Not The Kitchen Sink Mod List

[ThePilot]

Hello everyone!

By now, I'm sure you've all seen complete overhaul mod lists like S.T.E.P. and S.E.P.T.I.M. Although these are great lists and really do a whole lot for the game, they can be pretty overwhelming for a first-time modder, or someone who just wants to improve Skyrim without spending too much time to do it. That's why I came up with Not The Kitchen Sink. (The name is from the old phrase "Everything and the Kitchen Sink"...whereas this list is the opposite of that).

Here's the criteria for mods on this list:
1. Gameplay improvements are good, overhauls are bad. (For example, Faster Arrows and Dual-handed blocking are good. Frostfall and Campfires are bad).
2. Looks take second place to gameplay. I have included several texture and mesh changes, but gameplay is the primary focus.
3. I'll always keep this list under 75 mods.


If any of you experienced modders notice any problems with this list (or if anyone uses it comes across and incompatibility or something) PLEASE let me know! This list isn't meant to be just my pet project, so I'd like it if y'all could chime in with suggestions and feedback! :smile:


Now without further ado, I give you Not The Kitchen Sink:

STEP 0: Install Skyrim Anniversary Edition
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Install Skyrim Anniversary Edition in Steam. Open it, go to Creation Club and login/sign up. Then click "Download All" in the lower right to download all CC mods.


STEP 1: Install and Set Up Nexus Mod Manager
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Download Nexus Mod Manager. This is what you'll be using to install all of the mods in this guide. When you run it the first time, it will search for games. Once it has found Skyrim SE, click the checkmark and hit "Stop Searching" and "OK". You can then tell it to never search for games again if you like. You will be asked if you want to use categories; you can select yes. Once it opens, click on the icon of a person in the bottom left and login with your Nexus information. Now go to the General Tab of Settings (Click on the button with two gears), and uncheck "Allow NMM to update mod names". Finally, go to the "Mods" tab and click the bottom button on the left panel (It looks like a window with two arrows in it). This lists all mods, instead of by category.

STEP 2: Download and Install SKSE
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Download the latest AE build of SKSE from here. Unzip it, and copy all of the files in it to the root of your Skyrim directory (Usually C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Skyrim Special Edition)


STEP 3: Download and Install Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable
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Download the x64 2015-2022 redistributable from here and install it.


STEP 4: Download and Install Mods
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Now for this guide if there are no special instructions for a mod, just go to its Nexus page, go to the files tab (it's underneath the screenshots), and click "Mod Manager Download" under the "Main Files" section. If there ARE special instructions, follow them. Generally special instructions will consist of downloading specific files and patches. To install a mod that you downloaded manually, go to the "Mods" tab and click the yellow puzzle piece on the left bar. Then select the mod you downloaded.

After you have downloaded a mod, you must enable it by selecting it and then clicking the green checkmark on the left sidebar.

NOTE 1: You can download all mods and then enable them all, but you MUST enable them in the order shown here.

NOTE 2: If NMM asks you to overwrite files, always select yes.

NOTE 3: Always use the AE (Anniversary Edition) version if available



1. SKSE ini pre-download - Use the "SKSE64 INI PRE DOWNLOAD v1.2" option

2. Address Library for SKSE Plugins - Use the Anniversary Edition All In One

3. SSE Engine Fixes - Install Part 1 using NMM, then download Part 2 and extract the files to the root of your Skyrim install.

4. SSE Display Tweaks - Install the High Performance Configuration if you have a good computer. Say yes to overwrite the file.

5. Unofficial Patch

6. Unofficial Creation Club Patch - Select the "merged" option in the installer.

7. Powerofthree's Tweaks - Install the AE version and the INI File

8. Equip Enchantment Fix

9. Modern Brawl Bug Fix

10. Simple Horse SE - Use the 1.3x sprint option. Also install Simple Horse SE Hide Whistle Lesser Power

11. Horse Stamina HUD - Use the option for version 1.6.xx

12. NPCs Run and Walk at Your Pace

13. Base Coat - Also install "Anniversary Update BSA files extracted and loose"

14. Creation Club Anniversary Cleaned and Upscaled - Install "CC_Content_Anniversary_Cleaned_and_Upscaled" and choose "INSTALL EVERYTHING" in the installer. Also install "CC_Content_Anniversary_Cleaned_and_Upscaled_Update" and select yes to overwrite.

15. Bounty Preview

16. All Thieves Guild Jobs Concurrently - Use the USSEP version

17. No Thieves Guild Grind

18. Simple Offense Suppresion

19. Arrows And Bolts Tweaks AE - Click Next past the first screen, then select Customize. Select Renamed Ammo [No Increased Dmg]. Select 100% faster for both arrows and bolts. Use +5 units deeper bolts, and rebalanced crafting. Select new textures and G-W-G madness arrows. Select new for the skeleton arrows. Select new +5 units deeper for the exploding bolts. Overwrite existing files.

20. Rich Skyrim Merchants - You may select a version. I recommend x5. Also select Perk Changes.

21. Font Overhaul - Select your preferences

22. SkyUI and SkyUI Flashing Savegame Fix

23. Better Dialog Controls

24. Better MessageBox Controls

25. Security Overhaul SKSE - Lock Variations - Select 4K textures and SSE v1.6

26. Static Mesh Improvements - Install everything. This should be the first option in the installer.

27. Real Mountains - "Real Mountains Rebuilt 1.2 - FoMod 2k". Select Classic and Mixed. Overwrite all files.

28. Cathedral Landscapes - Choose full install with green tundra and really blended roads. Overwrite all files.

29. Cathedral 3D Pine Grass - Install "Cathedral 3D Pine Grass" and "High Poly Green Grass Update". Overwrite all files.

30. Cathedral 3D Rocky Shores - Overwrite all files.

31. Cathedral Plants - Overwrite all files.

32. Cathedral 3D Mountain Flowers - Overwrite all files.

33. Cathedral Mushrooms

34. A Quality Map - I recommend the "Classic with all roads" option as well as the "Clear Skies" patch.

35. Vanilla Warpaints Absolution - ONLY select "Vanilla Variants Khajiit Stripes" 2K Furry, and "Vanilla Variants Argonian Scaley" 2K Scaley from the second page, nothing else from any other page.

36. Cathedral Player and NPC Overhaul

37. Vanilla Makeup HD - Choose "VMHD - All Races - 2K". Overwrite files

38. Expressive Facegen Morph SE - Overwrite Files. After installing, go to the Plugins tab in NMM and uncheck "Expressive Facegen Morphs.esl"

39. Armor Mesh Fixes SE - Also install the "Steel Armor Fix". Overwrite files.

40. Cathedral Armory - Install the main file as well as the "Armor Mesh Fixes SE Patch". Overwrite files.

41. RS Children Overhaul - Choose the USSEP patch, the 2K outfits and the facial animations.

42. Alpine Forest of Whiterun Valley

43. Simply Bigger Trees - Use "Simply Bigger Trees SE" and "Optional HD Textures by Vurt (of SFO fame)"

44. Point the Way

45. CC's HQ Roadsigns SSE - Use HD (4K). Select Point the Way in installer.

46. Stackable Stones of Barenziah

47. The Paarthurnax Dilemma - Manual download from ModDB in the "Mirrors" section

48. Even Better Quest Objectives - Check The Paarthurnax Dilemma Patch

49. Relationship Dialog Overhaul - Just get the main file. Also install Relationship Dialog Overhaul Update and MCM

50. Guard Dialog Overhaul SE

51. No Spinning Death Animations - Select the "Merged" file

52. AI Overhaul - Also install the Relationship Dialog Overhaul Patch

53. Auto Hide Ammo

54. VioLens - Don't use profiles

55. Footprints

56. Azurite Weathers

57. 8K Night Skies - Stars and Galaxies

58. Volumetric Mists - Select "Balanced - Alternative shader (VR Friendly)" in the installer. Leave Solstheim checked.

59. Relighting Skyrim SE

60. Realistic Water Two - Select Alternate Volcanic Watercolor in the installer.

61. Pickpocketing Chance Cap Increase

62. Simply Knock SE - Also install the Simply Knock SKSE64 DLL and say yes to replace the Simply Knock files. Next, install Papyrus Util SE and say yes to replacing the files. Finally install Simply Knock Tower Stone Fix

63. No BS AI Projectile Dodge

64. Quick Light SE



STEP 3: Install ReShade
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Download Crystal ReShade Preset. Extract it and copy Crystal.ini to the root of your Skyrim directory (Usually C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Skyrim Special Edition).

Download and install ReShade - Select SkyrimSe.exe as the game to install to and select Crystal.ini as the preset to use.


STEP 4: Install ENB
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Download Not the Kitchen Sink ENB. Extract it to the root of your Skyrim directory. This is a low-performance hit ENB preset to fix the water LOD being super bright blue.


STEP 5: Sort Load Order
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Download and install LOOT. Once it's installed, run it and select "TES: V Skyrim Special Edition" at the top, then click the horizontal lines in the top right. Wait for the sorting to finish then click Apply and close LOOT.



STEP 6: Ini Tweaks
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Download and unzip BethIni SE. Run it, check "Reccomended Tweaks" and thn click the "Ultra" preset. You can scroll through the tabs to see what other settings can be changed, but you don't have to change anything. Click "Save and Exit" and say yes to the popup box.

Finally, make the following edits to the following .ini files (Some of these settings may already be set):

C:\Users\<Your Username>\My Documents\My Games\Skyrim Special Edition\Skyrim.ini:

[Combat]
fMagnetismStrafeHeadingMult=0.0
fMagnetismLookingMult=0.0
f1PArrowTiltUpAngle=0.3
f3PArrowTiltUpAngle=0.8
f1PBoltTiltUpAngle=0.1
f3PBoltTiltUpAngle=0.2

[Water]
bReflectSky=0

[Display]
fMaxHeightShadowCastingTrees=10000.0000

C:\Users\<Your Username>\My Documents\My Games\Skyrim Special Edition\SkyrimPrefs.ini:

[Imagespace]
bUseBlurShader=0

[Display]
bIBLFEnable=0

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Skyrim Special Edition\Data\Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Patch.ini:

[Actor]
fVisibleNavmeshMoveDist=12288.0000

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Skyrim Special Edition\Data\SKSE\Plugins\EngineFixes.toml:

[Patches]
SleepWaitTime = true

STEP 7: DynDOLOD
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Download DynDOLOD - Get the DynDOLOD 3.00 download and extract it to somewhere other than Program Files, Downloads, or Documents.

Install DynDOLOD Resources SE 3.00 - Choose Core Files, Whiterun Exterior, Whiterun Exterior Grass, Solitude Exterior, High Hrothgar Window Glow, DLC2 Vvandernfell 3D Plume, Desync Birds of Prey.

Install Better DynDOLOD Red Mountain Plume - Overwrite files.

Run TexGenx64 from the extracted DynDOLOD folder, select SSE and click "Start TexGen". Click Start on the popup that appears (accepting the default settings) and wait for it to finish running. When it's finished click "Zip & Exit". You will now have a TexGen_Output folder with a TexGen_Output.zip file in it. Install this zip file as a mod in NMM.

Run DynDOLODx64 from the extracted DynDOLOD folder, select SSE and click "Start DynDOLOD". Select all worldspaces in the popup that appears, and click "High". Wait for it to finish, then click "Save & Zip & Exit". You will now have a DynDOLOD_Output folder with a DynDOLOD_Output.zip file in it. Install this zip file as a mod in NMM.

STEP 8: In-Game Tweaks
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Start the game using the skse64_loader.exe (you will always need to start it using this .exe going forward).

Run the game and go to Settings -> Mod Configuration Menu. Scroll through the mod options and set them as you like.



Alrighty, you're all done! Enjoy playing!

[ThePilot]

Alright peoples, the first iteration of this list is finally done! I've tested it and it's really stable, but I'd love some feedback if any of you have the hankerin' :)

[ThePilot]

I just decided to play Skyrim again, and so I've fully revamped this mod list for the Anniversary Edition. Enjoy!

[pomskins]

I'm gonna try this guide thank you :happy:

[HazakTheMad]

Reason why you use NMM?

Vortex and MO2 are both newer and are updated more often.

[ThePilot]

Honestly just because it's what I had used when I first made the guide and it still worked fine. If/when I redo this guide in the future, I'll probably update to MO2. If you're familiar with MO2 though, you could definitely use it instead