What tools do you need these days?

[mileafly]

I know that the last time I modded skyrim there was some tools needed besides Nexus Mod Manager. Like Loot etc. Are these still needed or can you do these stuff with Nexus Mod Manager now?

Some other tools that are recommended?

[Ceasirius]

In theory you don't need anything. In reality, NMM is the most convenient tool for downloading and managing mods, while LOOT just helps you sorting conflicts with a lot mods, and so is optional. If you make your own mods, [or if specified by a mod] you may need WryeBash to play with masterfiles and bashed patch - the same goes for TESSEdit. If you play with custom textures, NIFscope comes in handy. Personally, I use all of the above, some people use even more, others prefer a differend mod manager to NMM, personally I don't see why but its a personal preference really.

 

in summary - this is the list you may want if you only intend to play (sorted by importance): NMM, Loot, WryeBash, TESSEdit.

 

Hope this helps!

[thumbincubation]

I have been a manual installer for so long, I'm not even sure whether I could get used to NMM at this point. Probably better that I just wait for Vortex.

 

What I'm using right now, not to say you would need/want the same, is a combo of LOOT, Wrye Bash, and SSEedit, for gameplay, with GIMP (+ .dds plugin) and nifskope for minor mod making/testing.

 

Every time I add/remove a mod, what I do is run LOOT, apply the load order. Open Wrye bash and make sure they're all checked, and manually move any dependent files LOOT may have placed above their masters.

(usually none). Then I rebuild the patch, make any tweaks to AI, combat AI, sandboxing, etc. When that's one, I open SSEedit, run the entire load order, then apply the patch to look for conflicts. I correct any leveled list issues

or conflicts, and save, and then I'm good to play.

 

I have read that deleting your skyrim.ini and skyrimprefs.ini, before running loot, will give you a cleaner load order. I have tried it a few times, and the load order is different than when I run LOOT without doing so, but I don't have the knowledge to be able to confirm whether it is in fact any cleaner. If you choose that route, it's best to cut/paste them to a safe place, until you're sure you won't want them back. Run LOOT, wrye bash, but then startup the game. It will reassess your graphics settings. Make any tweaks, and exit without actually playing. That writes new skyrim.ini and skyrimprefs.ini for you. If you don't do that, when you go to run SSEedit, it won't be able to find your game.