Adding mods, removing mods, and changing load order mid-game

[Deadsun]

Guides and instructions I've read over the years modding usually quip how you shouldn't add, remove, or change your load order mid-game. Beyond the .esp warning you get from TES/Fallout when you remove content I've never seen any documentation anywhere (I've looked) elaborating exactly why doing this is harmful. Specifically changing your load order and adding mods is what I'm interested in.

 

Can anyone elaborate on this further?

[DoctorKaizeld]

it depends on your game. but changing files mid game can be harmful and lead to game breakage. in my case on a recent game i was looking through some UI mods and one of them wasnt quite what i was lookin for so i removed it. now my crafting screens look like the inventory list in SkyUI with nothing listed but by clicking in the empty list i can still select and craft stuff. so far i havent been able to fix it. but im not worried i can reinstall no problem i only have 150 mods, so not a big deal.

 

 

this can happen in various ways, buuut it is often wrong to assume changing mods is always a big deal. only script mods will hurt anything. for example removing something like Better Vampires has a chance of breaking the game where as removing a armor mod does not. removing texture mods can mess with things as well. you just should be careful and not do it to often with out considering the possible issues that could arise. also you risk breaking it and will have to own up to it when you do. this is why i have started encouraging people to write down how they installed their game so that this doesnt matter you can just reinstall and follow your guide.

[PeterMartyr]

What is the Skyrim Save

 

First think of your load order

1. Skyrim
2. Update
3. Dawnguard
4. etc
5. imagine 254 Unknown Mods
6. Load Order 255 Always Last User Save

 

Sort you mods with LOOT it will it will Fix it Er you uninstalled Mods your save is Broken

what does that say about your load order?

 

Lesson Two Done Who Next?

[DoctorKaizeld]

What is the Skyrim Save

 

First think of your load order

1. Skyrim
2. Update
3. Dawnguard
4. etc
5. imagine 254 Unknown Mods
6. Load Order 255 Always Last User Save

 

Sort you mods with LOOT it will it will Fix it Er you uninstalled Mods your save is Broken

what does that say about your load order?

 

Lesson Two Done Who Next?

that makes no sense...

[metaforce]

Your question is kind of hard to answer because it depends greatly on what the mod exactly changes.

You would have to take a closer look into the mod folder and take a closer look at what kind of files the mod exactly contains. You need knowledge about the file and folder structure of the game in question to discern whether it might be save or "unsave" to remove the mod.

 

If a mod ONLY contains texture files (ending with .dds in skyrim) then it's usually save to remove it without harm. If it also contains meshes (the 3d "wire shape" you might say that defines an items or bodyparts overall shape) then it is possible that the mod not only changes an armor for example but also replaces an armor in the game....If you remove it any NPC wearing the armor will be naked....However if it is a standalone armor it is usually save to remove it.

 

Another important point is if a mod contains scripts (files programmed in the papyrus coding language skyrim uses to make the game understand what to do with the item that a mod might add) If you remove a mod like that, there is a big chance that your savegames from the point when you removed the mod will contain what is called "unattached script instances". This is very bad since it can cause crashes and other failures.

 

I have to say that it is next to impossible to give you a generalised answer about that. It simply relies on too many factors that would have to be taken into account. The only general answer you can actually give is in fact to not remove mods during playthrough, since it is kind of a "better safe than sorry" answer.

[Project579]

You can move or remove simple esp as well.

[Deadsun]

Does rearranging load order have any impact on a game?

[PeterMartyr]

Does rearranging load order have any impact on a game?

Yes

 

edit:

I could Quote Author of Crash Fixes

I could Quote SLEEP Team

If you don't believe me

But I Not Gonna

Cuz It YES & agree them

 

Learn to clean your master files

Open your Game in TES5edit with all Mods Enable to make Merge Patch

Open Bain to Make a Bashed Pash with all Mods Enable

Uninstall & Install a few Mods

 

If you could open your Save with TES5Edit It would Conflict with the New Load Order with Left Over Orphan References, (like Dirty Edits) better known has a DIRTY SAVE.

Also I am NOT talking about Script Mods I am Talking about All Mods including Armors & Followers & Swords

Only Replacer Mods are Safe to Uninstall & Change. Why? They have no >ESP< to conflict with anything.

 

So If 4k is too much down grading to 2K is harmless as a Replacer Mod

 

>Does rearranging load order have any impact on a game?<

Without uninstalled a Mod it Probable better not to mess with the Load Order Dynamic since multiple mods could Edit the same Master Reference (Skyrim). Using a update LOOT could change this delicate dynamics of the loader

 

So Old Hand Rule is Once you Start your Playthru

1. Don't Uninstall esp
2. Don't Install esp even
3. Don't use LOOT...why?

It not new it dates back to TES III we are at TES V

 

My Question is

 

Modded Skyrim is delicate why make more unstable?

Edited September 13, 2016 by PeterMartyr

[DoctorKaizeld]

Yes it does... Though again it depends on the mods. Though in this case it depends on what you have overwritten more then anything. Though in the case of load order it is mostly going to affect other mods.

 

 

For example if you move the dual sheath redux patch from the bottom. Could cause issues.

[Deadsun]

Yes it does... Though again it depends on the mods. Though in this case it depends on what you have overwritten more then anything. Though in the case of load order it is mostly going to affect other mods.

 

 

For example if you move the dual sheath redux patch from the bottom. Could cause issues.

 

Is that to say when I install a new mod it's best to put it at the bottom of my load order as to not force everything below it to slide down in the mod index?