Shivering talk:Big Head

Big Head causing trouble, solution for Console users

Console users do not have the benefit of installing the unofficial patch, and need some way to keep Big Head alive. It appears that there are two ways that Big Head can get himself killed by the guards. The first is that he will steal forks and food. This follows the normal rules of NPC crime, and you can avoid Big Head being killed simply by bribing him. Under the normal game mechanics the bribe money will go into Big Head's inventory, and he will simply pay his fine any time he is caught stealing. The bribe money will ensure that he can always pay his fine, because if he cannot the guards will kill him. The bigger issue is that Big Head will attack other NPCs. Even if he surrenders, and has the gold to pay his crime, the guards will continue attacking him until he is dead. I don't have access to SI in the editor so this next part is only a guess from my testing. It appears that this is caused by his find fork AI pack. At 2pm Big Head comes out of the Sacellum, and soon after Rendil Drarara comes out of his house and walks to the Sacellum. At some point Big Head picks him up, draws his weapon and runs to attack Rendil. Rendil has a fork in his inventory, and it appears that Big Head is failing to try to pickpocket it, but rather just tries to kill Rendil to take it. I was able to stop Big Head from attacking Rendil by stealing the fork from him. I verified that Big Head was looking for a fork by placing the stolen fork on the ground. He will sneak up to it and pick it up off the ground. I am not sure why he is deciding to kill NPCs without trying to pickpocket them, but you should be able to keep him from doing this by stealing all the forks from the citizens of Bliss. After pickpocketing everyone it appears that Rendil is the only NPC in Bliss with a fork in their inventory. --Shalley303 14:11, 12 April 2008 (EDT)

I wonder, can he steal forks (and can any other Bliss NPC commit any crime or action) when I'm in Crucible or another part of SI or Oblivion (when I'm not in Bliss)? Thanks in advance! SwedishBerzerker at youtube.com 11:51, 2 July 2009 (UTC)

I just tested the exact same thing, and it is pretty simple to keep Big Head alive. Pickpocket the fork from Rendil and everything is fine. Oh yes, and stay out of the Choosy Beggar between 8pm and 10pm. I'm about to give both Big Head and Rendil the big ONPCRP-treatment and will make sure to add these observations to both pages - and to the quest-page as well.-- Krusty 15:55, 30 September 2009 (UTC)

Cool! So it's really that that simple after all! :D I'm done with Oblivion but I'm sure other players would really appreciate this hint! SwedishBerzerker at youtube.com 19:25, 30 September 2009 (UTC)

We're not there yet. Question is, if Rendil's fork will respawn or not after a certain amount of time. And I'm not completely sure about your "old" question either. I just arrived back in Bliss with the Fork of Horripilation (this time WITHOUT stealing the fork from Rendil beforehand) and Big Head wasn't where he was supposed to be (I have his exact schedule written down). No, he was in CRUCIBLE! With Rendil and a guard. Apparently, he had tried to steal while I wasn't even in the zone! That one is up for much further testing. Maybe some CS people can help out here? Will the fork respawn? Is it even possible for him to steal anything while the player is in a different zone? Krusty 20:28, 30 September 2009 (UTC)

Okay, I have tested everything I can think of (well...almost!) and Rendil's pewter fork is the problem - and the only problem. If you manage to pickpocket it when you arrive in Bliss, there will NEVER be any fights in the streets and you can complete the Fork of Horripilation quest normally. I'm also told that the fork doesn't respawn in Rendil's inventory, so the method should keep Big Head alive forever. And no, he will not steal anything if the player is in another cell - as far as I can tell - but when you enter through the southern gate (from Crucible) between 2pm and 8pm, there will always be a fight going on. Still need to do a few tests on that... --Krusty 23:06, 30 September 2009 (UTC)

Redesign Project

So I'd like to help out the project by redoing some of the people in Shivering isles, as the main game is current focus for most others. Is this okay? Lucky the Cat Guy. 05:25, 5 July 2009 (UTC)

Big Head's brother

Is it worth mentioning that big head brother was probably stillborn? (info source: "Big-Head was hatched, but his brother was not!") — Unsigned comment by 85.210.6.165 (talk) on October 22, 2009

I'm not sure. To be honest, I just heard it as a small part of his constant nonsense and never even thought about it before you brought it up. I can see what you mean, but I'm not sure if it needs to be mentioned - and as long as his dialogue can be found on the page, it is "mentioned" in a (rather low-key) way, which is fine by me. --Krusty 00:15, 23 October 2009 (UTC)

Hmm. Sorry for re-starting an old discussion, but is it possible that Big-Head actually means that he hatched but his brother was born in a different manner? — Unsigned comment by TheAlbinoOrc (talk • contribs) at 13:32 on 4 December 2010

Everything is possible, but all we have to rely on is his dialogue, where he only mentions it briefly. Unless there is a clue in the MW version of Big-Head, we will probably never know. --Krusty 22:37, 12 December 2010 (UTC)

Big Head's Fork?

I don't know where I got it, but I remember having in my inventory a fork, not the fork of Horripilation, but literally called "Big Head's Fork". It was a while ago, and I can't remember whether or not I could weild it, but does anyone else know of this? I found nothing about it anywhere on the internet. — Unsigned comment by 124.168.237.222 (talk) on 3 December 2010

I think you mean Big Head's Charm, which allows you to understand Bolwing. rpeh •T•C•E• 10:31, 3 December 2010 (UTC)

No, it was called Big Head's Fork. — Unsigned comment by 124.168.254.99 (talk) on 4 December 2010

There is no item named 'Big Head's Fork' in the game. --Manic 11:32, 4 December 2010 (UTC)

Indeed. If you found such an item, it comes from a mod. rpeh •T•C•E• 12:40, 4 December 2010 (UTC)

I suppose I must be mistaken then. — Unsigned comment by 124.168.254.99 (talk) at 04:14 on 6 December 2010

Big Head in Morrowind

Is it worth mentioning on the main charictor page that Big head also appears in Morrowind too. He Is on a small island near Dagon fel, and has a number of enchanted spears including the fork of horriplation. it is also quite a coincidence that he lives in the Sheogorad region considering in oblivion he is found in new sheoth in the shivering isles. I think this should be mentioned in the re-write and the page on Morrowind Big head should have a link connecting the two.AdairTheNord 21:37, 2 April 2011 (UTC)

"Big Head has been encountered before. He was a minor character in Morrowind, connected with Sheogorath's Quest, which also involved the Fork of Horripilation. However, you cannot trade it for the Spear of Bitter Mercy this time."--this was taken from the article's "Notes" section, so it's already there.--^Corevette₇₈₉

Moved bug.

• Big Head is often caught stealing forks and summarily executed before you can get or complete his quest. This happens because Rendil Drarara carries a pewter fork in his inventory and will be on the streets when Big Head is searching for a fork at 4pm. If you want to keep Big Head alive, simply pickpocket the fork from Rendil (save before attempting).

Is this true ? JackTurbo95 15:36, 16 April 2011 (UTC)

It is very, very true - I have tested it countless times and it is what causes Big Head to die prematurely. --Krusty 15:52, 16 April 2011 (UTC)

Well that is me wrong! =D JackTurbo95 18:18, 16 April 2011 (UTC)

Big Head quest after respawn

Big Head already died without me ever meeting him. I later found out about this quest and used the console commands player.moveto 00013B46 and then resurrect. However, he now does not start his quest-related dialogue, only "sing to Big-Head, Sing to him!" How can I start his quest even with all of this going on? And please reply, this is my fifth post here on this website and nobody ever replies to my questions. --86.83.228.163 13:28, 16 April 2015 (GMT)

You can try to use console commands to force the quest to start, but it may be permanently bugged due to his death. Also, your previous post about Knights of the Nine was answered - either view the page history or create an account if you can't see the reply. —Legoless (talk) 21:47, 16 April 2015 (GMT)

Yes, indeed, thanks for the notification about KOTN, I managed to thinker around a bit and luckily solved that one myself. I tried to set the quest to stage 10 after resurrecting him, but doesn't appear in my journal.. indeed a bug. I appreciate helping you helping me out in a civilized manner! I had an account here a few years ago but forgot the name and password, but never mind that though. --86.83.228.163 22:00, 16 April 2015 (GMT)