XML/Weapons/Support

To add support for a weapon, the following information is needed, it can all be found in the mods esp.

1. Weapon Name.

2. Weapon EDID.

3. Weapon Material. Check the keyword on the weapon and/or the main ingredient in the crafting and tempering recipe (if any).

4. Weapon Type. Sword, Greatsword, Katana etc.

5. Does the weapon have a *Template Item* set?

6. Is the Weapon Enchanted.

7. Is the Weapon required '**by' ANY** quest. Quest reward weapons generally are not required for a quest. Some are a bit odd though, like Nettlebane.

8. Determine if the weapon is a Hero item or an Alternate item. Hero items are things like Aela's Shield, Conan's Sword, Andúril, etc. alternate items are things like Super Cool Sword. Hero = True, Alternate = False

9. Should random enchanted versions be made. Hero = False, Alternate = True

10. Should it be distributed. If the original mod already distributes the items, they should be excluded from further distribution. If the original mod already distributes the items but if random enchanted variants are being made the variants should be distributed. Hero = False, Alternate = True

11. Remember that everything below is case-sensitive, steel != Steel, and that entries should be as exclusive as possible, if the weapons name is `Bucklebury Ferry Guards Dagger` don't bind it as `Buck`.

With that info open *Weapons.xml*.

1. If #5 is false, create an entry in *weapon\_material\_bindings*;

```
<binding>
 <identifier>Material</identifier>
 <substring>Weapon Name</substring>
</binding>

```

2. If #5 is false and the weapon name does not contain a common weapon type, create an entry in *weapon\_type\_bindings*;

```
<binding>
 <identifier>Weapon Type</identifier>
 <substring>Weapon Name</substring>
</binding>

```

3. n1 If #6, #7 or #8 is true, create an entry in *reforge\_exclusions*;

```
<exclusion>
 <text>Info</text>
 <target>NAME</target>
 <type>CONTAINS</type>
</exclusion>

```

What goes here can vary, the *<target>* can be *NAME*, *EDID* or *FORMID* [[XML/Weapons/Support#Notes|n2]. The *<text>* is what the *<target>* checks for, and the *<type>* is how it is checked. *<type>* can be either;
**CONTAINS** - If the `text` is matched anywhere in the `target` the exclusion is true.

**STARTSWITH** - If the `text` is matched at the begining of the `target` the exclusion is true.

**EQUALS** or **EQUALS\_IGNORECASE**. - If the *text* is matched exactly in the *target* the exclusion is true.

4. If #6 or #9 is false and/or #7 or #8 is true, open *Enchanting.xml* and create an entry in *enchantment\_weapon\_exclusions*

5. If #10 is false and/or #7 is true, open *LeveledLists.xml* and create an entry in *distribution\_exclusions\_weapon*. If the item is enchanted put it in the *distribution\_exclusions\_weapon\_enchanted* subsection, otherwise put it in the *distribution\_exclusions\_weapon\_regular* subsection.

6. Do this for each weapon in the mod.

## Tips

Using EDID for exclusions is almost always easier than using item names. Most modders will use custom EDID prefixes for every record in their mods, mine all use `Raul\_Weap\_` for weapons. Using that all items in the mod can easily be excluded with just 1-2 entries instead of dozens. This will also help keep the file size down and speed up parsing.

Everything is case sensitive, except an `EQUALS\_IGNORECASE` exclusion type.

## Notes

* n1: An Exclusion needs to be as exclusive as possible, EDID exclusions such as `Armor` or `Ench` will exclude nearly every Vanilla and DLC armor and should never be used, most mods use a custom prefix, like Skyrim Immersive Creatures uses `00\_` for everything, every EDID exclusion should be as long as possible, at least 4-5+ characters long, or 3+ characters long if it uses an underscore (\_) near the start.

* n2: *FORMID* is extremely rare and should almost never be used, I only use it for 1 item from `Skyrim.esm` and only because the item had to be excluded and the name was the same as a common weapon. Anything submitted with **a FormID check will need a very good reason and absolutely no other way of doing it**. FormID checks should only be used for `Skyrim.esm` and `Update.esm`, using it for DLC or USKPs will force requirements on every user.