I'm not sure if this is the right section, but it's not really a Creation Kit help thread. I'm curious as to what will happen regarding the Dawnguard DLC with regards to PC modding. Specifically, I wish to know if we will be able to create weapons based on the Crossbow animation set even if we don't have the crossbow meshes from Dawnguard. Given that the various weapon animation sets seem to be more or less hardcoded, I would hope this would be the case. Again, sorry if this is in the wrong section, but it's not really a Creation Kit help request.

from what I have seen in the past it i required for both the mod maker and mod user to use the dlc.

This would probably be better for the "Mod" forum. Hit the report button and ask a mod about moving it.

However, I can assure you that once the mod community gets a hold of it, there will be a Crossbow for every set in the game and they will all be craftable. I'd even go as far as speculating that some models are being designed and built from scratch, as we speak.

That's true, but Skyrim has hardcoded weapon animation sets you have to select when creating a new weapon. I would hope that the crossbow one is patched into the game proper so that even without the DLC, we can still make weapons based on it, we simply won't have the original meshes.

still don't think this is likely. It is one of the key features of the dlc and if the option is given away without it, dawnguard will lose one of it's key features. Remember they want you to purchase the dlc.

I don't understand what you are saying. Once the DLC is released on the PC, anyone will be able to open it in the CK. Anything in it will be able to be implemented into any part of the main game. Be that buildings, weapons or animations.

The DLC is just a mod in itself. It's no different than taking a mod someone else made and opening the esp file.This is done all the time.

he is saying will he be able to make a crossbow mod without having purchased the dlc.

Someone could make one now. It would take a talented animator and an artist to create it.