Skyrim Special Edition near perfect mod-list. But two problems persist. Ideas? Help very much appreciated!

[Deleted4825434User]

Hey guys and thank you for taking the time to check out my problem. I've started modding again after so many years and it's actually looking pretty good. I've got a solid 60 fps in every area of the game and when doing Vurts stress-test (flying with 1500 speed) the game won't crash no matter how hard I push it and leveled lists and so forth look great and no items are buggy. But two puzzle pieces remain and I have no idea what to do. One of them is that some pathing of NPC's in Whiterun (and possibly some other places, not sure) will bug out near the big tree (Gildergreen). It's mainly guards having problems but I've seen other NPC's struggle as well.

 

They have at some point clogged up in a big bunch (see pictures) at the same spot and when they don't know what to do they teleport into position. The second problem I've been having is flickering in some areas of the game (mainly cities and also Whiterun) in the form of textures changing lighting from dark to 'normal' (bad with technical terms) depending on the angle I'm standing or looking. If I move as well the problem will happen ( see pictures ). The other flickering bug that is not as annoying or prevalent is something that looks like the classic problem of Z-fighting way back in Oldrim when standing on high areas like High Hrothgar and looking out. I've included my ini settings and prefs which are tweaked by BethINI by the Ultra Setting. I'm using the normal FOV and no crazy tweaks as far as I know. I don't know if I've overwritten something that I wasn't supposed to do but I've gone through my mod-list several times now and really tried hard to solve this myself before resorting to making a post. Any help I can get is highly appreciated. Feel free to let me know if there's any mod you suggest I use as well that I might have overlooked and I will look into it. Thank you.

 

 

GTX 1080, Intel 7, 16gb

 

//Boffen

 

:EDIT SOLVED! SEE LAST PAGE!

https://imgur.com/a/rrBqE <--- picture of the NPC's pathing/moving problem.

https://imgur.com/a/BPu9r Second problem with flickering dark textures.

https://pastebin.com/Afw3NKSh <---- Ini files

https://pastebin.com/v3kwZLUn <----- Prefs

https://imgur.com/a/J05BS <--- Textures

 

 

GameMode=SkyrimSE

Skyrim.esm=1

Update.esm=1

Dawnguard.esm=1

HearthFires.esm=1

Dragonborn.esm=1

Lanterns Of Skyrim - All In One - Main.esm=1

Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Patch.esp=1

RSkyrimChildren.esm=1

BSAssets.esm=1

BSHeartland.esm=1

BS_DLC_patch.esp=1

Campfire.esm=1

Falskaar.esm=1

Sneak Tools.esp=1

SMIM-SE-Merged-All.esp=1

Better_Male_Presets.esp=1

EnhancedLightsandFX.esp=1

ELFX - Exteriors.esp=1

WICO - Immersive Character.esp=1

ValdacilsItemSorting.esp=1

LegacyoftheDragonborn.esp=1

iNeed.esp=1

iNeed - Extended.esp=1

Castle Volkihar Rebuilt.esp=1

CC'sEnhancedOreVeinsSSE-HearthfirePatch.esp=0

EMHearthfireMoveKidsfix.esp=1

WondersofWeather.esp=1

Summermyst - Enchantments of Skyrim.esp=1

Beards.esp=1

Celtic_Music_In_Skyrim_SE.esp=1

Celtic Music in Skyrim - Combat.esp=1

Celtic_Music_In_Skyrim_SE_Dungeon.esp=1

DragonBoneEbonsteel.esp=1

MagicalCollegeofWinterhold.esp=1

3DNPC.esp=1

Book Covers Skyrim.esp=1

Prometheus_No_snow_Under_the_roof.esp=1

Rebirth Monster.esp=1

Wildcat - Combat of Skyrim.esp=1

WICO - Immersive People.esp=1

Skyrim Immersive Creatures Special Edition.esp=1

Reverb and Ambiance Overhaul - Skyrim.esp=1

VISPatch-BookCovers.esp=0

BetterQuestObjectives.esp=1

AmazingFollowerTweaks.esp=1

SoundsofSkyrimComplete.esp=1

Helgen Reborn.esp=1

Immersive Sounds - Compendium.esp=1

Solitude Expansion.esp=1

OBIS SE.esp=1

mrbs-uniqueloot-se.esp=1

Settlements Expanded SE.esp=1

SkyTEST-RealisticAnimals&Predators.esp=1

BirdsOfSkyrim_SSE.esp=1

Man Those Borders!.esp=1

DeadlySpellImpacts.esp=1

FollowerWander2.esp=1

Vivid WeathersSE.esp=1

icepenguinworldmapclassic.esp=1

HarvestOverhaul_Redone_Creatures.esp=1

BetterDocks-MP-DLC-Compatible.esp=1

Ordinator - Perks of Skyrim.esp=1

Thunderchild - Epic Shout Package.esp=1

Hothtrooper44_ArmorCompilation.esp=1

Holidays.esp=1

EMCompViljaSkyrim.esp=1

EMViljaInSolstheimAddOn.esp=1

Lore Weapon Expansion.esp=1

PrvtI_HeavyArmory.esp=1

Ars Metallica.esp=1

Point The Way.esp=1

Sacrosanct - Vampires of Skyrim.esp=1

BirdsAndFlocks_SSE.esp=1

DCR_KingCrusaderMegaPack_SSE.esp=1

dD - Enhanced Blood Main.esp=1

Better Vampire NPCs.esp=1

RSChildren.esp=1

JK's Riverwood.esp=1

Run For Your Lives.esp=1

Cloaks.esp=1

Cloaks - Dawnguard.esp=1

Cloaks - USSEP Patch.esp=0

FoodOverhaul.esp=1

Inigo.esp=1

Dawnstar.esp=1

DBM_HelgenReborn_Patch.esp=1

Immersive Patrols II.esp=1

SE - Better Docks Patch.esp=1

Shor's Stone.esp=1

BosmerArmorMATY743.esp=1

LrsamwaysExpandedSkyrimWeaponry.esp=1

waterplants.esp=1

Frostfall.esp=1

1nivWICCloaks.esp=1

WetandCold.esp=1

1nivWICSkyCloaksPatch.esp=0

Volkihar Knight.esp=1

Volkihar Knight - Light Armor Option.esp=0

Ivarstead.esp=1

SofiaFollower.esp=1

Helarchen Creek.esp=1

Kynesgrove.esp=1

Skyrim Flora Overhaul.esp=1

Soljund's Sinkhole.esp=1

Karthwasten.esp=1

Convenient Horses.esp=1

Dragon Bridge.esp=1

DBM_UniqueLoot_Patch.esp=0

Darkend.esp=1

notice board.esp=1

ForgottenCity.esp=1

Prometheus_BeastSkeletons.esp=1

Settlements Expanded SE - Lanterns of Skyrim Patch.esp=1

mihailmmasithis.esp=1

The Paarthurnax Dilemma.esp=1

Settlements Expanded SE - Soljunds Sinkhole Patch.esp=1

DBM_NoticeBoard_Patch.esp=1

HoldBorderBanners.esp=1

Map Markers Complete.esp=1

Settlements Expanded SE - No Snow Under the Roof Patch.esp=1

JK's SkyHaven Forge.esp=1

SkyHavenTempleGarden.esp=1

VISPatch-ZZ-FoodOverhaul.esp=0

DBM_iNeed_Patch.esp=1

MCoW_CampfirePatch.esp=1

OBIS SE Patrols Addon.esp=1

Apocalypse - Magic of Skyrim.esp=1

VISPatch-Apocalypse-Ordinator.esp=0

Apocalypse - Ordinator Compatibility Patch.esp=1

DiverseDragonsCollectionSE.esp=1

Ursine Armour - Non HDT.esp=1

HarvestOverhaul_Redone.esp=1

iHUD.esp=1

Hothtrooper44_Armor_Ecksstra.esp=1

Improved Eyes Skyrim.esp=1

Improved Eyes Skyrim - Vamp.esp=0

Improved Eyes Skyrim - Serana.esp=1

ISC Enhanced Blood Patch.esp=0

Chesko_LoreBasedLoadingScreens.esp=1

Lore Weapon Expansion - Daedric Crescent.esp=1

Lore Weapon Expansion - Goldbrand.esp=1

Lore Weapon Expansion - Relics of the Crusader.esp=1

No NPC Greetings.esp=1

NB-Scars.esp=1

SkyHUD.esp=1

SkyHUD - iHUD Patch.esp=1

TalosHousecarl.esp=1

Runandwalkpaces.esp=0

VISPatch-Sacrosanct.esp=0

Predator Vision.esp=1

HOR_OrdinatorPatch.esp=1

SkyUI_SE.esp=1

Volkihar Knight - Sacrosanct Patch.esp=0

skyforgedShields.esp=1

ELFX - NoBreezehome.esp=1

HelgenRebornRSChildrenPatch.esp=0

crimsonquestmarkers.esp=1

mihailesocenturion.esp=1

Faction Crossbows.esp=1

WICO - Immersive Dawnguard.esp=1

Moonlight Tales Special Edition.esp=1

dD - Realistic Ragdoll Force - Realistic.esp=1

RAO - ELFX Patch.esp=1

SummonableChest.esp=1

BarenziahQuestMarkers.esp=0

dD-No Spinning Death Animation.esp=0

DTNecromancerCamp.esp=1

Simple AUA.esp=1

Realistic-Voice.esp=1

CH Bruma Patch.esp=0

SMIM-Bruma-Patch.esp=0

Ordinator - Beyond Skyrim Bruma Patch.esp=1

Vivid Weathers SE - Bruma Patch.esp=0

Vivid Weathers SE - Classic.esp=1

Vivid Weathers SE - Falskaar.esp=0

Vivid Weathers SE - SOS Patch.esp=0

SoS_VividWeathers_Patch.esp=0

Dr_Bandolier.esp=1

VISPatch-ImmersiveSounds.esp=0

RUSTIC SOULGEMS - Sorted.esp=0

SPTDiverseGuardsSkyrimSE.esp=1

SPTDiverseGuardsSkyrimSEBruma.esp=1

DBM_ImmersiveCreatures_Patch.esp=1

VISPatch-ImmersiveArmors.esp=0

DBM_IA_Patch.esp=1

DBM_HA_Patch.esp=1

DBM_Cloaks_Patch.esp=0

DBM_ISC_Patch.esp=0

DBM_RSChildren.esp=0

Move it Dammit.esp=0

Sneak Tools Vanilla Masks.esp=0

Sneak Tools Vanilla Hoods.esp=1

Unique Uniques.esp=1

Perk Points and More Gold for Bounty Quests.esp=0

RichMerchantsSkyrim_x2.esp=0

Settlements Expanded SE - RS Children Patch.esp=1

NoldorArmor.esp=1

MCoW_AnimatedClutter.esp=0

Chesko_WearableLantern.esp=1

OBIS SE - NoticeBoard - Addon.esp=1

VISPatch-OBIS Patrols Addon.esp=0

VISPatch-OBIS SE.esp=0

VioLens SE.esp=1

VioLens SE - Book Menu.esp=1

Wildcat - Realistic Damage Plugin.esp=1

TKDodge.esp=1

SkyUI.esp=1

Dwemer Goggles & Scouter.esp=1

WeaponsOf3E_SSE.esp=1

Holidays SFO Patch.esp=1

PC Head Tracking - MCM.esp=1

PC Head Tracking - Patch.esp=1

VISPatch-NoticeBoard.esp=0

VISPatch-ArsMetallica.esp=0

VISPatch-Bandolier.esp=0

VISPatch-BeastSkeletons.esp=0

VISPatch-Campfire.esp=0

VISPatch-Frostfall.esp=0

VISPatch-Holidays.esp=0

VISPatch-iNeed.esp=0

VISPatch-Ordinator.esp=0

VISPatch-RusticSoulGems-ImmersiveSounds.esp=0

VISPatch-SkyTESTAnimals.esp=0

VISPatch-Thunderchild.esp=0

VISPatch-UniqueUniques.esp=0

VISPatch-VioLens.esp=0

VISPatch-WetAndCold.esp=0

VISPatch-WICCloaks.esp=0

TerrainLodRedone.esp=1

RSC Falskaar Patch.esp=0

RSC HR Patch.esp=0

RSC 3DNPC Patch.esp=0

RSC LotD Patch.esp=0

RSC Settlements Expanded SE Patch.esp=0

RSC Solitude Expansion Patch.esp=0

RSC Forgotten City Patch.esp=0

BetterQuestObjectives - BCS Patch.esp=0

BetterQuestObjectives-PaarDilemmaPatch.esp=0

Imperious - Races of Skyrim.esp=1

VISPatch-Imperious.esp=0

Immersive Citizens - AI Overhaul.esp=1

ELFX - Hardcore.esp=1

Darkwater Crossing.esp=1

MCoW_ELFXHardcore.esp=1

SoS_ELFX+Hardcore_Patch.esp=1

SoS_ImmersiveCitizens_Patch.esp=1

Immersive Citizens - ELFXHardcore patch.esp=1

Whistling Mine.esp=1

Settlements Expanded SE - Whistling Mine Patch.esp=1

VISPatch-ArthmoorAllInOne.esp=0

VISPatch-ImmersiveCitizensAI.esp=0

My Home Is Your Home.esp=1

Alternate Start - Live Another Life.esp=1

Relationship Dialogue Overhaul.esp=1

RAO - Alternate Start Patch.esp=1

Bruma - Alternate Start.esp=1

Alternate Start -- New Beginnings.esp=1

Hunters Not Bandits.esp=1

VISPatch-AlternateStart.esp=0

VISPatch-RelationshipDialogueOverhaul.esp=0

BetterQuestObjectives-AlternateStartPatch.esp=0

JKs Whiterun.esp=1

Eli_Breezehome.esp=1

RealisticWaterTwo.esp=1

RealisticWaterTwo - iNeed.esp=0

SSEMerged.esp=1

Bashed Patch, 0.esp=1

[3aq]

Looks like a drug deal/illegal transaction is going down in that picture, lol.

 

Joking aside, that problem occurs because the amount of actors have exceeded the allowed limit in the cell you are in. This can be addressed by increasing your game's actors, give this mod a try: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/6270/

 

As for the glitching shadows, this problem occurs because the game engine can only process four, yes FOUR, active detailed shadows, this means that once it exceeds that limit, based on the positioning of your camera, you will be pingponging between which shadows will be actively showing. This ultimately means, any mods that alter shadow placements, such as Relighting Skyrim, will ultimately cause this issue to occur. Unfortunately there is not right way to fix this without sacrificing shadow draw distance.

 

Personally speaking, as I'm using ENB, I choose to do without the lighting overhauls as I find the flickering of the shadows more of an immersion breaker then anything else. That said, lowered my interior shadow to a 24 and exterior shadows to 1536. Strange, I know, but after many test runs through out live another life's starting dungeon and Whiterun's Hall of the dead, as well as strolling through Whiterun itself, I was able to cut down the flickering of shadows by large amount.

 

Hope this helps, and have fun with your game.

 

PS: You can modify your shadows using BethINI if you haven't done so already. The program can be found here: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/4875/

Edited March 5, 2018 by 3aq

[MaxShadow09]

Wow wait, there's a fix for the NPC's standing around doing nothing? I thought it was a hardcoded engine limitation. I'll give that mod a try. Do you know if it fixes the "floating npcs" bug? It also happens when you have too many NPC's on screen (although since I uninstalled Birds of Skyrim, I haven't seen that happen again).

[Deleted4825434User]

Amazing feedback 3aq! I'll give the actor cell modification a try right away and let you know if it worked! Love dude! About the flickering. Is it truly shadows? Because I cannot recall it being this bad way back in Oldrim and it's so painfully obvious so it cannot be supposed to be like this. Should I try to tweak my shadows INI then? Thank you.

[MaxShadow09]

Amazing feedback 3aq! I'll give the actor cell modification a try right away and let you know if it worked! Love dude! About the flickering. Is it truly shadows? Because I cannot recall it being this bad way back in Oldrim and it's so painfully obvious so it cannot be supposed to be like this. Should I try to tweak my shadows INI then? Thank you.

It was pretty much the same in Oldrim. Carrying a torch or using candlelight in interiors made everything start flickering. This is even worse if you install mods that add light sources, like Lanterns of Skyrim or Claralux, or mods that make lights dynamic. I can't believe Beth didn't remove that limit in SSE, I guess it's some heavily hardcoded engine limitation.

[Deleted4825434User]

The cell actor increase is just to DL and enable right? I included it in my bashed patch so it got merged and the original esp disabled. Is that alright or am I doing it wrong? Will try the 75 actor increase instead of the 10+ increase since I don't think that worked. Starting to notice a pattern with the flickering and it's always related to things near braziers etc. Could there be a fire mod/texture thing that is messing up? Sorry for the lack of technical words. Cheers.

[Deleted4825434User]

Trying the 75 cell fix now!

[3aq]

I don't know whether it will stop hovering actors but perhaps it might? Personally speaking, actor of 50 should be enough if you're running with skybirds and a lot of immersive mods. If you use skytest no spawn plugin (it removes additional spawn locations) you can do with much less.

 

You have to choose your poison; great shadows but disco lighting shadow effects OR alright shadows. Personally I was never a fan of epileptic attacks coming from shadows no less, so I opted for lowering my shadow draw distance. To be honest, it works out for the better too as your GFX card will be less taxed, so it's a win win situation at any rate, though if you're running a 1080 you really shouldn't be having any issues with rendering but hey, it gives you more power to ramp up the gfx details on other things I guess.

 

If you want good shadows without the shadows ping ponging you'll have to sacrifice any mods that adds shadow sources, which means all those lightning mods as well as lowering the shadow draw distance as I've mentioned earlier.

 

Below is my shadow configs, note feel free to adjust the shadow resolution to however high your gfx card can handle it; shadows become more fluid starting at 1280. One thing of importance, ideally I would go for shadow resolution being 1.5x the amount of my standard body textures, as I have found the overlay to be less blocky if you do so.. So if you use 1k textures, 1536, if you use 2k, use 4k shadows, etc etc. However again, this is if your pc can handle it, don't fret if you can't push it high enough, 1280 shadow resolution is the absolute bare minimum for semi-realistic shadows.

 

My shadow configs:

 

Edited March 5, 2018 by 3aq

[Deleted4825434User]

Thank you! Will give this a go. Would appreciate if the discussion here is kept going as I have a haunting feeling I might have done something wrong or that my load-order isn't ideal. Been so many years so I don't know if I'm doing everything right. Thanks again.

[Deleted4825434User]

'mihailesocenturion.esp:

Wrye Bash SSE expects a newer format for WEAP.CRDT than found.

Load and save mihailesocenturion.esp with the Skyrim SE CK

WEAP.CRDT: Expected size == 24, but got: 16

Error loading 'WEAP' record and/or subrecord: 0400D1B2

eid = u'colossuhammer'

subrecord = 'CRDT'

subrecord size = 16

file pos = 4422

Error in mihailesocenturion.esp

' Got that from my bashed patch but it doesn't seem to affect the game in anyway. Could this be ignored? Just came to mind now if that's important.