Please help me trim down my load order

[ughitsmegan]

I'm slowly come to the realization that there is such a thing as too many mods. I'm also realizing I was an idiot for thinking I could safely swap mods in and out willy nilly, but that's another story. I'm being forced to start a beloved character over for the third time as Campfire has once again broken on me, and this time I'm going to do it right. No more randomly adding and removing mods, and a much shorter load order.

Problem is, I'm having trouble trimming it down. To me, all these mods seem necessary, but I'm getting the feeling that's just my awful brain getting overly attached to trivial things again. I'd like some outside help in cutting down the number of mods I use.

Here's my load order. Feel free to tell me what mods are unnecessary, and to let me know if anything seems out of order. I just use LOOT and I know it can't be right 100% of the time. Thanks in advance!

 

 

0 0 Skyrim.esm
1 1 Update.esm
2 2 Dawnguard.esm
3 3 HearthFires.esm
4 4 Dragonborn.esm
5 5 Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Patch.esp
6 6 Campfire.esm
7 7 ClimatesOfTamriel.esm
8 8 NoHornsDragonReplaceSkeleton.esp
9 9 Apachii_DivineEleganceStore.esm
10 a Cutting Room Floor.esp
11 b SMIM-SE-Merged-All.esp
12 c iNeed.esp
13 d iNeed - Extended.esp
14 e Castle Volkihar Rebuilt.esp
15 f MagicalCollegeofWinterhold.esp
16 10 ClimatesOfTamriel-Dungeons-Darker.esp
17 11 3DNPC.esp
18 12 3DNPC - Voices0.esp
19 13 3DNPC - Voices1.esp
20 14 ProudspiremanorTNFBP.esp
21 15 VHTNFBP.esp
22 16 Book Covers Skyrim.esp
23 17 Immersive Sounds - Compendium.esp
24 18 Immersive Jewelry.esp
25 19 Coins of Tamriel V2 SSE Edition.esp
26 1a HjerimTNF BP.esp
27 1b SoundsofSkyrimComplete.esp
28 1c Civil War Aftermath.esp
29 1d Beasts of Tamriel.esp
30 1e HoneysideTNF BP.esp
31 1f Helgen Reborn.esp
32 20 Populated Skyrim Legendary.esp
33 21 BHTNFBP.esp
34 22 skyBirds_SSE.esp
35 23 BirdsOfSkyrim_SSE.esp
36 24 OpulentThievesGuild.esp
37 25 Allied Arvak.esp
38 26 CT_AskToShowRoom.esp
39 27 Campfire Shrines.esp
40 28 CommonClothes.esp
41 29 Craftable Locpicks - 10.esp
42 2a Dark Brotherhood Mask Fix - SSE.esp
43 2b Dawnguard Delayed - Level 30.esp
44 2c DiverseDragonsCollectionSE.esp
45 2d dovahkiinrelax.esp
46 2e Dragonborn Delayed - After Alduin's Wall.esp
47 2f dD - Enhanced Blood Main.esp
48 30 Footprints.esp
49 31 HallgarthAdditionalHair.esp
50 32 AmazingFollowerTweaks-3DNPC.esp
51 33 Hothtrooper44_Armor_Ecksstra.esp
52 34 ISC Enhanced Blood Patch.esp
53 35 Less Tedious Thieves Guild.esp
54 36 Moonlight Tales Special Edition.esp
55 37 NB-Scars.esp
56 38 20 More Perk Points.esp
57 39 Realistic Haircolors.esp
58 3a Simple AUA.esp
59 3b Simple Room Price - 75.esp
60 3c LFGSSSSE.esp
61 3d aessmeltdown.esp
62 3e ogSplendorDragons.esp
63 3f BetterQuestObjectives.esp
64 40 BarenziahQuestMarkers.esp
65 41 Swift Steeds Frost SSE.esp
66 42 Swift Steeds Shadowmere SSE.esp
67 43 Tanning And Smelting Experience.esp
68 44 TrackingMarker.esp
69 45 icepenguinworldmapclassic.esp
70 46 AKSkyrimUnderground.esp
71 47 Ordinator - Perks of Skyrim.esp
72 48 Thunderchild - Epic Shout Package.esp
73 49 EnterableWindows.esp
74 4a Legendary Skyrim Crossbows.esp
75 4b Hothtrooper44_ArmorCompilation.esp
76 4c Immersive Weapons.esp
77 4d The Brotherhood of Old.esp
78 4e Holidays.esp
79 4f TKAA.esp
80 50 HearthfireMultiKid.esp
81 51 HearthfireMultiKid_LastName.esp
82 52 Word Walls Relocated- Base game.esp
83 53 ZIA_Complete Pack_V4.esp
84 54 Wheres Your Smelter.esp
85 55 Better Vampire NPCs.esp
86 56 BirdsAndFlocks_SSE.esp
87 57 Dogs-of-Skyrim.esp
88 58 Cloaks.esp
89 59 Inigo.esp
90 5a Unique Uniques.esp
91 5b WolfsPride.esp
92 5c Tentapalooza.esp
93 5d DLCIntegration - No Crossbows.esp
94 5e LvxMagicks-CampfireUnleashed.esp
95 5f BetterDremoraMerchant.esp
96 60 Cloaks - USSEP Patch.esp
97 61 CrimsonQuestMarkers.esp
98 62 HearthFire Display Case Fix.esp
99 63 Hunterborn.esp
100 64 Hunterborn - Soups and Stews.esp
101 65 ScrimshawExpanded.esp
102 66 Angi's Better Bow.esp
103 67 Ash Pile Expiration.esp
104 68 Bannered_Mare_Inn_Rooms.esp
105 69 Better Vampires.esp
106 6a Cats-in-SkyrimSSE.esp
107 6b Frostfall.esp
108 6c BarrelLootRebalanced.esp
109 6d Cloaks&Capes.esp
110 6e PatronGodsOfSkyrim.esp
111 6f HFDecorativeDolls.esp
112 70 Maskless.esp
113 71 Dr_Bandolier.esp
114 72 Cloaks - Dawnguard.esp
115 73 Hunterborn - Campfire Patch.esp
116 74 WetandCold.esp
117 75 WetandCold - Fur Hoods Fix.esp
118 76 ColovianNobleClothes.esp
119 77 NoHornsDrSkSplendorPatch.esp
120 78 EnneadCloaks.esp
121 79 toughergiant.esp
122 7a Waterwalking enchantment.esp
123 7b WhitePhialBetterAlignments.esp
124 7c Powerful Harkon.esp
125 7d Supreme Miraak.esp
126 7e Saeri_AetherialCrown.esp
127 7f Durnehviir God of Death.esp
128 80 Startingspells begone.esp
129 81 Potions.esp
130 82 EnhancedCharacterEdit.esp
131 83 Apachii_DivineEleganceStore_Patch.esp
132 84 Populated Skyrim Civil War.esp
133 85 AmazingFollowerTweaks.esp
134 86 DiverseWerewolvesCollection.esp
135 87 MoreWerewolves.esp
136 88 Prometheus_BeastSkeletons.esp
137 89 Shortcuts.esp
138 8a The Paarthurnax Dilemma.esp
139 8b VolkiharTravel.esp
140 8c Gildergreen Regrown.esp
141 8d Dawnguard&VolkiharArtifactsQuests.esp
142 8e CollegeModifications.esp
143 8f MCoW_Cutting Room Floor.esp
144 90 MCoW_CampfirePatch.esp
145 91 FortifyEnchanting.esp
146 92 ZIR_UseableButterChurn.esp
147 93 MCoW_NoArchmageMarker.esp
148 94 Apocalypse - Magic of Skyrim.esp
149 95 Autocast_Racials.esp
150 96 Apocalypse - Ordinator Compatibility Patch.esp
151 97 DGE_PCIorLSC_Patch.esp
152 98 TGBC.esp
153 99 ajd_ps4whiterunclothier_sse_pc.esp
154 9a Brows.esp
155 9b ReasonableMovementSpeed.esp
156 9c SkyUI_SE.esp
157 9d NameYourHorse.esp
158 9e Vampire Royal Armor v3.esp
159 9f HornsAreForever.esp
160 a0 Pickpocketing-Forever.esp
161 a1 JZBai_PracticalFemaleArmors.esp
162 a2 ImperialFineClothes.esp
163 a3 360WalkandRunPlus-RunBackwardSpeedAdjust.esp
164 a4 wyldtats.esp
165 a5 RWoS-Expansion.esp
166 a6 iHUD.esp
167 a7 SPTDiverseGuardsSkyrimSE.esp
168 a8 Hunterborn - iNeed Patch.esp
169 a9 Apophysis_DPM_SE.esp
170 aa Potions Patch.esp
171 ab Improved Eyes Skyrim - Serana.esp
172 ac Improved Eyes Skyrim - Vamp.esp
173 ad Improved Eyes Skyrim.esp
174 ae imp_helm_legend.esp
175 af VMUVM.esp
176 b0 ClosefacedHelgenReborn.esp
177 b1 Dragon Souls To Attributes.esp
178 b2 BottlesOfSkyrim.esp
179 b3 KS Hairdo's.esp
180 b4 VioLens SE.esp
181 b5 KatriaBow.esp
182 b6 Worn Shrouded Set.esp
183 b7 adoptAventusAretino.esp
184 b8 Chesko_WearableLantern.esp
185 b9 HB-WL-CraftableLanternOilPatch.esp
186 ba fastermining6-3.esp
187 bb StrongVampArmor.esp
188 bc BetterQuestObjectives-PaarDilemmaPatch.esp
189 bd BetterQuestObjectives - BCS Patch.esp
190 be Qw_BarenziahQuestMarkers_USSEP Patch.esp
191 bf ClimatesOfTamriel-Interiors-Warm.esp
192 c0 ClimatesOfTamriel-Nights-L1.esp
193 c1 BetterQuestObjectives-CRFPatch.esp
194 c2 Qw_BookCoversSkyrim_CRF Patch.esp
195 c3 Qw_CloaksAndCapes_CRF Patch.esp
196 c4 SoS_CoT_Patch.esp
197 c5 FNIS.esp
198 c6 3DNPC TKAA Patch.esp
199 c7 Helgen Reborn TKAA Patch.esp
200 c8 adoptAventusAretino_TKAA.esp
201 c9 Cutting Room Floor TKAA Patch.esp
202 ca HearthfireMultiKid TKAA Patch.esp
203 cb CharacterMakingExtender.esp
204 cc Immersive Citizens - AI Overhaul.esp
205 cd CFTO.esp
206 ce CFTO-Lanterns.esp
207 cf CFTO-CoveredCarriages.esp
208 d0 Alternate Start - Live Another Life.esp
209 d1 Relationship Dialogue Overhaul.esp
210 d2 TheChoiceIsYours.esp
211 d3 TCIY_BCS Patch.esp
212 d4 RDO - iAFT Patch.esp
213 d5 RDO - CRF + USSEP Patch.esp
RDO - USSEP Patch.esp
214 d6 Alternate Start -- New Beginnings.esp
215 d7 Convenient Horses.esp
216 d8 BetterQuestObjectives-AlternateStartPatch.esp
217 d9 Alternate Start LAL TKAA Patch.esp
218 da RealisticWaterTwo.esp
219 db RealisticWaterTwo - iNeed.esp

 

Edited May 25, 2018 by ughitsmegan

[kthompsen]

I'm too lazy to analyze the whole list, but you could convert a lot of the smaller mods to ESL format. It helps with load order limit. Only do it with those smaller mods that you'll likely never change. For example, I converted Simple Auto Ammo to ESL, which is a mainstay.

 

You could also convert some mods from Oldrim to get better features of your existing mods. Like your Dragonborn delayed has a better alternative in "Timing is Everything", which comes with an MCM menu. It's more future proof than those individual ESPs that set the Delay level at only one level. Here you can set levels for any of the DLCs as well as other quests (like Daedric events).

 

You could also merge some you like into one..which is what I do. It's a little easier if they're just ESPs that don't have accompany BSAs. But that's also possible, if a little more tedious.

 

Personally, I'd throw out Better Quest Objectives, but ymmv. I have no idea why that mod is so popular, but that's just me. Heh

Edited May 25, 2018 by kthompsen

[ughitsmegan]

Ah, converting and merging, the two things I'm the most terrified of doing. I don't really know why, but attempting those freaks me out. I'm so convinced I'm going to get it wrong and break something forever. I guess I can at least try changing the ESPs for the few small mods I made to ESLs and see how that goes.

[kthompsen]

If it makes you feel better, I was a noob once too. Still am in most respects (like altering landscapes and other graphical aspects of mods). You just gotta dive in, if you know the result will be more convenient :)

 

You could leave things as it is though, for the most part. It's not too large a load order, and SE can handle a lot that you throw at it.

[QuagaarWarrior]

Best way to cut down a load order is to decide what you want to do in that play through. I assume you still want a survival play through?

What type of character are you going to play? Mage? Thief? Dual wield? In your load order you have mods that affect Winterhold College and the thieves guild. If you are role playing a mage then you may not need the thieves guild mods.

Depends on your play style i guess

[sopmac45]

Best way to cut down a load order is to decide what you want to do in that play through. I assume you still want a survival play through?

What type of character are you going to play? Mage? Thief? Dual wield? In your load order you have mods that affect Winterhold College and the thieves guild. If you are role playing a mage then you may not need the thieves guild mods.

Depends on your play style i guess

 

 

I agree with the above statement.

 

I started to play SkyrimSE in PC more than 2 years ago with 135 mods .... as of now, I am running only 63 mods .... why did I cut it ? Because there were several mods that were causing too much trouble conflicting with others and they were not really necessary to play my game.

 

So I started to decide first :

 

- How do I want to play my game ? I decided to play as a pure mage, so I needed a couple of followers ( one with sword and shield and the other with bow and arrows )

- Based on the above, I started to use only those mods that will play accordingly with my character.

- After more than 30 times restarting my game from scratch and after trying a lot of mods and load orders, testing this one or that one, I decided to cut in half what I had in the beginning. When you are starting to play in PC, you want to have all mods in your load order ... is like having a lot of cash and getting in a mall so you want to buy practically everything ... but I found out that quantity is not better than quality, so I decided to cut and cut, till I got the list of mods that fit properly in my game style.

- There are beautiful mods out there from excellent mod authors, however, they are not in my load order, for example : Lanterns of Skyrim, Open Cities, Realistic Water Two, iCamp, Verdant, Sands of Time, True Storms, Wet and Cold, etc, etc.

- I tried those mods but they are not longer in my game. Why ? Because they caused too many conflicts, especially, Sands of Time which is a great concept but it is heavily scripted and causes too many crashes; Open Cities is a mod that is difficult to work with since it does conflict with other mods and beside I do not like it that much; Realistic Water makes the water looks awesome but it does conflict with too many cells in different areas and beside I do not fight in the water so instead dealing with patches, I decided to remove it from my list; etc, etc.

- It was very hard for me to get rid of those mods, mentally hard ... I had to make a decision and I did it.

- So far I have in my list only one mod of a kind : one armor, one magic, one sound, one environmental, one weapon and none, related to NPC followers ...

- Having that approach, has helped me to easy setup my load order, avoid conflicts and my game looks amazingly good because I do use Vivid Weathers and one ENB ... I have a very stable game but regardless, CTD's will happen because nothing is perfect and this game is buggy regardless. But I do have less troubles to deal with since I cut in half the amount of mods I started with.

[ughitsmegan]

I sort of have a bad habit of downloading mods I'm going to use not just for my current character, but for all future characters. My beloved lore character is a dual-wielding assassin with a focus on immersion and realism, so I suppose I can delete most of the mods that have to do with magic and the college. Save those for a mage playthrough.

[ughitsmegan]

I'd just like to say a quick thanks to those who replied. I managed to cut my mod count down from 252 to 225, which is quite a few mods gone all things considering. The plugin count is down to 203 which is a major improvement. Hopefully I've learned my lesson about changing and adding mods unnecessarily, and I'll be able to power through to where I was over the weekend.

Edited May 26, 2018 by ughitsmegan

[kthompsen]

Cool.. have fun!