Let's Say You're Starting Skyrim From Scratch Today

Ergload

I got a bit excited with the recent news on skyrim remaster being announced for the PS4/Xbox One and decided to start a new game again from scratch. It's probably going to be a roguish type, a not-so-typical playthrough and with little to no magic use.

Anyway, if you were me, what mods would you start out  with? Woud you try to improve combat and perks? Or would you expand the cities and towns for a more immersive experience?

Suggestions would very much be appreciated. I just thought I'd get some ideas.

bohrium924

I'm interested to see what folks give you on this. I've always made it halfway through the game and had to stop for various reasons so I won't be far behind you! So many great mods out there, almost too many to chose from.

Ergload

bohrium924 said:

I'm interested to see what folks give you on this. I've always made it halfway through the game and had to stop for various reasons so I won't be far behind you! So many great mods out there, almost too many to chose from.

True. Hopefully, we get some good feedback from the other members here who've tried out the many dozens of mods that are available out there and which ones are compatible with which.

Sovrath

The only mods I generally use are additional dungeons by various modders and additional armor and weapons.

It really depends on what you think the game needs or lacks.

you could try the unofficial patches though I have had bad luck with those as they make my game crash (even though I use the mod that reorders the plugins).

I do however use Wet & Cold and Realistic Lighting overhaul for immersion purposes.

Sovrath

for Dungeons try 

Temple of Black Rock
Heimfeigr
Hjakhtravevarr tomb
Volundr

for quests the Gray Cowl of Nocturnal is a must
So is Shadow of Meresis

Ergload

Sovrath said:

for Dungeons try 

Temple of Black Rock
Heimfeigr
Hjakhtravevarr tomb
Volundr

for quests the Gray Cowl of Nocturnal is a must
So is Shadow of Meresis

Cool suggestions. I will add them to the list. Have you by any chance tried modding the interface?

Sovrath

Ergload said:

Sovrath said:

for Dungeons try 

Temple of Black Rock
Heimfeigr
Hjakhtravevarr tomb
Volundr

for quests the Gray Cowl of Nocturnal is a must
So is Shadow of Meresis

Cool suggestions. I will add them to the list. Have you by any chance tried modding the interface?

I can't recall off the top of my head but I use two mods that help the interface problem where, if you click on a dialogue option the dialogue options sort of shift and you end up picking something else. This is an actual issue with the interface for PC.

I do use SKYUI which helps with sorting items properly.

Come to think of it I have a realistic food and diseases mod though sometimes it's more trouble than its worth.

If I'm in a long dungeon it will make the character get exhausted (a plus) but then you need a mod that allows you to use a bedroll. I tried one but it wouldn't allow me to use the bedroll "in" the dungeon.

That's sort of the problem with some mods. they address one issue but then create other issues.

Alcuin

I forget the official names, but...

Darker Darkness... makes it hard to see at night or in caves without a light source
Tougher Dragons... They're a bit harder to kill, but not impossible
& Realistic weather.

Sovrath

I definitley agree on the Tougher Dragons.

ElRenmazuo

Weather mods

Distopia

Sovrath said:

Ergload said:

Sovrath said:

for Dungeons try 

Temple of Black Rock
Heimfeigr
Hjakhtravevarr tomb
Volundr

for quests the Gray Cowl of Nocturnal is a must
So is Shadow of Meresis

Cool suggestions. I will add them to the list. Have you by any chance tried modding the interface?

I can't recall off the top of my head but I use two mods that help the interface problem where, if you click on a dialogue option the dialogue options sort of shift and you end up picking something else. This is an actual issue with the interface for PC.

I do use SKYUI which helps with sorting items properly.

Come to think of it I have a realistic food and diseases mod though sometimes it's more trouble than its worth.

If I'm in a long dungeon it will make the character get exhausted (a plus) but then you need a mod that allows you to use a bedroll. I tried one but it wouldn't allow me to use the bedroll "in" the dungeon.

That's sort of the problem with some mods. they address one issue but then create other issues.

"if you click on a dialogue option the dialogue options sort of shift and you end up picking something else" 

SkyUi helps with that as well.

As for my go to mod, Historical Revival is mine... http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/32988/? 

It makes the Stormcloaks and Empire look a lot better IMO. 

Sovrath

One thing I would warn against is having "too many mods" or basically try to limit the mods you have that have a lot of scripting.

Especially if you decide you don't like them. The game is less forgiving at times when one uninstalls certain mods.

Distopia

Sovrath said:

One thing I would warn against is having "too many mods" or basically try to limit the mods you have that have a lot of scripting.

Especially if you decide you don't like them. The game is less forgiving at times when one uninstalls certain mods.

This is why I stick to mostly replacement models and things like that, they're rather easy to keep track of, and know what will conflict. I got sick of reinstalling the game when I want to try something else out. 

I'll use QOL improvements like Skyui, as they're frequently updated, and the devs do a good job at ensuring it works with other mods.

bingbongbros

Well first off I would look for the best ENB out to make the game look hot as FUCK! Most ENB's also give you a run down of other mods to use with it to make the game look HOTTER!!  Like realistic water, grass, and trees.  Lighting mods and of course a weather mod.

Then after that I'd get mods for character models so they don't look like ass. Then armor mods out the ass.

Warzod

I am not sure what will be available for the console but on PC I always focused on the reality mods like

Frostfall

iNeed

Hunterborn

etc.

Sovrath

Warzod said:

iNeed

that's the mod I use, iNeed. I like it better than many others of the same type.

Sovrath

I'll put in a few other mods I think are great:

The Forgotten City
The Notice Board
Conan the Hyborian Age
Into the Depths
The Hanging Gardens
Falskaar

GeezerGamer

I'm actually starting a fresh game myself. I am trying to select my mod list now. Mostly, I like mods that expand Skyrim and enhance the experience.

The Unofficial bug-fix mod is an essential for me.
From the same author, I use:
 - The Parturnaax Dilemma
 - Cutting Room Floor (This tries to add back in, what Bethesda gutted
 - All of his village expander mods (They add more homes and buildings to the small villages in Skyrim)

Another mod I live is Scoped Bows.......It replaces the targeting on screen reticle (you can deactivate it) with a bow attachment that works like a scope.

Helgen Rebuilt is another one of my favorites. It's just as it says. You work with some NPCs to rebuild the town.

While it's a little bit of a cheat....but not overly so, I like the player home mod Rayek's End. It's a very nice well built underground hideout / player home off the river just over the bridge from Riverwood on the way to Whiterun.

If you really want to experience a DLC sized ARC that has an amazing Lore Friendly story, Try Rigmor of Bruma. While I strongly recommend this mod, It is huge and has it's own story that really kinda takes over your game early on. You need to play it through before you can actually begin the rest of your Skyrim adventure...But it's really worth it.

I like follower mods like Vilja, ESF-Aela, Inigo, Hoth, Arissa etc. Be careful. Some are very OP. I hate OP followers when they make me feel like the side kick.

I Like the Mod Thunderchild that enhances the whole Shouting experience and gives that mechanic a bit more prominence in your game.

Wile I use follower tweak mods (AFT mostly) You have to be careful with them as they can really destroy the games balance and make you very OP with your own personal armies.

Sometimes, I'll add mods for Left Handed Rings, Cloaks of Skyrim and Bandoleers...But again, be careful they can throw off balance later in the game depending on how you do enchanting.

Another suggestion is that while many mods require SKSE, I still try to keep heavily scripted mods to as much as a minimum as possible. Over time, they can corrupt your save. On that same note, large load orders will also contribute to large game save files that in the upper game levels will tend to have large performance hits. I used to run with an insane 200-250 mods. Now I try to run with less than 50.

GeezerGamer

Sovrath said:

One thing I would warn against is having "too many mods" or basically try to limit the mods you have that have a lot of scripting.

Especially if you decide you don't like them. The game is less forgiving at times when one uninstalls certain mods.

This is actually quite critical.

With unscripted mods, it's not so much a big deal, but once a script loads, it becomes associated with that game and all saves going forward. But also, the load order for the mod becomes liked to the script. Skyrim does not like having scripted mod's load orders tweaked in mid-game. With regard to scripted mods, it's a good idea to make up your mind before you start as to what mods you are going to use. Then install and use the LOOT utility and don't ever touch your load order again. I've corrupted more saves by "hot swapping" mods that shouldn't have been.

Warzod

The biggest part that annoyed me with moding was the invariable 200 questions during installation about whether you want to replace files with names like bdy200_cvk90mr5 and you are like... how the heck should I know. So then you ask on Nexus only to have people just ignore you.

The moding community is a) absolutely brilliant and ridiculously talented and should be given high fives and kudos at every turn but b) will quite often forget that not everyone that wants to use mods is anywhere near as experienced or understands the systems like they do and are not inclined to answer questions about them.

Sovrath

Warzod said:

The biggest part that annoyed me with moding was the invariable 200 questions during installation about whether you want to replace files with names like bdy200_cvk90mr5 and you are like... how the heck should I know. So then you ask on Nexus only to have people just ignore you.

The moding community is a) absolutely brilliant and ridiculously talented and should be given high fives and kudos at every turn but b) will quite often forget that not everyone that wants to use mods is anywhere near as experienced or understands the systems like they do and are not inclined to answer questions about them.

I agree with you.

That is why I usually go to the data folder and then the appropriate folder where the original texture, mesh "whatever" is and back it up before "replacing it".

But yeah, I've been creating a mod for almost 2 years and have learned a LOT by trial and error.

As long as you have backed up, say, your data folder (which will be large but that's playing it safe) nothign really that bad should happen to you.

And create backups for games so this way if you add a mod that screws up a game you can go back to the original.

I've had to deactivate my list of mods by "halves" in order to locate a "bad" mod that was causing issues.

H0urg1ass

Warzod said:

The biggest part that annoyed me with moding was the invariable 200 questions during installation about whether you want to replace files with names like bdy200_cvk90mr5 and you are like... how the heck should I know. So then you ask on Nexus only to have people just ignore you.

The moding community is a) absolutely brilliant and ridiculously talented and should be given high fives and kudos at every turn but b) will quite often forget that not everyone that wants to use mods is anywhere near as experienced or understands the systems like they do and are not inclined to answer questions about them.

I have over 200 mods in my Skyrim installation so I have a bit of experience here.

If you have a mod that asks you if you want to replace something, then chances are that you have another mod that has already replaced that item.  So what it's really asking you is which mod do you want to be active.

For instance, if you're installing 20 different texture mods, then chances are that two different modders may have worked on the same texture and since you can only have one of the textures present in the installation, you have to choose which one you want more.  SO, the best way to install mods is from the bottom up. Choose the mods that you are least concerned with first and the ones that you like the best last and, that way, whenever it asks you to replace a file, then you can always say yes.

Then you need to run a load sorter like LOOT (used to be called BOSS) to ensure that all of your mods load in an order that won't cause them to crash.  Especially use this if you have installed some mods without using the Nexus Mod Manager as it will sort everything correctly.

Also, you can check the most popular mods on Nexus for the past five years at this site.  I use damn near every mod on the first two pages including hundreds of others.

sunandshadow

The two mods I really wanted when I first played, I'm not sure anyone ever made.  But those are 1 show the horses as green dots on the radar, and 2 remove the crap that makes several of the NPCs unkillable.  A new quest to exterminate all the war camps of whichever side you aren't on would be good too.

Of actually existing mods, the one that looked fun to me is Helgen Reborn.

GeezerGamer

Oh....another piece of advice.....
go to your Steam\steamapps\common folder and make a copy of your Skyrim folder. This way, you will have a back up and can instantly restore your skyrim folder to that of a fresh install unmodded.

Unless you know what you are looking for, sometimes, you'll never get these files out.

This way, you delete your modded Skyrim folder, make a new copy of Copy Of Skyrim" and rename it back to Skyrim and BOOM! Clean Install.

Warzod

H0urg1ass said:

Warzod said:

The biggest part that annoyed me with moding was the invariable 200 questions during installation about whether you want to replace files with names like bdy200_cvk90mr5 and you are like... how the heck should I know. So then you ask on Nexus only to have people just ignore you.

The moding community is a) absolutely brilliant and ridiculously talented and should be given high fives and kudos at every turn but b) will quite often forget that not everyone that wants to use mods is anywhere near as experienced or understands the systems like they do and are not inclined to answer questions about them.

I have over 200 mods in my Skyrim installation so I have a bit of experience here.

If you have a mod that asks you if you want to replace something, then chances are that you have another mod that has already replaced that item.  So what it's really asking you is which mod do you want to be active.

For instance, if you're installing 20 different texture mods, then chances are that two different modders may have worked on the same texture and since you can only have one of the textures present in the installation, you have to choose which one you want more.  SO, the best way to install mods is from the bottom up. Choose the mods that you are least concerned with first and the ones that you like the best last and, that way, whenever it asks you to replace a file, then you can always say yes.

Then you need to run a load sorter like LOOT (used to be called BOSS) to ensure that all of your mods load in an order that won't cause them to crash.  Especially use this if you have installed some mods without using the Nexus Mod Manager as it will sort everything correctly.

Also, you can check the most popular mods on Nexus for the past five years at this site.  I use damn near every mod on the first two pages including hundreds of others.

Oh you're in trouble now.  I'm going to be sending you PMs here with questions! I have done some pretty involved builds but when you start getting into this texture overwrites this texture which only works with certain wire meshes and those have issues with some shaders, etc. etc. it gets insane trying to know what is not really preferred to overwrite but more is 'allowed' to or won't crash your client. Damnable ENBs!

H0urg1ass

Your problem is 99% likely to be load order related if you're crashing.  Really really for real download LOOT and run it, then see if you're still crashing.  If you are, then start backing out mods one at a time from the most recent one you loaded until it stops crashing.