Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:

Q. What does this mod give me that the old ART! Argonian mod doesn't.
A. This mod gives you the Shadowscale power, that makes you silent and nearly invisible when you sneak, and gives you a poison cloak when you stop sneaking. This mod also gives Argonian followers and other NPCs all of the same powers as an Argonian player character.

Q. Do I need to unsubscribe from the old ART! Argonian mod?
A. No. This mod will replace the changes made by that mod.

Q. May I use the other Amazing Race Tweaks! mods, too?
A. Yes, they are fully compatible with this mod.

Q. Can I use this mod if I'm not playing an Argonian?
A. Sure. It will make Argonian followers more powerful, and Argonian bandits and other foes more of a challenge.

Q. Will the mod work with mods that add Argonian followers?
A. Yes. Since the mod changes the race, but not the characters, it should work with Argonian follower mods.

Q. Are there any Argonian follower mods you recommend?
A. Yes, I used this one when testing the mod, and it worked great: Marriable Female Argonian Followers.

Q. When do Argonian NPCs use the abilities and powers?
A. The powers become abilities for Argonian followers and foes. Each has conditions that must be met before the NPC will use them:
* Shadowscale silent movement and 30% harder to detect: Used whenever sneaking
* Shadowscale underwater invisibility: Used when swimming and health gets below 50%
* Shadowscale poison cloak: Used when health gets below 50%
* Histskin: Used whenever health gets below 25%
* Restoration spells cost 20% less and heal 20% more: Used always
* 50+ Health: Used always
* 50% poison and disease resistance: Used always
* Scales provide 10% less damage from melee weapons: Used always
* Unarmed claws do 5x more damage than a human's fists: Used always
* Faster Swimming: Used whenever swimming

Q. Where are the other Amazing Race Tweaks! mods?
A. This is the first of the 2016 Edition mods. Others will follow.

Q. Can I subscribe to the old editions, until the new ones come out?
A. Yes. You may subscribe to them, here.

Q. Why does my Argonian have a shock cloak and no Shadowscale power?
A. You subscribed to the 2014 edition of ART! Argonian after subscribing to this mod. Try unsubscribing from this mod, starting and exiting Skyrim, then subscribing to this mod. It should then be lower in the load order and replace changes made by the older edition.

Q. Steam downloaded the new update. Why do I still have a 25% weakness to frost?
A. It's a Steam issue, where the game is not applying changes made by the update. To fix it:
• save your game
• exit Skyrim to the desktop
• launch Skyrim
• select Data Files
• clear the check box next to this mod
• select OK and Play
• load the most recent save
• select Yes
• save the game
• exit to the desktop
• launch the game
• select Data Files
• select the check box next to this mod
• select OK and Play
• load the save you made without this mod
• check the Magic Effects menu (weakness to frost should now be 15%)

Q. Are Histskin and the new Shadowscale now lesser powers?
A. Yes, but to keep them from being too overpowered, they both have a 10 minutes cool down, and you can only use one of the two powers every 10 minutes. But when under water, the Histskin cool down is only one minute, which means you may use it as often as you want, while swimming. The logic for this is water makes the healing more powerful for Argonians.

Q. What does the Histskin power now do?
A. For one minutes, it lets you heal health 15 times faster.

Q. What does the Shadowscale do?
A. For two minutes, it:
* lets you move silently
* makes you 30% harder to detect when sneaking
* makes you invisible in water
* gives you a poison cloak, when not sneaking, which does 6 points damage to health a second to all hostile combatants who are close enough to attack you with melee weapons
* gives you the same poison cloak while swimming

Q. Why does my magicka drain when I use Shadowscale?
A. The power drains 1 point of magicka a second for two minutes, so there is a downside to using it.

Q. Does Histskin drain magicka, too?
A. No.

Q. Why do I get the message that I don't have enough magicka to use Histskin and Shadowscale?
A. The cool down for the powers increases the magicka cost of both powers for 10 game minutes, to keep you from continuously using them, or using them both at the same time, which would make them too overpowered.

Q. What are 10 games minutes, and how long do I have to wait to get the powers back?
A. Four simulated hours in-game. The quickest way to make Histskin and Shadowscale available, again is to use the option to wait four hours.

Q. Why isn't the Histsight power working when I stop swimming?
A. It only works when swimming, to improve underwater vision.

Q. Any suggestions on using the fast swimming ability?
A. Yes. Use it. Swimming fast is a blast! It's also great for getting to locations more quickly. Use seas, lakes and rivers instead of roads.

Q. What about tips on using Histskin?
A. If possible, use it while close to a body of water. After 60 seconds when the cool down takes effect, if you still need a fast healing, go for a swim to reset the cool down, and activate the power again. Once healed, leave the water and rejoin the battle.

Q. Any Shadowscale recommendations?
A. It's great when you really want to make it easier to sneak up on an opponent. To move silently and become 30% harder to detect, just activate the power and start sneaking. If you are detected before you are able to back stab, stop sneaking to activate the Shadowscale poison cloak (it only works when you aren't sneaking and the target is attacking you. Get in close to the target to poison him or her. You'll know he or she is being poisoned when he or she is covered with a black mist.

Q. Why call it Shadowscale?
A. The term Shadowscale is used by the Argonian assassin Veezara, who you can meet during the Dark Brotherhood quest line. He says: "Me, I have been part of the Dark Brotherhood from the day I first hatched. I am a Shadowscale, you see. Born under the sign of the Shadow." He also says, "The Shadowscales are all but forgotten. An ancient tradition, from another time." and, "Once, I was a Shadowscale. An assassin in service to the King of Black Marsh. Trained by the Dark Brotherhood since the day of my hatching. Ah, but that was a lifetime ago. Today, I am the last of my kind. My order is extinct. Now, I happily serve Astrid, and this Sanctuary. I am a trained killer, and once again have been given purpose. Life is good."

Q. Where can I learn more about the Argonian Shadowscales?
A. There is an excellent article, here: Character Build: The Shadowscale[tamrielvault.com].

Q. Can I increase the effectiveness of the new abilities?
A. Yes, you can increase it for some of them, based on your magic skills:
• Argonian Claws - Alteration skill can increase your unarmed damage
• Argonian Scales - Alteration skill can increase the amount of melee damage you resist
• Poison and Disease Resistance - Resroration skill can increase the percent resistance
• Shadowscale stealth - Illusion skill can make you harder to detect
• Shadowscale poison cloak - Destruction skill can increase the amount of poison damage

Q. Will you answer other questions?
A. Sure! Just ask.