Seasons Fail

[pforpterodactyl]

So, I am somewhat new to using mods and appear to have made some kind of (major?) mistake.

 

I discovered that no one could really create a proper seasons mod, so I thought I'd "make" my own by switching between these settings according to what month it is in game:

Winter

Climates of Tamriel

Frostfall Winter Overhaul Patch

Snowy AF Windhelm

Winter Overhaul 2019

Winter Overhaul performance patch (just in case)

 

Spring

Climates of Tamriel

2K textures

True Storms

Summer in Skyrim (it said it just changed the birch forests to be green instead of autumn foliage, so I figured it would leave the snow in the north and therefore be more spring-like than just switching straight to summer skyrim; didn't think to look for anything spring specific, admittedly; I haven't enabled this mod yet)

 

Summer

2K Textures

Summer Skies

Summer Skyrim

 

Autumn

Climates of Tamriel

2K textures

True Storms

 

That was the idea, but so far what I had done was look at the summer settings, and then I looked at the winter settings. At first the winter didn't want to work because of a conflict, but it seemed to be resolved and I got it to run. Same game, I ran summer and winter, which were the biggest overhauls.

 

Then, I thought I'd try Vivid Weathers instead of CoT. I was very scared but figured I could not have to worry about Summer Skies, CoT and True Storms if it worked. Didn't know you weren't supposed to switch those mid-game, so I think this is where I broke it. I also did a couple things wrong.

A) I probably should have tried it without True Storms, but I tried to use a patch to keep it for some reason even though I probably wouldn't have cared much. It was hard to get the settings correct for all of this, but I got it resolved to where NMM was happy.

B) (and this is the bigger issue) I wasn't paying attention and was also rather confused when I opened up the Skyrim.ini and couldn't find any of the settings listed under Vivid Weathers that I was supposed to change, so I just pasted stuff under the Display section.

 

Result: The game stopped responding when I tried to load it.

So, I got rid of all the changes I had made for Vivid Weathers (also realizing that I was supposed to change the SkyrimPrefs.ini lol - I deleted the .ini file and uninstalled all of the VW things I had installed and put everything back the way it was before I did VW). I never fixed the skyrimprefs.ini file because I decided it might just be better for me to stick to simpler mods (lol)

Sadly, still didn't work. So, I uninstalled all of the Winter Overhaul stuff too, but it still didn't work. I tried going to pre-winter saves and then pre-summer saves, but no matter what I do my game won't load. It starts playing the inn music, and then the fog just keeps rolling across the screen, and my task manager tells me it isn't responding.

 

1. Can I fix my game or did I break the whole thing?
   • If I can fix it, then obviously I require instructions/suggestions
   • If I can't fix it, then will I have to delete all my mods? T_T My primary concern is the appearance of my character is saved in a preset and I don't want to lose it.
2. Is my idea for creating seasons doable? Even if it has to be a fresh game?
3. Can anyone explain what exactly broke it? (for purposes of curiosity and learning)

 

Bonus:

I don't think I'm clear on what an ENB is, and what the difference is between that and other mods that change the appearance of the game (texture, I guess). Is ENB strictly a lighting thing?

 

Hopefully all of that made sense and I can get some help :[ Sorry for having a billion questions.

Thanks!

Edited November 18, 2019 by pforpterodactyl

[pforpterodactyl]

Ugh I didn't provide my load order. I really have to go to bed right now, but I'll post it tomorrow unless it turns out to be unnecessary. Its 62 files long at the moment so... yeah, that's going to have to wait.

[Grospolina]

1. It's most likely your INI files. Go to Documents\My Games\Skyrim (or Skyrim Special Edition if you're playing that) and back up and delete Skyrim.ini and SkyrimPrefs.ini. Then run the Skyrim Launcher (NOT skse_launcher) in order to generate new INI files. You can copy back any settings you've changed by comparing them to your backed up INIs. You can quit the game and then run through SKSE again.

 

Note that if you're using Mod Organizer, each profile can have its own set of INI files.

 

2. While it's a nice idea for changing seasons, it's not a good idea to switch mods in the middle of a playthrough. Scripts are saved to your same game and can break when you pull the mod out from under it. You can try to fix it with Fallrim Tools (save editor), but you can also end up messing things up further.

 

It could work if you only use texture and mesh mods. Mod Organizer or Vortex would be better than NMM for that though, since they can keep the same mod order. NMM will ask you what files to overwrite every time you re-enable a mod.

 

3. Changing mods in the middle of a playthrough (especially large ones like weather mods) can break your game, and improper INI settings can also break it. If you want to use your old saves, then I suggest re-installing the mods that you had before, like CoT.

 

Bonus. An ENB preset changes or adds shaders. These can provide effects like depth of field, color mapping, blur and sharpening, anti-aliasing, etc. Kind of like SweetFX, except that it works with the game instead of on top (for instance, you can have different settings for different times of day). They do not change the textures or meshes, but basically make them look different through processing. ENBs can be quite performance-heavy and it's typical to lose quite a bit of FPS when using one.

[pforpterodactyl]

1. It's most likely your INI files. Go to Documents\My Games\Skyrim (or Skyrim Special Edition if you're playing that) and back up and delete Skyrim.ini and SkyrimPrefs.ini. Then run the Skyrim Launcher (NOT skse_launcher) in order to generate new INI files. You can copy back any settings you've changed by comparing them to your backed up INIs. You can quit the game and then run through SKSE again.

 

Note that if you're using Mod Organizer, each profile can have its own set of INI files.

First off, thank you so much for responding. I will try deleting prefs too. I never touched it so I thought maybe it wouldn't matter, but I guess one can never tell. I'll google how to run it without SKSE too... possible I normally do that.

I'm guessing by each profile, you mean my different characters/games that I start? Do you mean I can make them each have their own set? Does this mean they can have their own set of mods too? That would be nice. I was trying recently to figure out if there was a way to make profiles or categories of mods that would only be used for one game or another, though I was expecting have to turn them on and off manually.

 

 

2. While it's a nice idea for changing seasons, it's not a good idea to switch mods in the middle of a playthrough. Scripts are saved to your same game and can break when you pull the mod out from under it. You can try to fix it with Fallrim Tools (save editor), but you can also end up messing things up further.

 

It could work if you only use texture and mesh mods. Mod Organizer or Vortex would be better than NMM for that though, since they can keep the same mod order. NMM will ask you what files to overwrite every time you re-enable a mod.

 

I will look into Fallrim Tools and switching mod managers if I decide to go with it then.

 

In that case though, does anyone have any suggestions for this project?

 

I'm trying to novelize a play-through of Skyrim. For the game itself, I find it easier to write like a novel if my character has to deal with things like needing food, food spoiling, camping, cold, etc. Essentially, a more realistic gameplay experience. I have a crapton of mods for this, but I've tried to be careful to use mods that are made to go together where it has mattered, and I haven't cared much about graphics or anything until recently. I want the character's day-to-day needs to be "realistic" the most, and the atmosphere stuff is just to help me not to forget things like how rain makes you wet and how Morning Star will have shorter days than Mid Year etc. because I am afraid I won't think of things without sensory cues.

 

The way I am doing this is that I have a laptop open while I play and yes, I pause the game regularly by opening the console command window to write down everything I care about that is happening and what is being said, and then I go back and make it sound way better later, without the game open. Then, I open a second game and play through the same stuff as close to the first one as possible but in god mode and whatnot so I can and take better screenshots. Then I go back to my novel and adjust accordingly, and edit it a few more times before it sounds decent. It's basically an rp writing exercise by myself.

 

This means I have THREE games going on. The novel, the screenshots, and one just for fun. For the novel it matters to basically make the game hardcore survival mode. The screenshots just need to look pretty good. I don't need any super high quality stuff though. I care more about good quality writing than good screenshots.

 

Therefore, I'm asking for suggestions on the best way to handle:

a) seasons for the novel and screenshots, since they can be done differently (if you think I'm out of luck, please don't hesitate to tell me)

b) switching profiles, because for example, I am using Better Vampires and Helgen Reborn for fun, but I don't intend to use them at all for my novel.*

 

Also, I just started it a couple weeks ago, so it's not a huge deal if I have to start over. On a project like this it takes forever to get anywhere, so I haven't even played past him discovering he is dragonborn and I have a better idea what is happening now so it should be faster to go through again.

 

I guess these might be helpful, lol, but I'm not trying to advertise. This is just to improve my own writing skills in an entertaining way, but enjoy if you want.

The first chapter as an example of what I am doing; I had only CoT and True Storms at the time; no season overhaul: https://bringyourownbison.wordpress.com/2019/11/14/1-unbound/

The list of (most of the) mods I had when it was working is at the bottom of this post: https://bringyourownbison.wordpress.com/2019/11/11/dragonborn-forward/

 

 

3. Changing mods in the middle of a playthrough (especially large ones like weather mods) can break your game, and improper INI settings can also break it. If you want to use your old saves, then I suggest re-installing the mods that you had before, like CoT.

 

Bonus. An ENB preset changes or adds shaders. These can provide effects like depth of field, color mapping, blur and sharpening, anti-aliasing, etc. Kind of like SweetFX, except that it works with the game instead of on top (for instance, you can have different settings for different times of day). They do not change the textures or meshes, but basically make them look different through processing. ENBs can be quite performance-heavy and it's typical to lose quite a bit of FPS when using one.

Okay. I did go back to CoT (I only tried Vivid Weathers because the Winter Overhaul was making a snowstorm in Rorikstead, and when I walked into an inn, True Storms made it sound like it was pouring, which is why I took True Storms off the Winter list), except I think I turned Winter Overhaul back on because previously I was on vanilla, so I was hoping if I went back to a vanilla save I could use it. I'll try without it though. It's just my fun game so while seasons would be fun it doesn't matter as much.

 

And... sorry I'm chatty...

I'm not entirely sure what kind of mods some of these are. They were just things that were supposed to help with various things, but honestly I have no idea what CoT is for, except that it does something with weather. It may have been required for something else. I did add a few things just to make it look cooler too, like 2K textures, but I tried not to do anything too intense. The game was actually running really well except the esbern bug (I fixed it and went back to redo the quest because it annoyed me so much lol; sadly, I only just caught up when this happened). I wish I hadn't tried to fix the thunderstorm thing because it wasn't really important, though I may never have discovered the dangers in switching season mods.

 

*This "novel" isn't intended to be sold or anything. It's purely for entertainment and writing practice. In case anyone was concerned.

Edited November 18, 2019 by pforpterodactyl

[Grospolina]

If you haven't installed SKSE, then you can ignore that bit. SKSE is used by a lot of mods so I usually assume that people have it.

 

Profiles are for different mod lists. Each profile can have a different set of mods enabled. Yes, they're usually used for different characters. If you're able to successfully switch mods in the same playthrough, then maybe you could use a profile for each season. Mod Organizer supports different INI files for each profile, but NMM doesn't. I don't think there's much use for switching INI files for the same character though. Maybe if you want to change the grass density or something.

 

Have you seen Obsidian Weathers and Seasons? It's for Skyrim Special Edition, but it has different weather settings for each season.

[pforpterodactyl]

If you haven't installed SKSE, then you can ignore that bit. SKSE is used by a lot of mods so I usually assume that people have it.

 

Profiles are for different mod lists. Each profile can have a different set of mods enabled. Yes, they're usually used for different characters. If you're able to successfully switch mods in the same playthrough, then maybe you could use a profile for each season. Mod Organizer supports different INI files for each profile, but NMM doesn't. I don't think there's much use for switching INI files for the same character though. Maybe if you want to change the grass density or something.

 

Have you seen Obsidian Weathers and Seasons? It's for Skyrim Special Edition, but it has different weather settings for each season.

I believe I do have SKSE but I don't really do anything with it. I barely know what it's for, just that some mods said they require it. My brother is the one who helped me get started but he doesn't live in town so I have just tried to figure the rest out on my own.

 

I might think about the INI file thing for different characters, perhaps to use Vivid Weathers with my novel character(s) and not my old, but yeah, not for the same one. That's a good idea with the seasons; I will try that if its my only option. Maybe I'll just give it a go, and if my game dies from a season change, I'll just start over and play up to that point again in the proper season lol. A bit labor intensive, but you know. For the sake of art, I guess. I am stubborn enough to do it.

 

Do you have any opinion on whether I should use Vivid Weathers instead of True Storms, CoT and Summer Skies? I believe I started the game with True Storms and CoT. I've never used Summer Skies on it though since the game starts in late summer, I might make changes to that first chapter.

If not, then would it be safer if I used only CoT all year round (and maybe True Storms all year round and just dealt with the rain and pretend its howling wind lolol)?

And would you call 2K Textures an unnecessary burden in this situation? I don't remember why I removed it from the winter lineup, but the fewer mods I have to move around, the better, I assume.

 

 

Sadly, I do not have SSE, buuuuut, idk, maybe I will get it at some point. Hearing there were fewer mods for it made me less inclined, but perhaps if I can find enough of what I want it might be worth it. My brother got Legendary Edition for me and I think he bought it for me on Steam at some point before that (but it had no DLC) lol. Therefore, I've not had to pay for anything. [There was an emoticon inserted here but while I love emoticons I type, I hate the ones the computer makes, so I deleted it.]

 

Thank you so much for your patience with me!

Edited November 19, 2019 by pforpterodactyl

[Grospolina]

I don't really have an opinion on the weather overhauls for Oldrim. I was using Vivid Weathers when I was playing Oldrim though.

 

The 2K Textures are probably fine since they're only textures.

 

As for SSE, there may be a Black Friday or Autumn sale soon. It can get pretty cheap sometimes.

[pforpterodactyl]

Cool thanks!

[pforpterodactyl]

I fixed my game!! I deleted the .ini files and created my profiles, removed the season mods from it for now. I did make the season profiles but I probably won't use them on my for fun game, and I haven't tried the game for my story. I'm excited but also terrified to try it so I thought I'd just take a break to breathe and play like a normal person.