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House Guests

This mod introduces companion NPC's that can trade with you or be stationed anywhere you like in the game world. They can be considered as more useful and less annoying alternatives to Phasmalist summons.

Additionally, the mod provides the ability to modify the visual effects on NPC's in the game allowing you to give them a ghostly appearance or encase them in ice.

=====Non-Enderal version=====
https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/6621/?tab=description


=====Update from Older Version=====
If your save uses an older version of the mod, go to the nearest bed and sleep. This will trigger a script to update the mod's parameters in your save

=====How to start=====
1. Start/load a game and save. Then reload the save game (only need to do this once).
2. Go to Anvil and craft any (or all) of the "Control Rings". Each one provides a different NPC
3. Wear the crafted ring(s) to summon the NPC. Note: They do not take up any of your other equipment slots

=====Instructions on NPC=====
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Summon
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Each NPC has a different Control Ring linked to it. Re-equiping it will cause the NPC to be summoned to your location. The only exception is when you are in combat (for balancing reason)

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Combat spells
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Granting a spell tome to an NPC will allow it to cast the corresponding spell. Likewise, removal of the spell tome will revoke its ability to cast the spell.

Note:
1. Avoid giving multiple copies of the same tome to the NPC.
2. Non-mage NPC's like Blacksmith are less likely to cast spells even if they have the magika.

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Dialog
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You can ask the NPC to do the following:

"Let's trade": The NPC will trade with you as a merchant. The inventory depends on the NPC. Blacksmith will sell weaponry and alchemists will sell potions and reagents

"Show me your inventory": The NPC will allow you to add or remove items to its personal inventory. Note: You can't steal the items he sells as a merchant.

"I want to modify your look":
--> "Set alpha value": Sets the transparency of the NPC
--> "Change skin glow/shaders": Adds a visual effect on the NPC (only one allowed at a time)
--> "Light Level": Toggle on/off a permanent Magelight spell on the NPC. This is a quality-of-life feature for dark dungeons

"Follow me": The NPC will follow you as a companion

"Stay": The NPC will stop following and stand still indefinitely

"Go fool around a bit": The NPC will stop following, stay in the general area, and starts doing his own activities (e.g. eating, cooking)

"Anchor yourself here": The NPC will consider the spot he's standing on as his home. If you want the NPC to populate your home, lead him there and use this command

"Return to your anchor". The NPC will return to his anchor. It is mostly useful if you want to quickly summon it to sell some items and then send home

"Other commands":
-> "Your services are no longer required": Kills the NPC. He can be re-created when you wear the ring again.

=====Types of NPC=====

Alchemist: Female mage. Sells potions and reagents
Artist: Female mage. Sells special mod-specific items to alter NPC looks
Blacksmith: Male 2H warrior. Sells weapons
Clothier: Female mage. Sells clothing and jewelry
Relic Hunter: Male 1H warrior. Sells blueprints for house
Trader: Male rogue. Sells general goods
Wizard: Male mage. Sells magical equipment
Daddy/Mommy/Sister: Keep around for creepiness. They can all fight with you if you insist...

=====Artisan Equipment=====

The Artisan NPC will sell some mod specific items that allow the player to modify the appearance of NPC's. There are two steps to take:
1. Set the special effect configuration by reading a few books sold by the Artisan NPC
2. Apply the configuration on a target NPC by casting a special spell on it or hitting with a special weapon

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Configuring special effect
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There are 3 parameters to this configuration"
Visual Effects - Effects that are applied around an NPC (i.e. a swirling cloud)
Effect Shaders - Effects that are applied on an NPC (i.e. iron skin)
Alpha Value - The degree of transparency of the NPC (0 = invisible, 1 = completely visible)

These parameters can be set by reading books with names: (Effect Shader), <Visual Effect>, and [Alpha Value].

For example, reading "(Berserker Effect Shader)", "<Atronach Fire Trail Visual Effect>", and "[Alpha = 0.9]" will give the following configuration:
- The target will be covered in blood, have fire burning at his feet, and is slightly transparent.

If you then read the book "*(Charaus Poison Effect Shader)", then the Berserker effect shader will be replaced and the target will be covered in green poison instead while still having fire at his fleet and the slight transparency.

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Applying special effect
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Once the special effect configurations are set, there are two ways to apply the special effects on a target NPC:
Artisan's Touch - A melee-ranged non-hostile spell that applies specified special effects on target NPC. The special effects stay indefinitely until dispelled.
Shader Bow - A bow that applies Artisan's Touch on any NPC it hits with.

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Caveat
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Special effects can disappear from an NPC when the following happens (caused by game engine limitations):
- The NPC resets (e.g. levels up or is resurrected)
- The NPC is too many cells away from the player causing the game engine to unload it (usually do not happen to followers who are around you all the time)

When this happens, then you can simply re-apply the effect