A fairly newbie question Re Load Order that I SHOULD know the answer to.

[nagrom2608]

Hi Guys.

 

Okay so I consider myself having an intermediate knowledge of modding, but clearly there are a few things that I need to learn still. As my game has died AGAIN........ If anyone remembers, it started going haywire a while ago. After I reordered my load order via Loot mid game. All the mods started reregeristing themselves with MCM, I lost all my armor, started shooting frost magic, even though I NEVER use frost magic. I also found myself transported to the Sleeping Giant in Riverwood. Every save I tried had the same issue.

 

So.....

 

I ended up starting again, with a fresh install, and a new modding project. The game has been running fine, till now. For some reason, I've experienced EXACTLY the same wired shenanigans. Only this time, I've not changed the load order. Or at least I'm not aware of any change.

 

So time to start..............AGAIN.

 

Now to my question. I am aware that the load order is "Baked" into the save file, and the change in the order can mess your saves up. Like when I reordered via LOOT. So what I can't get my head around is this. If you've been playing for a while, and say have a modded character at level 20. So you have quite a few saves, and you decide to install a new mod, surely this will change the load order. Especially if that mod has to be placed at a specific position in your load order. How can installing mods after you've started playing NOT effect the save file, and not cause the game to crash?

 

I would appreciate a sensibe answer, as I know this kind of daft question usually attracts very condescending reply here.

 

Also one more thing, am I right in thinking that if I delete all the mods I have through MO, I will return the game to a vanilla state? Ready for remodding.

 

Thanks in advance. I adore Skyrim, but sometimes it drives me crazy.

 

Andy.

[Deleted58783396User]

the only thing that bakes into the save file, is Scripts.

 

the load order messes up if you add a mod mid game, because of the form ids, which change, and thus mess stuff up, the most immediate thing to notice, will be incorrect leveled lists (however all sorts of issues will arise from this, due to now an invalid priority order, which can and will most likely result in CTDs, and other issues.

 

never add or remove mods in a mid playthrough, else issues will rise, this especially applies to scripted mods (mods that add, edit or change scripts)

 

adding mods can of course cause CTD when added in mid playthrough, but this entirely depends on the mod in question, and if it would conflict with another mod.

 

the only mods that can safely be added or removed in an active playthrough is any mod that Does Not include an ESP or ESM file.

 

As for MO that should be correct. it uses a Virtual Drive for mods, thus leaving the Skyrim Data folder completely empty, so yes removing/uninstalling all mods Through MO will restore skyrim to a vanilla state.

[nagrom2608]

That's what I figured. Thanks for the quick response.

 

If I was to add a mod mid play through, say a new armour, set, or spell mod, would I be advisable to rebuild a bashed patch straight away. To fix any leveled list issues.

 

What I can't get my head around is mods at created all the time, and a such people want to add them, and try them out. By the logic of the way load orders work, and mods being indexed in the save, they'll have to start a brand new game. Each time they install a mod..

 

That's a real pain in the ass.

 

Thanks again.

[Deleted58783396User]

That's what I figured. Thanks for the quick response.

 

If I was to add a mod mid play through, say a new armour, set, or spell mod, would I be advisable to rebuild a bashed patch straight away. To fix any leveled list issues.

 

Yes always rebuild the Bash Patch (regardless of how many or few mods you add) whenever you add a mod that effects the leveled lists in any way. (just as Fnis would need to be run again every single time you add a mod that modifes/adds animations)

 

the bash patch should never change location, so it can be updated as many times as possible without causing issues.

 

What I can't get my head around is mods at created all the time, and a such people want to add them, and try them out. By the logic of the way load orders work, and mods being indexed in the save, they'll have to start a brand new game. Each time they install a mod..

 

That's a real pain in the ass.

 

Thanks again.

 

​It is Possible to add and remove mods in an active playthrough (providing they do not add/edit or include scripts) however, the thing with Skyrim is, its stability decreases over time, mod conflicts and such, speed up the process of instability. so that is why Adding or Removing mods in an active playthrough is never advised, because doing so will increase the likelihood of instability over time, providing it has not already destroyed the game already.

 

if you want your game to last as long as possible, you need to eliminate all mod conflicts, ensure you do not have a heavy scripted setup, and never add or remove mods in an active playthrough, your proper setup must be done before you even click on New Game.

 

so with all the new mods that are released you create a test save, and use that to test mods, then when you have a nice healthy selection of mods, you then start a brand new game with only the mods you want.

 

Mods that are Updates to the mods you already have, the majority is perfectly safe to add and remove in an active playthrough, the most important with regards to the Load Order, is remember the Location of Each mod (its a hexidecimal number)

 

basically, the most important thing in skyrim is Saved Games.

 

Immediate issues/short term issues, are usally mod related (which are generally easy to fix, and because the issues will happen very quick as opposed to long term, it should be pretty quick and easy to fix).

 

Issues that happen over time, and more severe issues, are saved game related, the more progress you make, the bigger the saved games get, the more unstable the game becomes, if you are smart and know exactly what you are doing, you know exactly what your mods do, and are placed correctly, it is very possible to have a completely stable game for the entire duration you spent playing skyrim. and it is even possible to have a heavily modded game be stable for long periods of time.

 

the less mods you have, the less chance of issues, but likewise the more knowledge you have about modding, the more chances of having a stable game with a much bigger setup. it works both ways. the more mods you have, the more smarter you need to be, if you want any hope of having a very stable game for the entire duration of you skyrim gaming experience.

 

with mods the game itself becomes a bigger game (both pros and cons of having a modded game, however the pros greatly outweigh the cons), this is the invisible contract you sign when you decide to evolve your game by modding it.

 

their is always risks involved when modding absolutely anything, games are not the only exception.

 

My Replies are in bold :wink: