Particularly Gameplay and Overhaul Mods

[Adipose]

After umpteen thousands of hours of game play, I've come to a basic mod use mindset: IIABDFI(If it ain't broke, don't fix it.) Lots of times, mods seem to be created by folks who want to see if they can do something relative to comp. use or whatever. They're not necessarily concerned with game play and players, but more concerned with testing and enhancing their own skills. Also, the bigger a mod is, the greater the possibility that there're gonna be problems with game play, etc. I can guarantee that the more one uses mods, the greater the likelihood there're gonna be bugs at some point, with the bigger and more comprehensive mods being more likely to cause problems. If a mod is super memory hungry, there're gonna be problems. The more a mod strives to change something...or a whole game...the greater the likelihood that there're gonna be spin off problems. The KISS principle is very much relevant to game modding. Otoh, the opposite can be true, with a very small but poorly done mod causing CTD. Many's the time I've sat down and run through every mod I'm using, trying one at a time, until I found the one little mod that was killing the whole big game. Also, given the opportunity, mods will conflict. Mods that're very well designed in all aspects will, frequently, conflict with other mods that're equally well designed. Given the number of mods to be found, both on the Nexus and on Steam, there will be conflicts. It's inevitable. Play testing is incredibly important...as in hundreds of hours of play testing...particularly if it's a really big mod. Players need to play test new mods as well, just to see if their game or their comp can digest them as well. Don't install a bunch and then try to run your game. Install one, test it, then go back and install another, rinse and repeat. What I've found is that my comp will frequently digest and run a modded Skyrim just fine until I get up around Level Forty or so, then I'll start to have problems. That's most likely down to the quality of my comp...not necessarily the mods. So, find out what your comp can handle clear through to the end with no problems and then quit modding the game. Okay, more than enough blah, blah, blah.