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TLDR: Which tools do I use, how do I mod or fix my Skyrim and how do I manage my mods? Just for completeness, I add my collection of modding tools to this blog. This includes the tools that I use as an enthusiastic player with far beyond 350 mods in my main games and on the other hand the tools that I use as an aspiring (but still bloody noice) mod creator Tools as a player Mod Organizer 1 = my main tool to get my profiles and vast amount of mods under control TES5Edit = the swiss army knife to either understand what mods are doing, cleaning the dirty ones or just to fix little things quick and dirty Mator's Merge Plugins = the best thing to cut my number of mods down to a managable few Mator Smash = to solve mod conflicts .. though I am not using it to it's full power.... yet Markdf's Fallrim Tools = to clean my save files ... or at least check them in regular intervals IronBrother8800's NIO Cleaner = to clean the skse cosave of bloat and speed up my save/load sooo much Notepad++ = for all editing purposes .. and as a modder: getting ready for the CK skyrimeditor.ini and skyrimeditorprefs.ini https://www.loverslab.com/blogs/entry/7765-entrails-under-the-hood-my-ini-files unpackaging scripts.rar as a mod in my left pane adding the SKYUI SDK as a mod in my left pane making sure SKSE/scripts are available as a mod in my left pane Video Guides & Tutorials Gamerpoets Mod Organizer ( S.T.E.P. ) Video Tutorials https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/53790 Gamerpoets MO1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHgULB431Os&list=PLlN8weLk86XhxbjEbQ6S7hG75u_HdU60t Gamerpoets MO2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG3eqyNOByw&list=PLlN8weLk86Xh3ue76x2ibqtmMramwQmHB Gamerpoets modding Skyrim general - it's tools in there https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP13Fc1v1r4&list=PLlN8weLk86XjyJvXZ2MDBJRyeBPDMKZqx Gopher ModOrganizer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4ZQpzf_iAE&list=PLE7DlYarj-DcLS9LyjEqOJwFUQIIQewcK TES5Edit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw3g_N1jcZQ Mator's Merge Plugins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFsHhRBilfY&list=PL0HT5brYH2MMH376LwQfkjbjz8R7pk_mh Im still looking for good video guides Mator Smash ... ? NIO Cleaner ... ? Fallrim Tools ... ? not for myself, but for others and for the sake of completeness. So I can add them here Mastering the Creation Kit is a whole questline in itself : https://www.loverslab.com/blogs/entry/7679-window-peeking-or-how-do-i-learn-to-love-the-creation-kit Rydin's tips for using Mod Organizer https://www.loverslab.com/blogs/entry/4058-tesvskyrim-support-mod-organizer-tips/ References Fallrim Tools https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/76776 Mator Merge PlugIns https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/69905 Mator Smash https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/90987 ModOrganizer1 https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/1334 NIO Cleaner https://www.loverslab.com/files/file/3786-netimmerse-override-cleaner-skse-co-save-cleaner-utility/ Notepad++ https://notepad-plus-plus.org/ Papyrus Compiler Plus https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/74672 SkyUI SDK https://github.com/schlangster/skyui/wiki TES5Edit https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/25859

TLDR: Which LoversLab mods do I play in my main game(s), .. play I outside of a story, do I merge, etc... Groundworks - my LL style basic functionality story telling extending and enhancing not yet in my main game(s) merging LL mods my load order (will follow) (I am) on the look out for ... and NOT looking for Gallery References Groundworks - my (LL) style In general I play Skyrim as an RPG. In consequence, every action I take and every mod I play must fit to my story. There are very interesting mods that I really like, but if they don't fit into this story, I won't play them in my main game. That's what I have no-story profiles for. Sceond thing is that my general style is a bit intermingled with the current character, so the borderline between both aspects is a bit fuzzy Basic functionality First thing is it to set up my LL mod backbone. The one that all other mods can use later. Story telling My next concern is that my mods need to support the story of my PC extending and enhancing The next section are mods, that are fun to play and enhance the overall feeling of my story, give little side notes , make my live harder,or just enhance my immersion not yet, but (probably) soon Usually I don't start my game with all mods installed and active. I am a slow player and things develop quicker as I can finish a game. So I always add mods later into my game. The next ones on my list are already carved in stone, I simply waiit for the right ingame opportunity to put them in place. Merging LL mods I rely very much on merging my mods. And although complex mods are usually difficult, it works quite well for some LL mods. Some mods failed me in my merge experiments, so I add these here for others to learn My load order Mod Priority order (Mod Organizer, left pane) Mod Index Order (Mod Organizer, right pane), It follows the priority order on the look out for ... and NOT looking for The basic treats of my game are relatively stable now, but I could still do with some finetuning or additions Gallery Most mods have their own good picture galleries. So I don't think another one is needed. But I may add them here, if they are interesting for anyone. References My current MAIN game ... in my current game, but will probably replaced in the near future SIDE games / or yet to be included in my MAIN game / or replaced Little helpers if the need arises

While I am busy to gain the upper hand in my quest in the almighty CK beast's lair, I learned that I need to adjust my skyrimeditor.ini. And since I'm in this terrain I might as well post my skyrim.ini and skyrimprefs.ini for everybody to have a look under the hood how I run things. SKYRIM.INI SKYRIMPREFS.INI SKSE.INI SKYRIMEDITOR.INI SKYRIMEDITORPREFS.INI Any comments are welcome. References http://wiki.step-project.com/Guide:Skyrim_INI http://wiki.step-project.com/Guide:SkyrimPrefs_INI http://wiki.step-project.com/Guide:Skyrim_Configuration_Settings

TLDR: Which location mods do I play, which locations do I modify, which locations do I add, player homes, villages, etc... big mods (my elephants) modified locations added locations my own patches to mods (home brew) merging location mods my load order (I am) on the look out for ... and NOT looking for Gallery References Many quest mods add their own additional locations, build houses, etc... (e.g. Angrims Apprentice) I skip these in this list here (mostly) and don't mention them. Big Mods (my elephants) Expanded Towns and Cities (cities and villages, the whole dose for me) https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/13608 JK's Skyrim (major city version) https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/61035 Modified locations Basically these are existing single vanilla locations that get a new touch: Added locations These mods add houses and other stuff to previously empty spaces: My own patches (home brew) None publicly noteworthy, yet. I need to get a better understanding of the CK first. But it will be some basements to vanilla houses Merging location mods Location mods are usually a good victim for your merging urge. My first merge is all those various smaller spots: Next are the ones dedicated to inner cities: .. and the ones dedicated to the surrounding area of cities: And last is the Cidhna Mine mod, that I merged with the SL mod "Devious Cidhna" https://www.loverslab.com/files/file/1052-devious-cidhna-may-5-2018/. It was just inviting itself. My load order Mod Priority order (Mod Organizer, left pane) Mod Index Order (Mod Organizer, right pane), It follows the priority order on the look out for ... and NOT looking for I'm still looking for a replacement of Oakwood. Because? Because I want to get rid of any steam-crap in my game. Gallery Most mods have their own good picture galleries. So I don't think another one is needed. But I may add them here, if they are interesting for anyone. Whiterun Expansion - Labor District - the Brothel https://www.loverslab.com/blogs/entry/6746-flower-basketa-brothel-in-whiterun/ References (please see the links in the lists)

TLDR: Which NPCs do I take as my follower, which follower mods do play vanilla followers modded followers merging follower mods my load order (I am) on the look out for ... and NOT looking for Gallery References Vanilla followers The Huscarls: Mainly, I use them for what they are - huscarls. I talk to them, I hire them and I place them in the associated house of the hold to take care of it. If I don't own a house there, I leave them where they are. Some mods (like SLAA) make use of them and that's when I take them with me. Others: Except for quests in mods like SLAA, I don't use them at all. Modded Followers In almost all my games I use modded followers. My main concern is that they are stable, match my story, or at least don't interfere with it and preferably that they are voiced and tell their own story. Furthermore I try to use them in their own role as what they are. So I won't ask a Geralt of Rivia to sing a song for me. As the NPC name already hints, I am a huge fan of Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher novells and it shouldn't surprise that I enjoy to have them as NPCs around in my game. In alphabeitical order, my favorite follower mods are: Cirilla (Ciri) Fiona Elen Riannon Geralt Of Rivia INIGO Triss Merigold Vilja Yennefer of Vengerberg Aside from my preferred followers I have a few more active, but just for minor functionality or for the sake of an immersive tale. Jeneva Minor Signar Right now inactive are those that don't match my ongoing story (yet) and would just clutter up my game. Cerys an Craite Keira Metz Wolf Follower Mergeing follower mods I like to merge my mods in Skyrim and managed to achieve a reduction of down to 1/3rd of the actual number in my load order. But basically, all my attempts to merge sophisticated follower mods like those above failed and suffered from bugs. Said that, I don't try it anymore and only merge simple followers. I keep the bigger ones stand alone. Load Order Mod Priority order (Mod Organizer, left pane) - Wolf Follower (inactive) - Cerys an Craite(inactive) - Keira Metz(inactive) Geralt Of Rivia Ciri Followe Triss Merigold Yennefer Inigo Vilja in Skyrim Mod Index Order (Mod Organizer, right pane) Geralt.esp LV_Cirilla.esp TrissMerigoldW3.esp LV_Yennefer.esp Inigo.esp EMCompViljaSkyrim.esp On the lookout for ... and NOT looking for I am still looking for new followers, especially those, that match my PC's tales how I want to develop their stories. And my quality expectations have risen over the time, so I simply do not care about simple "good-looking" NPC's if they don't tell a story. Opposed to that I am not (anymore) on the lookout for ... and dumped them technically instable, too buggy too intrusive ridiculous, meaningless, lame overpowered And since I still haven't found certain charatcer types that I am looking for I will sooner or later create them on my own. Probably I would have done so years ago, if I would just have a bit more time at hand and be a bit more capable in the CK a sword master from Hammerfell, expatriate, with a shady Alik'r past. Something like a retired James Bond. a druid type alchemist a thief/rogue/poacher type vagabond Truth been told, these are derivates of some former Oblivion and Skyrim characters of mine. Yes, yes, I know it is stupid to meet and talk to yourself Gallery Introductions Cozy at home or simply relaxing Adventuring Proper education References Cerys an Craite https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/70858 Cirilla (Ciri) Fiona Elen Riannon https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/68567 Geralt Of Rivia https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/71730 INIGO http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/40960 Jeneva Minor http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/49730 Keira Metz https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/73583 Signar https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/65099 Triss Merigold by ImAarwyn - https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/69893 + my own patch for her Triss https://www.loverslab.com/files/file/7960-triss-merigold-voiced-follower-patch/ Triss Merigold by ZZJay https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/108930 Vilja https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/26393 Wolf Follower http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/39625 Yennefer of Vengerberg https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/69939

“There's a grain of truth in every fairy tale,” ― Andrzej Sapkowski, The Last Wish This little list is an overview of the tools and mods that I like for a Witcher 1 playthrough. I play TW1 on the same PC as I play Skyrim, and it works even quite well on our small notebook with Linux/Wine and can be carried to the couch in the livingroom. The Tools Aside from compression/package software, I don't need any special tools to play a modded Witcher1 game. Except for one little "editing", all mods in my list below are just files in folders, that can simply be copied into your .../Data/Override folder and work right away. If you don't have an "Override" folder in your "Data", you can simply create it. In there, I create a folder for each mod to keep an overview. Mods - Camera & UI First thing, I always get rid of the annoying intro movie crap. Regarding the camera, I used to play with 1st Person View or FPP https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher/mods/203 to have a dynamic zoom with my mousewheel and get a first person view. But I replaced it now with the newer Tweak Camera and Font https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher/mods/730 Mods - Models, textures, Overhauls Many mods try to overcome the 2007-ish style or are just shifting things more into line with the later games. Abigail Slightly Less Common https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher/mods/784 not yet tested, but it looks promising Lore Triss https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher/mods/753 very important to me, as her vanilla TW1 dress is wrong on sooo many levels. I play with pack 5 Natural Shani https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher/mods/783 less comically clothing Shani see through black nighty https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher/mods/240 just a little change for the night Triss see through black nighty https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher/mods/239 same as above TW1 - Carmen and Friends https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher/mods/645 a bit less block-faced Witcher 3 Geralt Face for The Witcher https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher/mods/840 aligning the face of Geralt a bit more with TW2 and TW3 The Witcher Overhaul Project https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher/mods/703 many many textures and sounds to be refurbished. Eye- and ear-candy Witcher 1 Dice Board Background https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher/mods/828 Make the stupid dice board at least "look" a bit pleasing TW1 - Hot Dice and Board https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher/mods/638 same idea as above Mods - Gameplay effects Some mods shift the way, how the game plays itself. Faster Movement for Geralt https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher/mods/788 I use the 20% speed version. We have some chapters with long annoying foot marches. Sex takes time https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher/mods/330 A very important mod as it adds the missing surrounding flair to many of the romance scenes Fair Kalkstein Mod https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher/mods/307 fixes a little fairness issue in one quest ... or was that intentionally unfair ? Leuvaarden Buys Salamandra Badges https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher/mods/659 making use of certain loot Leuvaarden Buys Salamander Pins https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher/mods/955 replacing the mod above to make use of certain loot Reverend is guilty https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher/mods/839 fixing a probable design mistake in a quest. Lore-friendlier now, I think TALAR will always SURVIVE https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher/mods/747 A very important mod as it keeps an important NPC from his premature death before the story in TW3 takes place Toss a coin to your Witcher Cutscene Mod https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher/mods/816 More flair from the netflix series Mods - Inventory I only use one mod, to help the rather clumsy inventory to it's feet. Item Stacking and Equipment Slots Mod https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher/mods/259 It stops wasting the precious inventory slots and stacks more items together Mods - Bugfixes Some stuff need to be fixed, even though the game has matured very much Project Mersey - The Witcher - https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher/mods/941 Bug fixes, restored content, QoL improvements Mods - Cheats In my regular games, I don't feel the need to use cheats. But I like to be prepared Otherwise, I use cheats to cut through annoying parts of the game, that are no fun at all for me. Convenient Shopkeeper https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher/mods/364 gives you a merchant, when you need one Genie Wish mod https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher/mods/246 It gives you orens, talents, weapons, armour, blade enhancements, potions Teleport at will https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher/mods/228 shorten the time of some annoying travels in later chapters Many Items by Cory Kerens https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher/mods/340 combining all of the above with a bunch of other cheats Easier Dice Poker https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher/mods/742 I do love Gwent from TW3 but the stupid dice throwing in TW1 just annoys me. This mod solves that. Play and be done with it. References My The Witcher 1 blog post https://www.loverslab.com/blogs/entry/9528-window-peeking-the-witcher-1/ .. Credits and thank to all the authors of the mods above!

This little list is an overview of the tools and mods that I use for a Witcher 2 playthrough. Unfortunately, TW2 isn't that mod-friendly. The Tools Gibbed RED Tools Mods - Bug Fixes Walls have ears and Suspect Thorak Bug fix replaced by PM-TW2UP Wild Hunt journal entries fix replaced PM-TW2UP Project Mersey - The Witcher 2 Unofficial Patch Mods - Camera & UI Witcher 3 Icons Mods - Models, textures, Overhauls Aen Seidhe Eyes Hiuuz's TW3 Triss Merigold More_Sexy_II and More_Sexy_III (though I didn't play with III) Sodden Scars for Triss Witcher 2 Tattoo Removal Mods - Gameplay effects Faster Exploration Run Speed Maximum level 70 not 35 Medallion Cooldown Reduced Mods - Inventory Better Imported Items Mutagen slots Purchasable Mutagens Quickslot Potions Mods - Cheats 3 talents per level + Dice cheat Toggleable Cat Effect with a Hotkey References 3 talents per level + Dice cheat - https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher2/mods/863 Aen Seidhe Eyes - https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher2/mods/948 Better Imported Items - https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher2/mods/54 Faster Exploration Run Speed - https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher2/mods/915 Gibbed RED Tools - https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher2/mods/768 Hiuuz's TW3 Triss Merigold - https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher2/mods/920 Maximum level 70 not 35 - https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher2/mods/674 Medallion Cooldown Reduced - https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher2/mods/722 More_Sexy_II - https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher2/mods/808 More_Sexy_III - https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher2/mods/950 Mutagen slots (5 variations) - https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher2/mods/864 Purchasable Mutagens - https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher2/mods/213 Project Mersey - The Witcher 2 Unofficial Patch - https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher2/mods/981 Quickslot Potions - https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher2/mods/740 Sodden Scars for Triss - https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher2/mods/930 Toggleable Cat Effect with a Hotkey - https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher2/mods/918 Walls have ears and Suspect Thorak Bug fix - https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher2/mods/886 Wild Hunt journal entries fix - https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher2/mods/885 Witcher 2 Tattoo Removal - https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher2/mods/277 Witcher 3 Icons - https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher2/mods/783 ... to be continued

TLDR: How do I arrange my mods in Skyrim (LE)? Manually categorizing them into a fixed scheme and by using ModOrganizer. Basically, I follow a guide by MissJennaBee (Expanded Towns and Cities mod) https://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?/topic/753253-only-you-can-prevent-forest-fires/ Your ESM Files; Bug-Fix type Mods; Game Structure and/or UI Mods: Character Appearance Mods (For NPCs and Self); Mods that Add and/or Change Locations; * Mods that Add and/or Change Items; Mods that Add NPCs; Texture Mods; Environmental Mods (things like Climates of Tamriel, Sounds of Skyrim, etc.) Mods with Gameplay Changes; Reproccers, AV, and Bashed Patches On top, I am an avid player of SkyRe, or nowadays PerMa. For folks like me, Raulfin had added a bit of help for that raised level of complexity: https://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?showtopic=2213034 And what about SL mods? Well, I try to categorize them into the scheme above and simply put them in there. And what about merging mods? I do! Heavily! But only those, that can fit together into the same type and slot. I never mix. And once I merged them, they are sorted straight into that scheme? Formerly I used TES5Edit for that purpose with the Merge Plugins xEdit Script. Nowaydays I prefer Mator's standalone Merge Plugins for the job. LOOT? I threw that away. Not because it's a bad tool. But the rules are crap, and it can't cope with merges anyway. Yes, I could create my own rules. But I can as easily leave it be and save/load my manually created loadorder. ModManager? I took the long route .... Skyrim Vanilla Loader, NMM and someday I discovered that there is ModOrganizer. And that's where I am. Why? Many reasons: I DO like to test new mods, shift them around, break them because I still am to stupid to mod mods to my liking I have different characters, so I want profiles But Main reason: I am highly allergic to anything that modifies my game folder! And MO satisfies exactly theese needs. References Mod Organizer https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/1334 Merge Plugins https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/69905 My toolbox ... (** soon **) mods that I play part I - my follower mods https://www.loverslab.com/blogs/entry/7712-entrails-someone-is-following-me-my-followers/ part II - my location mods https://www.loverslab.com/blogs/entry/7754-entrails-where-am-i-here-my-location-mods/ part III - my LL mods https://www.loverslab.com/blogs/entry/7786-entrails-xxx-my-ll-mods/ My INI files for Skyrim https://www.loverslab.com/blogs/entry/7765-entrails-under-the-hood-my-ini-files/ ..