Things to consider when modding.

[theavernus]

I am hoping to actually start an ongoing discussion here to help new, confused, novice, and amateur modders. Some of this may be simple and basic but feel free to expand upon, offer suggestions, constructively criticize the real goal is to help everyone learn something (s) more than they already know.

 

1. Be prepared to start a new game if you are going to add a bunch of mods. QUESTION: Is it ok to use any game that has not been modded? (I have no definitive answer but I would think any level character on an unmodded save would be safe to use.

 

2. Use the S.T.E.P. process. They have an amazing PDF file its long but well worth the read to help install mods in a safer order. DO NOT just go to the mod table, PLEASE!!! do the system check/preparation such as setting your display setting, video card settings, and most important go in and play vanilla Skyrim for a bit to make sure it is stable. Sometimes you get a problem in vanilla Skyrim that can be repaired with the Steam "Verify Game Cache" and/or turning some display and video settings down. I usually play my way from Helgen to Riverwood if it makes it there with no issues everything should be in working order. DO A SAVE GAME IN AN INTERIOR CELL!!!

A. When you start installing mods (with mod manager of choice or manually) from the tables after each category its best to go back into Skyrim load the save you made from #2. above with the new mods and play some from there. When you load the next set of mods use the original save file each time it will be clean.

B. I run BOSS each time I finish with a catagory. Some people may just install all the mods then run BOSS per the S.T.E.P instructions but I do a little at a time it helps pinpoint a bad or maybe just corrupted mod that just needs to be downloaded again.

 

3. SkyrimGems is the next place I look for mods. These mods are not always perfect and compatible with each other but they are in a nice easy to find list that helps spot conflicts before you ever install one.

A. After you get through a section like above it is best to load up Skyrim and play a little bit to see if you get any issues or crashes.Use the save file created in #2.

 

4. Then of course you want to browse The Nexus for any specific mods you are looking for not in S.T.E.P. or SkyrimGems (That is always my next move.) Thinks to consider:

** Same as above however after each mod you install now it would be best to start the game and make things are still rolling. Its actually best to try and utilize the newly installed mod as well if the game crashes at that point you have some thinking to do. You can try and a patch as its conflicting with another mod or you can use tools like Wrye Bash or Tes5Edit. I am not all that familiar with these still learning but the provided documentation with Wrye Bash is very helpful. If you find yourself getting confused slow down and read it again. It is well written and will make sense. Also there are some videos by Gopher on Youtube you can look up.

 

A. How old is the mod? If it was made a long time ago it probably wont be stable with the new updated Skyrim version. (I have never read or found this said online but would love others input and thoughts)

 

B. Keep in mind the mods you have already installed and make sure any new ones you are thinking about on The Nexus is not going to conflict. I have given up on the load order tricks and all that, two mods that touch anything the same are going to cause issues and it makes later troubleshooting that much harder to do.

 

5. Run BOSS again if you haven't been doing so after each mode installed from #4. If you have installed all the mods you want (trust me if you are anything like me you probably haven't) or logic has won out and you have enough. I know Skyrim can handle 255 mods, but anything over 30-40 mods is probably asking for trouble. (More RAM generally means more mods but the more you add the more trouble to be had)

 

6. You can start a new game now. If you have alternate start or character creation mods you will be best off doing that. Or you can just load up the save from #2. in the console (~) in Skyrim type: showracemenu and you can create your character again.

 

Other things to consider: (Would love some discussion and help)

- I have been playing with my mods, all is good but now some new mods are out and I want to play those.

-What I do in this case is if they are not going to conflict with anything I have I install them but do so at the end of my load order. I have read its not good to change the load order of mods. Can anyone confirm or add to this?

 

- Always save in a new slot.

-I also always save indoors. Not sure if this is a help but my game has been stable so I am not going to change what Im doing.

 

- I do not like a mod or mods. If I take them out wont it change my load order? What should I do?

-Well, hope someone smarter than me comes along and answers this. I would read up on how to properly uninstall the mod. From an interior save remove the mod if you need to do a console or menu command. Save Game. Exit Skyrim remove the files associated. Load Skyrim from last save and hope things work.

 

I think here is a good stopping point. I welcome any and all comments. I have been teaching myself through the boards here and the mod authors notes in the mods and these are somethings I have done that have lead to more stable success. I still have issues and sometimes need to just start over and here is how to do that Vanilla Skyrim Install hope its used infrequently and with success.

Edited February 7, 2013 by theavernus