Modding Skyrim with Wine (PlayOnLinux) in Linux Ubuntu

[Deleted19556314User]

Sorry, I have zero experience on Mac, I'm afraid. I can't offer suggestions. Sorry.

[spectresr1]

Sorry, I have zero experience on Mac, I'm afraid. I can't offer suggestions. Sorry.

 

It's OK! Thank you. I think I have it mostly figured. It seems essentially/almost exactly the same as you Linux users. The steps outlined above worked for me.. It's a teensy bit slower than just through wine/steam, and I still have a little tinkering to do, but this is the closest I've been to using mods with FNIS. Still figuring that out, but really happy I got this far! Anyway, thanks!

[Deleted19556314User]

\o/ that is good to hear! :) Welcome and good luck with the tinkering. ;)

[spectresr1]

Hm so I don't think I truly have FNIS working. For starters, it's not picking up any of my mods/listing them. And I haven't been able to initiate any of the mods in-game that require FNIS so far. Also when I click 'update FNIS behaviors' it just seems to close without doing anything. I did NOT download VB and the Windows trial because I was worried it would just be too much and too hard on my Macbook. Any other ideas? This has been my only obstacle so far in the modding game. Also, when you guys start up your Skyrim game through PlayonLinux, do you still get the initial rectanglular box that say 'Play' 'Options' 'Data Files' etc? I get that when I play through wine/steam, but not when using PlayOnMac. I like being able to check and uncheck the mods I want active for a playthrough. With POM it just launches straight into the black Bethesda menu. Ok, thanks!

[Deleted19556314User]

Hum, it sounds as though you're running tesv.exe instead of steam. can't think of anything else.

[bedhead911]

I wanted to necro this thread to provide a more up to date (2017) installation for those who wanted to play fully modded skyrim and running Linux.

It took me a very long time to figure this out and some of the earlier posts had workarounds (that might not apply anymore) that made it even more confusing for me.

I will assume you have basic knowledge on how to mod skyrim and using linux. My target audience is someone who use to dual boot windows just to play games/ mod skyrim and use linux for everything else.

 

I'm running Opensuse Tumbleweed operating system with an AMD 290x graphics card and open source graphics driver.

 

This installation will set you up with Skyrim running on Linux with Mod Organizer to manage your mods. If you're not using Mod Organizer, I highly recommend learning to use because when you have 100+ mods you will need this tool.

 

1. Install PlayOnLinux with your package manager or software center.

 

2. Launch PlayOnLinux and go to Tools -> manage wine version.

 

3. Underneath the "Wine versions (x86)" tab, click on wine 2.4-staging then click on the ">" arrow in the middle to install that wine version (this is the newest version at the moment).

 

4. When it's done downloading that wine version you can close the wine manager and click on "install a program" then "install a non-listed program" on bottom left corner of the new window.

 

5. Install a program in a new virtual drive and give this virtual drive name. I entered "Skyrim" but you can put anything down like "Steam" it doesn't really matter. Click Next.

 

6. It will ask you what you would like to do before installation. Check all three boxes - "Use another version of wine", "Configure Wine", and "Install some libraries". Then hit Next

 

7. Which version of Wine would you like to use? Choose 2.4-staging. Hit Next

 

8. What kind of virtual drive do you want to create? Choose 32 bits windows installation. Hit Next and your drive will be created.

 

9a. A new window should pop up for wine configuration. Under the Applications tab make sure that your windows version is "Windows 7".

 

9b. Under the Graphics tab checkmark "Automatically capture the mouse in full-screen windows", "Allow the window manager to decorate the windows", and "Allow the window manager to control the windows". You can also checkmark "Emulate a virtual desktop" then choose your screen resolution to keep all your wine/windows application in its own window, but that's totally up to you. Personally I find it annoying when doing something simple like opening the wine configuration takes up an entire screen.

 

9c. Under the Staging tab you are going to checkmark CMST. This is suppose to give better performance. I have seen it help other games, but it isn't that noticeable for Skyrim but it can't hurt to leave it on. If it gives you problems uncheck it.

 

10. Next you are going to download some libraries. Choose the following:

POL_Install_corefonts

POL_Install_d3dx10

POL_Install_d3dx9

POL_Install_dotnet40

POL_Install_tahoma

POL_Install_vcrun2008

POL_Install_xact

 

11. Using your internet browser, navigate to steam website and download the windows version of the steam launcher.

 

12. Go back to PlayOnLinux installation window and it will ask you to "Please select the install file to run." Choose your SteamSetup.exe in your download folder.

 

13. Install Steam by just keep clicking next. The default values should be good assuming your an English speaker. The default location C:\Program Files\Steam is correct too.

 

14. Log on to your steam and install the Elder Scrolls Skyrim (You can also do this later if you wish). Exit steam completely once you are done to get to the next part of the installation.

 

15. PlayOnLinux will ask you to create a shortcut. You don't really have to do this right now since we are only using this virtual drive to play modded Skyrim. However, if you want to play other steam games on this drive then choosing the "Steam.exe" shortcut will be a good choice. After this, you are now done with the installation of your new virtual drive with steam and skyrim installed.

 

16. Make sure that you have installed Skyrim through steam. You are gonna go to nexusmods and manual download the "Mod Organizer". Make sure you download the exe installer version.

 

17. In PlayOnLinux, click on Configure (with the gear icon). Select the virtual drive you have created. It should be called "Skyrim" or whatever name you gave it earlier in step 5. Go to Miscellaneous tab and click on "Run a .exe file in this virtual drive". Click on your Mod Organizer .exe installer that you just downloaded in the last step to install Mod Organizer in this virtual drive.

 

18. After installation go back to the General tab and choose "Make a new shortcut from this virtual drive". Choose Mod Organizer to create a shortcut. You can now close the configure window and return back to the main PlayOnLinux window.

 

19. Your should have a mod organizer shortcut. Run Mod Organizer and choose your skyrim installation directory ...Steam\Steamapps\Common\Skyrim. You should read up more on how to use mod organizer. I'm not gonna cover it here, however I will say this - you need to run EVERYTHING (SKSE, FNIS, Bodyslide, etc) inside the mod organizer because it will be managing your mods and it won't alter your Skyrim installation in the common\skyrim folder.

 

19. Using your web browser go to silverlock website and install the latest Skse .exe. Like the last few steps go to configure and choose your virtual drive. Under the Miscellaneous tab, "run a .exe file in this virtual drive" and install skse. Make sure you pick your steam skyrim installation directory in ...steamapps\common\skyrim.

 

20. You are mostly done. To play steam, just use the mod organizer shortcut in PlayonLinux and run SKSE in Mod Organizer to launch skyrim. SKSE should be selected by default and mod organizer will also launch steam for you.

 

Some notes:

 

After all these years, Dawnguard DLC still causes problems when you "exit to desktop" in skyrim. It will cause the window to freeze and steam wont quit. To get around this, just uncheck the Dawnguard DLC in Mod Organizer when you play skyrim for now. If you want to play Dawnguard again, you must alt-tab out and under playonlinux hit configure -> wine tab -> kill processes

 

To get FNIS working you have to install it manually to Skyrim by dragging everything to the data folder. Your virtual drive is in a hidden folder in your home directory. Show hidden folder .PlayOnLinux/wineprefix/Skyrim/drive_c/Program Files/Steam/steamapps/common/Skyrim/Data

In Mod Organizer you have to create a new shortcut that points to your steamapps/common/Skyrim/tools/GenerateFNIS_for_Users/GenerateFNISforUsers.exe

Run generate FNIS THROUGH Mod Organizer for it to work

 

SkyUI doesn't work when installed through mod organizer. Just do it manually by dragging the bsa and esp file into your data folder and checkmark SKYUI.esp under plugins inside inside mod organizer.

 

Modded Skyrim performance is still very slow compared to vanilla skyrim which was silky smooth. Trying to find the culprit and I will update this once I figure it out.

[goldalex26]

Thank you for necro and help. I will try it out.

 

Ok, finally after few days I established that wine32 2.12 staging works for both nexus manager and steam. wine32 2.13 staging was problematic for steam (crashes) and nexus manager connection to web.

Edited August 12, 2017 by goldalex26

[Kadebostany]

Sorry for necromancing again - but with SteamPlay, some people plays Skyrim without using another tools. Downloading the game with SteamPlay right now (Proton version is 3.16-4).

 

My PC is Ubuntu 18.10, gonna update this post with more info.