How to modify NPCs from a mod

[gundam_elf]

I have a mod: Moonstone Castle, that has human female NPCs instead of elven ones. I just want to make them into elves. Not interested in making them nude or whatever. What is the best mod to do this without taking an online course in modding? Scripting is not an option, I don't know how.

[HazakTheMad]

Well, you’d have to use the Creation kit, or see if someone has already made this mod.

[ralphtobybob]

I haven't tried this yet, but according to a post on the mod page for Familiar Faces, people have used Alternate Actors to take over a previous character they imported from a saved game.
Then they used ShowRaceMenu Alternative to modify the character.
Obviously, do a slot save before trying this.
Using Alternate Actors once, I was playing around with the settings and picked 'may be ghost'. Body sliding down a waterfall unexpectedly went horribly wrong and my character died and became a ghost. I decided to go with the ghost thing.
The mod allows you to take over another NPC. I kinda think I changed the NPC's appearance, after taking them over, but I don't remember.

[xybolt]

If there is no mod that handles this for you, then a best approach is to install Creation Kit (now mentioned as "CK"), load the plugin and make the changes there. Since you want to change the race, it's advised to do it there because of the facegen; you don't want a nordic eyebrow on your elf ... Not to mention hearing an elf using a nordic voice.

Modifying a NPC is not difficult. You can even pre-render them inside CK to know how they would appear ingame. Just save your process regularly because it tends to crash. It comes with a fair learning curve (be prepared to sink few hours in this one), however, once it's "in your fingers", you can modify the NPCs at your whim.

Start with this wiki page, https://www.creationkit.com/index.php?title=Category:Tutorials - you only have to consult the "beginner" section as that's the only thing you can use. The key information you need to understand is the plugins, what it means, how it is structured. Make a decision if you're prepared to proceed or not. Modding a game requires doing research, getting familiar with some "under the hood" things that appears technical, ect

If you're willing to invest your time in this, then install the CK. Ensure picking the correct version (I installed from Oldrim before first ...) @ https://store.steampowered.com/app/1946180/Skyrim_Special_Edition_Creation_Kit/

After that, ensure you have the CK fixes (READ DESCRIPTION FIRST!!!) @ https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/71371 installed

Try to start it. If it loads up and you can select plugins, you're ready for the next step: install xEdit, for this game it is named as "SSEEdit", https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/164. This helps you to edit the plugin outside CK/

At last consult this one; https://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?/topic/1646388-terrible-ten-minute-tutorial-on-npc-face-editing/ I googled it for you, it contains viable information you can use.

Now, load the plugin you want modify, DO NOT MARK IT AS ACTIVE. Find the NPC (all of them will have * at their name) that is linked to the mod. Start from here: https://www.creationkit.com/index.php?title=Fallout_4_Simple_Fetch_Quest_Tutorial_Chapter_5:_Creating_an_NPC#Click_on_the_Object_Window (don't worrry, GECK is just a sibling of CK, just for Fallout games - the windows are same) until Click the OK Button inclusive. Ignore the rest below that.

Make a really small change on a NPC you want to change (change eyebrow) and save it. Give your plugin a proper name. Now, you have a plugin you can play with. Change the race, use the preview ect ... Save often! If you want to stop and continue on another day, just open the CK, find this plugin and mark it as active.

At last: before testing it ingame, don't forget to export facegen data (select NPC in object window, then hit Ctrl+F4). Otherwise you get gray faces ingame :)

[gundam_elf]

Should have known this wasn't going to be a pour-hot-water fix. That's good, I'm feeling a bit creative anyway. Thanks for the replies, everyone!

[ralphtobybob]

Turns out that the appearance changes can be made solely within Alternate Actors:
"Controlling an NPC allows you to affect them by:

Leveling their skills
Changing their gear
Changing their face, hair, and hair color (10 NPC’s can be remembered)"
https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/34448

I've sometimes been unable to craft afterwards. Using the console command player.tai
fixes that.