Help getting rid of script-heavy mods and lightening the load

[Cait833]

Hello again. I am trying to lighten the load, mainly script-heavy mods, from my load order. I have already lost diseased, deadly spell impacts, burn freeze shock effects, fire and ice overhaul, and hunterborn. I know that ones such as SkyBirds, Birds of Skyrim, Frostfall, Wet & Cold + add-ons all use scripts, but I am not sure about any others. My recent playthrough started off fine, but the script calling got slower as it went along, and I started to CTD outdoors.

I am willing to part with wet & cold- holidays (although maybe the whole package), and just maybe, frostfall. I don't particularly want to get rid of either bird populator, but I will if it comes to it. The memory blocks log did not reach it's threshold, so it is not a memory issue.

Any help would be appreciated. :smile: I will be starting a new game, or using my control saves in Riverwood with the new setup, so no need to clean my saves.

Load order:

• Skyrim.esm Active
• Update.esm Active
  • Bash Tag suggestion(s): {{BASH: Delev, Relev}}
• Unofficial Skyrim Patch.esp Version 2.0.4a Active
  • Bash Tag suggestion(s): {{BASH: Delev, Relev}}
• Dawnguard.esm Active
  • Bash Tag suggestion(s): {{BASH: Delev, Relev}}
• Unofficial Dawnguard Patch.esp Version 2.0.4 Active
  • Bash Tag suggestion(s): {{BASH: Delev, Relev}}
• HearthFires.esm Active
• Unofficial Hearthfire Patch.esp Version 2.0.4 Active
• Dragonborn.esm Active
• Unofficial Dragonborn Patch.esp Version 2.0.4a Active
  • Bash Tag suggestion(s): {{BASH: Delev}}
• Falskaar.esm Version 1.1.4 Active
• Wyrmstooth.esp Version 1.10 Active
• ClimatesOfTamriel.esm Version 3.1 Active
• SMPC.esp Version 1.53 Active
• NoDiseaseAbsorb_DB.esp Active
• SMPC_windows_fix.esp Active
• HighResTexturePack01.esp Active
• HighResTexturePack02.esp Active
• HighResTexturePack03.esp Active
• Unofficial High Resolution Patch.esp Version 1.1.7 Active
• Weapons & Armor Fixes_Remade.esp Active
  • Bash Tag suggestion(s): {{BASH: Delev, Relev, Stats}}
• Clothing & Clutter Fixes.esp Active
  • Bash Tag suggestion(s): {{BASH: Delev, Relev, Stats}}
• SMPC_sounds.esp Version 1.18 Active
• Chesko_Frostfall.esp Active
• Better Dynamic Snow.esp Active
• ExpandedSnowSystems-CoT.esp Active
• AOS.esp Active
  • Note: See also AOS compatibility patches page on Nexus.
• ClimatesOfTamriel-Sound.esp Version 3.1 Active
• Immersive Sounds - Aural Assortment.esp Active
• mintylightningmod.esp Active
• MintyLightningMod_COT_Patch.esp Active
• Cutting Room Floor.esp Version 1.0.6 Active
• SMIM-DragonbornTernFix.esp Active
• SMIM-DungeonsCliffsIceSkirts.esp Active
• SMIM-FarmhouseFlickeringFix.esp Active
• SMIM-FurnitureChestSnowFix.esp Active
• SMIM-ShackRoofFixes.esp Active
• SMIM-ShackRoofFixesDragonborn.esp Active
• 83Willows_101BUGS_V4_HighRes.esp Version 4.1 Active
  • Bash Tag suggestion(s): {{BASH: Delev, Relev}}
• Babettes Feast v1_2.esp Active
• Birdsofskyrim.esp Active
• BooksBooksBooks.esp Active
• CookingExpanded.esp Version 1.2b. Active
• CookingExpanded - Hearthfire.esp Active
• CookingExpanded - Dragonborn.esp Active
• EpisodeParallax.esp Active
• skyBirds - Airborne Perching Birds.esp Version 0.93 Active
• Skyrim Immersive Creatures.esp Version v6.5.2 Active
  • Bash Tag suggestion(s): {{BASH: Delev, Relev}}
• Skyrim Immersive Creatures - DLC2.esp Version v6.5.2 Active
  • Bash Tag suggestion(s): {{BASH: Delev, Relev}}
• Skyrim Flora Overhaul.esp Active
• Unique BOOZE Bottles.esp Active
• WetandCold.esp Version 1.41 Active
• WetandCold - Ashes.esp Version 1.08 Active
• RaceMenu.esp Active
• RaceMenuPlugin.esp Active
  • Note: RaceMenuPlugin is optional and provides support to alter Height, Breast, Glute and Biceps. If you experience issues with it, disable RaceMenuPlugin.esp and inform the author.
• SkyUI.esp Version 4.1 Active
• AMB Glass Variants Lore.esp Active
  • Bash Tag suggestion(s): {{BASH: Delev, Relev}}
• BloodWitchArmor.esp Active
• Cloaks.esp Active
• Cloaks - Dawnguard.esp Active
• 1nivWICCloaks.esp Version 2.3 Active
  • Bash Tag suggestion(s): {{BASH: Relev}}
• 1nivWICSkyCloaksPatch.esp Version 2.3 Active
• Contractor Armor.esp Active
• DragonbornArmorFix.esp Active
• Evil MasterMind Armor.esp Active
• Hothtrooper44_Armor_Ecksstra.esp Active
• Hothtrooper44_ArmorCompilation.esp Version 7.1 Active
  • Bash Tag suggestion(s): {{BASH: Delev, Relev}}
• Immersive Weapons.esp Active
  • Bash Tag suggestion(s): {{BASH: Delev, Relev}}
• imp_helm.esp Active
• imp_helm_imp.esp Active
• imp_helm_dawn.esp Active
• imp_help_dbrn.esp Active
• imp_guard_helm.esp Active
• Improved Closefaced Helmets_Legendary.esp Active
• Knight Of Thorns Armor.esp Active
• Lore Weapon Expansion.esp Version 1.2 Active
  • Bash Tag suggestion(s): {{BASH: Delev, Relev}}
• Lore Weapon Expansion - Daedric Crescent.esp Version 1.0 Active
• Lore Weapon Expansion - Goldbrand.esp Version 1.1 Active
• LPotD Armor Merged.esp Active
• LpotDHorse.esp Active
• LustmordVampireArmor.esp Active
• Mavari Armor.esp Active
• Medusa and Drakul Armors.esp Active
• Raven Witch Armor.esp Active
• SilverDragonArmor.esp Active
• Thanatos Dragonx.esp Active
• Tribunal Maskes by Zairaam.esp Active
• Tribunal Robes by Zairaam.esp Active
• UniqueBows.esp Version 1.1 Active
• Complete Crafting Overhaul_Remade.esp Active
• CCO_SIC_Patch.esp Active
• CCO_WAFTrueWeapons_Patch.esp Active
• SkyRe_Main.esp Active
  • Bash Tag suggestion(s): {{BASH: Relev, Delev}}
  • Note: If lockpicking is not work then try to delete 'interface\lockpickingmenu.swf'.
  • Note: If you have a problem with aiming try to install this mod.
  • Note: To make aiming easier add the following lines to Skyrim.ini:
  • Note: [Actor]
  • Note: fVisibleNavmeshMoveDist=12288.0000
  • Note: [Combat]
  • Note: f1PArrowTiltUpAngle=0.64
  • Note: f3PArrowTiltUpAngle=0.64
  • Note: fMagnetismStrafeHeadingMult=0.0
  • Note: fMagnetismLookingMult=0.0
• SkyRe_Main_Fix.esp Active
• SkyRe_Combat.esp Active
• SkyRe_CraftingFix.esp Active
• SkyRe_EncounterZones.esp Active
• SkyRe_EnemyAI.esp Active
• SkyRe_EnemyScaling.esp Active
  • Bash Tag suggestion(s): {{BASH: Relev}}
• SkyRe_EnemyScaling_Fix.esp Active
• SkyRe_StandingStones.esp Active
• SkyRe_StandingStones_Fix.esp Active
• CCF PreReProccer Patch.esp Active
• SkyRe_Survivalism.esp Active
• Unique Uniques.esp Version 1.5 Active
• Unique Unique's_Skyre Patch.esp Active
• SkyRe_SIC Crossbowfix.esp Version v6.1.2 Active
• quest_andtherealmsofdaedra.esp Active
• buildablehouse.esp Active
• Inconsequential NPCs.esp Active
• Inconsequential NPCs - Enhancement.esp Active
• Inconsequential NPCs - CRF Compatibility Patch.esp Active
• quest_nomercy.esp Active
• OBIS.esp Active
  • Bash Tag suggestion(s): {{BASH: Delev, Relev}}
• OBISDB.esp Active
  • Bash Tag suggestion(s): {{BASH: Delev, Relev}}
• quest_pitfighter.esp Active
• quest_pitfighter_dlc01.esp Active
• quest_sorcery.esp Active
• Run For Your Lives.esp Version 2.0.1 Active
• When Vampires Attack.esp Version 2.0 Active
• quest_seaofghosts.esp Active
• Tame Beast.esp Active
• quest_thebiggertheyare.esp Active
• The Paarthurnax Dilemma.esp Version 1.2.8 Active
• Undeath.esp Active
• WyrmstoothTravelCrashHotfix.esp Active
• WyrmstothMapMarkerHotfix.esp Active
• Book Covers Skyrim.esp Active
• BCS - CCOR Patch.esp Active
• BCS - SkyRe Patch EN.esp Active
• Civil War Overhaul.esp Active
• AOS_CWO Patch.esp Active
• Differently Ebony.esp Active
• Guard Dialogue Overhaul.esp Active
  • Note: Do not clean. "Dirty" edits are intentional and required for the mod to function.
• FCO - Follower Commentary Overhaul.esp Active
• WeaponsArmorFixes_GuardDialogueOverhaul_Patch.esp Active
• ImmersiveFP.esp Active
• OpenFaceGuardHelmets.esp Active
• Realistic werewolf speed.esp Active
• Rebirth Monster.esp Active
  • Bash Tag suggestion(s): {{BASH: Delev, Relev}}
• Rebirth Monster - SIC Patch.esp Version v1 Active
• SFO - Dragonborn.esp Active
• SkyTEST-RealisticAnimals&Predators-Dawnguard.esp Active
• SkyTEST-RealisticAnimals&Predators-Dragonborn.esp Active
• SkyTEST-RealisticAnimalBehavior.esp Active
• SIC Patch for Skytest Lite.esp Active
• Convenient Horses.esp Version 14950 Active
  • Note: Do not clean. "Dirty" edits are intentional and required for the mod to function.
• aMidianborn_Skyforge_Weapons.esp Active
• aMidianBorn_ContentAddon.esp Active
• Helgen Reborn.esp Version 105.3 Active
• tos_amber_guard.esp Active
  • Contains dirty edits: 36 ITM, 0 UDR records. Needs TES5Edit cleaning. A cleaning guide is available here.
• tos_laintardale_hf.esp Active
• tos_oakwood_hf.esp Active
  • Contains dirty edits: 3 ITM, 3 UDR records. Needs TES5Edit cleaning. A cleaning guide is available here.
• CampingKitNorthernRanger.esp Active
  • Note: Use only one CampingKitNorthernRanger esp.
• Unique Grasses.esp Active
• EnhancedLightsandFX.esp Active
• ELFX - Exteriors.esp Active
• ELFX - Dawnguard.esp Active
• ELFX - Dragonborn.esp Active
• ClimatesOfTamriel-Dawnguard-Patch.esp Version 3.1 Active
• ClimatesOfTamriel-Dragonborn-Patch.esp Version 3.1 Active
• ClimatesOfTamriel Falskaar.esp Active
• Supreme Storms - Cot Version.esp Active
• CoT-WeatherPatch.esp Active
• CoT-WeatherPatch_DB.esp Active
• CoT-WeatherPatch_Snow-40.esp Active
• CoT-WeatherPatch_SupStorms.esp Active
• CoT-WeatherPatch_ESS.esp Active
• Better Vampires.esp Active
  • Contains dirty edits: Do not clean. "Dirty" edits are intentional and required for the mod to function.
• Predator Vision.esp Active
• BloodmoonRising.esp Active
• WerewolfMastery.esp Active
• ForgottenMagic.esp Version 4.3.0 Active
• DragonCombatOverhaulDragonborn.esp Active
• AOS_DCOd Patch.esp Active
• Horsemen.esp Active
• Horsemen Combat Enhancement.esp Active
• Improved Dragon Shouts.esp Active
• Improved Dragon Shouts - Dawnguard.esp Active
• Improved Dragon Shouts - Dragonborn.esp Active
• Vampirelordroyal.esp Active
• dD-No Spinning Death Animation.esp Active
• 3DNPC.esp Version 3.06 Active
• Clothing & Clutter_3DNPC_Patch.esp Active
• Inigo.esp Active
• EMCompViljaSkyrim.esp Active
• EMViljaInSolstheimAddOn.esp Active
• HearthfireMoveKidsfix.esp Active
• Spousetocustomhome.esp Active
• NonEssentialChildren.esp Active
  • Bash Tag suggestion(s): {{BASH: Delev}}
• Gri_BeastFeet.esp Active
• SkyRe_Races.esp Active
• CCOR_Merged_Patch.esp Active
• SkyRe_Races_Fix.esp Active
• SkyFalls + SkyMills + DG + DB + FS + WT.esp Version 3.0.esp Active
• RealisticWaterTwo.esp Version 1.11 Active
• RealisticWaterTwo - Legendary.esp Active
• RealisticWaterTwo - Wyrmstooth.esp Active
• RealisticWaterTwo - Waves - Wyrmstooth.esp Active
• RealisticWaterTwo - Falskaar.esp Active
• RealisticWaterTwo - Waves - Falskaar.esp Active
• AOS2_DCOd Patch.esp Active
• AOS2_GDO Patch.esp Version 2 Active
• AOS2_RealisticWaterTwo Patch.esp Version 2 Active
• AOS2_SkyRe Patch.esp Active
• AOS2_WAF Patch.esp Version 2 Active
• AOS2_WetandCold Patch.esp Version 2 Active
• Vividian - Extended Weathers.esp Active
• Vividian - Weather Patch - ESS + SS.esp Active
• Watercolor_for_ENB_RWT.esp Active
• BVandRB_Formlist.esp Active
• OBISCloaks&IA7.esp Active
• WetandCold - Holidays.esp Version 1.06 Active
• Vividian - Diverse Weathers - AOS.esp Active
• Bashed Patch, 0.esp Version 06/06/2014 17:48:55 Active
• Automatic Variants.esp Active
• Pre ReProccer WAFR IA7 IW UU aMidianSS Content Addon Patch.esp Active
• ReProccer.esp Active
• Falskaar Undeath Skyre Patch.esp Active
• Post ReProccer Fixes CCOR IA7 IW UU aMidianSS Content Addon Patch.esp Active
• Post ReProccer Fixes IA7 IW UU aMidianSS Content Addon Patch.esp Active
• qotsafans LeveledLists Patch.esp Active
• LeveledLists Extension Patch.esp Active

 

Edited June 6, 2014 by Cait833

[Hyacathusarullistad]

Running more than one new lands mod often places lots of strain on the engine, even when you're not actively using them. I'd recommend picking either Wyrmstooth of Falskaar. Falskaar is a larger and more diverse wordlsapce, but Wyrmstooth has a better story. Both feature some excellent dungeons and an amazing attention to detail though.

Helgen Reborn, while not strictly speaking a new lands mod, can also be rather weighty the deeper into it you get. But it's such a great mod that I can't in good conscience recommend removing it. :P

Wet & Cold is fairly script intensive, especially alongside mods like Inconsequential NPCs or others that add a lot of new people to the worldspace. You can turn down the script refresh rate from within the mod's MCM menu, and that will help with script lag. Turning off some features can also help.

Removing Frostfall mid-playthrough is risky if done incorrectly. Be sure to follow the uninstall procedure to the ltter if you choose to remove it. I have to say, though, that Frostfall is insanely well optimised and clean. I'd personally suggest that if you like it, that uninstalling it should be a last resort.

You also seem to have a lot of unecessary armour mods installed. Tribunal Robes and Masks, for example, are already included in Immersive Armors and CCOR respectively.

The Civil War Overhaul is notoriously delicate, especially in larger load orders. I'm not saying you should remove it or anything, just be aware of it. Especially once you join the war. I've never been able to complete a CWO playthrough of the war, I always run into some story-halting bug that forces me to give up on the war and sometimes even the playthrough entirely.

SkyTEST is also rather touchy in larger load orders, even though the mod itself is script free. It increases spawns which can put strain on an engine that you've already got running Wet & Cold on more NPCs than it's used to handling. Again I'd suggest cutting back on Wet & Cold's functionality and refresh rate to maintain stability.

I've already mentioned the issues Inconsequential NPCs can bring to the table, but the same can also be said for OBIS. It adds a LOT of new NPCs that the engine doesn't normally handle, so it does put strain on the game regardless of its script status (I don't know offhand if it uses many scripts or not; Immersive Patrols does something vageuly similar without using scripts).

I'm also going to assume judging from your use of the CoT Weather Patch that you're using an ENB, as it's geared towards use with one. ENB is incredibly demanding, even with the memory management tweaks of ENBoost. If you're looking to enhance stability, compromising on or even entirely removing your ENB preset is definitely something you should consider. Depending on which preset you're using, there are other more traditional in-engine mods that can do very much the same thing with significantly less of a performance hit.

You may also want to take a look at a save cleaner that can remove orphaned scripts and thus help with random CTDs. I used one recently on a save I thought was relatively orphanless, and found 32 errant scripts that I didn't realise were still there. It didn't solve all my stability issues entirely, but it definitely helped. Even with such a program, though, uninstalling mods in the middle of a playthrough is asking for trouble. In the end I'd suggest that you at least prepare for the possibility of starting a fresh save if you're going to go uninstalling script reliant mods.

[Cait833]

Thank you for the suggestions - completely skipped over Tribunal masks being in IA. ^_^; I think I shall remove Wet & Cold completely - I'll miss the cold breathe of my horse, but I can do without it. SkyTEST is only the lite version - no new spawns, just the AI of the existing creatures. I am using the Vividian Extended weathers system, and it's respected ENB, which actually increases opening load times by quite a bit because of the weather incorporation - I'm guessing that the likes of RCRN can be a good alternative, perhaps even to CoT, too (plus it means I can revert a lot of the ini tweaks for the enb). I could probably get rid of iqNPCs and OBIS as well. However, as for the quest related mods, I am loathe to remove them unless it becomes absolutely necessary. Hoping I can keep the rest unless new, better alternatives are released in the future. Looking out for Awake. :)

Also, I had already deleted all of my later saves prior to this, so there's nothing to clean. xD I'm so used to starting over that it was kind of second nature to me - at least I didn't lose to much. lol

[Cait833]

So, removed a handful of mods (including the enb and enboost), installed RCRN AE, it crashed loading a new game, verified the files with steam, got 6 back (only ever got '1' before), started the game through steam to reconfigure things (infinite loading screen). Started it through skse, and seemed to be going well until the title came up for the intro and kind of smeared across the screen, as well as the mod initiation info - screen stayed on the black background for a bit with the text and then crashed.... so either I did something wrong or RCRN is buggering up quite gloriously. xD

Edit: Just going to uninstall all of my mods and reinstall the game, leave it for a bit (got tons of others to play, but keep trying to fix this blasted thing, lol), hoping to get some updates/merges, and then I'll come back. :)

Edited June 7, 2014 by Cait833

[ripple]

Inconsequential NPCs shouldn't put a lot of strain on your system. There are fewer NPCs than 'Interesting NPCs'--although the total number of NPCs a mod adds does not matter. What matters is the total number of actors present in a single location or cell. All of the InconNPCs have appropriate location persistence flags. They are only loaded when you enter the location in which they are persistent, then unloaded when you transition to another location. But yes, more NPCs that needs to be managed by running script from 'Wet n' Cold' may add additional strain. You can try disabling InconNPCs temporarily and test (without making saves) for 15 minutes or so during the times in cities when you are experiencing slow downs, but I don't think it will help much. Most of the InconNPCs are spread across various interior cells, and would not be impacted by 'Wet n' Cold' for the most part of their AI package stacks.

 

With the exception of the Carriage Guards, InconNPCs also doesn't add any actors to the Tamriel worldspace (which includes the small settlements), so it won't help your 'outdoor CTDs' or any performance issues in that worldspace.

Edited June 7, 2014 by ripple