Requiem or Skyrim Unleashed or Skyrim Scaling Stopper---Which Do You Use and Why?

[haints]

I'm looking for a mod that stops enemies from artificially leveling along with with you and it looks like these three are my only options ...

 

If you have ever used one of them, please tell me which one and how it worked for you? Help me figure out which I should go with. I'm looking for immersion and realistic combat above all else--I don't like enemies who are tougher simply because they have an insane amount of HP.

 

My guess is Requiem is the closest to what I want, but I'm not sure about all the other stuff it changes. Unleashed and Scaling Stopper just deal with leveling more or less, which keeps things a little simpler ...

 

Thoughts? Suggestions? Any input appreciated as I really want to gear up and play through the whole campaign ...

Edited June 9, 2014 by haints

[ArtMurder]

All of requiems changes may sound off at first, but they compliment the game nicely. Enemies feel balanced for there level, if you are level 5, a level 20 troll will kick your butt, but if you are level 20 it's a very fair, balanced fight with the same troll. It goes great with realism mods, like frostfall and RND, and makes for a great "classic" RPG feel. I have spent probably 6 months perfecting an install based around requiem, and it makes the game insanely fun and challenging, but never makes it feel annoying. I to dislike mods that make the game "harder" by just increasing enemies health and damage and/or spawning a dozen more enemies in every room. Many of these get harder as you progress, making you feel weaker as you level up, playing requiem you feel your character level up, you really feel stronger by the time you reach level 20.

 

Also, almost all of requiem's extra features can be turned off and on in it's mod menu! it's highly costumizable. if you do no want to make a complex a load order yourself, and just want to install a couple mods and have an entirely new, challenging, RPG experience, I highly suggest requiem!

 

But, I am slightly bias towards, being that it is one of my all time favorite mods. ^_^

[haints]

ArtMurder--I really appreciate the detailed, thoughtful response! Exactly the kind of input I'm looking for, so thanks a lot.

 

I already have Requiem installed, though I haven't started a new game with it. Just testing out the combat. Combined with Ultimate Combat, it is very challenging and a ton of fun! In the very first tutorial level, Helgen, battles are quick and vicious and unpredictable. In the torture chamber room, there is a battle before you get there, and every time I reload it the outcome is slightly different. Sometimes the stormcloaks win, sometimes the Imperials do, sometimes they are all dead.

 

Good stuff.

 

I do have to ask--have you tried the other two mods? I do wonder how they compare, though I suspect they do that making things more difficult thing via upping hit points and enemy numbers ...

[stipes79]

ArtMurder: Great post! I have been experimenting with Requiem the last couple weeks and am trying to perfect my setup. Would you mind sharing the list of all mods you use with Requiem along with your load order for those mods?

[ArtMurder]

I have not tried the other mods, but because I have felt no need for them because in one install I use requiem, and in another I used a traditional leveled install. Also, I do not like "artificial" difficulty myself, though some people enjoy it.

 

stipes79; My install is quite complicated, but I will show you it! It's still a work in progress, so it's not perfect yet, it's also not for the faint of heart XD It will most definitely give you some good ideas for mods to go great with requiem, though, about 1/4th of my load order is probably patches for requiem.

 

Active Mod Files:

00  Skyrim.esm
01  Update.esm
02  Dawnguard.esm
03  HearthFires.esm
04  Dragonborn.esm
05  RaceCompatibility.esm
06  daymoyl.esm ((death alternative - your money or your life))
07  Lanterns Of Skyrim - All In One - Main.esm
08  ClimatesOfTamriel.esm
09  Unofficial Skyrim Patch.esp  [Version 1.2.3a]
0A  Unofficial Dawnguard Patch.esp  [Version 1.1.1a]
0B  Unofficial Hearthfire Patch.esp  [Version 1.0a]
0C  Unofficial Dragonborn Patch.esp  [Version 1.0.2]
0D  _001_StashSacks.esp ((Custom edited esp))
0E  Brows.esp
0F  ClimatesOfTamriel-Dawnguard-Patch.esp
10  ClimatesOfTamriel-Dragonborn-Patch.esp
11  AHZmoreHUD.esp  [Version 2.1.1]
12  Animations.esp
13  TKDodge.esp
14  Chesko_WearableLantern.esp
15  NoEyeAdaptation - Climates of Tamriel.esp
16  No Secunda.esp
17  Dragonborn HD Ultra.esp
18  chfshPlayerVoicesets.esp
19  SkyUI.esp
1A  AdditionalMusicProject.esp
1B  PumpingIron.esp
1C  Beards.esp
1D  Footprints.esp
1E  EnhancedLightsandFX.esp
1F  You Hunger.esp
20  Requiem.esp
21  ELFX - Exteriors.esp
22  HARODATH_ImmersiveSoulgems.esp
23  ClimatesOfTamriel-Dungeons-Hardcore.esp
24  ELFX - Dragonborn.esp
25  ELFX - Dawnguard.esp
26  Dont_Steal_My_Crops.esp
27  EnhancedWetnessandPuddles.esp
28  FantasySoundtrackProject.esp
29  Unique Grasses.esp
2A  Hothtrooper44_Armor_Ecksstra.esp
2B  hqsnow.esp
2C  Sit Anywhere.esp
2D  Immersive NPC in the dark.esp
2E  iHUD.esp
2F  JZBai_CrossbowManualReload.esp
30  ImmersiveFP.esp
31  Isharas_HearthfireLogUpdatePatch.esp
32  ImportantInformationOverhaul.esp
33  SMIM-FurnitureChestSnowFix.esp
34  WSCO - OcciFemaleVNL.esp
35  WSCO - OcciMaleVNL.esp
36  Lanterns Of Skyrim - All In One - Climates of Tamriel - lvl-2.esp
37  Locational Damage.esp
38  MintyLightningMod_COT_Patch.esp
39  BFSEffects.esp
3A  No More Glowing Edges.esp
3B  RaceMenu.esp
3C  SMIM-DungeonsCliffsIceSkirts.esp
3D  Weapons & Armor Fixes_Remade.esp
3E  AOS.esp
3F  FireAndIceOverhaul.esp
40  RealisticNights+COT+DB+DG.esp
41  dD - Enhanced Blood Main.esp
42  dD-Dragonborn-Dawnguard-EBT Patch.esp
43  AOS2_EBT Patch.esp
44  AOS2_CoT3_1_patch.esp
45  Prometheus_No_snow_Under_the_roof_DG_DR.esp
46  RealisticWaterTwo.esp
47  AOS2_RealisticWaterTwo Patch.esp
48  Clothing & Clutter Fixes.esp
49  Complete Crafting Overhaul_Remade.esp
4A  Book Covers Skyrim.esp
4B  Book Covers Dawnguard.esp
4C  Book Covers Hearthfire.esp
4D  Skyrim Immersive Creatures.esp  [Version v6.5.2]
4E  aMidianborn_Skyforge_Weapons.esp
4F  Cloaks - Dawnguard.esp
50  Requiem - Resources.esp
51  Requiem - SIC Patch.esp
52  Requiem - Hard Times.esp
53  ELFXEnhancer.esp
54  RevampedExteriorFog.esp
55  Requiem - CCOR Patch.esp
56  REQ - BCS Patch.esp
57  Requiem - Dragonborn.esp
58  Requiem - Dragonborn - CCOR Patch.esp
59  RealisticNeedsandDiseases.esp
5A  RND_HearthFires-Patch.esp
5B  Rebirth Monster.esp
5C  Radiant and Unique Potions and Poisons v2.0 non glow.esp
5D  Requiem - ROTE and Hard Times.esp
5E  Requiem - WAF+Clothing and Clutter Fixes Patch.esp
5F  DigitigradeKhajiit+ArgonianRaptor.esp
60  AmazingFollowerTweaks.esp
61  SkyrimCoinReplacerRedux.esp
62  Book Covers Dragonborn.esp
63  RealShelter.esp
64  Requiem - Hard Times - SCRR Patch.esp
65  Requiem - Vanilla Torches.esp
66  Immersive Weapons.esp
67  AOS2_Requiem1.7.3 Patch.esp
68  AOS2_FIO Patch.esp
69  AOS2_WAF Patch.esp
6A  Requiem - FIO Patch.esp
6B  Requiem - Immersive Weapons.esp
6C  Rebirth Monster - SIC Patch.esp  [Version v1]
6D  Requiem - SIC Patch - ARMOR .esp
6E  Skyrim Immersive Creatures - DLC2.esp  [Version v6.5.2]
6F  Requiem - SIC Patch - DLC2.esp
70  EBT- Dg - Db - SIC.esp
71  Requiem - SIC CCOR Patch.esp
72  SMIM-DragonbornTernFix.esp
73  SoS - The Dungeons.esp  [Version 1.23]
74  Hidden Hideouts of Skyrim - Merged - Deep Immersion.esp
75  SFO - Expanded Diversity.esp
76  SkyFalls - Distant Waterfall Overhaul.esp
77  Supreme Fog.esp
78  Supreme Storms.esp
79  The Dance of Death - Dawnguard Edition.esp
7A  Thundering Shouts.esp
7B  TradeBarter.esp
7C  wizDynamicThings.esp
7D  vSCM_SmarterCombatMusic.esp
7E  WetandCold.esp
7F  AOS2_WetandCold Patch.esp
80  WetandCold - Holidays.esp
81  Further Dark Dungeons for ENB.esp
82  Killable Children.esp
83  Hothtrooper44_ArmorCompilation.esp
84  BFT Ships and Carriages.esp
85  Requiem - Immersive Armors.esp
86  Inconsequential NPCs.esp
87  Cloaks.esp
88  1nivWICCloaks.esp  [Version 2.3]
89  Dead Body Collision.esp
8A  SMIM-FarmhouseFlickeringFix.esp
8B  StaticMeshImprovementMod.esp
8C  SoS - The Dungeons-PatchCoTHardcore.esp
8D  1nivWICSkyCloaksPatch.esp  [Version 2.3]
8E  Inconsequential NPCs - Enhancement.esp
8F  RealisticWaterTwo - Legendary.esp
90  RND_Dragonborn-Patch.esp
91  Point The Way.esp  [Version 1.0.2]
92  Long lost smelters by Hyralux.esp
93  Hidden Hideouts of Skyrim City Edition - Merged - Deep Immersion.esp
94  Populated Cities Towns Villages.esp
95  DnnUniqueBorderGates.esp
96  fine goods from morrowind.esp
97  Requiem - Populated Towns and Cities Patch.esp
98  REQMOD.esp
99  SMIM-ShackRoofFixesDragonborn.esp
9A  SMIM-ShackRoofFixes.esp
9B  Chesko_Frostfall.esp
9C  Requiem - RND - Frostfall AiO Patch.esp
9D  RND_Dawnguard-Patch.esp
9E  Requiem HT - Radiant and Unique Potions Poisons and Boose Patch.esp
9F  Morning Fogs.esp
A0  Requiem - HearthFires.esp
A1  Requiem - Trade and Barter.esp
A2  Skyrim Flora Overhaul.esp
A3  HoldBorderBanners.esp
A4  ClosedBorderGates.esp
A5  Requiem - ClosedBorderGates.esp
A6  SDO Full-LOD - Giant Campfires.esp
A7  Equipping Overhaul.esp
A8  WetandCold - Ashes.esp
A9  WhitePhialReplacer.esp
AA  WSCO - Better NPCs.esp
AB  Alternate Start - Live Another Life.esp  [Version 2.3.3b]
AC  Warburg's 3D Paper World Map - Texture 2.esp
AD  Bashed Patch, 0.esp
AE  Warburg's 3D Paper World Map - Dragonborn.esp
AF  warburg's 3d paper world map - dawnguard.esp

[documn]

RE: Requiem

If you do plan on doing the Helgen route, I suggest you save before you fight the spiders. Poison in Requiem is no joke, and I personally feel that the poison visual effect is way too harsh. I've read that some people enjoy it, but I always turn off the visual effect on all my Requiem characters.

 

Also, here are links to my old Requiem mod list and load order if you're interested. Aside from Requiem I didn't use many other gameplay-altering mods. It's mostly visual stuff and compatibility patches.

[haints]

@ArtMurder--thanks for the list! A lot of those sound very interesting.

 

About Locational Damage ... the nexus page for that mod has many posts from users claiming that it corrupts save games if used with the latest official patches ... have you not run into this? I always wanted to try that mod but those posts scared me off.

 

@Mullet--thanks for your mod list as well! I will check those out too.

Edited June 9, 2014 by haints

[ArtMurder]

HAHA, the thing with spiders is indeed VERY TRUE, I suggest using the mod "live another life" if you use requiem, as the vanilla intro is very hard with requiem! Spiders are difficult to fight, and can only really be killed through archery, or by charging them before they can hit you even once. Multiple spiders is almost assured death on lower difficulty. You can turn off the visual effects in the menu though, I wish it had a "minimal" visual effect option, as the current one is a bit over the top in my opinion...

 

and I have never encountered any such issues with locational damage. it is a very finnicky mod though, sometimes it doesn't work at all, other times it works 'to well' I once had it glitch out and decide every hit on me with an arrow was a head shot, insta-killing me... But, 3/4ths of the time it works without issue.

 

I personally do not use the latest UNoffical patches for a reason, being that some mods tend to mess up when used with them, but I would not use any mods that did not work with the latest OFFICIAL patches. If LD doesn't work, it's likely a mod conflict, not a conflict with the official patch, and the users reporting those errors are likely mistaken as to the origins of the conflict.

 

if you are uneasy though, you may want to avoid it, I have not done extensive long term testing with my newest install, it is possible Locational Damage has some sort of 'delayed" reaction to screwing up your save game. To be honest, it doesn't work 50% of the time, so it may not be worth your effort...

Edited June 10, 2014 by ArtMurder