Good evening everyone!

[Makuzex]

Hello all, I am new to this forum and was wondering what mods would make my new Skyrim experience (old experience was for the console years ago) worthwhile? Also...since I'm new, I will most likely need help downloading/adding these mods onto the game .-. I apologize in advance if this isn't the correct area for this post.

[Georgiegril]

Lol it's morning where I am...

 

Here are some resources that will help you.

I definitely recommend starting with Gopher's tutorial series for new modders.

Then, look through mods, especially the top 100.

GEMS has a very good list of mods if you like realism.

STEP has a list of good mods to make the most of good and very good computer rigs.

 

Also, here are some of my suggestions for trouble-free modding (you can skip the clean vanilla install part since you have never modded.)

 

1. Go to STEP and follow the directions to revert to vanilla skyrim.

2. Start a new game, do not attempt to apply an old save, it will not work and may reintroduce corruption back into your now clean game.

3. Do not make any changes at all until you exit Helgen (the other option is to start with an alternate start mod to avoid the Helgen sequence.)

4, Before making any changes, read everything available on the subject. If it is a mod, read every last word of the readme, description, discussion thread, everything. If it is an ini change, google it, visit a few reputable sources and determine if it is worth trying. Just because one guy puts up a list of his ini changes and swears buy it does not mean it will work for you, and it might even make things worse. When considering any change, mod, .ini file, setting, whatever, consider it in light of your own system hardware and software and the other mods/changes you intend to make. Investigate any possible conflicts before adding it.

5. When you are ready to make any changes (mods, ini settings, anything) attempt only 1 or two at a time. If it's a mod, run BOSS. BOSS is a regular program, not a mod. There is a useful vid for BOSS, here. Set it up to generate the log in .txt format, not html. Read the log and address any messages. In any case, play a bit to test for stability, performance, and compatibility. Make sure to properly place the unrecognized mods as instructed by the mod author, or use TES5Edit or WryeBAsh, or if all else fails, place it with similar mods that are recognized, though that is more trial and error. Also, a number of excellent mods require you use skse. You can find it here. It now has an automatic installer. on that page, you will see there is a link to a readme, which you should read for help understanding the program. There is also another gopher vid to help you set it up, here.

6. If you notice any negative effect of your change (not just crashes, but performance loss, glitches, anything), Stop. Do not attempt to keep playing and definitely do not add any new variables into your system. Investigate the possible causes. If it is a mod and you want to try to remove it, then remove it, but be sure to follow the author's removal instructions exactly. To be safe, go back to the save from just before you added it. (This is easy of you are slowly adding mods, but extremely painful if you add everything at once, play a bunch and have no idea where the problem lies. ) This will also help you avoid with script problems from removed mods that will continue and may get worse.

7. If you get stuck, post a detailed question before you get frustrated. Detailed means t include your BOSS log, noting how you placed unrecognized mods, other supporting programs you have used (like TES5Edit, skse, Any texture optimizers, enbs, etc.) Also provide your computer specs, any changes to your driver profile and/or skyrim ini files. Finally, provide details about the crash--how long you've had it, what changed before you first noticed it, any patterns like time playing, specific areas or activities like opening a menu or such. Explain what you have already tried to fix the problem and what the results were.

8. Once you get your mods and other changes the way you want them, your game is stable and performing well, then stop. Every time you add or change any variable, you are inviting instability. If a new mod shows up and you think you just have to have it, ask yourself if it is worth having to start all over for--because, you may have to. If the answer is yes, then go ahead and try it and if your game crashes, well, you were willing to take the risk.

Recommendations for maintaining a trouble free game:

1. I personally suggest avoiding the Steam workshop for mods, because it will automatically update and sometimes even remove mods in your list, which can cause your game to die. Also, playing with Steam in offline mode will prevent unexpected updates from causing havoc.

2. Disable auto updates and avoid using quicksave, as these increase the chance of savegame corruption. Also, if your save does become corrupt, you will need to go back to your last working full save, which can be extremely painful if you rarely make them. You can do this by going into your Prefs.ini text file and then making sure the following lines look like this:
[Main]
bSaveOnPause=0
bSaveOnTravel=0
bSaveOnWait=0
bSaveOnRest=0

[saveGame]
fAutosaveEveryXMins=0.0000

For people who want the convenience of auto save with the functionality of a full save, there are a few mods you might check out, such as Ishara's Normal Numbered AutoSaves

Here is Gopher's vid on BOSS and his Beginner's Mod Tutorial

 

[Makuzex]

@Geargiegril

Then good morning to you :D

 

Thanks! I'll get right on watching that vid ^^wouldthe GEMS or STEP mods be on the 100 list :o?

 

Damn that's a lot of info o-o...Tahnks again xD (Hope you don't mind if I still ask question that might have been answered within thw vid's or the spoiler part of your comment, I'm oblivious e,e.)

[Georgiegril]

No worries, take it slow.

There are lots of helpful people on this forum!

For the top 100 I just meant this page on the nexus (I think there used to be a top 100, sorry to confuse!)

 

Definitely, any mod you are thinking of using, read EVERYTHING the mod author provides-- not just the install instructions, but any FAQ, readmes, discussion threads, the whole thing. This will save you tons of problems down the road.

[Makuzex]

@Georgiegril

Will do.

That's comforting to hear :D

Thank ya kindly~

 

Would this include reading everything on the top 100 list?

[Georgiegril]

Well, maybe, if you are planning on adding all of them to your game---

But no, I meant when you find one you think you want, read everything before actually adding it. Not all will appeal to you. I assume.

[Makuzex]

@Georgiegril

Add all 100 mods O_O? Well daaaaamn, didn't think I would be able too xD

Will do! and uhmm...can I search for certain mods, like maybe a mod for more weapons? (If I missed it, again, I'm oblivious e.e)

[Georgiegril]

There is a categories option in the pull-down button that says "files" Click on that and then you can choose whatever category you like. You can sort according to your preferences-most endorsed, most downloaded, most recent, etc.

[kleinstaff]

Hello all, I am new to this forum and was wondering what mods would make my new Skyrim experience (old experience was for the console years ago) worthwhile? Also...since I'm new, I will most likely need help downloading/adding these mods onto the game .-. I apologize in advance if this isn't the correct area for this post.

besides the advice other posters said about mod install tutorials

here is a list of mods i think are essential

player head tracking you can not imagine how more immersive this is

balanced magic makes magic so much more useful without unbalacing the game

apocalypse spell pack because the number of spells in vanilla are just boring this one add many more again without unbalacing the game

better vampires basicly because bethesda vampires are meehh

 

enjoy and remember you have not played skyrim for real untill you played it o,n a pc and modded

[Makuzex]

@Georgiegril

Kick ass! Thanks again xD

@kleinstaff

Thanks! I'll get right on those. Not sure what the first one you listed does, but sounds awesome xD

I do feel like the amount of magic in vanilla Skyrim is pretty weak =/

I also feel like the spells themselves are weak xD

Does this also effect Vampire Lord?

 

Your telling me :O! I thought it was amazing on the console until I saw some vids on youtube where it looked better, had more weapons, more enemies, more quests, more magic, shouts, etc...Then I was all like, I'm re-buying this game on the PC xD