running SE and VR question

[SuperDuperRon]

Does anyone know if there is a way to have both Skyrim SE and skyrim VR modded separately on the same system? Since to mod VR you have to tell NMM it's SE.

[cptmrcalm]

Hi there.

Ive hopped onto this because I have a few issues myself. Expanding on a much larger issue.

 

I too have NMM and I am half way through modding Skyrim SE. I still intend to do this despite having Skyrim VR.

 

In another thread - you may notice me having asked a similar question in which it was decided to use Vortex.

 

Now Vortex for the most part seems a really nice and good looking way of modding Skyrim and the latest version detects Skyrim VR - although strangely, I had to go to another site to get the latest. (I don't know at time of writing if the latest one is now on this site where it belongs.)

 

I modded my Skyrim VR using that and at first it was awesome. Jaw dropping. (I wont get into how much I love it too much!)

 

However, I ran into problems. Every time I get near Morthal - it crashes. Took a mod off - crashes... took another - crashes.

 

The problem I have is this:

 

I cannot seem to clean my master files (Skyrim VR base files) because SSEDIT only detects Skyrim SE. This may or may be the culprit - but people like Gopher (excellent you-tuber) highly recommends it.

 

Secondly, there doesn't seem to be anyway of changing your mod order (plugin order) using Vortex.

 

There are some tools to set rules but when you see these, you think to yourself "oh my god". A real eye-opener.

 

I intend to ask around and do what most men don't - read the manual.

 

I am trying what I would call "risky mods". I have some texture conflicts - but these are just textures. So if textures aren't working right - you'll notice in game. But it shouldn't return a CTD.

 

My risky mods are:

Expanded towns and cities

People of Skyrim

Immersive citizens

 

Other less so risky are

CBBE

Interesting NPCs

RS children.

More racism in Windhelm.

 

3D trees and all the optional files.

(I have heard of people pointing out slight positioning issues - but again - not something I would think would cause a CTD)

 

Now I have read the descriptions carefully and have applied patches where available - to the point I was confident it would work.

 

And all did - until I got to Morthal.

Without alternative start I had to try combinations of deactivation (checking that I had done the same in the plugins page) - but all resulted in the same crash.

 

(this involved simply running there as soon as I left the cave right at the start. So as you can imagine - quite a time consuming exercise. 4 times - having to go through the epic beginning)

 

 

 

I really wanted to manually alter the load order - but cant seem to do this.

 

So in answer to your question - you could have a go at Vortex or as some have suggested MO2. But I am no too knowledgeable.

 

I am hoping someone will read this and help me out - even if its just a nudge and point to the light at the end of the tunnel.

 

 

 

I do need to check the rest of my files. It may be a case of biting the bullet and making do without.

 

 

 

[cptmrcalm]

I should add to the mod authors that when I refer to their mods as "risky" - I am in no way implying that there mods are dodgy or not well put together. They are excellent mods. Its just that if you are using them, you must read and follow the descriptions.

 

Patches and load orders are vital with mods like these and that is the point I was trying to make.

[bZuYSu90]

I was able to do this with MO2 once they added SkyrimVR to the development. I have a common download and mod location for two instances of MO2, so any mod I download for one is visible to the other. I have gotten a lot more into putting extra categories into the system and making a couple of mods with two entries, one for SSE and one for VR. Eexamples would be my SSEMerged patch, bashed patch, and FNIS output folders. Biggest thing was to get all the SKSE64 mods properly tagged so I could insure they were not accidentally activated in my VR instance. I did have to get the dev versions of xEdit and Loot to be able to launch those from MO2 in the VR instance without fooling the system. To trick Wrye Bash and FNIS with both installed, I had to copy SkyrmVR.exe into a file SkyrimSE.exe in the VR install folder, and change the registry key for SkyrimSE install path to point to my Skyrim VR install install path (that trick also worked with the regular release version of Loot). I just made a quick batch file that that flips the Skyrim SE install path from correct to VR, and one to switch it back. I can then swap the key, run Wrye Bash and FNIS successfully. I also use the FNIS option to output file redirect. That requires that the FNIS.ini file get edited and placed in the real %game%/data folder prior to running FNIS, but it makes sure I can keep my SSE and VR outputs separate.

[bZuYSu90]

...

I really wanted to manually alter the load order - but cant seem to do this.

 

So in answer to your question - you could have a go at Vortex or as some have suggested MO2. But I am no too knowledgeable.

 

I am hoping someone will read this and help me out - even if its just a nudge and point to the light at the end of the tunnel.

 

The load order should be in %appdata%/local/Skyrim VR/loadorder.txt unless you using MO2 with settings by profile. Then it will be in your profile folder.

 

*edit* I don't forum well apparently.

[cptmrcalm]

Thanks again for your help. With your advice on xedit (in another thread) and now having found out how to change the load order within Vortex (albeit a bit long winded) i should hopefully be able to fix skyrim vr.

 

My problem at the moment is that dam crash at Morthal. I have no idea what is causing it.

[bZuYSu90]

I have chased down a couple of bugs that took a while to find. They were almost always bad meshes or textures. My method for finding them is rather binary, literally. I make and backup a save along with my current active mods, and plugins.txt and loadorder.txt. I then disable the bottom half of my mod list (and anything that depended on them) then fire up the game and see if it still crashes. If Yes, I deactivate half of the remaining mods. If No, I active half of the mods deactivated in the last step. With ~256 mods, this should not take you more than 8 tests to figure out the mod (assuming it is a single mod). I then start the same thing with the folders inside the mod (this is easier in MO2 IMHO because of the "hide" feature") Again, even on mods with ~1000 files, this should not take longer than 10 steps. Yes, I just chased one down earlier this week like this. Yes, it took an hour. It was a bad nif in the High Poly Project. When I had updated the mod, I merged with the previous install (MO2 option) and even though the author had removed the offending nif from the latest package, I still had it in my folder. A full replace install of the mod worked. I still enjoy that hunt enough to not be annoyed by it, and it doesn't happen often. Another trick I will use is I will sort my mods by install date when deciding which half to disable and disable the newest half. With SkyrimVR, I had bulk added my SSE mod list, so install date was not helpful and I just did it by alphabet. If you figure it out, remember to post about it somewhere so that others can learn. Particularly in a post on the mod page. Even if the author is not around to fix it, others can be alerted and discover your fix.

[cptmrcalm]

To be honest - I think it will be me being an idiot with Vortex and not installing mods right.

 

I've now done it so that it makes sense and have figured out the rules bit within Vortex.

 

I suspect the mod choice is fine and the mods themselves. Hopefully, what I have done is correct.

I ran out of time to make it to morthal last night.

 

Will see if I can get there tonight.

[SuperDuperRon]

Haha I feel like I've been topic-jacked (just joking) It's not currently a problem for me. I have two separate hard-drives, one with Win 7 and the other Win 10. With Win 7 being my Skyrim SE machine and Win 10 Skyrim VR. But the whole process got me wondering for the future, if i decide to just use one machine. VR is great and all but sometimes i just want to kickback on the couch and play, so i need SE as well. Anyway, i was just curious how others tackled the problem. Thanks for your replies, Cheers!

[cptmrcalm]

I use Vortex just fine now for both.

My issue with Morthal turned out to be a mod. A follower. Merain I think or (Marin) cant remember her name. Took that mod off and all was fine.

 

But yeah -Vortex handles both very well and now that I understand how to use it properly - it's a breeze.