Bound Crossbows

Author: ElfPuncher
Version: 0.8

Description

Last updated at 6:35, 23 Dec 2012
Uploaded at 1:35, 10 Aug 2012

NOTE: requires Dawnguard. 
DESCRIPTION CONTAINS SOME ITEM SPOILERS (but not quest spoilers)
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Added an optional esp file that doesn't add the bolt selection spell and uses the vanilla bound bow scripts for adding/equipping ammo. Haven't tested it much, but it could be more stable. PM me if you notice any wonkiness with it.
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Changes in .8:
-Increased damage of bound bolts to 15, and mystic binding now summons stronger bolts (25 damage). This should balance it more with the exploding varieties.
-Casting cost has been increased to match.
-spell tome has been moved to inside the fort, on top of a barrel near the smelter and forge.
-bolts now have a blue glow
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Description:
This mod simply adds a bound crossbow spell. It should work properly with all conjuration perks.

The base version of the spell conjures a crossbow slightly more powerful than an untempered steel crossbow. With the Mystic Binding perk, the summoned crossbow is slightly more powerful than the upgraded dwarven crossbow when untemepered. The spell always summons and equips 100 bound bolts as well. Bound bolts do 15 or 25 damage, depending whether the player has the Mystic Binding perk. These will always be equipped automatically by default, but this can be changed with the menu spell also acquired upon reading the spell tome.

The spell tome is near the smelter/forge in Fort Dawnguard, on top of a barrel.


Installation:
Use NMM or drop the Data folder into the Skyrim directory.


Compatibility:
The only thing that might conflict directly with another mod is the placement of the book. Another mod altering that same area may overwrite or be overwritten by that change.

Other mods that add new bolt types won't play nice with the "smart" bolt equipping script yet. New meshes and textures are not a problem, but new types of bolts are. The bound bolts will always equip over non-vanilla bolts, and you'll have to manually switch back every time you want to use those bolts. This is only an issue if you turn on smart equipping from the menu spell.


Credits:
The crossbow and bolt meshes are from DJjojo's Daedric Crossbow mod at http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/22113/


Video:

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Old updates:

Changes in .75: 
-Included new Daedric Crossbow mesh from DJjojo. (from version 1.3 of his mod)
-increased damage slightly to balance the fact that bound weapons can't be tempered.
-values and weights are now all 0.
-mystic crossbow's script fixed (let me know if you still get the freezing reload animation)
-mesh directory changed so as not to conflict with DJjojo's mod.

Changes in .7b: DJjojo kindly gave permission to use his Daedric Crossbow model (Thanks!). His mod isn't required for this one, but it is pretty awesome and you probably want it anyway. Be sure to check it out at http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/22113/ 

changes in .7:
-Fired bolts now look more conjured. (this change was made redundant with the new model from DJjojo)
-Bound bolts are always equipped by default
-Added a spell that opens a settings menu:
Allows the player to change whether bound bolts will be equipped when summoned.
Options are: always, never, and smart. Smart is the previous functionality of only equipping if no bolts or steel bolts are equipped.

NOTE: Previous users will not have the spell immediately. It is added when the book is read. Another copy of the book can be acquired by typing into the console:
help "bound crossbow"
One of the items listed should be the spell tome, with the type BOOK. Now type:
player.additem ######## 1
where the #'s are the item ID listed previously.
The book should now be in your inventory. Read it and the menu spell will be added.


Optional version .65: transparent bound crossbows. See images for comparison. Only install one version, they're both standalone.

Changes in 0.6: The spell description no longer repeats itself. Also, bound bolts will only equip themselves on summoning if no bolts or only steel bolts are in the player's inventory. If any better bolts are in the inventory they will be equipped. (The game actually does this already, and the bound crossbow spell only equips the bound bolts afterwards if there is no better option.) They equip themselves over steel bolts because they are the same but the bound ones are essentially free.