DRAFT Prerequisite Software Requirements List

[Adonsa]

Hello,

Another gamer, upon seeing screenshots of my mod use, wants to get into Skyrim Special Edition (SSE) and modding. In order to try to streamline what she, and others, will need, I want to "attempt" to make either a spreadsheet or flowchart of softwares needed. I'm NOT qualified to teach others yet.

This becomes an overview list of some of the important softwares needed for becoming a mod user, to the extent of my knowledge, skills, and abilities.

:smile: The "real deal" is the STEP website! https://wiki.step-project.com/STEP:0.3.0b
Here's the link for Vortex https://www.nexusmods.com/about/vortex/

 

Below is a very rough, unqualified, DRAFT of what I want to share with others.
Please tell me where I screwed up and what to change.
The more critical your comments, the better.

Caveat: I'm NOT qualified to teach anyone how to be a mod user. There are many excellent websites for this, for example https://www.youtube.com/user/gamerpoets

 

D R A F T
From within steampowered.com, install Skyrim Special Edition.

MOD SOFTWARE NEEDED.
This is just a list with a few remarks.

"MUST HAVE SOFTWARES"

Bookmark this: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition

IN-GAME CREATION CLUB MODS (mods found within SSE main menu upon startup)
Remarks: Get as few as possible from within the game, some are partially redundant with Nexus mods, mods. Sorting, of in games, those mods must be sorted manually with little or no guidance on best way to sort. The sort order of in game mods may compete unfavorably with NexusMods mods. Most desirable in game mods that probably don't interfere with NexusMods mods are:
Alidon's Ultimate Armory
Static Mesh Improvement Mod SE (I'm unsure about this)
Skyrim Unbound SE (for starting new game from scratch)
Easy Lockpicking
Cheat Room

Get followers and houses from NexusMods, for better organizing
KS Hairdos - Get it from Nexus Mods, not the in-game lite version.

Before accepting a "Creation Club", in-game mod, make sure it's functionality is not replicated in either NexusMods or any other source.

Mod Source Websites
Nexusmods
< name of other mod source omitted by author >
Others, maybe

3rd Party Softwares

SKSE64 for Skyrim Special Edition
Purpose: Hyper-critical for most mods and especially for the SkyUI Mod.
Prerequisites: Make sure it's SKSE64 that you download, not something else.
Remarks: After Install, and after making sure that Steam is running, let SKSE64 launch SSE.
Exception: If LOOT returns error that it cannot find SSE, then launch the SSE via its own launcher, not via SKSE, then quit SSE.
Download from: https://skse.silverlock.org/

VORTEX
Purpose: Mod installs, management, tracking, enabling/disabling
Remarks: The more you use it, the more you love it

Usually sufficient for load order.
Ease of Use: Easy after becoming familiar with it.
Download from: https://www.nexusmods.com/site/mods/1?tab=files

LOOT
Load Order Optimization Tool
Purpose: Establishes and maintains the mod load order.
Unknowns: Unknown if it manages non-Nexus (in-game source) mods.
Remarks: To be used after each use of Vortex, to put mods in correct sort order and to ID errors. If you don't use it, pain and suffering might follow.
Ease of Use: Easy after you get used to it
Download from: https://loot.github.io/

SSEEdit 4.0.3 (Quick Auto Clean)
Purpose: To fix errors identified after using LOOT
Prerequisites: Steam must be running, Start the Skyrim SE Launcher and quit the Skyrim SE Launcher before using SSEEdit, or SSEEdit will return a fatal error. Doing this temporary SSE launch via SKSE is insufficient, briefly use the SSE game launcher for this. Make sure this is the Quick Auto Clean version, not some other.
How to use: Read the documentation and be careful
Ease of Use: Moderate, easy after using it a few times.

Contains contains prebuilt normal and "quick autoclean" executables.
Download from: Available from Nexus

Optional Softwares:

SSEEdit 4.0.3
Not the Autoclean version
Purpose: Mod conflict detector

Available from Nexus
Prerequisites: Probably same as above
Remarks: Never used it, unknown if I should.
How to use: ?
Why use it: ?
Ease of use ?
Download from: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/164/?tab=files

Boss 2.3.2 - Outdated, see Loot.
Purpose: Conflict avoidance
Prerequisites: Unknown
Remarks: Running Boss.exe opens a web page with a Critical Error: No game detected
No instructions on how to resolve error. Unknown if this is just Skyrim or both Skyrim and SSE.
How to use: https://boss-developers.github.io/BOSS%20Readme.html
Ease of use: Unknown
Download from: https://boss-developers.github.io/

NexusClient.exe - See Vortex, only 1 mod manager is needed, and Vortex will suffice.
Purpose: This is the Nexus Mod Manager (NMM)
Purpose: To import and manage downloads from non-Nexus websites.
Import those files into NMM, then quit NMM.
Vortex will import non-Nexus or manual downloads from NMM. Then Vortex installs those into SSE. All good!

Skyrim Special Edition Mod Organizer v 2.2.2.1
Purpose: "Mod Organizer (MO) is a tool for managing mod collections of arbitrary size. It is specifically designed for people who like to experiment with mods and thus need an easy and reliable way to install and uninstall them. "
Remarks: I've never used it, maybe it's redundant with Vortex. Maybe I should use it.
Ease of use: Unknown
Download from: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/6194?tab=files

NifSkope 2.0

Caveat: This is very advanced. Not necessary for beginning.
Purpose: Opening and editing the NetImmerse file format (NIF)
Remarks: I've not used it yet, maybe I should
Ease of Use: Unknown
Download from: https://github.com/niftools/nifskope

ENB: Purpose: Mind-blowing awesome improvement in graphics quality.
Remarks: I'm not yet qualified to do any more than refer others to the ENB parent website(s)

Reason for Edit: To incorporate vital suggestions. Deletions are line thru, additions are underlined. Many thanks to Algabar, Anjenthedog, and HadtoRegister

Edit on 21 - 10 - 2020: To incorporate a valuable link at lines 3 & 4. Thanks and hats of to gnarly1, for the link to STEP.

Edited October 31, 2020 by Adonsa

[Algabar]

In general this is good advice.

 

Some remarks:

- I wouldn't recommend installing any mods "in game", as you called it (which basically means getting mods from the "Creation Club"). But TBH I REALLY don't like the CC.... :sick:

- SSEEdit is available from the Nexus. The download already contains prebuilt normal and "quick autoclean" executables.

- BOSS is absolutely outdated. Replaced by LOOT long time ago.

- Having NMM and MO 2 labeled as "optional downloads" is somewhat misleading if you already recommended Vortex before. Your friend only needs ONE mod manager.

- With Vortex, you don't need LOOT as a standalone application. Already built in. If your friends use a different mod manager, LOOT is essential of course.

- Nifskope IMHO falls into the "very advanced stuff" category. Useful OFC, but not something you need for the beginning.

- Maybe you should add a link to good video tutorials, e.g. GamerPoets?

 

EDIT: - Maybe also add SKSE to the list? SkyUI needs it and I wouldn't recommend trying to play Skyrim with the vanilla menu...

[Adonsa]

Hi Algabar,

Thank you for taking time to read thru it.

 

I think I should wait a few days or so for other readers to give their comments

and then I'll re-structure the article.

 

I should probably add a "Not Applicable" section to show, if "thus and so" is used, category, or just caveat

applications not necessarily required. Maybe a "when to use this" or "why would I use this"

line should be added to each application.

 

I'll have to get smarter on both Vortex and LOOT and re-word that appropriately, given that I run LOOT

after every single use of Vortex. LOOT frequently finds errors (that are unrelated to sort order)

that have to be fixed via SSEEdit's Autoclean. It appears I'm underestimating Vortex ability

to place mods in the correct order. I'll have to then re-word my remarks about LOOT.

 

Given that there are so many softwares affecting mods, I ultimately want to come up with a

narrative that will help users know (1) what to download (2) what to get smart on. I am totally

unqualified to instruct anyone on how to use these, and won't attempt to do so.

 

Many thanks for your suggested changes.

[anjenthedog]

 

It appears I'm underestimating Vortex ability to place mods in the correct order.

 

In fact, I've found that Vortex is surprisingly good at figuring load order. In around 500 mod installs, it's picked "the wrong horse" only once or twice. (for instance, I recently installed a texture overhaul mod, but Vortex incorrectly advised me to load it last, when in fact its description states "let everything overwrite this mod") The last time I don't even recall specifically, and in fact may not even have been Vortex's fault.

 

So for me, that's pretty good track record, 2 errors in ~500 installations. Granted, I might be a lucky best-case exception, but I'm not leet gamer and not really much of a "gamer" at all (this was my first game since FFXI around 15 years ago), and I've not been terribly careful, so I doubt the gods are watching over me in that respect and suspect that my experience is likely what most newbs will see. (presuming a player is expending the effort to read the mod descriptions, requirements tabs, post tabs, and so forth) << this isn't vortex or MO2 this is learning to mod.

[HadToRegister]

If you're using Vortex then LOOT aren't even needed as they're built in, and BOSS is very old.

 

I see this was already covered in the 2nd post.

Also, you should be consistent about the naming of SKSE64
Always call it SKSE64 if it's for Skyrim SE.

Referring to SKSE64 later as SKSE causes confusion for newbies

 

Also, I wouldn't recommend steering people to that other Mod Site that starts with an S.
They were banned from here AND LL for "Questionable" CP mods.

 

[Adonsa]

Hello,

Edited on 30-10-2020 to incorporate excellent changes from from the replies above.

Deletions are strike through

Additions are underlined

 

Hats off and many thanks to

Algabar, Anjenthedog, and HadtoRegister

 

Further changes? Yes, please.

 

Happy Gaming

Adonsa

[gnarly1]

<snippity>

Not to disparage your efforts, but STEP has already done a lot of the heavy lifting for you. It's a comprehensive guide/list of the mods/tools/utilities and tweaks needed to establish a solid foundation on which to build your preferred Skyrim experience.

 

Even if I diverge from their recommended mods for certain aspects, I always use it to ensure I haven't forgotten any of the 'essential' bug and engine fixes, ini modifications and other tools that all contribute to creating a stable game that doesn't crash.

[Adonsa]

Hi gnarly1

 

Wow, what a cool website!!!!! Thanks you for the link; I didn't even know about it.

Please see the 2nd paragraph of the top post and the reason for edit at the bottom.

As for me, I plan to read and use the guides within STEP, which I should have been doing all along.

 

Many thanks, gnarly1