Need help with merging mods

[Donfrye23]

Hi guys.I have a modlist with 300+ mods and looking to merge to get to the 255 limit but I'm kinda confused as to which plugins should i merge.I've merged a few but I'm not sure about the rest.Perhaps some suggestions?

 

my plugin list :

 

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 Paradise_City_RESOURCES.esm
7 7 Landscape and Water Fixes.esp
254 FE 0 SimpleChildren.esp
8 8 FISS.esp
254 FE 1 WM_WidgetMod.esl
254 FE 2 AHZmoreHUDInventory.esl
9 9 Lanterns Of Skyrim - All In One - Main.esm
254 FE 3 AnimatedHarvesting.esl
10 a EFFCore.esm
11 b SkyUI_SE.esp
12 c Blacksmith Forge Water Fix SE USSEP.esp
13 d WACCF_BashedPatchLvlListFix.esp
14 e Weapons Armor Clothing & Clutter Fixes.esp
15 f WACCF_Armor and Clothing Extension.esp
254 FE 4 Consistency Patch - WACCF and ACE.esp
16 10 FloraRespawnFix.esp
17 11 Better Harvesting.esp
254 FE 5 Hearthfires Houses Building Fix.esp
18 12 AutoHideAmmo.esp
19 13 Particle Patch for ENB SSE.esp
20 14 SMIM-SE-Merged-All.esp
21 15 Whiterun Tower - Mesh Fix.esp
22 16 BlendedRoads.esp
23 17 SRG Enhanced Trees Activator.esp
24 18 fallentreebridgesSSE.esp
254 FE 6 fallenbridgesSSE-Patch.esp
25 19 AMB Glass Variants Lore.esp
26 1a aMidianborn_Skyforge_Weapons.esp
27 1b Differently Ebony.esp
28 1c LTAOC_LightGlassArmor.esp
29 1d Book Covers Skyrim.esp
30 1e dD - Enhanced Blood Main.esp
31 1f DeadlySpellImpacts.esp
254 FE 7 RealisticWaterTwo - Watercolor.esp
32 20 RealisticWaterTwo - Waves.esp
33 21 RealisticWaterTwo.esp
254 FE 8 ObsidianWaterFix.esp
34 22 DustEffectsSSE.esp
35 23 Landscape Fixes For Grass Mods.esp
36 24 Landscape For Grass Mods - Military Camps.esp
37 25 NoGrassINCaves.esp
38 26 No World Map Fog.esp
39 27 Obsidian Weathers.esp
40 28 Obsidian Weathers MCM.esp
ObsidianWeatherBrumaPatch.esp
Obsidian Weathers for Vigilant.esp
41 29 TrueStormsSE.esp
42 2a True Storms - Obsidian Weathers - Patch .esp
43 2b mintylightningmod.esp
44 2c Obsidian_TS_Patch_Luminous.esp
45 2d Obsidian_TS_Patch_Luminous_WaterFix.esp
46 2e TrueStorms_MintyLightning_Patch.esp
47 2f WondersofWeather.esp
ELE-ELFX Patch AIO.esp
48 30 ELFXEnhancer.esp
49 31 EnhancedLightsandFX.esp
50 32 ELFX Fake Light Remover.esp
254 FE 9 ELFX Fixes.esp
51 33 Skysan_ELFX_SMIM_Fix.esp
52 34 Skyrim Better Roads - All In One - Merged.esp
53 35 Skyrim Better Roads - EastMarch.esp
54 36 Skyrim Better Roads - The Rift.esp
55 37 Skyrim Better Roads - Winterhold.esp
56 38 Enhanced Landscapes - Grass.esp
57 39 Enhanced Landscapes.esp
254 FE a Enhanced Landscapes Obsidian Weathers Patch.esp
58 3a Treeswinedave.esp
59 3b TreeswinedaveCities.esp
60 3c TreeswinedaveWRTundra.esp
61 3d Nordic Ruins of Skyrim.esp
62 3e cliffs.esp
63 3f Skyrim Bridges.esp
64 40 Northern Marsh Bridges SE.esp
65 41 Elizabeth's Tower - Azura Shrine.esp
66 42 Manor Roads.esp
254 FE b Bee Hives.esp
67 43 Run For Your Lives.esp
68 44 Goodfellow's Whiteun Hold.esp
69 45 Paradise_City_Merged.esp
70 46 Undriel_QuaintRavenRock.esp
71 47 Enhanced Solitude SSE USSEP Patch.esp
72 48 Enhanced Solitude SSE.esp
73 49 OldHroldanRuins.esp
74 4a stendarrsbeaconenhancedRv4sse.esp
75 4b EEKs Whiterun Interiors.esp
76 4c OpulentThievesGuild.esp
254 FE c OpulentThievesGuildPatch.esp
77 4d Solitude Skyway SE - Enhanced Landscapes Patch.esp
78 4e Solitude Skyway SE.esp
79 4f Real Solitude Rocks.esp
80 50 Solitude Skyway SE - Realistic Solitude Arch Patch.esp
81 51 This_is_Riverwood.esp
82 52 Karthwasten - Let The Silver Flow.esp
83 53 WarmaidenReforged.esp
84 54 IcePenguinWorldMap.esp
85 55 Smoking Torches and Candles.esp
254 FE d FleshFX.esp
86 56 RUSTIC SOULGEMS - Unsorted.esp
87 57 CC'sEnhancedOreVeinsSSE-HearthfirePatch.esp
88 58 GQJ_DG_vampireamuletfix.esp
89 59 Blowing in the Wind - Weathered Road Signs Patch.esp
90 5a Weathered Road Signs.esp
91 5b SkyrimImprovedPuddles-DG-HF-DB.esp
92 5c Saeri_AetherialCrown.esp
93 5d Elemental_Staffs.esp
94 5e KrittaKittyHorsesForSSE.esp
95 5f More_Saddles - Shadowmere - BigGameHunter.esp
96 60 More_Saddles.esp
97 61 HD Quill of Germination - Light.esp
98 62 RBB Large Boats.esp
99 63 RBB Long Boats.esp
100 64 RBB Row Boats.esp
254 FE e RBB - Realistic Water Two.esp
101 65 HagravenSkinShaders.esp
102 66 EEKs Whiterun Flora Display.esp
103 67 Improved Fire Salts Frost Salts And Glow Dust.esp
104 68 SpiceOfLife - OrcLStrongholds.esp
105 69 Unique Dragon Aspect.esp
106 6a Savage Wolves - Fox Fix.esp
107 6b DeadDraugrHavokFix.esp
108 6c KatriaBow.esp
254 FE f Glorious Solitude Door - Rotation Fix.esp
109 6d FranklyHDImperialArmorsAndWeapons.esp
110 6e EmbersHD.esp
111 6f Improved Eyes Skyrim - Serana.esp
112 70 Improved Eyes Skyrim - Vamp.esp
113 71 Improved Eyes Skyrim.esp
114 72 Vanilla Hair Replacer - VHR.esp
115 73 Beards.esp
116 74 Brows.esp
117 75 NB-Scars.esp
118 76 VWA_VanillaWarpaintsAbsolution.esp
119 77 PrettyKhajiit.esp
120 78 FabLookEyesSSE.esp
121 79 Drachis Argonian Eyes.esp
122 7a Bijin AIO.esp
123 7b Serana.esp
124 7c PAN_NPCs.esp
125 7d Metalsabers Beautiful Orcs of Skyrim.esp
126 7e Metalsabers Elegant Elves of Skyrim.esp
127 7f Aesthetic Elisif.esp
128 80 Skyrim Ladies - Astrid.esp
129 81 Men of Winter.esp
130 82 Hubbies.esp
131 83 ImprovedLucien.esp
132 84 erikmature.esp
133 85 Dragon Stalking Fix.esp
134 86 PAN_NPCs_DG.esp
135 87 FHH_LEGENDARY_VE_USSEP.esp
136 88 RFCharacterOverhaul.esp
137 89 RFCharacterOverhaul_USSEP.esp
138 8a IB - All-in-One.esp
254 FE 10 FacegenForKids.esp
139 8b Chesko_LoreBasedLoadingScreens.esp
140 8c UnreadBooksGlow.esp
141 8d SkyHUD.esp
142 8e LessIntrusiveHUD.esp
143 8f AMatterOfTime.esp
144 90 iEquip.esp
145 91 AH Hotkeys.esp
146 92 AHZmoreHUD.esp
147 93 imp_helm_legend.esp
148 94 THMeeko.esp
149 95 VigilanceReborn.esp
150 96 FrostReborn.esp
151 97 Eli_Breezehome.esp
152 98 Halls Of Dovahndor SSE.esp
153 99 ogSplendorDragons.esp
154 9a SkyTEST-RealisticAnimals&Predators.esp
155 9b Skytest Creature Extension.esp
156 9c Skytest Immersive Horses.esp
157 9d Skytest USSEP.esp
158 9e Immersive Horses.esp
254 FE 11 ICNs_ImmersiveCollegeNPCs.esp
159 9f Fort(ified) Dawnguard.esp
254 FE 12 Dawnguard - HoV Req.esp
160 a0 DIVERSE SKYRIM.esp
161 a1 OpenFaceGuardHelmets.esp
254 FE 13 VisualAnimatedEnchants.esp
162 a2 Modern Brawl Bug Fix.esp
163 a3 KS Dragon Overhaul 2.esp
164 a4 Crime Overhaul.esp
165 a5 DepthsOfSkyrim.esp
166 a6 LSFX-SSE-Audiosettings.esp
167 a7 Audio Overhaul Skyrim - Enhanced Blood Patch.esp
254 FE 14 Audio Overhaul Skyrim - Obsidian Weathers Patch.esp
168 a8 Audio Overhaul Skyrim - True Storms Patch.esp
169 a9 Audio Overhaul Skyrim.esp
254 FE 15 Immersive Dragon Sounds.esp
170 aa illy's HQ Fire Audio.esp
171 ab SilentSneakAttack.esp
172 ac Trade & Barter.esp
173 ad ABT SE - Faster Arrows Improved.esp
174 ae ABT SE - Faster Bolts Improved.esp
175 af ABT SE - Recover Ammo.esp
176 b0 Realistic AI Detection 2 SE - High Interior, Medium Exterior.esp
177 b1 Cutting Room Floor.esp
254 FE 16 HQ Tintmasks for Cutting Room Floor.esp
178 b2 CRF - ShieldSpellFXS Restore.esp
179 b3 sandboxcylinderheight.esp
180 b4 NoBSAIProjectileDodge.esp
181 b5 AIMFIX.esp
182 b6 Serana Dialogue Edit.esp
183 b7 Believable Crime Report Radius.esp
184 b8 Improved Adoptions MERGED.esp
185 b9 AnotherSortingMod_2017-SSE.esp
254 FE 17 SkyTEST-RealisticAnimals&Predators_ASM-SSE.esp
ASM-SSE ENB Light.esp
254 FE 18 WACCF_ASM-2019.esp
186 ba Torch and Brightness Radius PLUS Magelight - ELFX.esp
187 bb LeftHandRings-1stPersonView.esp
188 bc LeftHandRings.esp
189 bd Combat Evolved.esp
190 be Guards Attack Hostiles.esp
191 bf Simple Spell Scaling.esp
192 c0 HitStop.esp
193 c1 TKRecoil.esp
194 c2 Mortal Enemies - No RunWalk Changes.esp
195 c3 Mortal Enemies Patch - Realistic Animals Predators.esp
196 c4 Realistic Melee Range.esp
254 FE 19 AlchemyAdjustments-DawnofSkyrimPatch.esp
197 c5 AlchemyAdjustments.esp
254 FE 1a AlchemyAdjustmentsDistinctiveRareIngredientsAddon.esp
254 FE 1b AlchemyAdjustmentsLightPotions-WACCFPatch.esp
254 FE 1c AlchemyAdjustmentsLightweightPotionsAddon.esp
198 c6 PoisoningExtended.esp
199 c7 Populated Skyrim Prisons Cells.esp
200 c8 Extra Guards.esp
201 c9 Extra Guards Aggressive and Vanilla Stats Patch.esp
202 ca Extra Guards Lite and DOS Directors Cut Patch.esp
203 cb Meem0OutfitNPCs.esp
204 cc RDO - CRF + USSEP Patch.esp
205 cd Relationship Dialogue Overhaul.esp
206 ce Guard Dialogue Overhaul.esp
207 cf Realistic-Voice.esp
208 d0 manny Lantern Caretakers.esp
209 d1 Point The Way.esp
210 d2 AskTheWay.esp
211 d3 BirdsOfSkyrim_SSE.esp
212 d4 BirdsAndFlocks_SSE.esp
213 d5 Improved Traps.esp
214 d6 Chesko_WearableLantern.esp
215 d7 Destructible Skyrim.esp
216 d8 Laundry.esp
217 d9 SimplyKnock.esp
218 da Blowing in the Wind - Lanterns of Skyrim Patch SSE.esp
219 db Blowing in the Wind - SMIM Merged All Patch SSE.esp
220 dc Blowing in the Wind SSE.esp
254 FE 1d Blowing in the Wind - Lanterns of Skyrim SE - MCM versionPatch.esp
221 dd Holidays SFO Patch.esp
222 de Holidays.esp
223 df HoldBorderBanners.esp
224 e0 FarmhouseChimneys.esp
225 e1 FarmhouseChimneysCRF.esp
226 e2 Improved Shadowmarks.esp
227 e3 Player marriage dialogue redone..esp
228 e4 ImperialSoldiersEscortFix.esp
229 e5 Art Imports.esp
230 e6 FNIS_PCEA2.esp
231 e7 SOSRaceMenu.esp
232 e8 XPMSE.esp
233 e9 Dual Sheath Redux.esp
234 ea FNIS.esp
235 eb FNISspells.esp
236 ec Palaces Castles Enhanced.esp
254 FE 1e PCE - ELFX PATCH.esp
254 FE 1f PCE - ELFXEnhancer Patch.esp
254 FE 20 PCE - Holidays Patch.esp
254 FE 21 PCE - Immersive Citizens AI Overhaul Patch.esp
254 FE 22 PCE - RDO Patch.esp
254 FE 23 PCE - USSEP+CRF Patch.esp
237 ed Book Covers Skyrim - Immersive Horses Patch.esp
238 ee Relationship Dialogue Overhaul - Immersive Horses Patch.esp
239 ef Blues Skyrim.esp
240 f0 360WalkandRunPlus-RunBackwardSpeedAdjust.esp
241 f1 AnimatedEatingRedux.esp
254 FE 24 ImmersiveAnimatedLooting - Personal tweak.esp
242 f2 dD-No Spinning Death Animation Merged.esp
243 f3 FNISSexyMove.esp
244 f4 mcgFemaleWalk for SkyrimSE.esp
245 f5 PotionAnimatedfx.esp
254 FE 25 Qw_ACE_CRF Patch.esp
254 FE 26 Qw_BijinAIO_CRF Patch.esp
254 FE 27 Qw_BookCoversSkyrim_CRF Patch.esp
254 FE 28 Qw_DeadlySpellImpacts_AOS Patch.esp
254 FE 29 Qw_PANNPCs_CRF Patch.esp
254 FE 2a Qw_RealisticFaces_CRF Patch.esp
254 FE 2b Qw_WACCF_AOS Patch.esp
254 FE 2c Blowing in the Wind - Old Hroldan Ruin patch.esp
254 FE 2d Blowing in the Wind SSE - Skyrim Bridges patch.esp
254 FE 2e Lanterns of Skyrim - All In One - Main - Blowing in the Wind SSE - Skyrim Bridges Patch.esp
254 FE 2f Lanterns of Skyrim - All in One - Main - Skyrim Bridges patch.esp
254 FE 30 Northern Marsh Bridges - Blowing in the Wind patch.esp
254 FE 31 Skyrim Bridges - ELFX patch.esp
246 f6 SlickSneaking.esp
254 FE 32 Incognito.esp
254 FE 33 Disease Fixes.esp
247 f7 QuickLight.esp
248 f8 SJG Quick Light Patch.esp
254 FE 34 TaarieDialFix.esp
249 f9 Better descriptions SSE.esp
250 fa Better descriptions SSE - Book Covers Skyrim patch.esp
251 fb Better descriptions SSE - Spell tomes.esp
252 fc No More Standing Too Close SSE 1-0.esp
253 fd Bounty Gold.esp
254 fe RequiredKeyTweaks.esp
Move it Dammit.esp
ElementalFuryFix.esp
EFFDialogue.esp
Cloaks - Dawnguard.esp
Cloaks.esp
Immersive War and Violence.esp
254 FE 35 Qw_ACE_CloaksOfSkyrim Patch.esp
254 FE 36 Qw_CloaksOfSkyrim_CRF Patch.esp
Immersive Citizens - AI Overhaul.esp
Immersive Citizens - ELE patch.esp
Immersive Citizens - ELFXEnhancer patch.esp
Immersive Movement - Mortal Enemies Patch.esp
Immersive Movement.esp

[Algabar]

You may not like it, but my short answer is "don't merge at all".

 

Merging is a difficult thing, there are many possibilities for mistakes. In fact, it's dangerous if you're not exactly sure what you're doing.

Another problem is, that there are very few obvious candidates for merging in your load order. Plugins that can easily and quite safely be merged are simple mods, e.g. most armor or weapons mods, that simply add new stuff to the game, also most follower mods and things I'd like to call "minor tweaks" (more gold for merchants, making some NPCs essential, things like that). Problem is: You don't have many mods of that kind installed. A lot of the files in your load order come from patches. Patches are a real pain to merge. Load order is very important here, you have to be very careful not to break things.

 

So, what can you do?

1. Reduce complexity - and thereby plugins: Are all those mods that need a patch for a patch for a patch to work properly really worth the trouble? Do you really need all that complicated stuff? TBH, I'd never dare to build up a load order like yours. One mistake and you're in trouble. I prefer to play safe...

 

2. If you absolutely need more plugin slots, consider converting some of your plugins to "ESPFE" (ESL-flagged file with .esp extension). This is very safe - and plugins flagged as ESL don't count towards the 255 plugins limit. Here's a guide: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/21289

 

On a side note: You can also convert plugins to "real" esl files with the Creation Kit. I do not recommend that. "ESPFE" is much safer and gives you "the best of both worlds": Less problems with the plugin limit, but files, that behave like normal .esp files otherwise.

 

EDIT: I just saw that you have the plugins form "Amidianborn Book of Silence" enabled ("Skyforgewepaons" and "differently ebony"). These can cause issues. It is generally not recommended to use them in an SE environment. Only install the textures (choose the ones you like best) and delete the plugisn after install.

[Donfrye23]

You may not like it, but my short answer is "don't merge at all".

 

Merging is a difficult thing, there are many possibilities for mistakes. In fact, it's dangerous if you're not exactly sure what you're doing.

Another problem is, that there are very few obvious candidates for merging in your load order. Plugins that can easily and quite safely be merged are simple mods, e.g. most armor or weapons mods, that simply add new stuff to the game, also most follower mods and things I'd like to call "minor tweaks" (more gold for merchants, making some NPCs essential, things like that). Problem is: You don't have many mods of that kind installed. A lot of the files in your load order come from patches. Patches are a real pain to merge. Load order is very important here, you have to be very careful not to break things.

 

So, what can you do?

1. Reduce complexity - and thereby plugins: Are all those mods that need a patch for a patch for a patch to work properly really worth the trouble? Do you really need all that complicated stuff? TBH, I'd never dare to build up a load order like yours. One mistake and you're in trouble. I prefer to play safe...

 

2. If you absolutely need more plugin slots, consider converting some of your plugins to "ESPFE" (ESL-flagged file with .esp extension). This is very safe - and plugins flagged as ESL don't count towards the 255 plugins limit. Here's a guide: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/21289

 

On a side note: You can also convert plugins to "real" esl files with the Creation Kit. I do not recommend that. "ESPFE" is much safer and gives you "the best of both worlds": Less problems with the plugin limit, but files, that behave like normal .esp files otherwise.

 

EDIT: I just saw that you have the plugins form "Amidianborn Book of Silence" enabled ("Skyforgewepaons" and "differently ebony"). These can cause issues. It is generally not recommended to use them in an SE environment. Only install the textures (choose the ones you like best) and delete the plugisn after install.

Thanks alot!Did the ESL conversion.ESP+ESM is below 255.Appreciate the help.