Lydia doesn't level anymore when disabledenabled : V

» Wed May 30, 2012 11:40 pm

I used to disable/enable Lydia from time to time, so she keeps up with the level of my char. Checking her health value, she's stuck at 356 for the last 4 levels. Checking her level shows 34, matching the level of my char. But her values do not increase when disabled/enabled. Isn't she supposed to level up to 50?

Anyone else noticed this?

For those not familiar with the procedure: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xrGfL2Ne78

» Thu May 31, 2012 5:26 am

I haven't, but then I try to avoid using console commands during regular play. The console is a debugging tool and may have unforeseeable effects.

According to the http://uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Console, the enable/disable commands have no effect on whether an NPC levels up as they do not alter scripting (as they did in Oblivion). To be clear, enable/disable will change whether the NPC is rendered in the world. When disabled, an NPC will not have collision effects and its AI will be disabled. Enabling such an NPC will then reset its collision and AI. Some have used these commands to get circling dragons to become hostile, but this is simply due to their AI being reset. These commands appear to have no interaction with scripting or with how an NPC levels up with the player.

» Thu May 31, 2012 12:19 pm

Click on your follower in the console and try

getlevel

. It's possible that Lydia has hit her level cap (50). You should dismiss before enable/disable, or at least that's what the instructions say. If all else fails, try the Wabbajack trick.

According to the http://uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Console, the enable/disable commands have no effect on whether an NPC levels up

I'm not sure where you read that. http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Followers#Follower_Stats. It's always worked for me.

» Thu May 31, 2012 1:48 pm

Checking her level shows 34, matching the level of my char. But her values do not increase when disabled/enabled. Isn't she supposed to level up to 50?

She will level up with you to level 50, but not beyond.
If your level is 34, then that's the correct level for her too.
She will not level up faster than your character though - what made you think that she does?
Disabling/enabling her simply makes sure she and her stats match your level correctly.
Regards

» Thu May 31, 2012 6:40 am

Sorry, OP. I missed where you said she was at your level. It could be that 356 is her max health independent of level.

» Wed May 30, 2012 11:31 pm

I'm not sure where you read that. http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Followers#Follower_Stats. It's always worked for me.

I got it from the http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Console#Commands which describes how enable and disable function. It says nothing there about resetting the level of an NPC to match your own. This "trick" is not documented as part of the enable/disable commands, though it does seem to work for some people - this would imply that these commands do more than what has been documented, which is exactly my point. Using console commands on a regular basis is probably not the best thing to do when what they do isn't fully understood. You are of course welcome to do whatever you like with your own savegames.

» Thu May 31, 2012 4:44 am

Click on your follower in the console and try

getlevel

. It's possible that Lydia has hit her level cap (50). You should dismiss before enable/disable, or at least that's what the instructions say. If all else fails, try the Wabbajack trick.

According to https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/lv?key=0Aly8njaU3H1adGJYTlJaUnRxRUN2RnM5MkxPaU1mQkE&type=view&gid=0&f=true&colid0=1&filterstr0=Lydia&colid1=3&filterstr1=Housecarl&sortcolid=-1&sortasc=true&rowsperpage=250, Lydia should have (approximately?) 671 health at her max level of 50.

» Thu May 31, 2012 10:33 am

So who should we believe... The UESP or the UESP? Add in the widespread use of this command and the conclusion I reach is that some people hint at ominous consequences they can't substatiate.

» Thu May 31, 2012 10:49 am

Your follower will level with you but their stats will not increase (at least no consistently). To update their stats you have to use either Wabbajack or the console command Setclass.

A follower's skills, health, and other stats are set when they are first created (which is typically when you enter their starting cell, become a Thane, and so on) and never improve from that point, outside of a handful of special cases. Each follower has a maximum level (which varies for each), and a specific set of favored skills, which are dictated by their http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Classes.
If you have an attachment to a certain follower and wish to continue to use them after they have become obsolete, there are a few ways to update their stats:

By dismissing them, then opening the http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Console, clicking the follower in question, entering the commands disable and then enable, closing the console, then asking them to rejoin you. The follower's inventory will remain unaffected, but his or her stats will all be updated to match the player's current level.
By selecting the follower in the console, then entering the command setclass , where is the FormID of their http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Classes. Class information for each follower can be found on their respective pages. For example, http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:J%27zargo, who is of the http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:CombatSorcerer class, would have his stats updated with setclass 13179. This method does not require the follower's dismissal.
This can also be done on the console version with the use of the http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Wabbajack, simply save your game, dismiss your follower, and use the Wabbajack on them until they turn into a rabbit, chicken or a mudcrab. You will be able to tell if it worked if they have reverted to their default gear upon turning back into their normal selves.

Bear in mind that if you have a mod that affects followers their ClassID may be different.

» Wed May 30, 2012 11:28 pm

Firstly many thanks for your replies! I use a mod that enables removing her default armor http://www.scharesoft.de/joomla/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=27&func=fileinfo&id=2337. But the disable/enable procedure worked fine for me nonetheless. Come to think of it, Lydia was changed in 1.5 to be a candidate for marriage, if I remember correctly. Maybe this affects the procedure.

Could anybody confirm that the procedure is still working post 1.5? Thanks in advance!

» Thu May 31, 2012 1:11 am

Make sure she isn't actively following you at the time. For me at least that circumvents the forced level up of disable/enable.