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About this mod
Improves the Skyforge Steel and Nord Hero weapons as well as the Ancient Nord Armor obtained from the Companions questline
- Permissions and credits
- Changelogs
Introduction
"I don't claim to be the best blacksmith in Whiterun. Eorlund Gray-Mane's got that honor. The man's steel is legendary..." - Adrianne Avenicci
"You know, since Kodlak's funeral the Skyforge feels more... awake. It's always been said that the souls of the heroes of old are what give Skyforge steel its strength. But I think the forge knows the greatness of Kodlak's soul. I can't really explain, but it feels like it's... young. I'll wager it could now forge metal the likes of which hasn't been seen since eras long forgotten. I'm eager to try." - Eorlund Gray-Mane
As soon as we enter Whiterun, we immediately hear about how amazing Eorlund Gray-Mane's smithing skill is. Apparently, he works this ancient, mystical forge known as the Skyforge. The steel he makes there is among the best in the land, according to other blacksmiths and the Companions themselves. Surely this steel must be great if it's being used by the strongest warrior faction in Skyrim, right? Only... it's not. It's barely better than regular steel.
Oh, but wait! After we jump through many hoops and finish the Companions questline, saving Kodlak Whitemane's soul from Hircine's clutches, we're told by Eorlund himself that the Skyforge can make some real armor. Powered by the greatness of Kodlak's soul, the forge can now make armor that hasn't been seen in generations... this armor has to be amazing! But it's not. In fact, it's equal to normal iron armor. You can find better armor than this at level 2.
These are problems in the game. This mod aims to be the solution.
Description
This mod aims to buff the armor and weapons obtained throughout the Companions questline to make them useful for leveling and later levels, but not overpowered. They won't be the best weapons in the game, but they'll be much more useful than they were originally. The changes for the equipment are as follows, with my reasoning for making the changes within spoilers:
As an aside, note that the weapons can still be enchanted. The effect I've added to the items is treated more so as a base stat than an enchantment, meaning you are free to enchant the weapons with whatever effects you see fit.
Compatibility
This mod should be compatible with any texture or mesh replacers. As long as other mods don't edit the stats of the weapons or armor, you should be good to go.
Future Plans
I want to try to add a Skyforge Steel Mace and Warhammer. In addition, I want to try to make the Skyforge Steel weapons forgeable at the Skyforge for the player upon completion of the companions questline (or if they reach a certain level or smithing or something). For now, though, I felt the mod was good enough to be released in its current state.
PS: The idol animation seen in the screenshots is from the mod Combat Gameplay Overhaul by DServant.
"I don't claim to be the best blacksmith in Whiterun. Eorlund Gray-Mane's got that honor. The man's steel is legendary..." - Adrianne Avenicci
"You know, since Kodlak's funeral the Skyforge feels more... awake. It's always been said that the souls of the heroes of old are what give Skyforge steel its strength. But I think the forge knows the greatness of Kodlak's soul. I can't really explain, but it feels like it's... young. I'll wager it could now forge metal the likes of which hasn't been seen since eras long forgotten. I'm eager to try." - Eorlund Gray-Mane
As soon as we enter Whiterun, we immediately hear about how amazing Eorlund Gray-Mane's smithing skill is. Apparently, he works this ancient, mystical forge known as the Skyforge. The steel he makes there is among the best in the land, according to other blacksmiths and the Companions themselves. Surely this steel must be great if it's being used by the strongest warrior faction in Skyrim, right? Only... it's not. It's barely better than regular steel.
Oh, but wait! After we jump through many hoops and finish the Companions questline, saving Kodlak Whitemane's soul from Hircine's clutches, we're told by Eorlund himself that the Skyforge can make some real armor. Powered by the greatness of Kodlak's soul, the forge can now make armor that hasn't been seen in generations... this armor has to be amazing! But it's not. In fact, it's equal to normal iron armor. You can find better armor than this at level 2.
These are problems in the game. This mod aims to be the solution.
Description
This mod aims to buff the armor and weapons obtained throughout the Companions questline to make them useful for leveling and later levels, but not overpowered. They won't be the best weapons in the game, but they'll be much more useful than they were originally. The changes for the equipment are as follows, with my reasoning for making the changes within spoilers:
- Skyforge Steel - all weapon speeds have been increased by 20% and weight decreased by 20% Spoiler:ShowI did this because I wanted to make the Skyforge steel weapons stronger without simply increasing their damage. I increased the stats of the Nord Hero Weapons, and I wanted there to be at least somewhat of a difference between the two weapons - now, Skyforge weapons will strike more quickly, but Nord Hero weapons will strike harder. They can each be useful for different playstyles.
- All Ancient Nord Equipment - now benefits from steel smithing and requires steel ingots to temper Spoiler:ShowOriginally, this armor required daedric smithing to benefit from better tempering and used iron ingots. This made no sense to me. By the time you have the daedric smithing perk, you can just make better items anyway. And why did it need iron ingots if the Nord Hero weapons need steel? To make it consistent, I changed the perk required for better tempering to steel smithing and changed the item needed to a steel ingot, which is in line with the Nord Hero weapons.
- Ancient Nord Helmet - increased armor rating from 15 to 20 and value from 60 to 130 Spoiler:ShowThis puts it on par with orcish armor. I didn't want the armor to be so powerful that it's better than daedric or ebony, but I wanted it to be worthwhile to go through the Companions questline and earn it. This way, it's useful at lower levels without being better than end game armor.
- Ancient Nord Armor - increased armor rating from 25 to 41 and value from 125 to 270 Spoiler:ShowThis puts it in between orcish and ebony armor. I didn't want the armor to be so powerful that it's better than daedric or ebony, but I wanted it to be worthwhile to go through the Companions questline and earn it. This way, it's useful at lower levels without being better than end game armor.
- Ancient Nord Gauntlets - increased armor rating from 10 to 15 and value from 25 to 55 Spoiler:ShowThis puts it on par with orcish armor. I didn't want the armor to be so powerful that it's better than daedric or ebony, but I wanted it to be worthwhile to go through the Companions questline and earn it. This way, it's useful at lower levels without being better than end game armor.
- Ancient Nord Boots - increased armor rating from 10 to 15 and value from 25 to 55 Spoiler:ShowThis puts it on par with orcish armor. I didn't want the armor to be so powerful that it's better than daedric or ebony, but I wanted it to be worthwhile to go through the Companions questline and earn it. This way, it's useful at lower levels without being better than end game armor.
- Nord Hero Bow - increased damage from 11 to 16 and value from 200 to 430 Spoiler:ShowThis puts it between glass and ebony. I didn't want the weapons to be so powerful that they're better than daedric or ebony, but I wanted it to be worthwhile to go through the Companions questline and earn them. This way, they're useful at lower levels without being better than end game weapons.
- Nord Hero War Axe - increased damage from 12 to 14 and value from 165 to 360 Spoiler:ShowThis puts it between glass and ebony. I didn't want the weapons to be so powerful that they're better than daedric or ebony, but I wanted it to be worthwhile to go through the Companions questline and earn them. This way, they're useful at lower levels without being better than end game weapons.
- Nord Hero Battleaxe - increased damage from 21 to 22 and value from 300 to 650 Spoiler:ShowThis puts it on par with glass. I didn't want the weapons to be so powerful that they're better than daedric or ebony, but I wanted it to be worthwhile to go through the Companions questline and earn them. This way, they're useful at lower levels without being better than end game weapons. I also renamed it from Battle Axe to Battleaxe to keep the name consistent with other battleaxes in the game.
- Nord Hero Sword - increased damage from 11 to 12 and value from 135 to 290 Spoiler:ShowThis puts it on par with glass. I didn't want the weapons to be so powerful that they're better than daedric or ebony, but I wanted it to be worthwhile to go through the Companions questline and earn them. This way, they're useful at lower levels without being better than end game weapons.
- Nord Hero Greatsword - increased damage from 20 to 21 and value from 250 to 540 Spoiler:ShowThis puts it on par with glass. I didn't want the weapons to be so powerful that they're better than daedric or ebony, but I wanted it to be worthwhile to go through the Companions questline and earn them. This way, they're useful at lower levels without being better than end game weapons.
As an aside, note that the weapons can still be enchanted. The effect I've added to the items is treated more so as a base stat than an enchantment, meaning you are free to enchant the weapons with whatever effects you see fit.
Compatibility
This mod should be compatible with any texture or mesh replacers. As long as other mods don't edit the stats of the weapons or armor, you should be good to go.
Future Plans
I want to try to add a Skyforge Steel Mace and Warhammer. In addition, I want to try to make the Skyforge Steel weapons forgeable at the Skyforge for the player upon completion of the companions questline (or if they reach a certain level or smithing or something). For now, though, I felt the mod was good enough to be released in its current state.
PS: The idol animation seen in the screenshots is from the mod Combat Gameplay Overhaul by DServant.