what mods can i convert form esp to --> els?

[oiessel]

Hi guys, lookin for some advises, i'm in dire need (1k mods and 254 eps,duh!) to convert some eps in to els.

What kind of mods are safe to convert, Sound overhauls?  texture packs?

Scripted mods?  New items/creatures/npc ?

dialogues?    and how about the patch of the patch? will it works if the patched mod is now els?

Thnx in advance.

 

[Evangela]

ESL because it has the bigger file limit.

[PeterMartyr]

Not dialogue, use the same rule as what mods are safe to merge, then from this list pick the one with the least amount of records, since the ESL's combine records cannot exceed 4096 records in total. That way you can free up more space. By converting more ESP to ESL

If the combine ESL records is equal or just under 4096 records, don't exceed that amount.,  and you require more space (OMG) with the bigger safe to merge ESP plugin's,  merged them the old school way

Please be aware both of these processes change the Form ID making it incompatible with existing game save during a playthrough, and will 'cause orphan scripts in your game save, it is best to use a new save, but a save cleaner may or not help.. either way (converting to ESL & merging ESP) in an existing play through, not a good idea, but if you're building a mod list for a new game, it is a great idea to break the limit

This should help,  https://stepmodifications.org/wiki/Guide:Merging_Plugins

Regarding BSA use applied common sense. MERGED plugin with BSA will not be able to access to them any more, requiring unpacking multiple BSA then (for faster loading) repacking into a new BSA to match the merge plugin name.. depending on what you merge, you should have two new BSA

I believe there is extra steps since that was written, and some stuff may be incorrect in this day and age, but is a start, research merging mods, it is the change in the Form ID that makes it not safe to ESL/Merge, for some plugin types, as well as 'causing save issues 

Regarding the patch, LOL, depends on when the game load the ESL, it has load order form id of FE

https://www.afkmods.com/index.php?/topic/5079-plugin-files-and-you-esmeslesp/

so according to above, you tell me?  On the safe side maybe exclude safe to merge/ESL with patches.. but you can make a Bash Pash and Ghost the plugin patches, with 100% over ride records to free even more space.

BTW vortex and MO just virtualise the MODS, and advance build needs more than they can supply

1. ESL
2. Merging 
3. Ghosting (requires Wrye Bash) aka a Bash Patch
4. Plus and even more advance here do other things you know to be safe, but the above mechanism said it is unsafe, to protect newbies, which just comes with experience.

No one said it was going to be easy.. have fun.

EDIT after doing all that do not forget the merge the Level Lists so your load order works as intended as well...

 

[PeterMartyr]

I just wanna stress again: there are some set rules, but mosting, it is just a guideline, you need to understand the requirements and comprehend the limitation on each mechanism, ultimately it come to you and your judgement calls for each ESL and the rest. If this is an existing playthru, is now the time for experimentation, that in say, in 100 real-life game hours later, could manifest as a corrupt save? 

[oiessel]

Thnx for the reply, it's a hell lot of stuff under the hood, but the need is real.

[scorrp10]

Mods with dialogue....   I would not touch at all.

Mods that serve as masters for other mods - I would leave those alone as well.

Mods that add new NPCs...  doable, but you will need to do some file renaming under facegendata directories.

Mods that rely on things like SPID to distribute stuff - you would need to edit their distro files and REALLY be knowing what you are doing.

Mods that provide various head parts (hair, eyes, brows etc), if you compact them, any presets created against non-compact version will no longer work.