Scripting Tutorial: My First Creature Script

Okay, you guys like creatures yes? how about applying a script to one? Anyone ever play castlevania: sotn\cod? Well, if so, then you will remember the pesky Blood Skeleton, a skeleton soaked in blood that reformed when it died and never stayed dead. Well, we are going to script a creature JUST like that. (I have a texture for a blood skeleton that I made, but I am unable to upload it). For now, it'll just look like a normal skeleton, but it will be a new entity.

What we are going to accomplish

1. Make a blood skeleton creature (won't look bloody)
2. When it dies, it will fall apart. Then it will reform, you will hear thunder, then it will have a unique fire until it is back up.

Where to begin

1. Open up the CS
2. When it's done loading, we shall create the creature
3. Go in the Creatures->Undead Tab. Find Skeleton under the undead tab
4. Right click on any CreatureSkeleton, and hit Edit. For example, if you want an archer, select CreatureSkeletonArcher and right click. It's up to you. I prefer something weak and unarmed, because he comes back endlessly and blood skeletons from castlevania were unarmed.
5. Anyway, for now, just change the ID to something like AaaBloodSkeleton(aaa so it's on the top)
6. When it asks to create a new form, say yes.

Now we shall make the script

Go under Gameplay->Edit Scripts. A little text thingy will pop up. Go under File->New and we must first define our scriptname. Make sure Script Type is Object (tab in edit script box)

scn AaaBloodSkeletonsScript

now that that's defined, we can begin. When he dies, we want the script to commence. So, we are going to use the OnDeath command.

begin OnDeath

so, so far it should look like

scn AaaBloodSkeletonsScript

begin OnDeath

Good. We defined the scriptname and the command. Now, we want the "Unholy Fire" so, now we add....

PlayMagicShaderVisuals effectSummonMythicDawn 5

This line tells us that the unholy fire will last approx. 5 seconds. Just enough time to get up. Here's what we got so far

scn AaaBloodSkeletonsScript

begin OnDeath
    PlayMagicShaderVisuals effectSummonMythicDawn 5

Giggity. We got the unholy fire going. Now we need to state the thunder sound next.

PlaySound AMBThunder

This plays the thunder. (Obviously)

scn AaaBloodSkeletonsScript

begin OnDeath
    PlayMagicShaderVisuals effectSummonMythicDawn 5
    PlaySound AMBThunder

Now, I know what you are thinking. STOP BABYING US AROUND JACKMIX! Heheh....We only have to define the resurrection. We cant just type resurrect, because then he will magically disappear\reappear. Then tell the script to end. In the resurrect, the 1 is causing him to come back together.

The final, full script

Note: Do not add the *(OneSpace)

scn AaaBloodSkeletonsScript
*(one space)
begin OnDeath
   PlayMagicShaderVisuals effectSummonMythicDawn 5
   PlaySound AMBThunder
   Resurrect 1
end

See? It's really not that hard to script, is it?

Now, we are almost done.

Go back under Creatures->Undead->Skeleton. Select the one we created earlier, (AaaBloodSkeleton) and under the script tab select the dots (elipses) and choose AaaBloodSkeletonsScript. Now, he is linking to his script! Congratulations!

But, there is one more thing....how will we get him to appear?

There are a number of things you could do....

1. Highlight your mouse over the Blood Skeleton's ID name in the Skeleton tab (aaabloodskeleton) and jot down those numbers and letters that come down eventually.. Then go in-game and go in the console and type player.placeatme (hex code for creature)
2. Make a script on a ring\amulet\whatever that summons him

I recommend one, because then you would have to do the same thing with the ring.

I shall edit this with a script for number two, my time is becoming thin.

Have fun with your skelly, play nice you hear?

Oh, one last thing. If you have a question, I'm at the Elder Scrolls forums just PM me :)