Simple Follower Framework

Simple Follower Framework is a SKSE follower framework that allows you to have up to 8 vanilla followers. This mod does not add a custom follower system. It does not replace the vanilla follower quest. It just extends the limit and keeps vanilla behavior.

This mod does not touch any modded followers with their own system (Inigo, Lucien, Remiel, etc) and never will. That is out of this mod's scope. So this mod will not conflict or touch those mods.

What this mod does

Lets you recruit more than one vanilla follower.
The max follower cap can be adjusted in "SimpleFollowerFramework.ini" by editing "iMaxFollowers."
Perk Based Follower Locking: You can make each owned perk unlock one extra follower slot, up to 8 followers.
Essential Followers: Flags the followers that are in the 'CurrentFollowerFaction' as Essential."

Why this mod is a thing:
I wanted a lightweight follower framework that handled the basics without being buggy. I couldn't find one, so I made my own using SKSE.
Requirements

Add-ons for this mod by other fellow authors:

Works out of the box with

Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Patch
Swiftly Order Squad
Any modded followers that uses Vanilla Follower system will be able to take advantage of this mod.

Not Compatible with:

I won't make patches for NSFW mods, so do not ask me or even open a bug report on this mod page.

Configuration

"iMaxFollowers": This is your total follower cap, including the normal vanilla slot. Up-to 8. For Example:

iMaxFollowers=1 - Vanilla behavior (one follower).
iMaxFollowers=4 - You can have up to four vanilla followers at once.

"bFollowerOptionSelector": Follower Perk Option Selector

bFollowerOptionSelector=0 - Option 1: Feature is turned off, and it will use iMaxFollowers.
bFollowerOptionSelector=1 - Option 2: Use perk list to add follower slots (ignores iMaxFollowers)
bFollowerOptionSelector=2 - Option 3: Follower slots scale with player Speech skill (ignores iMaxFollowers and sPerkForms)

"iSpeechLevelsPerSlot": Follower Perk Option Selector

This determines how many Speech levels are needed to unlock each extra follower slot.
Default is 10 (Speech 0-9 = 1 follower, 10-19 = 2, 20-29 = 3 ... 79+ = 8)

"sPerkForm": This is only used when "bFollowerOptionSelector"=1

Comma-separated list, up to 8 entries
Perk Format: PluginName|LocalFormID
sPerkForms=Skyrim.esm|00058F75,Skyrim.esm|00058f7a,Skyrim.esm|00058f7b
They can be any perk you want. It can be a new perk or any vanilla perk
Each perk will open an extra follower slot.

"bFollowerEssential": If enabled, any loaded actor that is in "CurrentFollowerFaction" gets flagged as Essential.
That means your current vanilla followers you have with you will stop dying.

"bFriendlyFireProtection": Disables Friendly Fire for the player to the follower while in combat.

"bFollowerSandbox": Allows followers to sandbox (wander, sit, idle) in Dwellings and Habitation
Example: Towns, Homes and any other places marked as Dwellings and Habitation

Thank you, everyone, who endorsed the mod and got it Hot mods ♥

Source
Github Page

Credits

NoahBoddie - for CMake template
mrowrpurr - project template and amazing tutorial videos.
MissileMann - for ideas and helping.
Netherworks - I was able to understand how the whole follower thing works by looking at Nether's Follower Framework.
My Discord community for spending time on this and helping test this.
serkethetyt and Disclova for amazing thumbnail pictures.
alandtse - for Common Lib NG

Simple Follower Framework

Gallery

Main file

Simple Follower Framework

Old files

Simple Follower Framework