Custom Follower Voices, for SE

[karurawasabi]

This is a framework that adds 10 20 new voice types and integrates them into the default follower system, for Skyrim Special Edition.

(Sharing this here because I don't want to fiddle with Nexus' policies regarding ripped voice assets from other video games. And because it's technically a non-playable modder's resource, and people would prefer an actual playable thing and stuff)

The new voice types added are as follows:

• FemaleUniqueKjerin (voice lines from Injustice 2's Black Canary, with combat grunts from Mortal Kombat X's Sonya Blade)
• FemaleUniqueKyrrin (voice lines from Mortal Kombat X's Cassie Cage)
• FemaleUniqueLeliana (from Dragon Age: Origins' Leliana)
• FemaleUniqueMorrigan (from Dragon Age: Origins' Morrigan)
• FemaleUniqueVeronica (new, from Fallout: New Vegas' Veronica, with a smattering of lines from Mortal Kombat X's Jacqui Briggs)
• MaleUniqueAlistair (from Dragon Age: Origins' Alistair Theirin)
• MaleUniqueArcade (from Fallout: New Vegas' Arcade Gannon, with some lines taken from Dragon Age: Origins' Soris)
• MaleUniqueKieran (from Mortal Kombat X's Takeda Takahashi)
• MaleUniqueMute (a mute voice type for mute characters)
• FemaleUniqueMute (a mute voice type for mute characters... Bethesda, why do NPC voice types have to be gender-restricted???)
• MaleUniqueOris (from Mortal Kombat X's Kung Jin, with few lines taken from one of the male elf player lines from DAO)
• MaleUniqueRiasyd (from injustice 2's Aquaman, with combat grunts from Mortal Kombat X's Kotal Kahn)
• MaleUniqueZevran (from Dragon Age: Origins' Zevran)
• MaleRobot/MaleRobotHuman (from Fallout 4--the difference between these is that one is a barebones robotic voice type; the other has more personable and human-like dialogues)
• FemaleRobot/FemaleRobotHuman (from Fallout 4, same as above)
• MaleUniqueMaccready (from Fallout 4's Maccready)
• FemaleUniqueCurie (from Fallout 4's Curie)
• FemaleUniqueSera (from Dragon Age: Inquisition's Sera)
• FemaleUniqueCassandra (from Dragon Age: Inquisition's Cassandra Pentaghast)
• FemaleUniqueVivienne (from Dragon Age: Inquisition's Vivienne de Fer)
• MaleUniqueSolas (from Dragon Age: Inquisition's Solas)

All lines are from video game assets. No AI synth.

So I basically made this for my personal use. I like making my own OCs within Skyrim and since I don't like reusing the same old MaleEvenToned or FemaleYoungEager over and over again, I compiled a bunch of voices from characters I like from various video games, and put them in one ESM-flagged mod. If I want my character to utilize the new voice type I created, I'd put this mod as a master. (It's also why the voice type names are like that--most of them are names of my OCs).

(if you're interested in grabbing, please read the post in full beforehand.)

Download (Mediafire, updated 1.20)
Minor update for 1.20, download and override loose files

Additionally, if you have trouble getting the recruitment lines to work for NPCs using the voice types, install this patch and put it at the very last of your load order.

In theory, the patch should also allow you to use the framework with Auri or Livia Salvian or any other CVFs that edit the DialogueFavorGeneric quest, but don't quote me on that bc I've never tried.

(and there's an I'm Glad You're Here integration/patch updated for 1.20 here)

(AFT/iAFT, EFF, and Common Following SE experimental patches here. They're all bundled together, pick the one you need and delete the rest.) <- temporarily discontinued, please use NFF or any other compatible follower framework instead!!

As of 1.20, it requires BEES if your Skyrim version is less than 1.6.640 (or whatever the actual number is. I saved the plugin in the newest version of CK so it's 1.71 now, sorry!)


Changelogs:

• Added more voice types, basically.
• Fixed more errors.

Installation instructions, assuming you're installing manually. I do hope you already know how to install with a mod manager, go look up a tutorial or two:

Can't believe I have to type this

1. Get 7zip here, it's free.
(I have terrible relationship with WinRAR man, many times I packed my mods with it only to end up getting corrupted. Or maybe I'm just unlucky.)

2. Download the file from mediafire. ONLY install the additional patch ("AnyoneCanBecomeFollowerCandidate.esp") if you have trouble getting the recruitment lines to work for the NPCs. Otherwise, don't.
HINT: You can safely uninstall this patch after you've recruited every follower with the voice type you want; the patch is only needed for the "follow me i need your help" line to properly appear. If you find down the line that the patch conflicts with whatever mod edits DialogueFavorGeneric in your load order, uninstall it after you're sure you have recruited every follower you need.

3. After it finishes downloading, you'll have the file "KarurasCustomFollowerVoices.7z", probably somewhere in your Downloads folder or wherever is the designated location of your downloaded files. Right click, choose 7-zip -> Extract to "KarurasCustomFollowerVoices\". This will add a folder named "KarurasCustomFollowerVoices SE 1.11" and put all the extracted files within. Open it.

4. Within that folder, there's another folder called "Data". Open it. Move the contents over to your Skyrim SE's Data folder. If you're updating, there will be a prompt saying "would you want to overwrite these files" etc etc. Say yes.
(It is okay to overwrite the files if you're updating to a newer version.)

5. Make sure KarurasCustomFollowerVoices.esp is installed and enabled. One way of making sure if it's working in your save game is to enter the game, type in console help "MaleUniqueAlistair" or "FemaleUniqueVeronica", and if it's installed correctly, there should be some results showing up.

6. Moral of the story? Just get a mod manager.


Compatibility:

This mod edits DialogueFavorGeneric quest. The edit is VERY unintrusive, and only removes one condition within the quest record. It's the same method employed by Missing Follower Dialogue Edit, which this mod is compatible with.

Nether's Follower Framework is compatible.
Immersive Amazing Follower Tweaks (and probably the normal version too) is compatible... kinda. If you wish to recruit multiple followers, first recruit any NPC with my new voice type, then other vanilla-voiced follower(s) of your choice. But it's only kinda compatible, there will be some hiccups and small bugs along the way, I won't do a proper patch for this. (This is due to AFT/iAFT injecting its new scripts to vanilla follower dialogues, while my follower dialogues are still based on vanilla scripts.)
Common Following SE is compatible... kinda. Similar situation with AFT--recruit any NPC with my new voice type first, then other vanilla-voiced follower(s) of your choice. If there are two NPCs using my new voice types and you want to recruit both, you can't without a proper patch.
FollowerLivePackage is compatible.
Simple Follower Extension AE (and probably the normal version too) is compatible.
Minimalistic Follower Framework is compatible.
Extensible Follower Framework is also kiiiiinda compatible. Same shebang as AFT and Common Following.

Ok, fine, I patched them (scroll up for the link).

What I did was basically forwarded the script and condition changes from AFT, EFF, and Common Following to my new follower dialogues for consistency, less scripts tripping on themselves, and recruit multiple followers in any order (no need to recruit my custom voiced follower first and then a vanilla voiced follower second).

I have not tested it, if it behaves weirdly in game let me know (especially in the case of AFT because I have no friggin' idea why followers get different scripts based on their vanilla voice types in that mod, but anyway). Test it in a fresh test save just to be sure. And they're non-critical patches anyway--your game won't implode when not using them (but maybe don't uninstall it mid-playthrough. Like I said, make a test save.)

There might be more follower framework mods on SE out there, I don't know. As a rule, you can install the additional patch I linked above (scroll up) and put it at the very bottom of your load order as a sort of band-aid patch. (Personally, a good follower framework should have no need to touch DialogueFavorGeneric quest or follower dialogues at all, so.)


Known bugs:

• If the NPC has recruit lines, but no hello/goodbye/idle lines, it means you're installing the mod mid-game. Try saving the game once and then reloading. It's Skyrim's limitation regarding start on game load quests, nothing I can do about it.
• Morrigan's trade lines are a little bit... wonky (there's a voice/line mismatch that somehow slipped through me when I made it, it's embarrassing). Temporary fix here, overwrite when asked. Will fix this properly in a new version.
• All voice types have no lines for "it appears you already have someone following you". I can't find suitable lines for this kind of situation, and most people probably have multiple follower mod already. If you try to recruit any NPC with the new voice types while already having a follower, the "follow me, i need your help" option simply won't be available.
• Shouts are unvoiced.
• There is no marriage support. Sorry. However, there are some lover-related lines (for some voice types, not all of them). If you want to hear it, open console, click on the follower, type 'set relationshiprank player 4', enter. 

If you're interested in editing a vanilla-voiced companion to use one of the voice types in this mod, here's how:

1. Load up KarurasCustomFollowerVoices.esp and the esp/esl of the follower mod you want to edit in SSEEdit. You can use Creation Kit, but I prefer the former. It just loads faster.
2. Before you do anything further, please keep a backup of your follower mod's' original ESP! SSEEdit is less volatile than CK, but you can never be too careful.
3. On the left pane, right click on your follower mod's esp. Select "Add masters..."
4. On the window that pops up, select KarurasCustomFollowerVoices.esp. Click OK.
5. On the left pane, expand your follower mod's esp (if you haven't already). Find the NPC record of your follower.
6. Scroll down until you find the column VTCK - Voice. This is your follower's current voice type.
7. Change the voice type to any of the new ones (if you have successfully added KCFV as a master, they should pop up).
8. Save your follower mod. You're done!

Obviously the mod now requires my framework in order for you to load it. This is meant for a personal use, a quick and easy way to have 'custom' voice for basic followers without dealing with scripts and such.

Do NOT edit a vanilla NPC's voice type. Obvi-fucking-ously. You might break quests that way. Use this only for modded followers with vanilla voice, not NPCs shipped by the game.

edit: You might be able to change an NPC's voice type using the newest version of Proteus. Maybe. It's such a big, all-encompassing mod so I'm not interested in testing it myself, but who knows, maybe it works. Just DON'T change your player character's voice types as that will make shouts go unvoiced.
edit edit: apparently you can also edit NPC's voice type at runtime with Skypatcher now.


Permissions:

You are allowed to do whatever you want with the framework as long as it stays in your hard drive. Feel free to archive the mod for personal use, make ESP patches or modifications, convert it to Legendary Edition, share the link to a friend or whatever. Just don't share them on any mod-sharing websites like nexus, loverslab, vectorplexus etc. If there's any problem, shoot me a message here or on Nexus.

If you wish to utilize the voice assets for your own follower mods (say, make a custom-voiced follower with these voices without making your mod dependent on my framework), please do not release such followers on any mod-sharing websites, and please do not put it up for monetary profit. You won't get in trouble with me, but you're gonna get in trouble with the original voice actors and video game developers who owned these assets in the first place.

Share it between your friends, on your Discord group, on your personal blog, whatever, I can't stop you. Just use your common sense, okay.

And for the love of all that's holy, don't take ALL of the assets wholesale, and then rebrand them as your own, or make a copy of the framework with all of these assets and claim it as your own work. That'd be rude.

And that's it. You're not required to read past this sentence, it's mostly just rambling ahead.


Here's a little bit of rambling regarding the voice types I chose and what you should (probably) be aware of.

• 1.1: Some particularly non-lore-friendly or plain weird lines are now restricted--followers won't utter them unless they're in the KarurasRestrictedDialogue faction. Believe me, most of them only make sense for my OCs.
• Voice types are largely neutral--I didn't put any Grey Warden-related lines on Alistair's voice, for example. However, a lot of them are still very... specific, in a sense? Some will only fit a certain type of character and such.
• FemaleUniqueKyrrin is brash and rude towards the player. MaleUniqueArcade is a bit of a scaredy cat in battle. Take a look at the esp and browse through the lines yourself.
• MaleUniqueOris and MaleUniqueArcade are definitely made for certain characters in mind. Arcade can hit on a male unmarried player, while Oris has some combat taunts that suggest he's not really into girls (though you can headcanon it as something else, idk). Keep that in mind if you don't want your custom follower suddenly having a certain preference. (And I didn't restrict these lines bc I'm pettyyyyyy)
• Some lines might sound too modern depending on your taste. There's a line "you kinda suck, dude" for MaleUniqueKieran and probably a few others for other voice types.
• Most voice types have one or a few "help me, I'm injured" lines, but not all of them. At least MaleUniqueRiasyd, MaleUniqueKieran, and FemaleUniqueKjerin don't.
• Most of them have friendly fire line ("hey, watch it" kind of stuff), but they're mixed with the rest of their "get hit" lines so you won't hear it as much. I personally find friendly fire lines a bit annoying and this method works for me.
• Most of them also have complete lines for being healed, turned invisible, calmed, being hit with rally/courage spells, etc.
• Dragon Age and Fallout 4 voice types (Alistair, Morrigan, Leliana, Zevran, Cassandra, Sera, Solas, Maccready, Curie) have quite a bit of romance lines. The rest are either none or just a smattering hint of flirty lines. Again, feel free to inspect the ESP and check for yourself.
• ... And yes, I know Jon Curry (Zevran's VA) also does the MaleEvenToned voice type, but I swear I didn't just reuse MET grunts for Zevran. MaleUniqueZevran is its own voice type with its own combat grunts, death sounds, etc.

 

And finally, the ultimate question:

"Why not just make a custom voiced follower and include the voice lines within it?"

I don't care about custom voiced followers. I don't care about making custom voiced followers. My Creation Kit hates working with new scripts, and it's just overall not an area of modding I care to learn about at this moment.

Doing it this way also allows me (and those who use the framework) more flexibility. You have a Morrigan follower that you downloaded from someone else and want her to have her authentic Claudia Black voice? Just change her voice to FemaleUniqueMorrigan from this mod and boom, you got Claudia Black voicing Morrigan in Skyrim. You have a random custom follower that you think would sound like Morrigan--but isn't exactly her--and want her to be voiced by Claudia Black too? Just do the same thing as above, and boom, she sounds like Claudia now.

With a framework, you're not tied to a single follower mod that uses a custom voice type--instead, you get mutliple custom voice types ready to use in your follower mods. Just add my mod as a master, change a single line in your follower NPC record, voila.

I'm aware that the lack of marriage support can be a turn off for some. I personally don't bother with Skyrim's marriage system anymore (I just imagine the "romance" in my head, and play it out with pose mods, headcanons, stories, screenarchery. And then there's the Ostim folks who play out the romance in some other way. Good for them.) As of right now, I see two possible options for marriage integration:

1) Do some integration hackery with Formlist Manipulator and AI synth the proposal, marriage, and adoption lines, or:
2) Edit the marriage quest to attach new dialogues. I see this done with the Khajiit marriage from RDO.

Editing the marriage quest looks a bit too daunting for me atm (and I would need to touch more vanilla records than I need to, increasing the risk of incompatibility). Even if it is possible, there's also the problem of not having enough suitable lines from the source material. 'd probably end up using AI synth anyway to fill in the gaps. 

AI synth is.... ehhhhh. I don't want to deal with potential legal issues, and even if I want to, XVASynth sounds too robotic for my taste while Elevenlabs is too expensive for my broke ass. New tech, voice cloning, etc etc? Also expensive. Do I want to start pulling out real money out of my pocket for a free mod? Idk man. Financial situation not yet stable enough to do that kind of stuff.

Comments

Nice patch and Update!

[hluill]

Downloaded the Update and the Glad You're Here Patch, and besides some file-name issues on my end, they worked like a charm.

Thanks for the hard work.

Re: Nice patch and Update!

[karurawasabi]

Glad to hear that!