Create and modify Skyrim plugin files (.esp/.esl). Use when the user wants to create a mod, add weapons, armor, spells, perks, books, quests, NPCs, or globals to a plugin. Also use when inspecting existing plugins or merging mods.
The skyrim-esp skill enables users to create, inspect, and modify Skyrim plugin files (.esp/.esl) through the ESP module of Spooky's AutoMod Toolkit. It replaces the need for traditional tools like xEdit and the Creation Kit for many common modding workflows, particularly those involving NPC behavior and record management. By providing a command-line interface, it allows users to generate plugins, analyze their structure, and manage dependencies directly from a structured environment, reducing manual complexity and streamlining mod development.
This skill supports a wide range of record types, including weapons, armor, spells, perks, books, quests, globals, NPCs, and NPC AI packages. It includes functionality for creating new plugins, inspecting plugin metadata, listing masters, and adding records with predefined presets for models and effects. Advanced capabilities include managing quest aliases, handling script properties, inspecting types, comparing record versions, and detecting load order conflicts. The system also supports 36 types of NPC AI packages, enabling detailed behavioral control without requiring external tools.
Typical use cases include creating custom mods, building gameplay content such as items or quests, and modifying existing plugins through overrides or patches. It is especially useful for mod developers who prefer automation or scripting over graphical interfaces, as well as those who need to perform bulk edits or analyze plugin data programmatically. The target users are Skyrim modders, technical creators, and developers seeking efficient and reproducible workflows for plugin management.
You can create a plugin by running the CLI command for plugin creation, specifying the plugin name and optional parameters such as author, output path, or light plugin flag.
Yes, the skill provides commands to retrieve plugin information and list master dependencies, allowing you to analyze existing plugin structures.
You can add multiple record types including books, weapons, armor, spells, perks, quests, globals, NPCs, and NPC AI packages, each with specific required options.
Yes, some records require specific parameters, such as models for weapons and armor or effects for spells and perks, to function or appear properly in-game.
This skill eliminates the need for those tools for many workflows, particularly for NPC behavior setup and record manipulation, though it depends on your specific modding needs.
Quick Setup:
.claude/skills/Repository
SpookyPirate/spookys-automod-toolkit