Aela Dialogue Overhaul Brainstorm Sesh!
Added 2024-05-31 11:14:08 +0000 UTC
Art by the talented Mirco Cabbia! I'll be designing my own visual Aela replacer too. Like Trueblood, I aim to go for a vanilla-inspired aesthetic.
It's in the title! While Ashe is my main focus right now, followed by the final SDA update, I can't help but start brainstorming for my next big project: the Aela Dialogue Overhaul! (Working title, of course - but definitely not just an "Add-On" this time ๐).
This is just about getting those creative juices flowing. Your feedback (along with my own idle shower thoughts, haha) will be invaluable in shaping the mod's direction. โ๏ธ
So, what awesome Aela content are you craving?
Epic Storylines?
Meaningful Character Progression?
A Romance Fit for a Companion?
Brand New Features?
Deeper, More Engaging Conversations?
Let your imaginations run wild in the comments below! ๐ I'll be revisiting this thread and your suggestions when it's time for planning and pre-production.
I'm also aware that there's currently an Aela Dialogue Expansion mod uploaded, but it's far from having any of the depth SDA or IFD-Lydia has.
Quick Housekeeping:
SDA Name Submissions: Don't forget! You've still got time to submit your ideas. I'll be organizing and compiling them at the end of June when requests officially close.
Ashe Dev Build: The latest build is live for those who want to dive in and test it out. More sneak peeks (including recording sessions of the main questline) are coming soon!
ty ty and stay awesome,
Marty
Comments
A Cicero Dialogue Overhaul would be kinda sick.
KeK StrayHALO_MAN
2024-09-22 21:43:33 +0000 UTCSo here are some bullet points from shortstories I wrote ages ago to flash out her backround. Aela 30 years old at the time of ES V Her mother was a circle member but she was killed by the Silver Hand. Skjor was there when she died. She lived with her father in the woods of the Rift until he was killed by a bear when she was 16. She joined the companions shortly after wearing the pelt of said bear when she walked up to Jorrvaskr. She became a circle member at 19~20, before Vilkas and Farkas. Kodlak was her Forebearer like all Circle members except for Skjor which was Anskar.
Hightower
2024-09-21 13:47:21 +0000 UTCUse her for the first quest where you find out about them being werewolves instead of Farkis. Get her more intimately involved with the character from the first meeting and have her more as the guide for the DB joining. Interactions with SDA obviously and with Dawnguard and having disdain for vampires.
RikuwOblivion
2024-08-09 21:42:43 +0000 UTCI know I'm late, but I'd like the initial encounter with Aela to be far more thoughtful and less abrupt and dismissive. The mod that expands the Companions dialogue helps a bit, but almost anything would help. Give me something to work with, Aela! C'mon!
Steven Todd
2024-07-10 23:27:10 +0000 UTCGotta agree with that. Out of all the companions, she's the one who never displays even the slightest hint of wanting to change what she is (Skjor probably wouldn't either based on what we hear, but we don't ever get his opinion directly from him IIRC). She seems find the idea of an eternal hunt in Hircine's realm far more preferable to the idea of Sovngarde.
Ven
2024-06-10 14:35:05 +0000 UTCI would like to start by saying I will most likely not be able to play any newer content as I have a daughter on the way in a few months, which does not leave any time for recreational activities. However, I really did enjoy Marty's content. SDA has been with me on every new playthroughs I had over the last few years and it is a mod that just doesn't feel right if it is missing. I will probably come back in a few years when I can spare some time so I hope Aela content becomes a masterpiece for me to enjoy. Before I start rambling on about my ideas for Aela, I do not expect Marty to take my ideas 100% and create a custom Aela just for me. In fact, that would likely damage the already great content he is creating by adding my style of dye to the fabric. Therefore, please only take my ideas as just ideas.....there are a lot of them tho but I promise I am writing every single letter with heart. Meeting with Aela: When approaching Whiterun, if you want Aela to consider you in a positive light, you practically have to sprint at the giant the moment it spawns and pray you stayed in battle long enough for Aela to consider you 'worthy' unless you have a mod that makes giants super beefy or something. The Dragonborn is an actual pathetic whelp at this point (unless you use ALA and are somehow already lvl 100 master combatant without visiting Whiterun at that point but I am going to try to stick to lore as much as I can) and it does not make sense for him/her to charge at a giant upon first glance. Therefore, if one chooses to roleplay a fierce warrior who chases battle without thinking, that decision would be rewarded with a positive tone from Aela such as "You must have the heart of a true warrior to charge at a giant despite your prowess obviously being....well....not very noticeable". Or, if the player somehow hits about lvl 30 or so have a line that goes "I can see that you are a skilled warrior. No wonder you rushed to our aid immediately". The conversation can then transition into Aela trying to recruit the PC into the Companions as she finds the PC interesting. She will then ask whether she can escort the PC to Jorrvaskr and have her introduce the PC to Kodlak. If one decides to wait a few seconds before charging into battle and end up only getting a couple of hits in, have Aela say something like "Well, at least you decided to help. Not sure if we needed it but you are certainly braver than some spectators over there". Aela would still try to recruit the PC but she will only suggest it once in a 'take it or leave it' kind of tone. If one decides to not join the battle at all and walk over to the companions anyway, one would have to initiate the conversation with Aela as she most likely wouldn't be interested in the Dragonborn since he/she was a simple bystander. The PC would say something like "Hello there, nice to meet....." and Aela would cut him/her off by saying "I do not converse with weak cowards. Be on your way and don't bother me citizen". The PC would then try to continue the conversation but Aela would cut in again and say "If you wish to talk, head over to Jorrvaskr and speak with Kodlak Whiteman. He can decide if you are worthy or not. Until then, I have nothing to say to you". At this point it would be similar to vanilla. I am not sure if it is possible to change this scenario like this. If you can, maybe you can add something better than what I have concocted. This is what I thought of so far. I know posting long comments like this is not necessarily easy on the eyes, so let me know if you would like to hear my thoughts some other way.
Dar Marova
2024-06-09 05:49:29 +0000 UTCAela does love her bow, so having a custom bow created would be awesome, especially with how much her disdain is for the silver hand. Her shield is also very unimpressive, to be honest, but one of the quests that could be done is to enchant Aela's Shield.
jason jones
2024-06-08 21:52:01 +0000 UTCAela has a lot of cool areas that can be exploited. One of the ones is the lycanthropes in the Dragonborne DLC. Another thing is that Aela loves her lycanthropic form, so having a Lycan cold haven would also be pretty cool.
jason jones
2024-06-08 21:50:37 +0000 UTCHow about a reunion with Kodlak in Sovngarde? While it could be missable if you misstime when you finish the Companion Questline and when you finish the main story, I feel like an extended conversation between the two could really bring some closure between the two characters. Maybe it could also be the impetus for curing Aela of Lycanthropy if people want that - like "you won't be able to come here if you remain with Hircine". Though that would mean having to find a reason Aela can travel with you to Sovngarde in the first place...
Cereya
2024-06-05 20:42:20 +0000 UTCNo, not interested at this time.
Martimius
2024-06-03 07:29:37 +0000 UTCGreat suggestion! :) Having two hostile members in the same party (even if not at the same time) wouldn't be a pleasant experience.
Martimius
2024-06-03 07:29:15 +0000 UTCPack mentality. Aela is a werewolf and the only one outside of yourself that remains one in the companions questline. She can be vanilla married and be the mother of your adopted children. I think she should have a pack mentality. A strong, feral woman whos cold to anyone who hasn't earned her trust and incredibly protective of anyone that has. I think banter with followers/children should be a main focus for Aela for that reason. She's also a member of the companions so I think she should remain in that light. She's not just a follower, she should bring something to the table. Like Hoth with his ability to pick up bounty contracts and such anywhere he is, Aela should be able to do the same. She shouldn't just follow you places though, she should offer aid. Ex. When you go to the Thalmor Party you should find her at the cave exit where you and malbourne leave from, standing over 2 dead thalmor with horses to flee on that she stole from the embassy, make her not just a follower but a character in our stories with her own goals, her own way of doing things and her own skills to offer in unique ways. Using her skills with archery to burn down the golden glow apiaries for you instead of just remaining behind or tagging along, etc.
Firebeard
2024-06-01 18:11:17 +0000 UTCI think it would have to be after the death of Skijor. Also she would remain a wolf, and a companion. I know there is at least one text only mod that adds conversations, I'll find that and post it. Any quest would probably need to tie in the Wolf hunters, (I forget their name) and I guess there would be a lot of hunting and eating.
John Barry
2024-06-01 17:28:11 +0000 UTCJust throwing it out there, I don't think there should be an option to cure her lycanthropy. She's the one Companion who doesn't seek a cure in vanilla, and I think she embraces her gift to the point that she'd like nothing more than to spend eternity hunting with Hircine when she dies Also hoping a voice actor steps forward who can do justice to her deep, commanding contralto, as I think it's one of her most defining features
Ell
2024-06-01 00:24:18 +0000 UTCI agree!
Franz
2024-05-31 22:23:29 +0000 UTCWill you do a mod like SDA for a character like Derkeethus?
KeK StrayHALO_MAN
2024-05-31 21:29:09 +0000 UTCI stand by that Aela has to die. The story of the Companions is the story of curing them from a century long curse brought on by Hircine. The entire Circle can be cured, or dies, except for Aela who don't want to leave her Werewolf state. Maybe something around that? Kill, cure, join...?
Tomas
2024-05-31 15:59:10 +0000 UTCRomance and deeper conversations would be nice for sure. Though the main thing that springs to mind is more Werewolf centric content. As Aela is fairly unique in the Companions with her being very much in favor of being a werewolf with her being both the one to provide the player with the beastblood and the quest giver for getting the werewolf totems. So going more in depth on that aspect of her would be awesome. Especially as I'm a huge werewolf fan in general XD
Nicholas E. Zonenberg
2024-05-31 13:17:10 +0000 UTCI of course think a romance option with Aela would be awesome. She is a character with a deep backstory, and has a sense about her that says there is much more to know than what she allows you to learn. I would also say creating a quest option for her to be cured of her lycathropy, while also helping her to learn that she can be a true honorable Hunter and learn what being a true tcompanion is all about would be a positive turn for her. Since when Skjor dies she almost becomes isolated from the rest of the guild socially as Skjor was the only one who stood alongside her from wanting the "blessing" while everyone else does not want it. Maybe it could be an option of helping her stay and get cured, or leave and not get cured living in the wilds as a hunter with the "blessing" for the rest of her days. Third I think would be awesome to have her want to join you early on in the companion quest line. As of right now you can only ask her to follow/ travel with you after you become head of the guild. But if she could join you early on maybe that could change up the quest line a bit, hearing her different perspective, being given different options on quest you could do or options you can take to impact the guild overall, and allow that to progress your romancing of her through its continuum. Lastly I would say adding an option to hunt and train with her would be awesome. She is literally one of the very few characters who talks about joining you to train or hunt all the time but the game limits her actual dialogue her doing that with you other than asking her to be a follower and role playing it as if you are both hunting together.
TheLoneWolf
2024-05-31 13:07:59 +0000 UTCWhy not start by working things out between Aela and Serena. As it is, Serena kinda hates Aela.
Jake
2024-05-31 11:25:22 +0000 UTC
