How to better bodies

[lunarj]

First of all, I'm new to using non-steam mods.

I am picking out mods for a playthrough, I have mods for better textures, better equipment, and better lights, but I'd also like better looking people.

A lot of things related to that seem to run through the CBBE mod, from what I can tell.

Is there a better way to get better looking people, maybe one that doesn't need a separate mod for males? I don't need the nudity, but it doesn't bother me either.

Thank you.

[kmart111]

First of all, I'm new to using non-steam mods.

if u already run cbbe then you need skin mods... like pure skin or something else (there are lots of them). if you have a decent computer i recommend a body with physics mod and bodyslide builds. if u dont care about all that, then u probably want npc overhaul mods.

Edited February 23, 2021 by kmart111

[anjenthedog]

First of all, I'm new to using non-steam mods.

I am picking out mods for a playthrough, I have mods for better textures, better equipment, and better lights, but I'd also like better looking people.

A lot of things related to that seem to run through the CBBE mod, from what I can tell.

Is there a better way to get better looking people, maybe one that doesn't need a separate mod for males? I don't need the nudity, but it doesn't bother me either.

Thank you.

There are two basic vectors for bodies *by most players afaik*. CBBE and UNP, and variants thereof for each.

 

The current standards are BHUNP in the UNP family and CBBE-3BBB for the CBBE family

 

CBBE is a little easier, because Bodyslide and Outfit Studio works in CBBE texture mode by default. That is, you can build bodies using UNP UUNP, BHUNP etc, (presuming they have associated bodyslide presets installed) to match the Body model but when in Bodyslide, the texture applied will look wrong because the UV map (texture) for UNP-family bodies isn't automatically used by Bodyslide (In fact, I'm not sure how one can direct the texture used to a UNP UV map...)

 

So let's say you chose the CBBE family

 

1. Install CBBE (and what ever dependencies it has FIRST)
2. Install Bodyslide and outfit Studio (and whatever dependencies it requires FIRST)
3. if you want more than simple butt breast body physics, install CBBE-3BBB (CBBE is a requirement for, ie dependency of) and any additional dependencies (FIRST)

4. Optional: install some bodyslide presets for the body model you want to use (ie, if you're going to use CBBE, then CBBE bodyslide presets, if CBBE-3BBB, then CBBE-3BBB bodyslide presets, if BHUNP, then BHUNP bodyslide presets, etc)

    

   note. when installing the base model packages, you usually also get some matching bodyslide presets during the installation, but many of us install additional ones to make the process of matching our desired shapes easier.

5. Then you use Bodyslide to build your body, (using the type of preset you chose to match your body model) making sure to check the "Build Morphs" check box so you can also use Racemenu refine your creation once in game. (checking "build morphs" tells Bodyslide to generate the tri files necessary for racemenu interaction with your body/armor/etc)

    

   Of course, having said that, you'll also need to install racemenu (*and whatever dependencies it needs FIRST)

6. Then once you have that all together, and you have built your "base" body in Bodyslide, open the game and if you desire, tweak/refine your body within racemenu

 

NOTE: do not install bodyslide presets before Bodyslide has been installed or they WILL NOT appear in Bodyslide.

 

With racemenu you can also refine your face, OR replace your face with a race compatible racemenu preset. (which may also alter your body depending on which preset you chose)

 

Note by race compatible, I mean that if you download a preset make sure the preset is labeled for use with your chosen player race. doing otherwise can lead to some..... interesting... problems. If you chose elven race for your player, make sure your racemenu presets are for eleven., if nord, nord, and so forth.

 

Beyond that, unless you opt for replacement-only (via precooked presets), it's all just "art in the eye of the beholder", ie you're the judge jury and executer...

 

Be patient. Rhona wasn't built in a day. (sorry for the lame dad joke)... no not really :wink:

 

best of luck.

 

PS> as far as better looking NPCs go, there are many mods that purport to do so. It's as "easy" as scanning the new mods entries or using the mod categories or the most endorsed mods to peruse those entries (e the top most "MODs" dropdown menu from Nexus) . I've spent quite a few hours doing so, as have most players who are interested in enhancing their game. There are few shortcuts if any to doing the homework for oneself.