I've been working on modding Skyrim over the past week, establishing a collection of mods working together to add to the experience of the game. Now that I feel I have what I'm looking for I figured I should share with all the other Skyrim gamers in the community what I have accomplished and learned. I'm not responsible for your save games, if you chose to mod skyrim you do so at your own risk. First some Skyrim modding basics Creating a complex selection of mods and getting them working together can be quite tricky, if anything conflicts you will get a crash to desktop (CTDs), save game bloat, seemingly random crashes, exe. Sometimes you will just corrupt a game file by editing your mods to many times, forcing you to re install the game. Or at least validating through steam. You can help reduce the chances of these things happening with a few tips and tricks. -Basic Rules of Conflict-If they edit the same thing, If they inhabit the same world space; they will conflict. -When testing out a new mod configuration, ALWAYS start a new game. This allows the mods to properly install there scripts. -Don't double up on the same type of mod, Ultimate Follower Overhaul(UFO) and Advanced Follower Tweaks(AFT) won't work together you have to pick one. (Doesn't apply to mods that add NPCs, Places, Homes, Estates, or mods that add physical items *Most of the time -Load order is very important -Wrye Bash, BOSS auto-sort and Nexus Mod Manger(NMM) are your friends. -Pay attention when installing mods that overwrite others, sometimes you must to get a desired mod working, other times its a save game death sentence. -Use your common sense, if you don't have any Google an internet course on it. Getting Started First things first download and install the following: Wrye Bash- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/1840 BOSS- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/6 NMM- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/modmanager Skyrim Script Extender (SKSE)- http://skse.silverlock.org Wrye Bash lets you combine mods to exceed the 255 mod limit for Skyrim also allows you to make a bashpatch.esp the help mods conflict less and let you enjoy Skyrim more. BOSS sets up your load order for you and give you a handy page notifying you of any possible conflicts before you start the game. Also handy that Wrye Bash is made to work with BOSS. NMM is the main way to download and install Skyrim mods. Separates mods into different categories. I also have a few steam workshop mods, but for the most part I use Nexus. SKSE is needed to run mods that add scripts to the game. Most major mods require this. If you need detailed information on how to use or install the above programs I will be more then willing to help. Feel free to message me on steam about it. Once those are up and running its time to find mods to download and install. You can find mods on the steam workshop, the Skyrim nexus, or google search what you want and just add "skyrim mod" as a prefix or suffix. (Example: "more npcs skyrim mod") Here is my current mod build and what I like about them. All Offical DLC installed, if you don't have these, then be sure to check mods for compatibility. *Community Uncapper*- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/1175 -Needed to run many different mods UI Mods SkyUI- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/3863 -Makes the menus larger, you can edit menu settings -Adds the Mod Control Menu(MCM), lets you edit setting for mods, many different mods use the MCM iHUD- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/3222 -removes the HUD untill its needed Categorized Favorites Menu- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/4862 *Oni update for it- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/22307* -Much Much Better favorites menu High Quality 3D Map- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/4817 *Quality World Map*-http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/4929 -Use em both for a much better looking map -Be sure to read about the install options for Quality World Map to edit it to your liking. High-Res Road Signs- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/436 -Can read the road signs now Visuals SMIM- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/8655 -Better meshes and textures Crimson Tide- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/12798 -Better Blood CLARALUX- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/17605 -Better lighting, useful when used with darkness mods Book of Silence- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/24909 -Better looking stock weapons and armor Flora Overhaul- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/141 -Stop to smell(see) the pretty flowers? Morning Fogs- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/24810 -Ummm, Morning Fogs Get Snowy- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/19660 -Snow covers objects including you and NPCs Major Overhauls Skyrim Redone(AKA SkyRe)- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/9286 -Changes tones of things in the game be sure to read about it prior to using. -Major source of conflicts as it edits many many many different things. Deadly Dragons- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/3829 -Makes dragon fights much more epic, lets you edit dragon stats at anytime, or make up to 3 spawn and attack you. Climates of Tamirel- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/17802 -Life like weather patterns -Works with Frostfall mod Frosfall- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/11163 -Hypothermia/camping mod ASIS- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/18436 -Edits NPC AI to use mod added weaps, armor and spells, allows NPCs to use potions -Many changes Economics of Skyrim- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/11919 -Speech now matters when it comes to buying and selling - Each hold has items that are more common there then elsewhere SkyTEST- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/10175 -Realistic animals mod, makes the game viable for a hunter archetype Random Alternate Start- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/25404 -You can start in any cave, city, ruin, who knows where you will end up. Character Creation Overhaul- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/21587 -Makes building a new adventurer a more custom experience Real Estate-Your choice just don't install 2 houses that use the same area Dragon Falls Manor- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/10901 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FfFTs_4tS0 Vanguard Cabin- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/31942 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSiG2n0SUp4 The Asteria- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/13641 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAC0y6r9VEg Bluecreek Estate- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/22496 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BGqnRqQQ8A Dragon Slayers Estate- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/24680 Companions My Home is Your Home- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/18045 -Lets you make followers inhabit dwellings you own, or just general areas. Odvar- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/25968 -Fully voice, trains you as he fights, comments on your progression in the story, dual wielding beast UFO- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/14037 -More follower options, up to 50 followers allowed, works better the AFT when using misc mods that can affect follows (See Dragon Killer Kart in MISC) Convenient Horses-http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/14950 -Horse overhaul + horses for all your followers Spells, Weapons, Armor and Backpacks Bandolier Bags and Pouches- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/16438 SkyRe Dreamcloth- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/22975 -Made for Skyrim redone Imperial/Stormcloak Armor Variety- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/9222 http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/10185 Wearable Lanterns- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/17416 Apocalypse Spell Package- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/16225 MISC Unread Books Glow- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/10012 ACE-BYOG- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/18474 -Allows you to edit weapon and armor stats, carry weight and much more Dragonkiller Cart Reloaded- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/25493 -Hook up your horse to it and off you go -Working cart that you can tether a horse to and ride around with, follows can ride in the back only with UFO, no AFT support. -Camping gear works with Frostfall (only if you download the support mod for it on the downloads tab) Ragdolls and Force- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/601 Ultimate Castle Defense- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/16539 -Fun mini-game -Work in progress Move It- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/4020 -Followers getting in the way? Fixes that. Tundra Defense- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/22330 -Build a town and defend it from attacks No Skill Limit- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/22800 -Raises max skills to 150 and lets you lvl up to 300 The Dance of Death- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/10906 -Edit kill move camera and settings, plus adds some new animations Combat Music Fix- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/20926 Open Cities Skyrim- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/8058 -Makes the Holds of Skyrim open area, no more loading when you enter Whiterun, Solitude, Windhelm exe Immersive Patrols- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/12977 -Adds more NPCs in the wilderness. Including battles. Location Damage- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/12615 -Adds depth to combat, high amount of customization Unoffical Patches- http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/19 http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/31255 http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/31083 http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/25127 http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/23491 Steam Workshop Mods Greystone Castle Mart's Savegame De-bloatifier- A must have Detailed Mine Map Markers Non-Hostile Friendly Fire Auto Unequip Helmet Skyrim Gems- Great list of mods http://www.skyrimgems.com/index.html After you have taken the time to select your mods, I use the following method to ensure everything gets set up right. Install all your Nexus mods using NMM Start Skyrim using Steam, not the game just the auto launch to update your mods. Launch Wrye Bash and run BOSS through it Make a Bashpatch Start the game with Wrye Bash Enjoy! Questions or/and Comments are welcome
