FollowerForge is an out-of-game application that reads your active Vortex or Mod Organizer 2 setup and creates an installable Skyrim follower mod (ESPFE plus assets).
FollowerForge itself is not a Skyrim mod. Do not install the application into Skyrim Data, Vortex, or MO2 as game content.
Download the self-contained Windows x64 build from the FollowerForge 3.6.0 release. A separate .NET installation is not required.
- Extract the release ZIP anywhere outside Skyrim
Data. - Run
FollowerForge.exe. - Start from Studio. Follow the next recommended action through the seven categories.
- Press Build follower.
- Install the generated follower package with Vortex or MO2, enable its plugin, and deploy it.
RaceMenu Export Head NIF/DDS files are required for a custom face. A slider-only preset without usable exported head geometry may not reproduce the face on an NPC.
- Studio dashboard with category readiness and a next recommended action.
- Seven Focus categories instead of the old tab wall.
- Expert Deck for searching, inspecting, and selecting installed records (FormID + EditorID).
- Guided / Expert mode (
Ctrl+E). Expert opens the primary catalogue; it does not hide fields. - Command palette (
Ctrl+K) for navigation, Build, Paths, MO2 setup, and manager switch. - Five themes. Theme, experience, and window size are stored separately from follower profiles.
- Werewolf revert, Paths, pronouns, and gear FormIDs from 3.4.0 / 3.5.0 are still in.
Keyboard: Ctrl+0–Ctrl+7 jumps categories. Escape closes an open overlay only.
FollowerForge auto-detects Vortex first unless MO2 is preferred. The manager control in the left sidebar can switch between them before or during indexing.
MO2 users can click MO2 setup... to:
- browse to the exact
ModOrganizer.ini; - select the exact profile to index;
- inspect the resolved base, mods, profiles, and overwrite paths;
- save that selection for future runs;
- return to automatic detection later.
Click Paths... to set the xVASynth folder and where built followers are saved. Sex on Identity updates she/her or he/him. Gear lists show FormIDs so identically named items can be told apart.
Saved GUI settings live under %LOCALAPPDATA%\FollowerForge. FollowerForge does not modify MO2 profile/INI files, Vortex deployment data, Skyrim Data, or saves.
See the detailed MO2 guide for setup and troubleshooting.
| Option | Purpose |
|---|---|
| GUI manager button | Prefer MO2 or Vortex |
| GUI MO2 setup... | Select and persist the exact MO2 instance/profile |
| GUI Paths... | Set xVASynth and the built-mod output folder |
FFORGE_XVASYNTH / --xvasynth |
Override xVASynth discovery |
FFORGE_PREFER_MO2=1 |
Try MO2 before Vortex |
FFORGE_MO2_INSTANCE=D:\path\to\instance |
Use that MO2 instance folder |
--mo2-instance DIR |
Use an exact MO2 instance in the CLI |
--mo2-profile NAME |
Use an exact MO2 profile in the CLI |
cli\FollowerForge.Cli.exe env |
Print the detected environment |
cli\FollowerForge.Cli.exe index |
Rebuild the catalogue |
Do not point FollowerForge at a houseCARL Vortex shim unless you intentionally override the safety gate.
- Windows 10 or 11
- Skyrim Special Edition or Anniversary Edition
- Vortex or Mod Organizer 2
- RaceMenu for custom faces
Optional integrations include xVASynth, dialogue overhauls, High Poly Head, and FSMP when the selected follower assets require them.
FollowerForge does not grant redistribution rights for third-party assets. Check every asset author's permissions before uploading a generated follower.
Recommended face workflow: FaceForge -> RaceMenu Export Head -> FollowerForge.
See CHANGELOG.txt for the complete history and the 3.6.0 Nexus changelog for the short user-facing update notes.