What do you guys do when you hit the limit?

[johanatnexus]

My character is currently level four and I just hit the 255 plugins roof.

I know there are many patches among those but what do you do when you hit the roof and decide which mods has to go?7

[HadToRegister]

I get rid of any mod that I feel hasn't added anything to the game play.

Do I REALLY need that sword texture to be 4k?

How many times have I used "x" mod that adds this or that weapon?

Have I actually done any of the quests from "x" mod?
Do I actually use any of the spells added by 'x' mod, or do I just only use a handful?

Do I find myself using any of the items or features of "x" mod at all?

 

etc.

[johanatnexus]

That´s one way of doing it. I have the approach of "this profile I use only to build my load order so that next character is bug-free", but by level ten it´s starting to become a genuin character.

[Daermonster]

I made a mod called DMT that hand replicates the changes from dozens of mods like NARC,Weightless,Killable generals, Left hand rings, Multiple floors sanboxing, craftable lockpicks, better horses and too many to list. I did this so I could circumnavigate the 255 limit. Sans that, you could try learning how to merge.

[Algabar]

You can use Merge Plugins: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/69905

 

Take your time to make yourself familiar with the program. And start step by step. Don't merge anything containing scripts or otherwise "complex". Weapon and armour mods, maybe also "small tweaks" are obvious candidates for merging.

 

You can also convert smaller mods (again: wepons and armors are obvious candidates) to .esl format in the SE Creation Kit (available from bethesda.net). Keep in mind that "eslyfying" only works on smaller mods and only on mods, where loadorder doesn't really matter, i.e. mods that simply add stuff to the game without depending on (or being required for) other mods. .esl files don't count towards the 255 plugins limit, but are treated similar to esms, which means they will always be next to the top of your load order...

 

I agree with HadToRegister to some degree: You don't need everything in one load order and in one playthrough. For example, if you're playing an archer or warrior type of character, you won't need that many magic mods... Also, don't install all the large new lands and quests mods at once. Dedicate a playthrough to Bruma, another one to Falskaar or Moonpath to Elsweyr and so on. Less is often more... On the other hand: Having a lot of mods can be cool. I like my arsenal of different armours and weapons (all in merged plugins) or my different houses and other landscape additions... And OFC I LOVE high quality textures... (But they don't have plugin files, so no problem...).