[HELP] Merged Plug-Ins - Basic Questions About Patches

[TygerxEyes]

Merged Plug-Ins

 

As I understand it the easiest thing is to merge mods that have no dependencies (e.g., most follower mods) as well as similar kinds of mods (Armor Mods w/Armor Mods OR Weapon Mods w/Weapons Mods), and so on... I got that much.

 

I am a bit confused about the rules around merging patches. With the advent of ESL Files, I know that most patches can be flagged with ESL and have no impact on the plug-in count; however, some patches cannot be so flagged and more importantly sometimes one might want to merge the mods on which the patch is dependent. So,

 

PATCH MERGE - I know that you can merge patches with common dependents (e.g., various ETaC - ELFX Patches can be merged as long as their masters are left untouched), but again in many instances with ESL flagging that, in-and-of-itself seems kinda pointless - especially, this example las ETaC are all already ESLified.

 

QUESTIONS:

 

MASTERS W/PATCHES - I know what they say about assumptions though I am going to use the term. I assume that merging several mods some of which patch each other will work as long as all the primary (master) mods are included and the dependent patches only reference mods included within the patch (are not dependent on mods not included in the merge)... is this true? In the example below, The Brotherhood of Old SSE and Skyrim Sewers are included within the patch so the Compatibility Patch would or would not work?

 

HYBRID - I was also wondering whether or I not I can merge mods and their patches wherein one of the mods upon which the patch is dependent is within the merge but the other mod is not... I am guessing that is not possible though it sure would be nice. In the example below, The Brotherhood of Old SSE and Hammets Dungeon Pack (independent mods) have patches for USSEP which is not included within the patch - would these mods and their patches work as long as the both the mod and patch are included even though one of the referent mods is outside the Merged Plug-In.

 

SAMPLE OF POSSIBLE MERGE PLUGIN RUN:

 

The Brotherhood of Old SSE
The Brotherhood of Old - USSEP Patch
Hammets Dungeon Pack SE (ESP Version)
Hammets Dungeon Pack - USSEP Patch
Immersive Dungeons
The Unfinished Business - Dungeon Pack SSE
Forgotten Dungeons SSe
Ravengate - Riften Underground
Skyrim Sewers
Compatibility Patch for Brotherhood of Old & Skyrim Sewers

 

Thank-you, in advance, for those who shared their wisdom. ~TxE~