this player character has nowhere near the developed personality like Aeronwen does. Aeronwen has, after all, been living in my headspace for almost twenty years). Since they get along so well I had figured Vilja would work well with my main characters. Unfortunately during my last game things just didn't feel quite right.

This is my no means a criticism of Vilja. If anything the fact that she works with some characters but not all shows just how well written and developed Vilja is (the same with the Morrowind companion Julan). So when I restart my main game I don't think I'll include Vilja for that one. Unfortunately that left Aeronwen and Neldor once again struggling with caring for their twins while trying to earn a living by adventuring. But then another Valenwood relative stepped out and offered to help. ( Read more... )

Current Mood: impressed

Entry tags:

oblivion

Halfway Through the Oblivion Main Quest

My Tribal Hidden Elf (whom I called Alandis because I like the name) and Vilja are now at the point where they are investigating the Mythic Dawn. By now they've gone into a couple of Oblivion gates and I was really surprised at how intimidating the atmosphere and the dremora look.

Throughout ESO there are times when the player goes to the realms of Oblivion, but none of them made me stop and have that "we're not in Kansas anymore" reaction. And I jumped in my chair the first time a dremora charged at me.

This makes me repeat something I said earlier when comparing ESO's Vvardenfell to TES3's (admittedly modded) Vvardenfell; ESO feels like a theme park while the places in the single player games feel like the real deal.

TES4 has an interesting story but it does confirm what I was thinking earlier; this is not a questline that Aeronwen and Neldor would get involved in, at least not officially. If they would do anything it would be entirely off camera and not mentioned in the story blog and would be for no reason other than to get some gates spawning so Aeronwen can record seeing these historic events in her diary. But as far as "official" involvement; investigating a dangerous cult and raising a set of young twins doesn't mix. The most they would do is kill any daedra that might spawn near their home(s). Otherwise they will just be observers whose priority is to protect their children.

Entry tags:

millstone,
oblivion

Redone Millstone Bedroom

Since Aeronwen's game is busted, I thought, "oh what the hell" and took another stab at redecorating the master bedroom in the Millstone cottage. This is what I came up with. I figure that Neldor sang to the roses to get them to grow like this around the room.

He may have "over-sung" a bit.

Neldor: "Hey, Aeronwen LIKES the roses!"
( Read more... ) I had enough room for a chest of drawers along the wall just to the right of the door.

Current Mood: annoyed

Why Can I Not Swap Between Different Character Saves?!

I know plenty of other people who have played Morrowind and Oblivion with different characters (not all in one game of course). They will play Charater A for a little while, then switch to Character B for a little while, and some even swap to Character C before going back to Character A's saves. No matter how well my games are set up, I have NEVER been able to do that without one character or the other's save games crashing.

It started with Morrowind, which was why I ended up turning new characters I thought of into companions and placing them in Aeronwen's game. Since Oblivion has been running perfectly, I took a chance and went in on my Hidden Elf scout to play through more of the main quest as well as the Fighters and Mage guild quests (since Aeronwen and Neldor don't like to join factions). And now...my Aeronwen saves crash on load, all except "Save #1; right out of character creation".

*long deep sigh*

It will be awhile before I continue my main game since I'm not thrilled over having to replay the first two weeks. Granted the same thing happen when I was creating Constance. I made her as a player character first because it was far easier to shape her face that way than in the construction set. After she was all done my Aeronwen saves no longer loaded.

So, yeah...I'm just going to play my scout a bit more and see the main quest before redoing Aeronwen's game.

But again...WHY does this happen when every other Elder Scrolls player I know can freely swap between their character saves? I know Aeronwen has a territorial nature, but come on!