Skyrim modding help

[Badgerworks]

Hi all,

I picked up skyrim in the steam summer sale, and I've been meaning to look into modding it since I bought it. I did a quick scan of search results, and found a handy dandy list of mods that I quite like the look of. I then realised, I have no clue where to start... So i came here looking for help installing these mods, and maybe even some suggestions for mods I should install instead (but mostly install help).

This is the list: http://au.ign.com/articles/2014/08/20/15-mods-that-make-skyrim-look-beautiful

Thanks

[blackadder]

Hi all,

I picked up skyrim in the steam summer sale, and I've been meaning to look into modding it since I bought it. I did a quick scan of search results, and found a handy dandy list of mods that I quite like the look of. I then realised, I have no clue where to start... So i came here looking for help installing these mods, and maybe even some suggestions for mods I should install instead (but mostly install help).

This is the list: http://au.ign.com/articles/2014/08/20/15-mods-that-make-skyrim-look-beautiful

Thanks

get a enb first from enb dev. 

get Loot

get tes edit

get nexus mod manger

[Mayhemster]

Highly recomend Mod Organizer

Here is a great list of video that helped me get started.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE7DlYarj-DcLS9LyjEqOJwFUQIIQewcK

[BoredErica]

Hi all,

I picked up skyrim in the steam summer sale, and I've been meaning to look into modding it since I bought it. I did a quick scan of search results, and found a handy dandy list of mods that I quite like the look of. I then realised, I have no clue where to start... So i came here looking for help installing these mods, and maybe even some suggestions for mods I should install instead (but mostly install help).

This is the list: http://au.ign.com/articles/2014/08/20/15-mods-that-make-skyrim-look-beautiful

Thanks

 

UFO is a scripting mess. Realistic Blood Textures uses too many scripts for blood splatters you won't see in a crowded battle. Script lag kills. Texture mods crashing your game? Uninstall, easy peasy, no trace left. Scripting is more tricky. Also script hungry would be Frostfall, but that is considered by many to be an essential mod. Population increasers also add load the game non-graphically, but it should be OK with a good system AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, a good loadout of mods. If you install a bunch of broken, script heavy mods, gg. The insidious thing about scripting problems is that, unlike graphical overhauls where the culprit is typically easy to spot, unlike outright compatibility/missing ESP problems which crash your game outright, scripting lag creeps up on you like a pedophile.

 

1. Use Mod Organizer.

-It is very easy to see conflicts

-You can uninstall mods without any files left over in the directory because the directory is virtual

-Easy to set up profiles, each with a mod loadout for different save games. This includes quickly playing vanilla Skyrim.

-Save game management

-You can plug in software into MO to easily access them while in MO. This includes Fraps, Dxtory, etc.

 

Last I checked NMM's profile management was... not good.

 

2. If you are modding textures a lot, check to see your Vram usage. If it's getting very close to 3.1gb, you need to use ENBoost. But, default ENBoost settings disable SKSE's memory patch. If you end up needing ENBoost, give me a call. If either of the two is not running properly in a heavily modded game, you WILL crash, and often for what seems like random reasons.

 

3. Don't touch Ugridstoload. Once you touch it, there's no going back for that save file.

 

4. Don't use 4k texture packs. The change from 1k to 2k is already small enough. If you're going to try Skyrim 2k textures I recommend using their Lite version.

 

5. LOOT will sort your mods for you. Mod load order problems are actually way overblown, but the process takes like 10 seconds so why not?

 

6. Cleaning dirty mods have benefits that are even more overstated. Very, very rarely will it help. It's not a bad idea by any means, but I'm throwing a million things at you. Better start with the important things first.

 

7. SKSE is required for many mods to function. It also auto-installs a memory patch when you run SKSE. This is essential for game stability when heavily modded. It will run silently in the background.

 

8. People go crazy for graphical mods but don't forget, there are a lot of very interesting, very creative, very outlandish, and very epic quest and dungeon mods.

 

9. A small graphical tip: You can turn on ambient occlusion in the Nvidia Inspector menu.

 

10. And among all the chatter about graphical mods, mods that remove the ambient washed out fog is I think, very good. And no performance hit for that upgrade. There are mods for this. This modification is also included in Realistic Lighting Overhaul which I use.

 

11. Save game cleaners don't typically do much... except when you're loading some obscure old save file that had a bazillion mods enabled that you don't even remember the names of. (While MO tells you the names, if you don't want those installed... read on.) Save game cleaner will often work for this. Except from this special case, save game cleaners often don't do anything.

 

12. Frostfall as mentioned, is the hypothermia survival mod that is so popular. Footprints mod and Wet And Cold are also  in the same theme. Wet and Cold got updated to be less script heavy, so I can recommend it without much drawback. Frostfall definitely has scripting weight behind it, but it's inevitable. Realistic Needs and Diseases on some level too, but probably not as much. Contrary to popular belief, these realism mods don't have to be uber hardcore, you get to adjust it to your liking. Hunger actually gives me a reason to pick up food in the game world. It makes me interact with the world more often which I like. On another note, SkyUI fixes the crappy default UI. It's the single most downloaded mod for Skyrim for a reason.

 

13. Unofficial patches. Offical patches. Use them.

 

14. Fix the hideous shadows if you can. ENBs can I believe, along with some shadow tweaking in the ini files. Keep a backup ini just in case.

 

15. No, your random-ass ini tweaks won't really improve performance. But the tweak about foliage shadows will improve visual quality a little bit outside for a small hit in performance.

 

16. Immersive Weapons/Armor is a large pack of weapons and armor and will make NPCs use and spawn the items. Here is my mod list. The reason why I feel my mod list is worth checking out is because I've looked at every single mod and weighed the pros vs cons: ESPECIALLY SCRIPT LAG. Which can fuck up your game if you go nuts with scripted mods.

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "A Quality World Map and Solstheim Map - With Roads"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "WEBS extended"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Retexture for The Scroll"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Detailing the Eldrich - Higher-Res Apocrypha - Temple of Miraak - Black Books"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Immersive Spells and Light - Spells emit light"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Realistic Lighting Overhaul"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Dual Wield Improved Animation"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Skyrim Respawn"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Skyrim Sewers 4"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Populated Solstheim"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "LeanWolf's Better Shaped Weapons - All in One Installer"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Safety Load"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Pretty Sit Idle v1.4"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Guards attack thugs assassins and more"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Book Covers Skyrim"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Realistic Needs and Diseases"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Better Blood Splatters"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "No GPS Arrow"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Skyrim Project Optimization"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Levelers Tower v35a"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "main menu wallpaper replacer HD 1080p now with randomizer"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Follower Commentary Overhaul - FCO"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Extensible Follower Framework"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Skyrim -Community- Uncapper"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "vwr Acrobat"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Calientes Beautiful Bodies Edition -CBBE-"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Cloaks of Skyrim - Unofficial Skyrim Patch Compatibility FIX"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Better Dialogue Controls"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Enchantment Reload Fix"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Improved Armor Formula for NPCs"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Improved Armor Formula"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Unique Uniques"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "moreHUD"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Actual Windows - Farmhouses 1.02"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Gems of Skyrim"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Height Adjusted Races with True Giants"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Immersive Icicles"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "The Paarthurnax Dilemma"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "aMidianBorn Book of Silence"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Non-Essential Children"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Dragon Priests - Enhanced"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Konahrik's Accoutrements - Dragon Priest Armory"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Lore-Based Loading Screens"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Remove Interior Fog V2"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Expanded Winterhold Destruction Ruins"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Trade and Barter"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Equipped weapon scale fix"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Real Effect Candle"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Bellyaches HD Dragon Replacer Pack"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Magic Runes HD"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Detailed Rugs"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "HD Torches 2K - 4K Ultra Torch"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "aMidianBorn Textures For Immersive Armors and Lore-Friendly Armor Pack"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Book Covers Skyrim - Lost Library"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Map of Dragon Burials"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Falskaar"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Cutting Room Floor"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Realistic HD Ingots"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Realistic HD Ores"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "OBIS - Organized Bandits In Skyrim"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Realistic HD Food"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Realistic HD Misc"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Visible Windows"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "HiRes Legible Road Signs"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Immersive Skyrim Thunder V6"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "SkyFix - Unique Inn Signs HD"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Populated Cells"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Populated Lands Roads Paths"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Populated Cities Towns Villages"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Bigger Falkreath Graveyard"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "3DNPC"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Immersive HUD - iHUD"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "My Home is Your Home (MHiYH 2plus)"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Unmarked Places - Player Homes And Shrines"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Tifa Outfit-black advent children cloth by Himmelsky"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Splash of Rain"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "The Dance of Death - A Killmove Mod"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "SkyUI"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Spell Eraser"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Solstheim Music in Skyrim - Dragonborn"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "SkyComplete - Automatically Track Quests - Locations - Books"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Skyrim Skill Retexture"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Silly Level of Detail - Potions, Poisons, Wine Cellar"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Proper Aiming"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Inconsequential NPCs"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Hold Border Banners"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Point The Way"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Osare KneeSocks 2nd - UNP"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "NPC All Respawn"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Nightingale Prime HD"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Nicer Snowflakes"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Multiple Marriages-Spouse Dress Up-Rehousing-And More"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "More Village Animals"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Lanterns of Skyrim - All In One"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "More Bandit Camps"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "Immersive Weapons"

INFO (05:27:35.0796): using mod "ImpeREAL Empire - Unique Cities - Falkreath"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Improved Dragon Shouts"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Improved NPC Clothing - High Res"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Immersive Armors"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Guarded Borders"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Immersive Soulgems"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Immersive College of Winterhold"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Immersive Patrols"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Guard Dialogue Overhaul"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Glowing Ore Veins"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Frostfall"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Footprints"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Feminine Running and New Dash Animation"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Fires Hurt"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Enhanced Night Skyrim"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Dynamic Loot"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Drinking Fountains of Skyrim"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Dianest"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Deadly Dragons Armory"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Deadly Dragons"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Common Clothes"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Corners of Skyrim"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Clothing and Clutter Fixes"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Cloaks of Skyrim"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Civil War Repairs"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Campsites in Skyrim"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Audio Overhaul for Skyrim"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Better MessageBox Controls"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Dragonborn Texture Overhaul"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Animated Dwemer Lift Load Doors"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Skyrim Realistic Texture Overhaul Clouds"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Wet and Cold"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "aMidianBorn Non-Armor"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Skyrim HD - 2K Textures"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "zRuins Clutter + SMIM + Fire"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "SKSE 1.07.02"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Unofficial Dragonborn Patch"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "*Unmanaged: Dragonborn"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Unofficial Hearthfire Patch"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "*Unmanaged: HearthFires"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Unofficial Dawnguard Patch"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "*Unmanaged: Dawnguard"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Unofficial High Resolution Patch"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "*Unmanaged: HighResTexturePack03"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "*Unmanaged: HighResTexturePack02"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "*Unmanaged: HighResTexturePack01"

INFO (05:27:35.0797): using mod "Unofficial Skyrim Patch"

 

17. Going above 60fps has consequences. Mainly, the intro sequence at the start of the game will glitch out in hilarious ways (might wanna try it for fun the first time). You go above it with vsync off, which is an ini tweak. Removal of vsync drastically improves input latency but above 60fps has another problem in that physics in general can go haywire. This is especially annoying if you have my OCD and you walk into your neatly decorated house and all the fucking items fly everywhere. Is the game playable? Yes. Did my quality of life just decrease? Yes. There are ways around this, like the frame rate limiter. Dxtory also works. I managed to find a setup that works with ENBoost with minimal input latency. Too tired to check.

 

18. There is no such thing as a clean save once you've save a game with the mod esp enabled. You can go some ways to remove dead scripts and the like but the trace will forever exist in your save game. I believe a Bethesda employee once suggested simply not uninstalling a mod once it's been used in your save game. I don't know about that, just think about what mods you're choosing and why. Graphical mods don't have any lasting effects if it's not scripted, so go crazy with those. Just don't forget, ENBoost if you're crashing once Vram/ram used is approaching 3.1gb as shown on Skyrim Performance Monitor! And if you're using ENBoost make sure your SKSE memory patch is working! That might be the single best advice I can give you if you were ever in that position. The difference is LITERALLY night and day (crash every 3 minutes outside vs no crash, so yeah, night and day).

 

19. And finally, Inconsequential NPCs and Interesting NPCs feature a lot of interesting and immersive NPCs. 

 

Using MO, all you gotta do to install a mod is this: On Nexus modding website, look for the green 'download with manager' button. MO will download it. On the downloads tab inside MO, just double click to install. Use their auto install option for simplicity's sake. Check it on the left. Done.

 

So here I've listed some pointers, I hope you find them useful.

[MoonSpot]

You want to make an account at http://www.nexusmods.com

 

Then you'll want a mod organizer.  It is an application that tracks your mods that you're adding to skyrim, and facilitates un-installation.

 

Highly recommend Mod Organizer.  This organizer keeps your skyrim installation and mods separate, thus preserving your install.  When you start Skyrim through MO it'll create a virtual folder and apply your mods on top of skyrim as per your load order(order in which mods apply) in said virtual folder.  With MO you'll get another program called LOOT embedded that will handle your load order.

MO allows you to...basically fuck around with mods with a lot less risk to your install.

 

You'll want SKSE as there are patches with in, however it cannot be installed through MO.  And you may want ENBoost as well, but it may or may not be for you depending on what you're doing.

 

@Badgerworks you may wish to follow your topic.

[KaminKevCrew]

scripting lag creeps up on you like a pedophile.

The best phrase I have ever come across on the internet, period.

[BoredErica]

The best phrase I have ever come across on the internet, period.

[KaminKevCrew]

Dark_Wizzle I'm definitely using that mod list. Hope you don't mind

[BoredErica]

Dark_Wizzle I'm definitely using that mod list. Hope you don't mind

It's posted here for a reason. Bear in mind if you copy my load order verbatim you will have to use ENBoost and make sure SKSE's memory patch is working properly with it because the graphics mods, especially on 1440p and higher, will hit 3.1 gigs on the ram. If you end up needing ENBoost and want it set up properly, call me.

 

Texture packs don't get every texture in the entire game, so I layered one on top of the other to try to get all of them. The biggest omission from my texture pack setup is foliage, I never got around to modding foliage. The other omission is ENB. I never bothered with ENBs that alter the graphics, although I probably should.

[KaminKevCrew]

It's posted here for a reason. Bear in mind if you copy my load order verbatim you will have to use ENBoost and make sure SKSE's memory patch is working properly with it because the graphics mods, especially on 1440p and higher, will hit 3.1 gigs on the ram. If you end up needing ENBoost and want it set up properly, call me.

 

Texture packs don't get every texture in the entire game, so I layered one on top of the other to try to get all of them. The biggest omission from my texture pack setup is foliage, I never got around to modding foliage.

Then I'll be sure to try to add foliage (gotta get them hi rez leaves!!!!!!!) Anyway, I'm playing on 1200p, so I don't think ENBoost will be needed, I'm also using a 980, so

 

If I do need help though, I'll be sure to send a PM!