The one thing you have to watch out about with Mod Organizer is that its flexibility is so amazing and so tempting to use - i.e. you end up actually having several profiles (like having several installed games). Now that brings its own potential headaches, because any stuff that’s in “Overflow” (which includes things like Bashed Patch, FNIS and Skyproc patchers) is part of the “real” data set, and you have to remember to just fire up those executables when you change a profile, otherwise you might fire up profile A forgetting that you’ve not updated the Skyproc patch that works for profile B but crashes profile A.
So with MO that’s the top tip - just remember to run through Wrye, Skyprocs and FNIS every time you change to a drastically different profile.
It’s a small price to pay for having the ability to keep playing your favourite character in Skyrim normally while concurrently messing around with mods, or playing around with eycandy stuff without fear of breaking your “serious” game.
Heh, sounds too much like work…
fdsaion
1903
Umm. Working? I’m not sure I want to know what that means.
Just move the override folder into its own mod. I think MO can even do that for you with a right click option on the override item.
Not going crazy with the profiles with different mod sets helps there too. “Oh this character will be played with XYZ, and this character gets mods XZA, and this one gets ABC…” =p
Are you crazy? he said he was punchy, way to bring on the red mist!
Hah, yeah, not planning on doing aaaaaaaaany of that.
I picked up some MASSIVE stability gains from a couple changes today, resulting in a single crash in the past 4 hours, which I regard as better than the rate in a completely unmodded game.
-
I picked up ENBoost (It’s bundled into the ENB series now, so it wasn’t even a distinct setup). I also decided to check out Phinix ENB while I was at it instead of just getting the ENBoost memory improvements, but that’s not a stability thing.
-
I changed my config for Safety Load to use “EnableOnlyLoading = true”, which seems to have gotten rid of my crash on accessing menus. Apparently the mod, while fantastic at its core purpose of killing the infinite load bug, often produces other crashes. In theory this config tweak causes it to only modify the save/zone loading, so it can do its work without shitting on the rest of the game.
I am not loving SMAA compared to MSAA though, with the ENB in place. There is a ton of shimmer on things like fences, and there are more subtle aliasing issues all the time. I may just go back to MSAA and lose some of the ENB functionality. I know Gopher runs that setup in his Let’s Play videos.
Finally finished Neo’s crazy Skyrim Mod install. Took me an hour or two daily for a week to get everything installed.
Couldn’t get ENB running at all until I found a conflict with ENB and an .ini setting in OneTweak. Changed Borderless Window Mode from 1 to 2 (BWMode=1 is default. I changed it to 2). That fixed it…and now the game runs! Well…at least the intro. Won’t get a chance to really dive in and report on things until later today.
malkav11
1908
Next up: turning the dragons into Thomas the Tank Engine.
Totally unrealistic. Lizards have hemipenes. Sheesh modders, get it right!
Well.
That was fun.
Not playing Skyrim (or attempting to play) with the Skyrim Revisited stuff going on. That was nonsense and frustrating. On my beefy rig, the game was still unstable, introduced tons of occurrences of the Infinite Loading Screen bug, and just generally was a poor playing experience for the three hours I was willing to put up with it. I just removed it completely from my SSD.
But…fun.
See, in doing all that, I learned to use Mod Organizer, and all the cool things it can do. I loved the Automatic Variants I saw in creatures and had no idea how to do those in NMM, but by enabling the SUM patcher through MO, it’s a snap.
So I learnt that.
I learned to use DDSOpt. That’s solid.
I re-learned Wrye Bash and learned to use the Boss Userlist Manager.
I learned to use FNIS for the mods that require it.
I learned to use the ENB manager, which is a really slick tool.
So. I got a very nice re-education in the current state Skyrim Modding.
Now–NOW I’m going to go back at it and really make the game I want to play this time.
Quaro
1911
When you have everything just right… maybe you can make a super secret torrent just exchanged through PMs, just 7zip up the entire directory structure?
How can it be 2013 and there’s no no way to one click say, “Give me this person’s mod setup”.
Now streamline all of these into an one-click process :D.
MrPerson
1913
There’s really just WAY too much stuff in Skyrim Revisited. I mean, there are, what, 7 HAIR mods in that list. Hair. 7…
MrPerson
1914
I think part of it is that redistributing mods without the authors’ permission is rather frowned upon, and even if someone hands you a detailed list and instructions to get them yourself, mod versions keep moving.
Another aspect is that a lot of people who bothered bundling mods for Oblivion got sick of dealing with various complaints about crashes/conflicts/alternatives/versions, etc. and decided it wasn’t at all worth it.
I think my issue with Skyrim Revisited is mostly concerning how it handles character and NPC mods especially. I mean, I suppose there are folks out there for whom Schlongs Of Skyrim is an essential mod, but honestly?
If there’s part of the NPC models I’d love to see addressed by a patch (and I haven’t seen it) it’s that everyone’s got massive, ham-sized hands.
MrPerson
1916
For ILS, Safety Load seems to squash those REALLY well…
BUT
It has two major issues. The first is that it seems to introduce other CTDs. This seems to be mitigated by a config option in the newest version that restricts Safety Load to just save/zone loading. The second is that nobody other than the author knows how the hell it does what it does, which is always a super sketchy proposition.
MrPerson
1917
Big hands you say? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m2QjZQ2uv4 (sadly the audio is out of sync, so it’s really only funny if you saw it on the show)
What I think I’m trying to decide on is whether it’s more efficient to use Skyrim Revisited’s combination of optimized textures for hi-res graphics, or whether to use the old Texture Pack Combiner. I think I lean towards Skyrim Revisited’s method, because it includes some nice manual edits that the TPC doesn’t. In this case, I think Skyrim Revisited’s methodology is sounder and introduces less video nonsense.
After that, I think I’ll also use a lot of the item and clutter and whatnot texture mods in their “bricks” section, and definitely use the Automatic Variants creature mods, now that I know how to use them.
While I’d love to take advantage of the numerous dual-wield mods that Skyrim Revisited uses, I think the heavy scripts, animations, and meshes needed for them is part of the drag on performance. It’s a neat idea, but I’m willing to do without for a stabler game. So…I think no dual scabbards, no dual wield blocking mod, and no dual wield parrying.
I think that paints the landscape nicely, though. From there I’ll start folding in some character model mods, clothing, armor, and weapon mods, and then use good ol’ SKYRE and Morrowloot.
Dual wield parry is completely worth it, and I’ve never had a crash I could in any way lay on it. I even have my 360 controller mapped in a way to free a button up for it. It is sometimes a little slow to parry, but that’s more an issue with it waiting on other scripts rather than it slowing things down. Even if you don’t use two weapons, it’s great to be able to parry on a spellblade type character.
Dual scabbards is something I’ve read through the process for a couple times, and at the end said ‘f this noise’ on both occasions.
godhugh
1920
Dual Wield stuff isn’t going to be a cause of instability. They’re all model and rigging changes for the most part (outside of dual wield parry, but that’s just a simple SKSE script) and those don’t contribute to instability.
I had a similar experience to you when I went for the full Skyrim Revisited install. Great learning experience, but kinda impractical for a real playthrough.
So, two suggestions for you:
- Check out Neovalen’s pared down Skyrim Revisited: Legendary Edition here - http://wiki.step-project.com/User:Neovalen/Skyrim_Revisited_-_Legendary_Edition
It’s much smaller than his main guide and it’s still very much a work in progress, but it will give you a very stable launching point for developing your own personal mod list.
- Learn how to fully utilize ENBoost. I currently have a mod list based off SR, with a total of 275 mods and 188 ESP/ESMs. By correctly configuring ENBoost and the Skyrim Performance Monitor I can keep this game stable for hours (outside of the occasional, predictable Safety Load crash).
Here’s how I do it in-game: Load the game with Skyrim Performance Monitor up and running on my second monitor. This gives me a real time view of my VRAM utilization. When I see that it is getting near my total available VRAM I use the ENBoost VRAM clearing feature (mapped to pagedown) to empty out the VRAM and go from there. It causes the game to pause for a second or two, but that’s a whole hell of a lot faster then reloading the whole thing after a crash. If you don’t have a second monitor just clear the VRAM at logical spots; ie: after leaving an interior/major city, prior to approaching a settlement, etc… This can seriously help eliminate the crashes due to high-res texture packs/memory utilization.
Here’s my load order, for reference. If you’re curious I can post my list of total installed mods as well:
Load Order
00 Skyrim.esm
01 Update.esm
02 Unofficial Skyrim Patch.esp [Version 2.0.0a]
03 Dawnguard.esm
04 Unofficial Dawnguard Patch.esp [Version 2.0.0]
05 HearthFires.esm
06 Unofficial Hearthfire Patch.esp [Version 2.0.0]
07 Dragonborn.esm
08 Unofficial Dragonborn Patch.esp [Version 2.0.0]
09 Falskaar.esm
0A ApachiiHair.esm
0B ApachiiHairFemales.esm
0C RaceCompatibility.esm
0D Skyrim Project Optimization - Full Version.esm
0E ClimatesOfTamriel.esm
0F ETaC - RESOURCES.esm
10 Lanterns Of Skyrim - All In One - Main.esm
11 SPERG.esm
12 SPIKE.esm
13 XFLMain.esm
14 DSAMG - Miraak Music Fixes.esp
15 RaceCompatibilityUSKPOverride.esp
16 Weapons & Armor Fixes_Remade.esp
17 Clothing & Clutter Fixes.esp
18 Chesko_Frostfall.esp
19 Better Dynamic Snow.esp
1A SplashofRain.esp
1B AOS.esp
1C TouringCarriages.esp
1D Cutting Room Floor.esp [Version 1.0.2]
1E StaticMeshImprovementMod-DragonbornTernFix.esp
1F StaticMeshImprovementMod-FurnitureChestSnowFix.esp
20 TradeBarter.esp
21 AMatterOfTime.esp [Version 1.00]
22 Ars Metallica.esp [Version 1.2.0]
23 Ars Metallica - Dawnguard.esp [Version 1.2.0]
24 Ars Metallica - Hearthfire.esp [Version 1.2.0]
25 Ars Metallica - Dragonborn.esp [Version 1.2.0]
26 AshRocks.esp
27 Auto Unequip Ammo.esp
28 KaceAutoloot.esp
29 Bring Out Your Dead.esp [Version 1.2.1]
2A Dual Sheath Redux.esp
2B EpisodeParallax.esp
2C High Level Enemies.esp
2D High Level Enemies - Falskaar.esp
2E High Level Enemies - Dawnguard.esp
2F High Level Enemies - Dragonborn.esp
30 HoldBorderBanners.esp
31 Moss Rocks.esp
32 Moss Rocks_DB.esp
33 Point The Way.esp [Version 1.0.2]
34 Radiant and Unique Potions Poisons and Booze.esp
35 SDO Full-LOD - Giant Campfires.esp
36 SDO Full-LOD - The Morthal Swamp Light.esp
37 SDO Full-LOD - Whiterun Trundra Creeks.esp
38 Skyrim Immersive Creatures.esp [Version v6.1.3]
39 Skyrim Immersive Creatures - DLC2.esp [Version v6.1.3]
3A Skyrim Flora Overhaul.esp
3B SulfurRocks.esp
++ Traps Make Noise.esp
3C WetandCold.esp
3D WetandCold - Ashes.esp
3E IMAGINATOR - Visual Control for Skyrim.esp
3F RaceMenu.esp
40 RaceMenuPlugin.esp
41 RaceMenuOverlays.esp
42 SkyTweak.esp
43 UIExtensions.esp
44 vAutosaveManager.esp
45 SkyUI.esp
46 iHUD.esp
47 IMAGINATOR - MCMenu.esp
48 Customizable Camera.esp
49 towPov.esp
4A BlackSacramentArmor.esp
4B Cloaks.esp
4C Cloaks - Dawnguard.esp
4D 1nivWICCloaksCRAFT.esp [Version 2.3]
4E Glass Variants.esp
4F hothtrooper44_ArmorCompilation.esp
50 Immersive Weapons.esp
51 imp_helm.esp
52 imp_helm_imp.esp
53 imp_helm_dawn.esp
54 imp_guard_helm.esp
55 isilNarsil.esp
56 LostLongSwords.esp
57 MashupUNP.esp
58 Neo’s Selene.esp
59 ShreddedTrissMash.esp
5A SnowWhite Crown.esp
5B Unique Uniques.esp [Version 1.5]
5C UniqueBows.esp
5D Dr_Bandolier.esp
5E Lock Overhaul.esp
5F DeadlyDragons.esp
60 Gildergreen Regrown.esp [Version 1.2.5]
61 Inconsequential NPCs.esp
62 OBIS.esp
63 OBISDB.esp
64 OBIS FALSKAAR PATCH.esp
65 Run For Your Lives.esp [Version 1.2.3]
66 When Vampires Attack.esp [Version 1.0.2]
67 The Paarthurnax Dilemma.esp [Version 1.2.5]
68 Wyrmstooth.esp [Version 1.9]
69 360WalkandRunPlus-RunBackwardSpeedAdjust.esp
6A AchieveThat.esp
6B Book Covers Skyrim.esp
6C Book Covers Dawnguard.esp
6D Book Covers Hearthfire.esp
6E Book Covers Dragonborn.esp
6F Civil War Overhaul.esp
70 Differently Ebony.esp
71 FalskaarDawnguard.esp
72 Guard Dialogue Overhaul.esp
73 WeaponsArmorFixes_GuardDialogueOverhaul_Patch.esp
74 Rebirth Monster.esp
75 SkyFalls Plus SkyMills - All DLC and Falskaar.esp
76 Convenient Horses.esp
77 dD - Enhanced Blood Main.esp
78 dD-DG-DB-Immersive Creatures EBT Patch.esp
79 TheChoiceIsYours.esp
7A TheChoiceIsYours_Dawnguard.esp
7B aMidianborn_Skyforge_Weapons.esp
7C WeaponsArmorFixes_ambSkyforge_Patch.esp
7D ETaC - Complete.esp
7E ETaC - Complete LoS Patch.esp
7F ETaC - Smelters.esp
80 ETaC - Dragon Bridge South.esp
81 Helgen Reborn.esp [Version 105]
82 EnhancedLightsandFX.esp
83 ELFX - Dawnguard.esp
84 ELFX - Dragonborn.esp
85 ClimatesOfTamriel-Dawnguard-Patch.esp
86 ClimatesOfTamriel-Dragonborn-Patch.esp
87 CoT-WeatherPatch.esp
88 CoT-WeatherPatch_DB.esp
89 CoT-WeatherPatch_Snow-40.esp
8A CoT-WeatherPatch_NL3.esp
8B ELFXEnhancer.esp
8C Better Vampires.esp
8D WerewolfMastery.esp
8E Apocalypse - The Spell Package.esp
8F ForgottenMagic_Redone.esp
90 Better Stealth AI for Followers.esp
91 Duel - Combat Realism.esp
92 CombatDramaOverhaul.esp
93 Dual Wield Parrying_SKSE.esp
94 DragonCombatOverhaulDragonborn.esp
95 The Dance of Death - Ultimate Edition.esp
96 SPERG.esp
97 SPERG-DG.esp
98 SPERG-DB.esp
99 SPERG Immersive Armors.esp
9A Beards.esp
9B Brows.esp
9C TheEyesOfBeauty.esp [Version 9]
9D The Eyes Of Beauty - Elves Edition.esp
9E BHWarPaints.esp
9F BS-TheHag_Overlays.esp
A0 TSFemaleWarPaints.esp
A1 The Ningheim.esp
A2 TemptressVixen.esp
A3 XFLConfig.esp
A4 XFLDialogue.esp
A5 XFLPanel.esp
A6 XFLPlugins.esp
A7 Reduced Distance NPC Greetings.esp
A8 Bijin Warmaidens UNP One esp.esp
A9 Rayya.esp
++ moveitLWT.esp
AA Alternate Start - Live Another Life.esp [Version 2.3.4]
AB CharGen Morphs.esp
AC CharGen ECE Morphs.esp
AD ethereal_elven_overhaul.esp
AE EEO ECE Morphs.esp
AF RealisticWaterTwo.esp
B0 RealisticWaterTwo - Legendary.esp
B1 RealisticWaterTwo - Wyrmstooth.esp
B2 RealisticWaterTwo - Waves - Wyrmstooth.esp
B3 RealisticWaterTwo - Falskaar.esp
B4 RealisticWaterTwo - Waves - Falskaar.esp
B5 AOS_COT-DG Patch.esp
B6 AOS_RWT Patch.esp
B7 SR Conflict Resolution.esp
B8 Bashed Patch, 0.esp
B9 Dual Sheath Redux Patch.esp
