Let’s say we’ve created a custom NPC for TES V: Skyrim, or we just want to add some story backgrounds to existing characters. “OSA - Skyrim Ascendancy Engine” framework by CEO provides a means to view character profiles, create personas, employ animations, set character expressions, and more. Potentially this framework adds more interactive storytelling and personality to Skryim, which could extend replay value as we wait several more years for the next The elder scrolls chapter. A player could add profiles to followers for personal use such as role-playing value or to simply keep track of preferred armor and weapons, or follower-mod creators can add more background for players using OSA. It's simple to provide extended information using the OSA framework as we’ll do in this exercise.

First, we need OSA installed. Take some time to look over the description page to get an idea of ​​what OSA is about and how to interact with it in game. If using “FrostFall” by Chesko, include the Frostfall patch. Also check if “PapyrusUtil” has a more recent version. After installing OSA, remember to run FNIS generator and after each time adding an OSA animated module. Additional modules add gameplay functionality, but all we need is the OSA framework to access character profiles.

Go ahead and try OSA out to see how it works. Aproach a non-player character (NPC), and press numpad-plus key to reveal a menu including character persona, configuration, and equipment assignments. Use numpad-8 to move up the menu, numpad-5 to move down, and numpad-7 to select. The persona is empty, which we won’t cover here. The lack of a profile is the subject of our task. The OSA file downloads includes an optional example of a character profile for Camilla Valerius (of Riverwoood). Grab that to use as a working example to modify.

Copy Camilla's profile as a template

Update for OSA v1.09 +: profile files moved from meshes to \ Data \ OSA \ Persona \ folder.

The file we need is profile.xml which goes in a folder based on the character. In the Camilla example, we find the file located in (v1.09 +) \ Data \ OSA \ Persona \ npc \ Skyrim \ 01347B(v.108B - \ Data \ meshes \ OSP \ npc \ Skyrim \ 01347B) folder. Profiles for default NPCs go under this Skyrim folder, and a profile for a custom NPC goes under a folder name matching the esp-file without the “.esp” extension. 01347B is the last 6 characters of Camilla's identifier. Look up identifiers using the console help command, or on The Elder Scrolls Wiki for default NPCs such as Camilla's page where you’ll find her ID listed as Base ID.

I’ve picked a custom follower NPC, “Selene Kate” by Kasprutz and Hello Santa, as an example. Using the console command, “help selene” I find her NPC ID to be 19 000D62... The plugin is, Kate.esp so the XML file needs to go in (v.109 +) \ Data \ OSA \ Persona \ npc \ Kate \ 000D62 \ profile.xml(v.108B - \ Data \ meshes \ OSP \ npc \ Kate \ 000D62 \ profile.xml). Copy Camilla's example file to this folder and begin editing. Use Notepad ++ or XML editor of choice, preferably with syntax coloring. My assumption is a reader familiarity with XML, but if not, I’ll go over my edits to turn Camilla’s profile example into Kate’s profile. Keep in mind that breaking XML formatting will cause the game to freeze when using OSA to interact with a character. (Those greater-than and less-than signs are important reserved characters and can’t be used inside other text.) So, if the game freezes, check for errors in the XML file.

Edit template for our NPC follower

First, we need to change the character's name. Replace “Camilla” with “Selene” and “Valerius” with “Kate” as shown below in nameFirst and nameLast tags. These tags in the properties section make it easier to edit such that the values ​​will be used later, possibly multiple times, using the title in curly braces. When making a new character profile, simply change property values ​​instead of hunting through the layout text. I changed the nameColor from pink to purple. Use a graphics program (or on the web) to find HTML color codes. Naturally, I changed race, classType, and a few other property values ​​to match what I felt works for Kate.