I'm working on a spell to summon a Corrupted Shade (classified as Skeleton Necro race). I've made a custom creature to use as the summon, all the basic stuff, but didn't give it any weapons, just spells.

When I summoned it in-game, I had two problems: it didn't fight back, and it created an ashpile. The ashpile was easily fixed, I just copied the script and removed the ashpile refs and commands, works like a charm. In order to make it conflict-free, I copied the Skeleton Necro race, and replaced the script-ability by my custom ability.

However, I still can't get it to attack, and I don't know what I have to do. I do have to note that, just to test, I gave the shade a one-handed weapon to see if it'd attack with that, but it won't: it has the weapon equipped (on its side), but doesn't unsheathe it when it's hostile, it just stands there with its hands up as if it was going to do something.

What causes this? How do I fix it?

May or not be relevant: in previous games this was sometimes a function of not having proper idle anims defined. Even if these are the same as another race already in the game, if you've made a new race you need to flesh out the idles, bodypart data etc.

i made the same spell in my mod, but i started after having duplicated the Skeleton Necro missile... This way you have less problems. Maybe you should post some images so we can help you.

Edit: in my case the skeleton necro missile is not an archer and i wonder why...xD

The weird thing is is that it didn't fight back when it was still an original Necro Skeleton (at least it wouldn't use spells, didn't test with melee weapons). Now that you mention it though, I do see them having spells equipped, or at least I thought I did, because I remember the spell lights showing up and they hold up their hands like a mage, they just don't fire the spell

i noticed that also another mod added a mage skeleton. I used that mod but the skeleton didn't attack. Maybe the skeleton can't use spells? Because in the vanilla game i can't remember to have seen a mage skeleton.

There are definitely mage skeletons in game. They only spawn at relatively high levels, and wear a little cloak.

Did you remember to make sure they have enough Mana to cast?

Yes, I thought of that too at first, but that wasn't the problem

What kind of spells do they have? I've read a couple of topics about getting companions to cast spells, which I think came to the conclusion that NPCs will only use Destruction, Conjuration, and Restoration (on themselves) type spells.

Destruction spells: a custom Ice Spear spell and a custom Absorb Health spell

what have you used? right hand, left hand or either hand spells? i read somewhere this is somewhat influencing

Either hand, don't think that should confuse them?

Bump. Does anyone have any idea? I don't know much about animations and the like, so specific info would be nice. Can anyone help?

If you're doing your spell stuff through scripts, you may want to add a 1 damage normal destruction effect as the primary effect. NPCs don't use plain old scripted spells.

No, I gave it a custom Ice Spear spell. The NecroPriest race uses that spell as well (I copied that race as well for another creature), that one is fine