Dawnguard non-starting quest resolution

Post » Fri Dec 28, 2012 10:53 pm

I had a major problem with Dawnguard with the non-vampire plot quest refusing to start. The wiki says to issue the console command setstage DLC1HunterBaseIntro 20 but that did nothing. I found that the only way for the quest to start was if I performed a "clean save" with a forced respawn. After I did this I was able to force the quest to start. It might be a good idea to do this before even installing Dawnguard so the quests work correctly in the first place. It's like a month vacation for your character. :-)

This procedure is from the clean save notes specified on the http://wiki.step-project.com/Guide:Troubleshooting#tab=Mods_and_Savegames. I've updated a few things though and hopefully this is clear. It may work for other quests which have never run and simply refuse to start with setstage commands as well.

1. The basic idea is to install the Skyrim respawn mod and then go to a non-world space and wait for 31 days. So first download http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/89 and the http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/12625 mods.
2. Only enable one of the Skyrim respawn esp's; select the basic skyrimespawn.esp.
3. Enable the no-boring sleep wait mod.
4. Run BOSS or whatever utility you use to sort mod order.
5. Make sure you are using the current http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/19. If you can't do this for some reason then install the http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/4528 mod instead.
6. Make sure any realism mods that require food and water are deactivated otherwise you'll drop dead. :-)
7. Start skyrim
8. Optionally find somewhere to stash all of your gear where it won't disappear during a respawn. This probably isn't necessary unless you have issues with equipment from old mods.
9. Optionally to go a nonworld space, just being in your home might be sufficient but it's probably safer to do this in a non-world space. To get to such a space open the console and use the coc command; i.e. coc QASmoke. If you go to the qa area do not touch or move anything while you are there.
10. save your game with a name from the console; i.e. save preclean.
11. Exit the game; just use qqq from the console.
12. Restart the game and restore your preclean save.
13. In the console enter the command tfc to unlock the camera so it doesn't slide around when waiting. Exit the console.
14. Use the wait/T command (outside of the console) and slide the timer all the way to the right at 31 days and click on YES to start waiting. It'll take a couple of minutes.
15. Open the console and use the tfc command again to relock the camera otherwise your save won't load correctly.
16. save your game with a name, i.e. save postclean
17. Exit the game; qqq from the console.
18. Deactivate the respawn mod.
19. If you don't want it anymore then deactivate the no-boring sleep-wait menu mod as well.
20. Start Skyrim and load your postclean save.
21. Open the console and use the pcb command to clear buffers.
22. Use the coc command to go back home or some other interior area; i.e. coc whiterunbreezehome or coc solitudeproudspiremanor
23. If it's necessary and you have already reached the point where you made your decision and had no quest start then force the Dawnguard non-vampire option quest to start with the console command setstage DLC1HunterBaseIntro 20. You should hear the new quest sound and have New Order show in your journal now.

I found that the initialization quests which were supposed to start with the game processed out of order on saves where Dawnguard wouldn't proceed correctly. Those saves seemed to have much more data since I had performed lots of exploring between them. I'll look for a way to force the scripts to execute in order later and send it to the unofficial patch team if I find a way to make sure the bug doesn't occur. However, for now the only way to avoid the issue is with the clean and respawn procedure.
User avatar
Rebecca Dosch
 
Posts: 3453
Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2007 6:39 pm

Return to V - Skyrim