Better stealth AI for followers

Improved follower stealth AI so they don't rush into combat before the enemy has fully detected the player. Followers will also release torches while sneaking. Suitable for all standard fans. Compatible with most follower mods.

This mod improves the follower's stealth AI so they won't rush into combat before the enemy has fully detected the player. Minions will also release torches while sneaking.

This applies to any followers using the default follower system, including followers added by other mods and even animals (if they use the default follower quest). It also works on Cicero and Dark Brotherhood starters, as well as Thieves Guild followers. The Dawnguard version also adds Serana.

What does this MOD do?

This mod changes follower behavior in three ways. These changes only occur when players are sneaking. If the player is not sneaking, the follower's behavior will remain the same.

When the player is sneaking, minions will not engage in combat with nearby enemies until the enemy actually attacks. Once a minion or player is attacked, the minion will enter combat as normal.

If a minion is equipped with a torch, they will cancel the torch while sneaking.

While sneaking, followers will have fewer random comments.

how to use it

After installing the mod, a new dialogue option will appear when following your followers ("Let's discuss stealth combat tactics..."). Selecting this dialog will assign your follower to one of the better hidden aliases. After this, you will have two options: 1) normal combat behavior or 2) modified stealth combat behavior. You can choose to switch back and forth between these modes while talking to your followers. Minions assigned to the Better Stealth alias will disarm the torch while sneaking, regardless of which combat mode they are in.

Additional Information

Before your follower can display the new stealth behavior, you must choose an initial conversation topic.

If you dismiss your followers or make them wait, they will retain the selected behavior the next time you ask them to follow you (unless you clear the alias).

You can assign up to 25 followers to a Better Stealth alias. If this number is exceeded, a message box will appear asking if you want to clear the alias. Selecting "Yes" will clear all aliases. This means you must speak to any follower to be reassigned.

For some reason, followers don't always put down their torches the first time they sneak around after hiring them. This problem can be corrected by firing/rehiring. It also seems to naturally correct itself after the first combat engagement.

If your minion gives them a torch when they're already in stealth mode, they may choose to equip it. If you don't want them to use the torch, just exit stealth mode, wait a few seconds, and then re-enter stealth mode. This will trigger them to cancel the new torch.

Initiates of Cicero and the Dark Brotherhood have been assigned permanent aliases that do not count against the twenty-five follower limit.

Unless you install the mod before completing the Dark Brotherhood mission, you may not be able to use the dialogue options to apply better stealth AI to Cicero and the Dark Brotherhood startup.

I realize that some follower mods add a lot of extra dialogue options. If you still want to enjoy some of the features in this mod without adding extra dialogue options, you can hide the hidden dialog by opening the console and typing: set followerstealthdialogue. The dialog option can be re-enabled by typing: set followersstealthdialogue to 1. This will only hide or show the dialogue line, whatever stealth setting you previously requested from the follower will remain in effect.

Questioner

In addition to standard fans, there are also a few quest followers that have been given this modified behavior. Added better stealth behavior for Mercer Frey (when speaking to Silence) and Brynjolf & Karliah (during mission Blindsighted). These quest followers will automatically exhibit better stealth behavior and there …