This tutorial will walk you through changing any non-Tav Character (Origin Characters, Companions, NPCs) through the CharacterVisuals .lsf file with resources.
This tutorial assumes that the reader knows basic modding knowledge.
The CharacterVisuals is responsible for assigned visuals such as hair, eye colour, armour…etc. This is required to make changes to characters that doesn't replace the original object, but to switch the objects instead.
As an example, Astarion uses the 13082f1f-d9ea-be63-ba1a-a5c682123e02 UUID in the hair parameter, which references the HAIR_HUM_M_Astarion.GR2.
As a reference, you can search up Notable NPCs and take a look at their visual resource.
To create a .pak folder for this mod, you can use this blank template here which will require changing the “YourModName_Here” to the name of your choice.
This template is also accompanied by a sample unpackaged mod that changes Arabella's Visual, the mod can be used as a reference.
The [PAK]_CharacterVisuals lsf (Filename: _merged) includes visuals of all non-Tav characters in game, one can find most characters by searching up their names. In some cases the character can be referred to by another name, such as Minthara being referred to as “DrowCommander”.
If the character is named differently in the code, one can trace back the character through this method:
<attribute id="CharacterVisualResourceID" type="FixedString" value="94eb1315-258b-999e-8193-0bdd9e2784ba" />After finding the intended character, you must create a new _merged.lsx (to be later converted as lsf) that includes the character's visual resource. Some characters have multiple visual resources (accounting for multiple appearances. Origin Characters tend to have up to eight parameters) so make sure you have every visual resource in game for that character.
You must copy and paste all the parameters before applying any edits, even parameters that are left unedited for the CharacterVisual to fully function. This means that any other mod that edits the same character will conflict by default.
Colour Presets
You can trace Character Creator Colour assets through their name in game with the same method as above.
If one wants to find the UUID for Skintone: Warm Tone 9:
NOTE: Warm Tone 9 is named “Warm Tone 6” in the code, as not every displayed name will match its code name.
Mesh Assets
For mesh assets, in most cases, they need to match the character's race/gender such as clothes, armours and horns.
In order to find the correct meshes, it can be easily done through tracing back one of the original UUIDs which will be in a file for the specific Gender/Race.
Each parameter is responsible for assigning the object to a character:
Skin Colour (UUIDs can be found in CharacterCreationSkinColors.lsf)
<node id="Object">
<attribute id="ForcePresetValues" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="GroupName" type="FixedString" value="02Skin Properties" />
<attribute id="MapKey" type="FixedString" value="02Skin Properties" />
<attribute id="MaterialPresetResource" type="FixedString" value="UUID" />
</node>
Eye Colour (UUIDs can be found in CharacterCreationEyeColors.lsf)
<node id="Object">
<attribute id="ForcePresetValues" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="GroupName" type="FixedString" value="06Eyes" />
<attribute id="MapKey" type="FixedString" value="06Eyes" />
<attribute id="MaterialPresetResource" type="FixedString" value="UUID" />
</node>
Hair Colour (UUIDs can be found in CharacterCreationHairColors.lsf)
<node id="Object">
<attribute id="ForcePresetValues" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="GroupName" type="FixedString" value="03Hair" />
<attribute id="MapKey" type="FixedString" value="03Hair" />
<attribute id="MaterialPresetResource" type="FixedString" value="UUID" />
</node>
Freckles Amount (Nominal Value 0.00)
<node id="ScalarParameters">
<attribute id="Color" type="bool" value="False" />
<attribute id="Custom" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Enabled" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Parameter" type="FixedString" value="Freckles" />
<attribute id="Value" type="float" value="0.0" />
</node>
Freckles Opacity (Nominal Value 0.00)
<node id="ScalarParameters">
<attribute id="Color" type="bool" value="False" />
<attribute id="Custom" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Enabled" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Parameter" type="FixedString" value="FrecklesWeight" />
<attribute id="Value" type="float" value="0.0" />
</node>
Vitiligo Amount (Nominal Value 0.00)
<node id="ScalarParameters">
<attribute id="Color" type="bool" value="False" />
<attribute id="Custom" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Enabled" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Parameter" type="FixedString" value="VitiligoWeight" />
<attribute id="Value" type="float" value="0.0" />
</node>
Tattoo Type Face (Nominal Value 0)
<node id="ScalarParameters">
<attribute id="Color" type="bool" value="False" />
<attribute id="Custom" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Enabled" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Parameter" type="FixedString" value="TattooIndex" />
<attribute id="Value" type="float" value="0" />
</node>
Tattoo Colour Face (Nominal Value 0 0 0)
<node id="Vector3Parameters">
<attribute id="Color" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Custom" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Enabled" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Parameter" type="FixedString" value="TattooColor" />
<attribute id="Value" type="fvec3" value="0 0 0" />
</node>
Tattoo Opacity Face (Nominal Value 0.0 0 0 0)
<node id="VectorParameters">
<attribute id="Color" type="bool" value="False" />
<attribute id="Custom" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Enabled" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Parameter" type="FixedString" value="TattooIntensity" />
<attribute id="Value" type="fvec4" value="0.0 0 0 0" />
</node>
Tattoo Type Body (Nominal Value 0)
<node id="ScalarParameters">
<attribute id="Color" type="bool" value="False" />
<attribute id="Custom" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Enabled" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Parameter" type="FixedString" value="BodyTattooIndex" />
<attribute id="Value" type="float" value="0" />
</node>
Tattoo Colour Body (Nominal Value 0 0 0)
<node id="Vector3Parameters">
<attribute id="Color" type="bool" value="False" />
<attribute id="Custom" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Enabled" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Parameter" type="FixedString" value="BodyTattooColor" />
<attribute id="Value" type="fvec3" value="0 0 0" />
</node>
Tattoo Opacity Body (Nominal Value 0.0 0 0 0)
<node id="VectorParameters">
<attribute id="Color" type="bool" value="False" />
<attribute id="Custom" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Enabled" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Parameter" type="FixedString" value="BodyTattooIntensity" />
<attribute id="Value" type="fvec4" value="0.0 0 0 0" />
</node>
Hair Highlight Colour (Nominal Value 0 0 0)
<node id="Vector3Parameters">
<attribute id="Color" type="bool" value="False" />
<attribute id="Custom" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Enabled" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Parameter" type="FixedString" value="Highlight_Color" />
<attribute id="Value" type="fvec3" value="0 0 0" />
</node>
Hair Highlight Intensity (Nominal Value 0.00)
<node id="ScalarParameters">
<attribute id="Color" type="bool" value="False" />
<attribute id="Custom" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Enabled" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Parameter" type="FixedString" value="Highlight_Intensity" />
<attribute id="Value" type="float" value="0.0" />
</node>
Hair Greying Colour (Nominal Value 0 0 0)
<node id="Vector3Parameters">
<attribute id="Color" type="bool" value="False" />
<attribute id="Custom" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Enabled" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Parameter" type="FixedString" value="Hair_Graying_Color" />
<attribute id="Value" type="fvec3" value="0 0 0" />
</node>
Hair Greying Intensity (Nominal Value 0.00)
<node id="ScalarParameters">
<attribute id="Color" type="bool" value="False" />
<attribute id="Custom" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Enabled" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Parameter" type="FixedString" value="Graying_Intensity" />
<attribute id="Value" type="float" value="0.0" />
</node>
Eye Makeup Type (Nominal Value 0)
<node id="ScalarParameters">
<attribute id="Color" type="bool" value="False" />
<attribute id="Custom" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Enabled" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Parameter" type="FixedString" value="MakeUpIndex" />
<attribute id="Value" type="float" value="0" />
</node>
Eye Makeup Colour (Nominal Value 0 0 0)
<node id="Vector3Parameters">
<attribute id="Color" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Custom" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Enabled" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Parameter" type="FixedString" value="MakeupColor" />
<attribute id="Value" type="fvec3" value="0 0 0" />
</node>
Eye Makeup Opacity (Nominal Value 0.00)
<node id="ScalarParameters">
<attribute id="Color" type="bool" value="False" />
<attribute id="Custom" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Enabled" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Parameter" type="FixedString" value="MakeupIntensity" />
<attribute id="Value" type="float" value="0.0" />
</node>
Eye Makeup Metallic (Nominal Value 0.00)
<node id="ScalarParameters">
<attribute id="Color" type="bool" value="False" />
<attribute id="Custom" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Enabled" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Parameter" type="FixedString" value="MakeupRoughness" />
<attribute id="Value" type="float" value="0.0" />
</node>
Lipstick Colour (Nominal Value 0 0 0)
<node id="Vector3Parameters">
<attribute id="Color" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Custom" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Enabled" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Parameter" type="FixedString" value="Lips_Makeup_Color" />
<attribute id="Value" type="fvec3" value="0 0 0" />
</node>
Lipstick Opacity (Nominal Value 0.00)
<node id="ScalarParameters">
<attribute id="Color" type="bool" value="False" />
<attribute id="Custom" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Enabled" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Parameter" type="FixedString" value="LipsMakeupIntensity" />
<attribute id="Value" type="float" value="0.0" />
</node>
Lipstick Metallic (Nominal Value 0.00)
<node id="ScalarParameters">
<attribute id="Color" type="bool" value="False" />
<attribute id="Custom" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Enabled" type="bool" value="True" />
<attribute id="Parameter" type="FixedString" value="LipsMakeupRoughness" />
<attribute id="Value" type="float" value="0.0" />
</node>
Head Preset
<node id="Slots">
<attribute id="Bone" type="FixedString" value="" />
<attribute id="Slot" type="FixedString" value="Head" />
<attribute id="VisualResource" type="FixedString" value="UUID" />
</node>
Hair Mesh (UUIDs can be found primarily in [PAK]_Hair > _merged.lsf)
<node id="Slots">
<attribute id="Bone" type="FixedString" value="" />
<attribute id="Slot" type="FixedString" value="Hair" />
<attribute id="VisualResource" type="FixedString" value="UUID" />
</node>
Beard Mesh (UUIDs can be found primarily in [PAK]_Beards > _merged.lsf)
<node id="Slots">
<attribute id="Bone" type="FixedString" value="" />
<attribute id="Slot" type="FixedString" value="Beard" />
<attribute id="VisualResource" type="FixedString" value="UUID" />
</node>
Horns Mesh
<node id="Slots">
<attribute id="Bone" type="FixedString" value="" />
<attribute id="Slot" type="FixedString" value="Horns" />
<attribute id="VisualResource" type="FixedString" value="UUID" />
</node>
Genitalia (UUIDs can be found primarily in [PAK]_Genitals > _merged.lsf)
<node id="Slots">
<attribute id="Bone" type="FixedString" value="" />
<attribute id="Slot" type="FixedString" value="Private Parts" />
<attribute id="VisualResource" type="FixedString" value="UUID" />
</node>
If one wants to switch a character's parameter with a custom/modded object, not from vanilla game, they must add the asset within the mod's folder, and use the assigned UUID to custom asset to put in the CharacterVisuals.
After finishing editing the .lsx, it's time to convert it back to .lsf with the LSLib Tookilt.
Import the mod to ModManager, and all changes should be visible in game.