Need help troubleshooting an armor mod graphics issue

[capella6707]

I've been using Killer Keo's Skimpy Armor for a long time now without issue - in both Oldrim and Newrim. However, in my current redo of mods (I wiped them all and am systematically re-loading them on a new game and am adding some new mods along the way), when I got Lydia as a Housecarl, she was naked from the waist up (she had boots on) and her midsection was grey - just a grey blur/blob around her waist/butt/hips area - no weapon or shield, either. I haven't noticed any other NPCs with similar - or any other - clothing/armor issues.

 

I'm using CBBE (KKSA requires it) and after installing KKSA, Vortex said there was a conflict with KKSA, CBBE and CBBE Normal Map Options. I set the load rule for KKSA to load after both of the CBBE mods. If I disable KKSA she has normal, un-modded armor and looks fine. If I enable KKSA she gets the gray area again. Loading KKSA before or after the CBBE mods had no effect - still the gray area on her midsection.

 

Keep in mind, before this mod redo, I did have CBBE and KKSA installed and everything was fine - including Lydia. But for some reason, this time around I have that issue.

 

Now, admittedly, I have added some mods this time that I did not have before when thing were working, so that may very well be the root of the cause, but that's really why I'm here: Is there a way to more quickly determine the cause of such an issue other than blindly "disable mod, test, disable mod, test, disable mod, test, etc, etc, etc"?

 

In case something pops out for someone, here's my current load order:

Skyrim.esm
Update.esm
Dawnguard.esm
HearthFires.esm
Dragonborn.esm
Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Patch.esp
ClimatesOfTamriel.esm
Lanterns Of Skyrim - All In One - Main.esm
ApachiiHair.esm
Falskaar.esm
RaceCompatibility.esm
Footprints.esp
SkyUI_SE.esp
Chesko_LoreBasedLoadingScreens.esp
SimpleAutoSaveManager.esp
EnhancedCharacterEdit.esp
FNIS.esp
Bashed Patch, 0.esp
Torch Brightness Radius.esp
XPMSSE.esp
CharacterMakingExtender.esp
Immersive Citizens - AI Overhaul.esp
Verdant - A Skyrim Grass Plugin SSE Version.esp
JS Armored Circlets SE.esp
Relationship Dialogue Overhaul.esp
Better Cities Solitude.esp
Cutting Room Floor.esp
Blowing in the Wind SSE.esp
Blowing in the Wind - Lanterns of Skyrim Patch SSE.esp
BetterCitiesWhiterun.esp
Solitude Expansion.esp
Alternate Start - Live Another Life.esp
Settlements Expanded SE.esp
Skyrim Better Roads - The Rift.esp
T'Skyrim Riverwood.esp
Ordinator - Perks of Skyrim.esp
Skyrim Better Roads - EastMarch.esp
SE - Better Cities Patch.esp
MajesticMountains_Moss.esp
SMIM-SE-Merged-All.esp
DragonbridgeSouthSide.esp
JK's Riverwood.esp
Skyrim Better Roads and Bridges - All In One - Merged.esp
Skyrim Better Roads - Winterhold.esp
lakeviewdock1.2.esp
Trees in Cities.esp
Bannered_Mare_Inn_Rooms.esp
Shor's Stone.esp
Whistling Mine.esp
Alternate Start -- New Beginnings.esp
Ars Metallica.esp
Customizable Camera.esp
iHUD.esp
icepenguinworldmapclassic.esp
SRG Enhanced Trees Activator.esp
SunDaytimeNorth_MM_default.esp
nordicsnow.esp
ClimatesOfTamriel-Interiors-Warm.esp
fastermining6-3.esp
Dawnguard Delayed - Level 20.esp
No Vampire Attacks In Towns.esp
Dragonborn Delayed - After Dragonslayer.esp
AMatterOfTime.esp
RealisticSpeedMovementWalkingSE.esp
BetterDoomstoneDescriptions.esp
Karthwasten.esp
Settlements Expanded SE - Lanterns of Skyrim Patch.esp
AnotherSortingMod_2017-SSE.esp
FullBootForKKSA.esp
BetterQuestObjectives.esp
BarenziahQuestMarkers.esp
The Paarthurnax Dilemma.esp
CC'sEnhancedOreVeinsSSE-HearthfirePatch.esp
BetterQuestObjectives-AlternateStartPatch.esp
BetterQuestObjectives-CRFPatch.esp
Falskaar_ASM-SSE-2017.esp
ClimatesOfTamriel-Falskaar.esp
Blowing in the Wind - JK's Riverwood Patch SSE.esp
Map Markers Complete.esp
Settlements Expanded SE - Skyrim Better Roads and Bridges Patch.esp
JK's SkyHaven Forge.esp
Blowing in the Wind - SMIM Merged All Patch SSE.esp
Gildergreen Regrown.esp
FNISspells.esp
Dawnguard&VolkiharArtifactsQuests.esp
My Home Is Your Home.esp
EzEWorldMapSE.esp
Botox.esp
Serana Hood Removal.esp
Bijin Warmaidens.esp
Serana.esp
Improved Eyes Skyrim.esp
UnreadBooksGlow.esp
sandboxcylinderheight.esp
HearthFire Display Case Fix.esp
crimsonquestmarkers.esp
Realistic-Voice.esp
Lightweight Potions.esp
Lightweight Scrolls.esp
LeftHandRings.esp
AmazingFollowerTweaks.esp
RDO - AFT v1.66 Patch.esp
RDO - CRF + USSEP Patch.esp
BetterQuestObjectives-PaarDilemmaPatch.esp
MajesticMountains.esp

[capella6707]

Well, I solved the issue - but not before I disabled every mod except KKSA and I was still getting the gray mesh/texture after doing all of that.

 

When I was seriously considering doing a clean reinstall of the game, I recalled that I had downloaded a different version of KKSA the second time around. There is the Killer Keos Skimpy CBBE Armor Replacer SE version, ported by one modder (TotalInsanity). That is the one that I originally used. Then I found this version: Killer Keos Skimpy CBBE V2-V3 Armor Replacer SSE, which was ported by stealthywolf. Note the subtle difference in the name. It was last updated a full 7 months after the other version, so I assumed it would be more up to date.

 

Maybe the 2nd one was ported wrong. Maybe some files were left over after I uninstalled the first version. Who knows. I also don't understand why it just affected Lydia, when I was using the same armor and I also had Uthgerd as a follower for a bit and she didn't have any issues...

 

At any rate, switching back to the first one fixed the gray mesh/texture issue.