Getting started - recommend me mods

[Exhibitioner]

I played around with some Skyrim mods a few years back but only just getting back into it. So far I've installed the general stuff: Sky UI, RaceMenu, Unofficial patch & 2K textures, FNIS, CBBE etc..

 

But the game still could look much better, characters skin textures to start with. What "skin" textures are recommended for a realistic feel?

 

Also what other stuff could I add to spice up the game? I'll probably be looking into ENB's and replacing all vanilla NPC's (not sure what with) along with respective armors.

 

Any recommendations are welcome!

 

Thanks,

[JDTonts]

Well it depends on if you want I'll go ahead and offer what's been working well for me, so far.

 

Skin Textures

For skins and hair I use the following mods

• Better Males
• Women of Skyrim
• Forgotten Argonian Textures
• Dragonic Argonian Textures is also a good Argonian Alternative
• SC-Khajiits
• Brows
• Smile HD
• Eyes of Beauty
• Northborn Scars
• Less-Saturated HD Hair

Facial overhaul

Next I like to apply a nice facelift to Skyrim

• Massive NPC Facelift Project (MNFP) - This mod I choose over WICO as WICO is a total retexture, meaning you can't use any of the previously mentioned, skin textures.
• Windsong Immersive Character Overhaul (WICO) - Choose this if you just want a new look, without much customisation

 

Follower Mods

Followers and Follower related mods

• Extensible Follower Framework (EFF) - I choose this over Amazing Follower Tweaks (AFT) and Ultimate Follower Overhaul (UFO)
• Inigo - Essential Follower. You need this mod, even if you don't think you do, you need him.
• Inigo MCM - More Inigo options
• Sofia the Funny Voiced Follower + Sofia Customiser Redux - Another Great Follower
• Convenient Horses -Allows you to customise your horse and your followers horse riding options
• M'rissi - Love this follower, has a good quest/story to go with her
• Hoth
• Companion Valfar
• Raeza

Armor and Clothes

• Cloaks of SKyrim + Cloaks of the Nords - Both Essential in my eye.
• Improved Closefaced Helmets - Definitely essential for immersion
• Warmth - Light Armor Replacer + Super Sleeves - Adds sleeves and trousers to various armour sets. Very immersive for Colder climates/regions in Skyrim
• Daedric Reaper
• Amidian Book of Silence
• Dragon Carved Armor Set
• Nightingale Prime HD
• Wearable Lanterns
• Bandoliers and bags
• Argonian Mercenary Armor

 

NPC

Various NPC's form guards to Bandits

Organised Bandits in Skyrim (OBIS) - Adds plenty of Bandits with unique Bandit gangs

Diverse Skyrim - More variety in the races of the NPC's. You're more likely to spot Orcs in the Legion or Khajiit in Bandit gangs, or female guards

Immersive + Deadly Wenches

 

This should be a good place to get you started.

Edited March 9, 2018 by JDTonts

[Exhibitioner]

Well it depends on if you want I'll go ahead and offer what's been working well for me, so far.

 

Skin Textures

For skins and hair I use the following mods

• Better Males
• Women of Skyrim
• Forgotten Argonian Textures
• Dragonic Argonian Textures is also a good Argonian Alternative
• SC-Khajiits
• Brows
• Smile HD
• Eyes of Beauty
• Northborn Scars
• Less-Saturated HD Hair

Facial overhaul

Next I like to apply a nice facelift to Skyrim

• Massive NPC Facelift Project (MNFP) - This mod I choose over WICO as WICO is a total retexture, meaning you can't use any of the previously mentioned, skin textures.
• Windsong Immersive Character Overhaul (WICO) - Choose this if you just want anew lok, without much customisation

 

Follower Mods

Followers and Follower related mods

• Extensible Follower Framework (EFF) - I choose this over Amazing Follower Tweaks (AFT) and Ultimate Follower Overhaul (UFO)
• Inigo - Essential Follower. You need this mod, even if you don't think you do, you need him.
• Inigo MCM - More Inigo options
• Sofia the Funny VOiced Follower + Sofia Customiser Redux - Another Great Follower
• Convenient Horses -Allows you to customise your horse and your followers horse riding options
• M'rissi - Love this follower, has a good quest/story to go with her
• Hoth
• Companion Valfar
• Raeza

Armor and Clothes

• Cloaks of SKyrim + Cloaks of the Nords - Both Essential in my eye.
• Improved Closefaced Helmets - Definitely essential for immersion
• Warmth - Light Armor Replacer + Super Sleeves - Adds sleeves and trousers to various armour sets. Very immersive for Colder climates/regions in skyrim
• Daedric Reaper
• Amidian Book of Silence
• Dragon Carved Armor Set
• Nightingale Prime HD
• Wearable Lanterns
• Bandoliers and bags
• Argonian Mercenary Armor

 

NPC

Various NPC's form guards to Bandits

Organised Bandits in Skyrim (OBIS) - Adds plenty of Bandits with unique Bandit gangs

Diverse Skyrim - More variety in the races of the NPC's. You're more likely to spot Orcs in the Legion or Khajiit in Bandit gangs, or female guards

Immersive + Deadly Wenches

 

This should be a good place to get you started.

Thanks, I'll look into this.

 

Is there such thing as an ENB that doesn't require extra program files (those from enbseries, enbhost.exe etc)? Don't require something as heavy but wanting it to be somewhat vibrant still.

 

I also noticed things can get a bit jittery in some larger areas, even with high end specs I see quite odd FPS drops from 55 to 35/40 sometimes. Any performance improvements? I heard of the "memory patch" but wasn't sure if it actually does much for performance, or if I'm better off doing something else (e.g. installing some mod).

[JDTonts]

 

Thanks, I'll look into this.

 

Is there such thing as an ENB that doesn't require extra program files (those from enbseries, enbhost.exe etc)? Don't require something as heavy but wanting it to be somewhat vibrant still.

 

I also noticed things can get a bit jittery in some larger areas, even with high end specs I see quite odd FPS drops from 55 to 35/40 sometimes. Any performance improvements? I heard of the "memory patch" but wasn't sure if it actually does much for performance, or if I'm better off doing something else (e.g. installing some mod).

 

 

Well I personally use ICBINE4 (I can't believe it's not ENB version 4). This acts like an ENB, and has visually enhanced my own Skyrim, very easy to install, it comes with instructions when you download it. I also use Purity, which makes the water look clean and clear, especially the ocean and rivers. While ponds and pools tend to be murkier. And Hot springs have more vibrant colours, presumably due to the mixture of elements in the water. I also use True Storms, but be warned, the storms it makes, can be pretty damn intense. I use the Insanity Moons to make the Moons look nicer. There are patches for these mods, so they can work together.

 

Now some bugfixes

 

I recommend the Insignificant object remover, which removes lots of tiny things that you aren't going to notice or care about anyway, like pebbles, stones, some vegetation, underwater plants etc. Removing these things, means your game has to load fewer objects in the world. There's also a landscape overhaul that removes all those roadside walls and fences, the ones that are just there by the road, without any logical reason, like a nearby farm or home. I also use the Bug fixes Mod and the Crash fixes mod, alongside the Unofficial Legendary Patch (USLEEP).

 

Alex's Bounty Hunting Rewards - Lets be frank, when you get asked to wipe out a bandit camp, you're going to feel cheated when all you get for the effort is a 100 gold. You can set the reward to a more reasonable reward level. And with enemy overhauls like OBIS, Diverse Dragon Collection, Deadly Wenches and Advanced Adversary Encounters - Ultimate Edition (AAE). The reward will feel rewarding, and not overly easy.

 

Now for some combat tweaks and bug fixes

 

Use the Melee Weapon Range Fix mod + Improved Weapon Impact effects, so metallic weapons will spark when hitting metal/stone. And so weapons have proper range. These are two subtle mods that you won't initially notice, but they do make combat better. No longer are you going to dodge an attack, and still get hit.

 

Mortal Enemies is a big fix for the games. Basically not every enemy archer is hawkeye, and they can't track and hit you as easily. I.e, combat is fairer. Wiseman's Trap fixes + Traps make noise, will make Spelunking into a tomb, mine or cave, more dangerous. Since tripping one, can now bring enemies running. Though you could theoretically use it to setup magic traps, of your own if you're a sneaky mage. Or have a mod, that lets you set traps.

 

Run For Your Lives is a mod, that improves immersion and stops a lot of civilians from getting killed off by Dragon and Vampire attacks. Especially late game, this irritated me a lot on console (PS3), as I sometimes didn't even know an attack was happening. Until I stepped outta Breezehome/Sleeping Giant Inn etc and found Nazeem and Amren dead. (No tears for Nazeem. Though he was kind enough to leave me some Gold. XD) Basically civilians will stay outta the way in battle, and won't try to punch the house-sized dragon, that just dropped a guard to his death. Nock to tip is a nice improvement to archery, though it doesn't add as much as say...Archery Gameplay Overhaul, it doesn't require you get a camera mod too.

 

More Gear/Clothing

Divine + Daedric Cloaks - To add more variety to the cloaks you and NPC's wear.

Bandolier + Bandolier Upgrade - Adds a Bandolier of Pouches + Improved textures for the vial holders. Textures are effected by your thieves guild armour textures.

Big Leather Backpack - Can give you and your followers more carry capacity. Also they look good. There's a lot of backpack mods out there though, so you've got plenty of variety

Wearable Lanterns + Glass Fix for SMIM - ICBINE4 and Purity can get dark at night. Especially with True Storms, there is a mod that brigthens the nights. Purity - Brighter Nights. But if you like it, then these lanterns will be crucial for night time exploration or dark caves.

ESO Nord Armor + Rustic Edition textures - Looks really good in Skyrim, the second mod gives it a bit of an aged look. Appropriate since ESO took place, in the past.

Underwear replacer + female underwear retexture - If you're only using vanilla bodies like I am currently. Then this mod is a nice one, to make the naked/unclothed NPC's look a bit better