guide Skyrim SE for Beginners - V 3.2.6 (Outdated)

[misterpipes]

Oddities found from a brief play:

Annoyingly, Myrwatch has the weird landscape that doesn't quite merge properly into the surrounding area. But I'm beginning to think that is a problem with the Myrwatch CC, not with the mods.

 

Iron Arrows may have a texture issue (seems to be trying to get textures from a mod that isn't installed).

Spoiler

 

Something weird about Solitude:

Spoiler

 

More weirdness in Solitude

Spoiler

 

The Blue Palace interior looks stunning.

 

A pretty reliable CTD with dynDOLOD enabled, near Tundra Homestead (just outside Whiterun). Probably due to the giant purple towers. I think its realted to Blubbos trees, since the towers match with aspen trees. And maybe pine trees as well (since theres one of those there as well). But i've already redone dyndolod 3 times today, and thats quite enough for one day, so further dyndolod testing will have to wait
 

Spoiler

 

[akadeadpool]

@misterpipes Holy molly, that's lots of missing textures.

[misterpipes]

It was weird, because it was just that one building, in the entire (extended, inside and outside) Solitude.

 

[Aylis_Temp]

@misterpipes

That is either a texture/mesh conflict or a problem with parallax.

 

Try installing this shader and check if you got the newest version of ENB (link is in the list and the new ones make the shader obsolete).

 

Worst case you have to redownload texture packs.

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Surprisingly it is 'Enhanced Solitude' itself that got a problem. Digging now for a solution.

 

So we need Enhanced Solitude with Vanilla Textures. Using our own textures, and not the ones from the mod, fixes the issue.

Spoiler

 

But i'll kick out 'JK's Winking Skeever'. Whenever JK puts out a mod it turns to gold, except his palaces and inns. Those often enough don't work out for me, and the issue just reminded me of that.

Edited November 2, 2022 by Aylis_Temp

[blsrazor]

ODefeat requires the mod NL_MCM - A Modular MCM Framework in order to have the mcm. It does work and I have it just under SkyUI SE - Flashing Savegames Fix in the mod order. This allows the full function of the mod.

[wollboi]

@Varithina I'm also worried about patches for NPC mods. "Are those supposed to be deactivated to?" I just find it better to not risk it.

 

@Aylis_Temp I don't have a single overlap, and both Pandorable's and Kalilies's both say they're designed not to. Unless you start venturing out into some of Pandorable's other mods, which definitely do overlap with both. I'm also using Metalsaber's NPC overhaul for orcs and vampires, because for some reason neither of those get much love (there's some overlap there, but haven't seen any black faces yet).

 

Edit - This looks fun. Haven't played with it yet but I will. Immersive Equipping Animation

Edited November 2, 2022 by wollboi

[misterpipes]

7 hours ago, Aylis_Temp said:

Try installing this shader and check if you got the newest version of ENB (link is in the list and the new ones make the shader obsolete).

No joy there.

 

I've gone and redownloaded the texture packs (Noble Skyrim, Solitude HD by CleverCharff and Enhanced Solitude) and still the same issue. I even pulled the nif for the house out of the BSA and checked it in nifskope, and I have all the dds files it's apparently missing.

What really gets me is this picture:

Spoiler

Those two sets of steps - they are part of the same nif, and and use the same texture. And both display the texture correctly in nifskope. This is getting me curious.

 

On a happier note, figured out my Myrwatch issue. So possible optional addition for your list (for those with the full AE, which includes Myrwatch): Myrwatch Majestic Mountains Landscape Patch

Edited November 3, 2022 by misterpipes
nifskope displaying textures right

[Varithina]

7 hours ago, akadeadpool said:

When you do the merge, does the program show any red number, like suspicious plugins? My experience with EasyNpc has been very smooth for me. Maybe I could help.

 

No I fixed all the errors it was popping up, and after spending far too many hours trying to get it sorted, removed the merge and the tool itself, now I just make do with the various npc replacers I use and live with it.

[Aylis_Temp]

@misterpipes

The solution is in the second part of the post.

 

When something like this pops up i'll immediately work on it. 

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? Wth is this!?

 

Seasons of Skyrim SKSE

 

I guess i just found something i simply have to check out.

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That mod (and its extensions) would spare us a noticable amount of separate downloads. I'm dropping mods left and right and it still looks better.

Edited November 3, 2022 by Aylis_Temp

[misterpipes]

6 hours ago, Aylis_Temp said:

The solution is in the second part of the post.

And thats what I get for skim reading posts the second time, I miss the updates to the posts.

[Aylis_Temp]

A few screenies (new landscape and trees):

Spoiler

 

The only drawbacks i can see atm:

The generation of terrain LOD has returned.

The generation of the terrain LOD takes longer.

Some areas have no seasons (like Sovngard and Blackreach) so there's a second run for terrain LOD required.

 

Advantages:

Less mods to download.

The trees are a class of their own when it comes to visuals.

Many many more diverse trees.

I now get better FPS than before. *Let's see how i can ruin that again...* ?

Less ESM/ESP required

 

Spoiler

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Depending on the viewpoint this was either a very short or a very long night. But i finally figured the setup out and got rid of the visual glitches in the snowy areas of northern Skyrim. 

 

And now parallax is finally working correctly with 'Lux' and 'Simplicity of Snow'. 'Almost right' isn't good enough for me...

 

And now to my seventh run of DynDOLOD. ? Hopefully this will work out and i'll never ever have to run it again!

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Darn, i forgot the grass cache. So there's another run in the future... ?

Edited November 4, 2022 by Aylis_Temp

[wollboi]

"Returned the Terrain LOD has."

 

@misterpipes That's so weird, as many times as I've used Myrwatch with MM I've never noticed the conflict. I'm blind.

 

[Meaningless old man rant - I have mixed feelings about Myrwatch. It's beautiful, but it feels like something you shouldn't be able to unlock until around level 20. I mean, there's a badass chaurus outside the door as a gatekeeper, but there are a million ways of dealing with him. And the "quest" is solved by using one of the spells you have at the start of the game. They could maybe have made it so that you needed to cast an Adept or Expert level spell on it or something, that way you're not getting your wizard tower unless you're, y'know, a wizard. And once you get in it's way too busted. You get a staff enchanter, so no need to do the quest in Solstheim. The garden is pretty busted, just plant something, sleep three days, there you go, power level the hell out of Alchemy using Mora Tapinella, Scaly Pholiota, and Creep Cluster ... which are already in the room. You've get a ton of free expensive stuff, including potions and ingredients that are hard to find at level 1. I'm nitpicking, but it just seems like too much of a treat at the beginning of the game. But so is a lot of the CC content--like the civil war champion armor. Holy shit that's busted at level 1.]

[misterpipes]

Yeah, Myrwatch is beautiful, but really easy to get. But the conflict is pretty easy to miss, its only really a couple of rocks at weird angles and water on the path (which could have been intended, except I'd seen the place in vanilla originally).

 

[My meaningless old man rant] It also suffers from addon player homes syndrome, which is its miles away from anywhere (its not the worst from CC content, thats a toss up bettween Dead Man's Dread and Nchuanthumz - if you find yourself in need of a bed and are near Nchuanthumz, its still easier to run to Kynesgrove). At least Myrwatch is close to a town (which doesn't have a carriage in vanilla). It would be good if Myrwatch quest did ned something mage related. An Adept or Expert level speel would be good. Might have a look at that myself. But if you really want busted Alchemy stuff, Be A Farmer. You can grow 12 Creep Clusters, 12 Scaly Pholiotia and 20 Mora Tapinella at the same time, for 60 potions at once (and green thumbs doubles that, guess where I powerlevel alchemy... You do have to get the ingrediants yourself to plant them though.)

[wollboi]

Oh, believe me, that stupid farm and I are very well acquainted.

[Aylis_Temp]

Working on release version 0.9. Got to see how i handle this best. Especially with some mods that havn't been updated yet but would be needed to continue my work.

Edited November 4, 2022 by Aylis_Temp

[wollboi]

@Aylis_Temp I'm playing around with NPC replacers lately. If you decide to go with Kalilies (saw you're testing it in your spreadsheet), I'd go with this version. It lets you keep your own skin and mesh textures. Other than that it's identical.

https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/73003

 

And FWIW, I'm quickly remembering why I had so many problems with Bijin ...

 

Also, if there's anything I can do to help out, please let me know. I've got two three-day weekends in a row.

Edited November 5, 2022 by wollboi

[Aylis_Temp]

Checking on a few last things... 

Spoiler

 

[akadeadpool]

Coldsun has been putting out good follower mods lately.

 

Successfully installed Ostim, I must say it performed much better than SL. Although the UI is a bit instrusive and the control take some time to get used to.

[Aylis_Temp]

Release 'Skyrim AE for Beginners 0.9 (3BA/HIMBO/Seasons)'

This is as far as i can get without the mods that need an update.

 

For previous AE version users to easier find the mods they have to remove (you'll need the second file too once you've done this):

SAE-DELETE.ods

 

Release file:

SAE V0.9.ods

 

From now on this will be the foundation for all upcoming changes.

 

Note:

If you need more recommendations for the configuration of the mods then just tell me about it. Those are easily added.

Purple mods have beeen moved from previous iterations.

'Testing' should work fine, but i havn't seen all of it yet.

'Watching' are the mods i want to include but either they or my guide arn't/isn't ready yet.

 

 

And as always a little music to go along:

Spoiler

 

 

Edited November 5, 2022 by Aylis_Temp

[KalAndrew]

Would you recommend JK's Skyrim at all or is it safer to use the individual JK mods?

[Aylis_Temp]

4 hours ago, KalAndrew said:

Would you recommend JK's Skyrim at all or is it safer to use the individual JK mods?

JK got some really good mods, but some are a bit off (in my opinion). I've used JK's Skyrim before and decided against using it because of that.

 

In the end this guide is just a long list of suggestions of what i think is a good modded Skyrim. Especially when it comes to something like armor. My intention was to get it as realistic as possible. Others want a more skimpy setup. You have to decide for yourself what you prefer (and install ).

 

When it comes to an AIO mod that changes the cities and towns i'd recommend 'Dawn of Skyrim' not JK.

Edited November 5, 2022 by Aylis_Temp

[trgdolors]

@Aylis_Temp

Just curious. Why did you remove the 3D plants like the Cathedral - 3D Deathbell and go with Mari's plants instead? Sorry if this is obvious.

[Aylis_Temp]

9 hours ago, trgdolors said:

@Aylis_Temp

Just curious. Why did you remove the 3D plants like the Cathedral - 3D Deathbell and go with Mari's plants instead? Sorry if this is obvious.

Cause seasons landscape got more adapted textures for Mari. So i wanted to keep the installation as simple as possible.

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@All

Are the pics for DynDOLOD big enough or too small? I got bigger ones here but i didn't want the size of the file go up too much (will have to add a few more).

Edited November 6, 2022 by Aylis_Temp

[wollboi]

I thought they were big enough. I'm not able to get DynDOLOD to finish. Taking out the cleaned DLC textures helps (it complains about Update.esm being outdated, which makes sense) but I'm still hitting errors. I'm assuming the Seasons and Snows checkboxes should also be checked?

 

Edit - And the solution was to run it three times. ****ing DynDOLOD.

Edited November 6, 2022 by wollboi

[Aylis_Temp]

@wollboi

Checking the Snows checkbox caused issues here. Without it the next six runs were fine. I'll rework the instructions for DynDOLOD (plus adding more pics) today.

 

But i fear you're going to hate me. I found a few mods...

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@All

DO NOT run DynDOLOD atm!

 

I just found a modder for all the smaller spots (Alchemist's shack, Anise's cabin, Loreius farm, etc) which i want to check. He also reworked the exterior of Whiterun which now makes way more sense than before.

 

Rough preview (no DynDOLOD atm)

Spoiler

 

Reworked eastern area

 

Extended watchtower (NE)

 

Best thing is that i didn't have to remove a single mod (everything works nicely together) and his mods are mostly ESL.

Edited November 6, 2022 by Aylis_Temp