Issues with scripted NPC conversations

[somagaze]

Hello,
 
I just got done the other week installing 2.2.9 Extended, and am having a strange issue that I cannot pin down. Several NPC scripted conversations are starting without the second NPC there. I've googled and browsed many forums, but can't seem to find anything other than people talking about the forced conversation bug (which is not my issue).
 
This is occurring in two separate new saves i started (trying something new with spellsword playthrough and thief playthrough). Here are a few examples only a few hours into each of the saves:
 
1) The conversation outside Whiterun stables between Skulvar Sable-Hilt & Uthgerd the Unbroken that begins the quest to go speak to Cicero at his broke wagon. Skulvar talks to no one, the quest begins. If I run up towards Whiterun gate, I can catch Uthgern have the other half of the conversation on her way down to the stables.
 
2) The conversation inside Whiterun between Adrianne Avenicci & the Battle-Born fella (forget which one) about forging weapons (the first time you even enter Whiterun). Adrianne is talking alone, and if I run up towards the Battle-Born's house, I can catch him coming down the walkway having the other half of the conversation.
 
3) The beginning of In My Time in Need, where the Alik'r Warriors are given grief by the Whiterun guard. The warriors are there, but the guard is not. I cannot seem to find him before the conversation is over. NOTE: with this one, I can load my autosave from the entering of Whiterun, and the guard will be there.
 
I don't want to continue a character if I know this will be an issue in the future, and if I have to, it would feel immersion breaking to reload saves just to make sure I am not missing any conversations in content I have not seen yet (still have not played through Dragonborn).
 

I appreciate the help!

 

Here is my loadorder and modlist:

 

[spoiler=Loadorder]Skyrim.esm
Update.esm
Unofficial Skyrim Patch.esp
Dawnguard.esm
Unofficial Dawnguard Patch.esp
HearthFires.esm
Unofficial Hearthfire Patch.esp
Dragonborn.esm
Unofficial Dragonborn Patch.esp
Skyrim Project Optimization - Full Version.esm
Lanterns Of Skyrim - All In One - Main.esm
HighResTexturePack01.esp
HighResTexturePack02.esp
HighResTexturePack03.esp
Cutting Room Floor.esp
Dual Wield Parrying_SKSE.esp
BWS.esp
ORM-Arvak.esp
Auto Unequip Ammo.esp
Traps Make Noise.esp
ClamsDropPearls.esp
Chesko_LoreBasedLoadingScreens.esp
BetterQuestObjectives-Hearthfire.esp
fFastTravelSpeedMult_4.esp
Dead Body Collision.esp
ExplosiveBoltsVisualized.esp
Animated Weapon Enchants.esp
Moss Rocks.esp
Elemental Staves.esp
Footprints.esp
83Willows_101BUGS_V4_LowRes.esp
Convenient Horses.esp
Appropriately Attired Jarls Redux.esp
Brows.esp
Lock Overhaul.esp
Nausicaa's Tweaker.esp
BFSEffects.esp
NoxUE2.00.esp
Paralyze.esp
RaceMenuPlugin.esp
RaceMenu.esp
SMDropLitTorch.esp
Footprints - Ash.esp
Moss Rocks_DB.esp
ShootingStars.esp
SkyUI.esp
TradeBarter.esp
Dual Sheath Redux.esp
DawnguardRuneWeaponsFXSReplacer.esp
Soul Gems Differ.esp
Rainbows.esp
Beards.esp
Guard Dialogue Overhaul.esp
Weapons & Armor Fixes_Remade.esp
Weapons & Armor_TrueOrcish&DaedricWeapons.esp
Clothing & Clutter Fixes.esp
SkyrimCoinReplacerRedux.esp
Distant DetailHF.esp
Radiant and Unique Potions Poisons and Booze.esp
SkyFalls + SkyMills + DG + DB.esp
RealisticWaterTwo.esp
Bring Out Your Dead.esp
BetterQuestObjectives.esp
Thieves Guild Requirements.esp
BetterQuestObjectives-Dawnguard.esp
NonEssentialChildren.esp
SPTConsistentOlderPeople.esp
ADS.esp
WetandCold.esp
AOS.esp
dD - Enhanced Blood Main.esp
Improved Combat Sounds v2.2.esp
IHSS.esp
DeadlySpellImpacts.esp
WetandCold - Ashes.esp
When Vampires Attack.esp
aMidianBorn_ContentAddon.esp
Complete Crafting Overhaul_Remade.esp
Improved Closefaced Helmets_Legendary.esp
Oblivion Gates v3 without Markers - Skyrim + Dawnguard DLC.esp
BirdsHFclean.esp
SDO Full-LOD - Waterfall Effects.esp
Point The Way.esp
HearthfireChimneys.esp
RealisticWaterTwo - Legendary.esp
SFO - Dragonborn.esp
Run For Your Lives.esp
TheChoiceIsYours.esp
SkyrimImprovedPuddles-DG-HF-DB.esp
SDO Full-LOD - Whiterun Trundra Creeks.esp
Skyrim Flora Overhaul.esp
PilgrimsDelight.esp
The Paarthurnax Dilemma.esp
BlockSparkles.esp
Gildergreen Regrown.esp
SDO Full-LOD - Giant Campfires.esp
TheChoiceIsYours_Dawnguard.esp
Chesko_Step418_SN.esp
STEP Extended Patch.esp
iHUD.esp
mintylightningmod.esp
randomthunder.esp
Bashed Patch, 0.esp
Dual Sheath Redux Patch.esp

 

 

[spoiler=Modlist]# This file was automatically generated by Mod Organizer.
-TES5Edit Backups
------ Just In Case -----
+Fores New Idles in Skyrim - Output
+Fores New Idles in Skyrim
+Better Shaped Weapons
+Dual Sheath Redux Output - STEP Extended
+Dual Sheath Redux - Skyrim Weapon De-LARP-ification Project
+Dual Sheath Redux - Elemental Staffs
+Dual Sheath Redux - aMidianborn
+Dual Sheath Redux
+Bashed Patch - STEP Extended
+STEP - Extended Patch
------ 2.N. Patches -----
+Even Better Quest Objectives
+When Vampires Attack
+Wet and Cold - Ashes
+Wet and Cold
+Traps Make Noise - Follower Safety Patch
+Traps Make Noise
+Thieves Guild Requirements
+The Paarthurnax Dilemma
+The Choice is Yours - Update
+The Choice is Yours - Dawnguard
+The Choice is Yours
+Skyrim Community Uncapper
+Skyrim Coin Replacer Redux
+SM Drop Lit Torches
+Run For Your Lives
+Oblivion Gates
+Non-Essential Children
+No NPC Greetings (Extended Patch - not needed)
+Lock Overhaul
+Gildergreen Regrown
+Follower Trap Safety
+Dual Wield Parrying
+Convenient Horses
+Come Together N Out of the Way
+Clams Drop Pearls
+Bring Out Your Dead
+Auto Unequip Ammo
------ 2.M. Gameplay -----
+Ultra Realistic Crossbow Shoot Sounds
+Ultra Realistic Bow Shoot Sounds
+Thundering Shouts
+Smooth Blades Draw and Sheath
+Realistic Wolf Howls
+Lower Sounding Thieves Guild Door
+Improved Combat Sounds
+Immersive Skyrim Thunder
+Improved Horse Step Sounds
+Heart of the Beast
+Dragons Shout With Voice
+Audio Overhaul for Skyrim
+Better Weapon Swing Sounds
+Better Horse Pain Sounds
+Better Animal Footsteps
------ 2.L. Sound -----
+White Phial Replacer
+Sweet Mother
+Super Realistic Ore
+Soul Gems Differ
+Skyrim Redesigned
+Silly Level of Detail - Wine Cellar - Less Saturated Labels
+Silly Level of Detail - Wine Cellar
+Silly Level of Detail - Potions
+Silly Level of Detail - Poisons
+Septim HD
+Ren's HD Shrines
+Realistic Instruments
+Radiant and Unique Potions and Poisons HD
+Pilgrim's Delight
+Not Really HD Keys
+Not Really HD Display Case
+Mystery Modders Shrines HD
+Intricate Spider Webs
+HQ Paper
+HD Sacks Retexture - Big
+HD Sacks Retexture - Small
+HD Ore and Ingots
+HD Linens
+HD Baskets
+Gemling Queen Dragon Claws
+Enhanced HD Dragon Bones
+Enchanting Candle Meshes Improved
+Detailed Rugs
+Dark Brotherhood Tenets Restored
+Better Shadowmarks
+Better Bones
+The 418th Step
------ 2.K. Clutter & Miscellaneous -----
+Skyrim Performance Plus - The Rift
+Skyrim Performance Plus - Snowfall
+Skyrim Performance Plus - Pine Needles
+Skyrim Performance Plus - Rainfall
+Shooting Stars
+Smaller Ice Spike and Ice Spear
+Running With Bows
+Rainbows
+NoMaaM Breathing Idles
+No Spinning Death Animation (Extended Patch - not needed)
+Lightning During Thunder Storms
+Improved Weapon Impact Effects
+Finer Dust
+Enhanced Blood Textures - Blurry Screen Blood
+Enhanced Blood Textures - 1024 Textures
+Enhanced Blood Textures
+Enchantment Effect Replacer
+Dual Wield Blocking Animations
+Deadly Spell Impacts
+Dawnguard Rune Weapons FXS
+Burn Freeze Shock Effects - Dawnguard - Dragonborn
+Burn Freeze Shock Effects
+Better Turn Animation - Fix Crossed Swords and Turn with Leg Move
+Better Turn Animation
+Animated Weapon Enchants
+Animated Clutter
------ 2.J. Animations & Effects -----
+Ultimate HD Torch - Less GLowing Cloth
+Ultimate HD Torch
+Not Really HD-Mask of Clavicus Vile
+Nightingale Prime
+New Thinner Torch
+Greatsword Sheaths and Scabbards Redux
+Skyrim Weapon De-LARP-ification Project - Dragonborn
+Skyrim Weapon De-LARP-ification Project - Dawnguard
+Skyrim Weapon De-LARP-ification Project
+Gemling Queen Jewelry
+Elemental Staffs
+Closer Quivers and Longer Arrows
+Dawnguard Crossbow Bolts Visualized - HD Textures
+Dawnguard Crossbow Bolts Visualized
+Better Circlets
+aMidianBorn Stormcloak Officer Armour
+aMidianBorn Imperial Light and Studded
+aMidianBorn Book of Silence - Content Addon
+aMidianBorn Book of Silence - Bonemold Hotfix
+aMidianBorn Book of Silence - Weapons
+aMidianBorn Book of Silence - Unique Items
+aMidianBorn Book of Silence - Dragonborn DLC
+aMidianBorn Book of Silence - Creatures
+aMidianBorn Book of Silence - Armors
+aMidianBorn Blade of Woe
------ 2.I. Clothing & Equipment -----
+Better Males - Underwear - Default
+Better Males - Geonox Faces
+Natural Eyes
+XCE - Dawnguard
+XCE - Xenius Character Enhancement
+The Elder Scrolls V Rewritten - Arvak
+Superior Lore-Friendly Hair
+PondFish and Salmon Replacer
+New Children
+More Realistic Hair
+Improved Foot Wraps for Females
+Frost Atronach HD
+Female Vampires Have Fangs
+Cover Khajiits
+Brows
+Birds and Flocks - Hearthfire Clean
+Better Freckles
+Better Beast Races
+Bellyache's HD Dragon Replacer
+Beards
+83Willows 101BugsHD
+Bellyache's Creature Pack
------ 2.H. Characters & Creatures -----
+Whiterun Trellis Redesigned
+Vivid Landscapes - Tundra Moss Revised - SMIM Patch
+Vivid Landscapes - Tundra Moss Revised
+Visible Windows
+Trees HD
+The Skyrim Distance Overhaul
+The Beauty of Skyrim - Dungeons
+Terrain Bump
+Telvanni Reborn
+Stalhrim of Skyrim
+Skyrim Improved Puddles
+Skyrim Distant Detail
+Realistic Water Two
+Re-Defined Dungeons
+Realistic Mushrooms
+Real Wood Textures - Farmhouses
+Real Ice
+Point The Way
+Moss Rocks - Dragonborn
+Moss Rocks
+Lanterns of Skyrim
+Improved Vanilla Mountains
+Hybrids HD Plants and Herbs Retexture
+HQ Snow
+HiRes Legible Road Signs
+High Quality LODs
+Hearthfire Chimneys for Skyrim
+Footprints - Ash Supplemental
+Footprints
+Enhanced Night Skyrim
+Enhanced Distant Terrain
+HD Enhanced Terrain
+Dragon Glyphs - Fixed
+Skyrim Flora Overhaul - Recolored Pines and LODs
+Skyrim Flora Overhaul - Dragonborn Addon
+Skyrim Flora Overhaul
+aMidianBorn Whiterun
+aMidianBorn Solstheim Landscape
+aMidianBorn Farmhouse
+aMidianBorn Caves and Mines
------ 2.G. Landscape & Environment -----
+A Quality World Map
+Enhanced Distant Terrain 2 - Dragonborn
+Enhanced Distant Terrain 2
+High Quality Food and Ingredients
+Tobe's Hi-Res Textures - SMIM Patch
+Tobe's Hi-Res Textures
+HD Misc
+Skyrim Realistic Overhaul
+Serious HD Riften
+Serious HD Landscape
+Static Mesh Improvement Mod
+SkyFalls and SkyMills
+Ultimate HD Candle Flames
+Ultimate HD Fire Effects
+Realistic Smoke and Embers
+Ruins Clutter Improved
+Bethesda Hi-Res DLC Optimized (Enough VRAM - not needed)
------ 2.F. Conflicting Graphics -----
+Unknown Enchants
+Smaller Cursor
+SkyUI
-Skill Interface - Dawnguard - Werewolf Interface Patch
-Skill Interface - Dawnguard
+Skill Interface
+RaceMenu
+Main Menu Spinning Skyrim Emblem
+Main Font Replacement
+Lore-Based Loading Screens
+Lockpicking Interface
+KenMOD Time on Loading Screen
+Immersive HUD
+High Quality 3D Map - Normals
+High Quality 3D Map - Meshes
+Disease Descriptions (Extended Patch - not needed)
+Better MessageBox Controls
+Better Dialogue Controls
------ 2.E. Interface -----
+XP32 Maximum Skeleton
+Realistic Ragdolls and Force (Extended Patch - not needed)
+Complete Crafting Overhaul Remade
+Weapons and Armor Fixes
+Trade and Barter
+Smart Souls
+Skyrim Project Optimization
+SKSE-Elys-AltF4
+Ragdoll Paralysis
+Improved Imperial Full Face Helmet - No Cloth Around the Neck
+Improved Closefaced Helmets - Dragonborn Addon
+Improved Dawnguard Helmets
+Improved Closefaced Helmets
+Guard Dialogue Overhaul
+Fuz Ro Doh
+Fast Travel Timescale Fix
+Double Cursor Fix (OneTweak - also borderless window)
+Dead Body Collision Fix
+Cutting Room Floor
+Cultist Mask Decapitation Fix
+Consistent Older People
+Clothing and Clutter Fixes
+Brawl Bugs Patch
+Bowlegged Jump Fix
+Appropriately Attired Jarls
+Unofficial High Resolution Patch
*HighResTexturePack03
*HighResTexturePack02
*HighResTexturePack01
+Unofficial Dragonborn Patch
+Unofficial Hearthfire Patch
+Unofficial Dawnguard Patch
+Unofficial Skyrim Patch
+Distant Decal Fix
------ 2.D Fixes -----
+ENBoost (placeholder)
+Stable uGridsToLoad
+Skyrim Script Extender
------ 2.C. Extenders -----
+Cleaned Dragonborn ESM
*Dragonborn
+Cleaned Hearthfire ESM
*HearthFires
+Cleaned Dawnguard ESM
*Dawnguard
+Cleaned Update ESM
------ 1.A. Install Steam & Skyrim -----

 

 

Also, here's a screenshot of the warrior conversation:

 

[spoiler=Pic]

 

Edited August 16, 2014 by somagaze

[Lauren]

in your skyrim.ini  check for this fPostLoadUpdateTimeMS=2000.0

 

the default value is 500.

 

2000 is the default value for the console version of skyrim.

 

Increasing this value will increase your load time, but might also solve your issue. usually when an npc is talking to another npc that isnt there (aka quest event activating when all npcs are not there yet) its because there wasnt enough time for the various scripts related to the quest to load.

 

That ini only touches how fast the starting main menu appears. So it doesn't affect anything. 

 

The last CPU-related setting (fPostLoadUpdateTimeMS) will not affect your framerate, but will affect your load times. Unlike the other settings, Papyrus will use the entire time even if it has nothing to do. Increasing this will only help make sure cells and such are set up if there is a load screen. For example, the civil war can stress this because it has to set up a ton of things in the cities for the war when you enter through their load doors.

https://forums.bethsoft.com/topic/1487930-getting-a-lot-of-script-lag-going-over-10000-ms-sometimes/?p=23340131

[DoubleYou]

Did you increase your ugridtoload?

[somagaze]

Did you increase your ugridtoload?

No, I did not.

 

I've tried removing Stable uGridstoload, and loaded a very old save thinking that may be the issue. But, no - the guard is still missing in the conversation with the warriors. Would it be a good idea to start a new game with Stable uGridstoload not used, to try and eliminate that as a source of the issue?

[DoubleYou]

No. That isn't the problem, if these even is a major issue at all. I'm thinking your system might be bogged from all the scripts. Run the script latency check in Convenient Horses MCM and give the results.

[somagaze]

No. That isn't the problem, if these even is a major issue at all. I'm thinking your system might be bogged from all the scripts. Run the script latency check in Convenient Horses MCM and give the results.

I started it, ran around Winterhold, Ivarstead, and Whiterun. It seems there is no handy log that outputs, so I can only summarize:

 

average was almost always less than 50mn. The highest "high" was never over 100ms.

 

(the Convenient Horses readme refers to a "local" latency test that would output to a log, but I cannot figure out how to start the local one, as the only option in MCM is to start or stop the test - and that test is the gameplay test)

 

I appreciate the help.

[DoubleYou]

Well then, I don't think you have an issue at all. Just some freak timing issues.

[somagaze]

Yup, I will chalk this one up to "deal with it."

[GunerX]

in your skyrim.ini  check for this fPostLoadUpdateTimeMS=2000.0

 

the default value is 500.

 

2000 is the default value for the console version of skyrim.

 

Increasing this value will increase your load time, but might also solve your issue. usually when an npc is talking to another npc that isnt there (aka quest event activating when all npcs are not there yet) its because there wasnt enough time for the various scripts related to the quest to load.

[hishutup]

That ini only touches how fast the starting main menu appears. So it doesn't affect anything. 

[somagaze]

in your skyrim.ini  check for this fPostLoadUpdateTimeMS=2000.0

 

the default value is 500.

 

2000 is the default value for the console version of skyrim.

 

Increasing this value will increase your load time, but might also solve your issue. usually when an npc is talking to another npc that isnt there (aka quest event activating when all npcs are not there yet) its because there wasnt enough time for the various scripts related to the quest to load.

 

 

The last CPU-related setting (fPostLoadUpdateTimeMS) will not affect your framerate, but will affect your load times. Unlike the other settings, Papyrus will use the entire time even if it has nothing to do. Increasing this will only help make sure cells and such are set up if there is a load screen. For example, the civil war can stress this because it has to set up a ton of things in the cities for the war when you enter through their load doors.

https://forums.bethsoft.com/topic/1487930-getting-a-lot-of-script-lag-going-over-10000-ms-sometimes/?p=23340131

 

Awesome - that seems to be fixing it. I can't recreate the issue with the Alik'r Warriors in Whiterun.

 

We'll see if any other issues pop up.

 

I added:

 

[Papyrus]

fPostLoadUpdateTimeMS=2000.0

 

to skyrim.ini

 

I also added lines to the ini to enable logging to see if I can find any issues after some gameplay. I can deal with extra load times, as it loads fairly well with STEP: Extended. I would rather have time for scripts to run rather than have quick loading with gameplay issues.

[DoubleYou]

I've always run with that

 

[Papyrus]

fPostLoadUpdateTimeMS=2000.0

 

value, as it can't harm and promises good. I'll always give an extra 1.5 secs for a better experience.