So many game versions for one game?

[Pagafyr]

For an example I have downloaded several mods for Skyrim SE AE. The descriptions have occasionally not informed me of their version until they are installed and launched.

One note I see is, This (mod xxx) is [43] and needs to be [44] for it to work with your version of SSE.

 

1.6.640 is the version I have. I saw that there is even another newer version 1.6.659 or something like that.

 

One problem I have not been able to figure out is: SkyUI 5.2 doesn't work when I set up to play. A pop up told me that I don't have the proper version of Skyrim SE for it. It requires SkyUI 5.1 instead.

 

I cleaned out all the files I could find in the Download pack of SkyUI 5.2. and installed SkyUI 5.1. Then I installed SkyUI 5.1. Still said I have SkyUI 5.2 installed. There must be a file I need to refresh so SkyUI 5.1 will work.

 

There in lies another question. Isn't SkyUI 5.2 for version 1.6.640?

 

I am thinking that I might like to make a mod again, but I'm not so sure I want to. If I were to start building a mod for others again the first thing I would want to know in advance if is:

 

Is there a way to add a note in the description of a mod so anyone can see what version it was made for?

 

BIG also is; if someone else just makes mod for Skyrim [43] into a mod for Skyrim SE AE [44] they must make sure the .dll and other subsequent files are updated too for version SSE AE 1.6.640 too.

It seems some dlls dynamic link libraries are not updated even though the mod is?

 

Is there a way to check mods to find out what version of a game they are for? And the dll are properly set up too?

[soupdragon1234]

Skyrim 1.6.640 is the most up to date version on Steam. 1.6.659 is the latest (and only currently) available version released on GOG (theres also the version released on EPIC but no-one talks about that). And not forgotting VR, yet another build.

 

SkyUI works on all editions except for EPIC for a simple reason - it requires SKSE for which there are builds for all versions except for EPIC. If SKSE isn't not working/not installed SkyUI won't work either. The commonest reason SkyUI will not work is because you have the wrong build of SKSE installed each build is specific to each game version for reasons too boring to go into but basically it latches onto game code addresses which vary for each game build so skse has to be rebuilt for each version. Etc.

 

The only mods that care about game versions are SKSE dependent mods like SkyUI and SKSE plugins (.dll's) all other mods will work for all versions including EPIC.

 

Theres a list of skse plugins that are compatible with game versions but its for regular Steam versions VR seems to be neglected - there aren't many that compiled for GOG and none at all for EPIC:

 

https://modding.wiki/en/skyrim/users/skse-plugins

[soupdragon1234]

n.b. Form version 43 means you have an LE mod and not an SE mod i.e. its for the original version of Skyrim the 32bit DX9 game released in 2011, form 44 refers to Skyrim Special Edition released in 2016 which was recompiled for 64bit and DX11. They're different enough that Nexus has separate areas for LE and SE games don't mix them up it sounds like you're trying to use the wrong version of SkyUI i.e. the one for the old game you need the version for the new game which is 5.2 SE

[Pagafyr]

SkyUI 5.2 SE... MO2 pop up told me that the game version I have requires SkyUI 5.1. How could that be? I have SSE AE!

[Oblivionaddicted]

Did you download SKSE and run it to play Skyrim?

 

Whena mod has the wrong number just load it in the CK and save.

Edited December 25, 2022 by Oblivionaddicted

[Pagafyr]

Did you download SKSE and run it to play Skyrim?

 

When a mod has the wrong number just load it in the Ck and save.

 

Aye! I use SKSE now-a-days when I used mods that it supports.

Ah! You mean the mods that are baring the [43] that need to be [44].

Some mods are ESMs and require using the SSExEdit tool so that their esm can be changed to an esp then opened in Data in Ck, set as the Active file, wait for the load to complete, and then Saved with the creation kit, then turned back into an esm using the SSExedit.

 

I've gone back to the original build of Skyrim SE just to play it Without any mods. It's a lot better looking and functional just with the modern video cards with GPUs and vRAM.

 

Anyone new to the game who have video cards only a few years old "or brand new computers they got for Christmas" will see Skyrim SE the way it looked as it was made by the people who created it.

 

It's one of the Gems in our game treasure chest worth picking out and playing again. Even today!

[xrayy]

most form 43 mods work flawlessly with sse. i don't know any incompatible form 43 esp so far.

nearly 100% of compatibilility problems with form 43 format are related to wrong texure format (use of some old incompatible dxt 3 format dds le specific textures) and in my experience never related to the esp itself. form 43 itself is compatible with form44 in SSE but not vice versa.

I run more than 30 form 43 esp mods without any issue playing sse. in mo2 you can deactivate the form 43 warning message by the way.

Convering an esp only will not fix such problems. you have to search and convert the incompatible dds texture(s) to avoid ctd. i've never tested esm dependent mods so far.

 

the needed skse version for some mods has to fit to a specific SSE release and the related skse installed. the mod version has to be compatible with the skse version.

so if some mods are not updated to the currently used skse version and your game setup depends on this it will screw up your game instantly.

so any skyrim se/ae version update can and probably will destroy a working setup with skse version dependent mods until you fix all dependencies for all skse dependent mods in the setup. in most cases you have to wait until the mod author updates the mod and you have to wait until you can use the mod again.

 

skyrim SE vanilla is visually lightyears behind most modded setups. images section proves that easily.

[Pagafyr]

What are dirty edits?

Dirty edits are often a side-effect of mod creation, and are often due to bugs in the utilities Bethesda has provided to create mods, rather than bad practice by mod authors. Dirty edits can cause a wide range of issues, including incorrect game settings, missing content, broken quests and CTD: crashing to desktop.

When the load finishes on the Creation Kit we are shown a list with warnings in it. They are of all the probable parts in the mod's that are different, doubled or unnecessary copies from the main Skyrim esm, one of the DLCs, and the Update esm too plague the main games files.

Take a close look at the list in warning before clearing the list too. That will give new and experienced modders a better idea of what needs to be cleaned from the mods.

The old term for mods loaded with identical files was Dirty Mods. The modders need to clear out duplicates of the games main files too that will slow down the load of their mods.

Now what was that tools named? It was made to do the cleaning of a mod that after a modder had finished setting up their mod and saving it? You know; so it would recognize and clean out duplicates in their mod to reduce congestion with Skyrim's esm and the DLCs when they were part of the full game. Dirty game cleaner?

Nope, that's not it?

It was available even "back when" I was learning about modding. Back when Morrowind was gaining more modders than the planet Earth ever knew existed.

So many modders making mods for one video game! Especially Modders of Morrowind it amazed people enough to want to learn to mod. It even inspired me to learn how to mod!

Morrowind's Dirty mod cleaner? Hm?

I wonder if there is a mod cleaner for Skyrim and other games people make mods for?

Oh! I remember the tool for Skyrim SE. SSExEdit version 4.0.4. Which cleans up Skyrim esm, Dawnguard esm, Hearthfire esm, Dragonborn esm, and even the Update esm for us...

May your gaming Christmas Day be Merry!

And may your gaming new year be filled with more game fun :happy:

and fewer CTDs. :ohmy:

[Pagafyr]

If you're new to the game and thinking about using mods.

 

I recommend you play Skyrim Special Edition completely through once, without any additional mods, (or maybe load up the game with the Anniversary Edition). Play it without any other additional mods, (not even patches yet) just so you don't have a lot of modding (headaches) CTD: crashes to desktops, hopefully. There should have been several patches Bethesda installed before they discontinued updating it. Some patches may be in the game now, that even could be some that are in the USSEP by Arthmoore.

 

IMO:

 

At least then you won't blame any mod author whose mod may not even be the problem for the CTD: crashes to the desktop, at least not until after you've got all the wonderful game play once all the way through with only it's flaws, to add to your gaming joy to remember it; as it was intended.

 

On my gaming machine Steam Cloud does not have permission to save Skyrim SE AE information.

 

The place in the list with Continue, New, Load, Creation Club, has the folder that is for looking at MODS provided by Steam and Bethesda Net we can add to the game. What mods we add also appear in the load order if we check it to see if the load order is correct.

 

It seems that somewhere on my machine there is kept a list of mods the load order listed as well. All of which I Think I removed so they wouldn't be in the LOAD ORDER for my next installation to put mods in to improve the game in some way.

 

Even after I sent the whole folder to the recycling bin from xdrive:\\Steamlibrary\SteamApps\Common called Skyrim Special Edition; removed all the folders in AppData from there, removed the folder in My Games and all the link files that could connect to My Games\Saves\ etc. there were mods listed in the Steam Online Bethesda net mods still showing up as if they were installed in the new, entirely reinstalled setup of Skyrim Special Edition.

 

I thunk about where their hiding files at Steam; like Cloud storage, again. I checked and all my games are set to not use Cloud to store backups. All of them! I decided to dig deeper into my computer and search for stored files. Might be Hidden files.

 

I searched through all the areas allowed without breaking the license I have to abide by with Microsoft.

 

THEN...

 

I pointed my mouse arrow at the folder icon on the task bar to open another folder. All the folders I had open to review were in a list right above the task bar. I saw one that looked familiar. I brought it up to view on the monitor.

 

It was a folder showing me the contents of the folder Skyrim Special Edition. The folder I had deleted from the common file list. I had it minimized there to keep from crowding on the desktop. It was in an open state from before so to move mods and tweak anything in the INI files.

 

I looked in the Recycle bin. It was there too ready to be deleted if I changed my mind and wanted it back, because I hadn't emptied the bin. It was moved there from the Common folder. When I noted the drive letter.

 

The folder was still on the desktop even though I Deleted it in the main folder where all my library of games.

 

I closed that folder completely and checked the computer for any other copies of it among the folders I had on the desktop. There is a place where I no longer dig around in because of all the new laws to protect Windows from being usurped. I remembered that it keeps a Data file with all of what we add to or change in our computer. It is like a crash dump file, and is supposed to be sent away to Microsoft to evaluate so their computers can make changes to make a better operating system.

 

I don't know if it's even in the area that can only be accessed in SAFE MODE and from CMD Run as the Adminstrater. It's supposed to be removed once a month, AT LEAST, but a few techies Geeks, discovered it Wasn't Being Deleted and grew, and grew, until it's size caused the windows to explode sending everything crashing splashing all over inside the Windows Operating System on our HDD: Harddrive.

 

Everywhere else permissible to go and do an archaeological dig, I went. Gently brushing away any little bits of... Problems?!

 

All gone! Finally. Confident I had cleared everything so the computer would not have any trace of the folder the previous folder set up with Skyrim Special Edition I decided to do the Download from Steam.

 

After the download was complete, even the Anniversary Editions load of Creation Club mods was downloaded, I started the game. Clicked on the word mods to go to check the load order. I clicked on load order in the mods area.

 

The USSEP file, SkyUI, and a companion mod were still there with a couple more. I didn't install any mods or files with patches yet.

 

I decided to try something. Without starting a game, a new game. I decided to do something different. I renamed the new Skyrim Special Edition and so it could not be activated so I could keep it in case my new idea didn't work. I looked in Steam to see if the install button was there.

 

I downloaded everything again. Even the Anniversary Edition. Only I did it via the Creation Club link to verify I had all the ones I purchased as well.

 

This is where it gets interesting.

 

After all the game and anniversary edition too were installed I didn't start the game. I checked all the local folders and files in AppData, My Games, etc..

 

I pointed the mouse arrow at the little word Steam above the big word STEAM menu at the top left on the window.

 

When the menu opened I clicked on, Go Offline.

 

I opened the Skyrim Special Edition folder on the Desktop. I found and started SKSE64 from there, in the main folder, not from a mod manager. I just doubled clicked on SKSE64 Load exe.

 

Since Steam was running, only in the Offline mode, the starting game window appeared. I clicked on mods under Creation Club in the list. It opened a window that told me the mod store in Steam with Bethesda net provided mods didn't have anything to connect to. NO MODS can be seen in the Offline mode. The Load Order can not be activated while in the Offline mode either.

 

I went back to the main window to start a new game in Skyrim. New!

 

No new mods, no patches, just the main SSE AE set up.

 

Instead of following either of the fellows from the Helgen escape, as soon as they said we should split up I turned away off the beaten path and went on my merry way.

 

Something different happened along the way that I had never experienced before. I have added mods and more mods and patches and more patches and STILL never experienced what I did in the game before. Even with the Anniversary Edition installed I had not.

 

From all the times I played the game with mods, I never once met up with any stray dogs except Meeko. Remember, no mods, just SSE and AE.

 

I saw what I thought was one of those dogs where there is usually their pal; a hunter nearby.

 

It was fighting with two wolves. I got one wolf with an arrow. The dog got the other one down. I walked up to the Stray dog. Pointed the mouse arrow at it to see if it was a hunters dog. Stray Dog.

 

I walked away. It, attached itself as a companion. It even has a couple of lines. They appeared after I clicked on it twice. Wait here! Or you should go home.

 

I haven't got a home yet. I just escaped from Helgen. I haven't even added a mod with a house.

 

I recommend, everyone play the game with SSE and AE installed through once before adding any mods.

 

Special Edition has so much more then it did when I played it the fist time without mods, even by itself now it has so much more.

 

(I REPEAT here again down here about What I posted at the top. So if you have read all the way to here, stop and go play the game)

 

If you're new to the game and thinking about using mods.

 

I recommend you play Skyrim Special Edition completely through once, without any additional mods, (or maybe load up the game with the Anniversary Edition). Play it without any other additional mods, (not even patches yet) just so you don't have a lot of modding (headaches) CTD: crashes to desktops, hopefully. There should have been several patches Bethesda installed before they discontinued updating it. Some patches may be in the game now, that even could be some that are in the USSEP by Arthmoore.

 

IMO:

 

At least then you won't blame any mod author whose mod may not even be the problem for the CTD: crashes to the desktop, at least not until after you've got all the wonderful game play once all the way through with only it's flaws, to add to your gaming joy to remember it; as it was intended.

[Pagafyr]

Hm? I wonder if Skyrim SE AE has a New Years Eve Party Mod I could play through until 2 minutes to Midnight?