Should I mod Oldrim instead of SE?

[noir_78]

I installed SE over the weekend and its been a struggle from the start. Is there any good reason why I should not go back to oldrim? 

I could sit here and whine about SE version numbers or out of date mod dependencies etc but I think most people here have dealt with that too.

I used to have a great setup on oldrim but since I haven't tried I don't know if thats possible anymore. Your thoughts?

[Karkhel]

It really boils down to things you are willing to put up with in LE vs SE currently and some mods only being either in SE or LE and possibly never being ported to either, I will say SE feels more like pain in the ass right now it seems, LE is still a lot of hoops, but they are well documented well laid out in guides hoops. Try to make a modlist for both before actually making it in either, and see if you have some mods that will make you want to put up with SE or LE more. If you want better looking combat above all else for example I'd go with SE, just seems like better options in terms of animations. Personally I don't care about this, skyrims combat won't become good just because you turn it into a wallmart sekiro, might as well focus on other parts of the gamplay more. But this is the thing its just really personal preference. For me its mostly 2 LE loverslab mods... one of which has kinda borked SE ver and the other is never getting one.

[spoonsinger]

Not sure https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/77779?tab=posts will be available for LE, and that papyrus processing speed boost is quite a good justification for SSE alone. However LE still looks better.

[alex77r4]

Special Edition has been broken again with the relase of the Aniversary edition and more recently with the GOG edition.

Spoiler

Current Anniversary Edition build 2.2.3 (game version 1.6.640): Download 7z File

Current GOG Anniversary Edition build 2.2.3 (game version 1.6.659): Download 7z File

Current Special Edition build 2.0.20 (game version 1.5.97): Download 7z File - you probably want the AE build above unless you know what you are doing

 

Now we have 3 different Special versions, each one with a different sub-version number, and you must look very carreful what exact version you have because each sub-version number need a different group of DLL's starting with SKSE. Some DLL's has been updated to use Address Library and/or NG but others not and catch the exact group of working DLL for your exact sub-version number is a pain.

 

The best option, IMO, is downgrade your Special version to 1.5.97 ussing some patch published in Nexus because practically all the mods with DLL have a working DLL for 1.5.97 and for that I continue playing and developing with 1.5.97 and SKSE 2.0.20 because, IMO, is the most stable version.

Edited November 14, 2022 by alex77r4

[Frosferes]

I agree with the above post. My personal recommendation is to use the last version of Skyrim SE before AE was released, which is version 1.5.97. This will give you a good middle ground between stability and compatibility with the latest mods. You can backport Skyrim AE using this patcher: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/57618 and you should also disable automatic updates if playing through a platform like Steam.

[noir_78]

I started out downgrading to SE 1.5.97 per a suggestion by a youtuber I was following to install all my foundation mods. I think I started running into stuff that wasn't supported for that version number and had to bail. I don't remember if it was nexus mods or ones from here. I reverted back to 1.6.640 to try again and I think I shot myself in the foot. Its so damn time consuming to fiddle with everything and have it all work together when a lot of times I'm just winging it because a lot of stuff is over my head. I do my research but that doesn't always provide answers. (rant over) 

[Frosferes]

12 minutes ago, noir_78 said:

I started out downgrading to SE 1.5.97 per a suggestion by a youtuber I was following to install all my foundation mods. I think I started running into stuff that wasn't supported for that version number and had to bail. I don't remember if it was nexus mods or ones from here. I reverted back to 1.6.640 to try again and I think I shot myself in the foot. Its so damn time consuming to fiddle with everything and have it all work together when a lot of times I'm just winging it because a lot of stuff is over my head. I do my research but that doesn't always provide answers. (rant over) 

 

If you are using a mod manager such as MO2 or Vortex, you should be able to filter your modlist down to the ones containing an SKSE .dll file. This can help pinpoint which mods you need to be careful with the version number of. Mods listed as SE compatible that do not contain such libraries should have no problem running on any 64bit version of Skyrim (SE or AE). This is in addition to making sure your SKSE version is correct (2.0.20).

Edited November 14, 2022 by Frosferes

[alex77r4]

12 minutes ago, noir_78 said:

I started out downgrading to SE 1.5.97 per ... I reverted back to 1.6.640 to try again ...

 

As i said, the most big problem is locate the exact version of the DLL that match your game version. If the mod have DLL you must look very carreful the description of the files to select the correct version. All the DLL's have the same name but internally are diferent for each sub-version of the game. You must select it in a manual way and be very carreful.

 

Spoiler

 

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Each mod with DLL can have their own order for the versions. You can't download always the first file. You must read the descriptyion of each file and select, in a manual way, the exact version that match with the sub-version of your game. Is a pain... is a tedious operation and must be made in a manual way... but is the only way...

 

 

[Fotogen]

 

2 hours ago, noir_78 said:

I installed SE over the weekend and its been a struggle from the start

Why did you switched? Legit question? Is it just because or is there a mod on SE, that you'd really like?

 

If you mod, you are in trouble on LE or SE/AE. Its the nature of the beast. Add mods, CTDs happen. Mods have bugs, they conflict with each other and so on.

 

So, no difference between LE and SE when it comes to "pains of modding".

 

SE/AE binary versions? Just put steam on "update when i start the game", and you are done. You start SE with SKSE launcher, so no problem with steam upgrading you Skyrim if you don't want to. Plus, make a simple backup. Copy Sykyrim files somewhere else. And if even that fails, Google how to downgrade.
 

If it's "just because", then don't bother. But if you want that special SE/AE mod, then: no pain no gain.

[noir_78]

@alex77r4 I appreciate your advice. I'll perhaps try again since you guys have had good experience with 1.5.97

@Fotogen I assumed SE was getting more mod traffic and LE was possibly abandoned based on nothing but how long it had been since I have played oldrim.

[Shadowbroker3495]

6 hours ago, noir_78 said:

I installed SE over the weekend and its been a struggle from the start. Is there any good reason why I should not go back to oldrim? 

I could sit here and whine about SE version numbers or out of date mod dependencies etc but I think most people here have dealt with that too.

I used to have a great setup on oldrim but since I haven't tried I don't know if thats possible anymore. Your thoughts?

Minefield topic as modders tend to be almost religious about their choice of game version.

 

LE version is from 2011 and 32-bit. SE version is from 2016 and 64 bit so from a technical perspective SE version should be better.

 

If you are experienced modder then LE version should be fine. SE version is probably a bit more stable and thus a bit more forgiving for less experienced modders.

 

The whole situation about AE versions is a complete mess. People seem to use 3 different versions (1.6.353, 1.6.629 or latest 1.6.640)

 

Personally i've stayed with 1.5.97 as there is really not much content in AE version yet. It may change in the future though.

 

Nexus site has a lot of downgrade options, if you need it. If you do choose to go with SE version 1.5.97, you need to stop Steam from auto updating the game. If you can't find 1.5.97 version of some mods, then just post a request here at LL.

 

No matter which version you choose, it is not going to be plug & play. Install a crash logger mod to faster debug crashes and save your sanity.

 

[alex77r4]

3 hours ago, Shadowbroker3495 said:

Minefield topic as modders tend to be almost religious about their choice of game version.

 

Not all. I'm developing now in Special 1.5.97 and publish Yamete REDUX one week ago. Of course works in Legendary, Special, Aniversary and VR because i not use any DLL whithout a public and stable version for each version of the game. When is necessary i only use the functions availables in the lowest version to ensure compatibility.

 

I know that only a small group play in VR but i think is stupid left them abandoned only for not write a bit more of code.

And Legendary lost players every day but today get 4322 simultaneous players. We must abandon them?

Edited November 15, 2022 by alex77r4

[Shadowbroker3495]

8 hours ago, alex77r4 said:

I'm developing now in Special 1.5.97 and publish Yamete REDUX one week ago

In that case i salute you. We need more mod creators as many tend to burn out after a while. No wonder though as it is a very time consuming process and mod creators are often underappreciated for sharing their work for free -> some mod users feel entitled to support, like they bought a product with a warranty.

 

8 hours ago, alex77r4 said:

We must abandon them?

Nope, every game version has something to offer. There is no right or wrong, just a personal preference.

 

 

 

[noir_78]

@alex77r4 Never heard of Yamete REDUX (great name, I understood that reference) but I'm interested in trying it since Defeat Baka has functions that are not working atm. I'm not sure how tedious it can become being diddled a number of times during a brawl but Its interesting. Never heard of a mod doing that before. Thanks for you hard work. 

[Ronin79]

After modding both for a while now, I always end up back in LE, but it's really a matter of personal choice. As fond as I am of SSE and all the amazing combat overhaul possibilities, there are simply too many mods I love that don't work with it. I'm sure some would disagree, but if you want to smutify your Skyrim while still being able to play the game, LE is still better. I couldn't care less about AE and creation club content, and as for modded armor and clothing... I haven't found anything I couldn't convert, pay someone to convert, or somehow tweak to work with the body I use in LE (Customized version of UNP Special) so that's never an issue for me. 

 

Just a few observations:

 

LE is easier to mod, while SSE always feels like I spend more time fixing things than actually playing the game. 

 

SSE seems to handle a heavy script load better than LE

 

With combat in SSE, the sky is the limit. There are enough movesets and combat overhauls to satisfy just about anyone, and this was my primary reason for bothering with SSE in the first place. 

 

Many of the Sexlab mods require several hours of troubleshooting and fixing just to get them to work properly in SSE, and some just won't work at all.

 

My modded LE is more stable than SSE with as many mods, and will almost never crash.

 

My modded SSE/AE crashes at least every hour.

 

ENB is garbage in SSE, and with few exceptions, uses up more frame rate than it's worth. ENB has always looked better in LE. (I hate ENB to begin with, so maybe take that with a grain of salt...)

 

Ostim/OSA and all the related mods for SSE work more smoothly than sexlab, but... They lack support for creatures, and the number/variety of animations is severely lacking.

 

SSE is still being updated, and your mod list will break with every update.

 

I find it easier to fix issues with most LE mods, but again... Maybe take that with a grain of salt, as I've been modding LE for almost a decade.

Edited November 16, 2022 by R0nin78