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First time playing on PC. Where to start?


atlas5280

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Hey all,

 

Finally joined the master race and built a gaming rig. Skyrim was my first purchase. I have several playthroughs and hundreds of hours on console, but I know I'm in for a whole new experience on the PC thanks to modding.

 

So my question is simple. I'm very new to PC gaming and to installing/using mods.

 

What mods should I start with? I'm looking for stuff that isn't hard to manage or understand, that will greatly improve/change my experience from vanilla skyrim.

 

Thanks in advance for the suggestions!

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Hello and welcome!

 

I suggest downloading Nexus Mod Manager, when you have it installed, a button will appear under every mod on this site that says "Download with manager", you just press on that, and you'll download it with the manager! Then, when the manager finishes the download, double click on it, and voila, mod installed. It's the easiest way to do it, no complications either, and you have a list of mods installed! You uninstall, by double clicking on the same mod, very simple!

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Hello and welcome!

 

I suggest downloading Nexus Mod Manager, when you have it installed, a button will appear under every mod on this site that says "Download with manager", you just press on that, and you'll download it with the manager! Then, when the manager finishes the download, double click on it, and voila, mod installed. It's the easiest way to do it, no complications either, and you have a list of mods installed! You uninstall, by double clicking on the same mod, very simple!

 

 

Super helpful info, thanks!

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The top mods are a good place to look, but there can also be some newer mods that don't have the amount of endorsements and downloads that the "first mods" (I mean that kindly, some of the first mods are indeed the best, others...not so much) have. You'll probably want to at least get the Unofficial Skyrim Patch, they've got patches for each of the DLCs as well if you have those. You'll also want to get BOSS to sort your load order and tell you if you have any errors such as mod conflicts and so forth. After that, you'll probably find that you use some mods more than others down the line and you can slim your amount of content to suit your game and playstyle. Just be sure to read the descriptions carefully for compatibility issues and such.
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Utility mods:

 

ATTK Power Loader:

Sets Skyrim's priority high, defrags memory and does other clever things to make Skyrim run better. Like SkyUI below, requires Skyrim Script Extender (SKSE), which you get from skse.silverlock.org and is necessary for lots of mods. The mod page for SkyUI has a link to a video that shows you how best to install it.

 

SkyUI:

A must have. The vanilla user interface is maddening on PC. Requires SKSE.

 

Graphics:

 

Skyrim HD

Better and higher-resolution textures than Bethesda's HD DLC. I use the lite version as there's not much difference, it has less of a performance impact and my Internet download speed makes snails double over laughing.

 

SMIM Static Mesh Enhancement Mod:

Adds better meshes (3D shapes) to objects from tomatoes to door handles. It may just be my hatred of jagged mesh edges talking, but if you get only one graphics mod, get this one.

 

aMidianborn Book of Silence:

HD armour textures.

 

Pure Waters OR W.A.T.E.R:

Both retexture water to make it look far better. I use Pure Waters purely (no pun intended) as a matter of taste, but it's up to you. If you get Pure Waters, get Kerplunk wet rocks from Steam as well.

 

Benjamin318's Rock and Mountain Textures:

These textures are amazing. Just.. amazing.

 

Realistic Lighting With Customisation:

Exactly as it says on the tin. Dark nights, awesome aurorae, etc.

 

IMAGINATOR:

Lets you control things like brightness, saturation, contrast and colour from ingame through a configuration spell.

 

More Rain AND More Snow:

Rain and snow, respectively, are far more immersive and atmospheric.

 

Gameplay and Content:

 

Deadly Dragons:

Makes dragons apocalyptic and terrifying creatures, rather than flying loot machines. Difficulty is configurable from ingame.

Deadly Dragons - Armoury is a separate mod that makes dragons drop materials for high level "dragonslayer's" armour.

 

Phenderix Magic Evolved AND Apocalypse Spell Mod:

These are two mods which add a load of new spells. Very much recommended.

 

Frostfall:

No longer can Dovahkiin prance around half-naked in blizzards. I recommend using with a food/drink/sleep needs mod, like Realistic Needs and Diseases (the one I use)

 

Dragonbone Ebonsteel Armour:

Very, very nice high-level armour.

 

Moonpath to Elsweyr:

Go to Elsweyr and help fight against the Thalmor there. Very nice environments.

 

Halls of Dovahndor:

Gigantic player home as a reward for killing Alduin.

 

That's not even scratching the surface of Skyrim mods - it's up to you to find the ones that suit you. G.E.M.S and S.T.E.P are good places to start. Happy modding!

Edited by ilikecheese1337
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"Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end; then stop." Lewis Carroll from Alice in Wonderland

 

Great advice

In this case, install the game and play it some to find out what you would like to be different. Then look for a specific mod that does that. There are top lists for the game that have the most popular and usually most stable mods.

 

DON'T install a bunch of mods all at once - that is the quickest way to crashing there is. Install one, make sure it works. Then the next. When you have a problem, STOP. don't install any more mods until that problem is either fixed - or you remove it.

 

Be sure to actually read the documentation as not every mod installs the same way - some will not install properly with NMM. Some need something else to work. If you don't read, you won't know. :thumbsup:

 

And that part about going to the end, With mods there is no end. :tongue:

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Hi, I expected quite a few of these 'What Mods' questions so I saved this answer so that I can answer consistently each time without leaving any out:

 

I play with a lot of Mods and I've tried and rejected many others. I use all of these (among others) and I'm sure they’re all Must Have/Worth Having.

 

Weapons and Armors

Immersive Armors

Immersive Weapons

Ghosu - Weapon Pack

JaySuS Swords

Better Bows

Crimson Dragon Armor

Open Face Helmets Replacer - Steam only

Magic/Enchantments

Midas Magic

Weapon Enchantment Upgrade

Burn Freeze Shock Effects

Graphics Overhauls

Skyrim Flora Overhaul

Static Mesh Improvement Mod

aMidianBorn Book of Silence

Other Must Haves

Guard Dialogue Overhaul

The Dance of Death

Crimson Tide - Blood

Optimizer Textures (use it on graphic intensive Mods to reduce your system load)

Other Worth Having

Dragon Knowledge Spell

Legionettes

Mine Map Markers

Crimson Quest Markers

Dungeon Quest Awareness

Auto Unequip Ammo

Horns are Forever - If you play Argonians

 

Eck. :D

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