guide Skyrim AE for Beginners - V 3.1.0

[wollboi]

3 hours ago, _Warhawk_ said:

I do know the latest version of Wrye Bash has issues with the latest version of Windows 11 so if you are on Win11 use the last version of Wrye Bash which I believe is 312.1. I can't help you with the others questions though.

I ran into this issue a while back too with the same results. 312.1 works in Windows 11, but the newer version kept throwing errors.

[trgdolors]

I am on 313 and it is decent, but I am on Win10. You could try getting help or trying a beta here:

https://www.afkmods.com/index.php?/topic/4966-wrye-bash-all-games/ 

 

Using betas from that site has saved me before.

 

Here is a direct link to the most recent versions:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/iazpayeexiyazeh/AAAbGeVHrlIksp2AFgI4w48Oa?dl=0&lst=

[Novosin]

Finally... I'm (sort of) done. It's been months of tinkering with my modlist and loadorder. Without this guide I'd have probably never made it this far.
Currently 1 808 mods running smooth (so far) and I can get down to enjoying the game. At least until I find another cool mod I wanna add... Such is the life of modding Skyrim I guess.

Thank you for this guide @Aylis. You're the GOAT.

[Nymra]

thx alot forr this guide, a very helpfull resource! ❤️ 

[Novosin]

On 3/17/2025 at 5:11 AM, trgdolors said:

I am on 313 and it is decent, but I am on Win10. You could try getting help or trying a beta here:

https://www.afkmods.com/index.php?/topic/4966-wrye-bash-all-games/ 

 

Using betas from that site has saved me before.

 

Here is a direct link to the most recent versions:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/iazpayeexiyazeh/AAAbGeVHrlIksp2AFgI4w48Oa?dl=0&lst=

I found a workaround (I think it was on reddit). Try and start Wrye Bash directly from the exe in File Explorer in Win 11. It won't work, but it'll do something somewhere (can't remember the explanation). I could then start it again from MO2.
However, whenever Wrye Bash will need to use the vf's again via MO2 the error will occur. So it's not a permanent solution, but it did allow me to create my bashed patch. 

[Novosin]

On 3/13/2025 at 7:29 AM, Kazurashi22 said:

Okay, I give up. Tried resetting everything, tried terminating active scripts in resaver, tried reinstalling the mods. It seems like Sexlab P+ just breaks if you play more than a few hours in an actual playthrough. Currently asking for help in P+ thread, but no replies as of yet. No one replied to people who complained about the same issue either. In other threads asking for help with the same issue the advice is basically "don't install P+, it's shit"

I just think that SexLab P+ is not ready to be used if you expect the full functionality of legacy SexLab. I switched back to legacy since I want to use Diary of Mine 5.0 which is recommended to NOT use with P+. 
Looks like DOM 7 will also be made for legacy SexLab. So I'll just have to accept the longer time it takes for legacy SexLab to start an animation compared to P+. 

Edit: 
Sorry, just read 

Quote

I'm not going to ditch my 100+ hour playthrough because my sex mods have suddenly stopped working.

So disregard this. I feel your pain and I hope you find a solution. 

Edited March 18, 2025 by Novosin

[Nymra]

anybody has an alternative for Wet Function Redux?

- Wetness change on Stamina usage
- Wetness change during sex

 

Is all I want. 
Wet Fucntion Redux seems to be as bugged and messy as on LE and I dont even want to waste my time again to fix it for AE too

 

I already have R.A.S.S. but from what I understand that does different stuff? or can those two mods fuck each other up? 

[Dez65]

Thanks for this amazingly informative and comprehensive guide!

 

I'm using it to build a new load order after finally updating to 1.6.1170.  So far, with the exception below, your curated mods have produced a reliable, smooth and immersive game.

 

I visited the College of Winterhold for a test, though, and Ancano was missing both his clothers and TNG.  See spoiler.  I remember I had this problem at one point with 1.5.97 and SOS but it either resolved itself or I found a fix.  Can't remember which.

 

I note that his clothing and TNG are restored if I disable/enable him.   The fix persists when I save and reload, so this is not a big problem.  But I'd like to figure out how to prevent this altogether.  

 

Do you have any troubleshooting ideas? 

 

Spoiler

 

[remodel]

1 hour ago, Dez65 said:

I visited the College of Winterhold for a test, though, and Ancano was missing both his clothers and TNG.  See spoiler. 

Did you click on him with more informative console?  I've only ever seen SOS and HIMBO bodies do that, never a TNG.  Are you sure something didn't change the body from a TNG body; informative console could confirm.

[remodel]

Well I need some help.  I actually have the Mod List Loaded, but I'm Having issues loading anything more, like a couple of SexLab Mods. 

 

When I load the new mods they work with a created character.  When I go to create a new character the game crashes at the Alternate Start character creation screen with the Racemenu and other sliders.  Just as the character screen starts to load, the game crashes.  I can't create a new character.

 

To use Showracemenu I had to download and install "Show Limited Race Menu"; otherwise, I'd get more new character game saves.  The Racemenu displays just fine and I can adjust as I want.  So I know Racemenu works.

 

Prior to installing new SexLab Mods AlternateStart would work flawlessly.  After I disable the installed mods; I can't create a new character.  So, AlternateStart is working, But adding any Mod crashes it?  AlternateStart doesn't seem to be the problem.

 

Trainwerck Crash Logs are not displaying the error.  I've uploaded the crash log to Skyrim Crash Decoder which reports nothing to find here.  HDT SMP is a constant mention, But I now know that's not the problem.  

 

It looks like an SKSE DLL error to me.  Nothing in the Papyrus logs to point to an error, just testing warnings and errors for loading mods. Nothing about AlternateStart.  I remember the old Net crash logger giving some clues.  

 

This exact same thing was happening to me before I disabled "SMP-NPC crash fix" which is reported to have major issues with Faster HDT-SMP 2.5.1.  It's reported to work fine with 2.4. After I uninstalled "SMP-NPC crash fix", I got the rest of the mod list installed.  It's so obscure that it took me days to find and it's a DLL.

 

If no one can help and I cant Find a solution, I'll just build a mostly working game with my working PC.  Then disable the new mods (verify) and complete the LOD's.  Then I'll create my character get out of the abandoned prison activate the disabled mods, run pandora, run the bashed patch and play.

 

I have three DLL Mods I added.  I'll see if disabling them one at a time fixes it.  I'll report back if I find it. 

[remodel]

1 hour ago, remodel said:

I have three DLL Mods I added.  I'll see if disabling them one at a time fixes it.  I'll report back if I find it. 

Well none of them caused the error that repeated even after disabling.

 

BUT, I did find this at the end of my last Papyrus crash - No Trainwreck Crash Log (It was a CTD):

 

Spoiler

stack:
    <unknown self>.utility.SetINIFloat() - "<native>" Line ?
    [zGoreEffectsPlayerQuest (320389EC)].zbloodEBTmenu.OnGameReload() - "zbloodEBTmenu.psc" Line 70
    [zGoreEffectsPlayerQuest (320389EC)].zbloodEBTmenu.OnInit() - "SKI_ConfigBase.psc" Line 85
[03/18/2025 - 08:06:34PM] Error: Property FavorRewardEnchSword on script QF_FreeformRiftenThane_00065BDF attached to FreeformRiftenThane (00065BDF) cannot be bound because  (FE159821) is not the right type
[03/18/2025 - 08:06:34PM] Error: File "ccbgssse067-daedinv.esm" does not exist or is not currently loaded.

What's calling Creation Club mod "Daedric Inventions"?     Is it a missing master error in script?  This is probably something I've been struggling with in addition to my DLL hell.

 

I don't have the full AE, I have the AE that has fishing, curios, and saint & seducers.  What MODs in the list reference the CC mods from the full AE version?  Please, I need to know what's doing this. 

 

[Dez65]

12 hours ago, remodel said:

informative console could confirm.

I'll check.  Thanks.

[Dez65]

17 minutes ago, Dez65 said:

informative console could confirm.

I don't see anything in informative console that suggests Ancano is different than the other male NPCs, although i'm not quite sure what I would look for.  He's using the same textures as the others and I don't know how to check his mesh.

 

Once I disable/enable him his TNG is present and in working order, though.  Would that be the case if something changed him from his TNG (and HIMBO) body?

[remodel]

5 hours ago, Dez65 said:

i'm not quite sure what I would look for. 

Look at the right side entries below the console line for the base mod that defined Ancano and the last mod (generally the last statement) that changed him. 

 

Then note the Base ID, Ref ID and last modifying mod name.

-Double check load order is correct.

-Open SSEEdit and select only the last mod that changed Ancano and High Poly NPC Overhaul - Skyrim Special Edition 2.0 (All Vanilla NPCs) and look for conflicts.

-Is Ancano wearing something that went invisible?  Clothing that is not designated revealing with a Keyword will disable the schlong.  Invisible clothes could be a bad bodyslide, mesh thing (missing textures turn purple). So, make sure you installed Aylis's already made BodySlide Files for armor and clothing.

-If you need a patch you need to find a tutorial. (once you do it it's easy).

 

[Dez65]

On 2/24/2025 at 6:09 PM, Kazurashi22 said:

Wolves can also be beheaded but lack textures for me and I don't think there are even any wolf replacers in the modlist.

I'm having this issue too.  Looks like the Wolves are getting textures from ABC.  I selected the wolf retexture in that mod from True Wolves of Skyrim.  Since you're the only reference in this topic to the same problem, I wonder if we shouldn't have selected that option? 

[Dez65]

4 hours ago, Dez65 said:

I'm having this issue too.

A post for help from the Nexus page for the DF - Official Creature Asset Pack produced a response that attributed the problem to  a bug from "Universal (SKSE) Rim Lighting Fix". Removed that (thankfully there was no plugin) and the problem is solved.  

 

Gonna search to see if there's a mention in the comments here of problems with that mod.  Never used it before I started following Aylis' mod list.

[Dez65]

 

On 7/8/2023 at 2:34 PM, Aylis said:

I'm using IC in my build right now. But i want to run further tests before i add it.

 

Found an interesting combination for water:

  Hide contents

LO as shown here.

 

D3Dcompiler

?Has to be installed manually

 

SKSE

Community Shaders

? Just after 'Scrambled Bugs'

 

Foundation

Cathedral - Water Overhaul and Bug Fixes
Natural Waterfalls
Water mod (Simplicity of sea)                          Already in the guide
Water Blending                                                They say i won't work with an ENB. But it seems to do with the newest version.

Hi Aylis - did this become your recommended approach to water?  I've looked at all the recommended mods on the main page and I don't see any of these listed.

 

BTW - I'm still testing and haven't run Dyndolod yet, but my game is the most stable it's ever been!  Thanks so much for your work on this!

Edited March 20, 2025 by Dez65

[Aylis]

1 hour ago, Dez65 said:

Hi Aylis - did this become your recommended approach to water?  I've looked at all the recommended mods on the main page and I don't see any of these listed.

You don't want to know how many mods I've tested and discarded later on.

 

Right now I'm looking at the updated Warbird's Whiterun Metropolis...

[trgdolors]

@Dez65 I think the water mod in the guide is now inside the Natural Waterfalls FOMOD. Is that what you are asking? Yeah, it is not obvious when you are skimming the list. I am still using Simplicity of Sea, which was in an earlier version of the guide.

[Dez65]

10 hours ago, Aylis said:

You don't want to know how many mods I've tested and discarded later on.

 

Hahaha!  That's what makes your list so robust. 

 

I tried out that combo and it looks nice but the blending isn't quite as extensive as I expected.  Also, is it correct that if I use that combo, I should not install the Water Overhaul in Natural Waterfalls?

 

Thanks for getting back to me.

[Dez65]

5 hours ago, trgdolors said:

Natural Waterfalls FOMOD.

Yeah, that's what I had installed, with the Water Overhaul plugin.  I liked the blending idea though.  With Natural Waterfalls, the edges looked a little too defined.  

 

With Water Blending, the edges looked a bit better but not as much as I expected.  I was wondering if there was something I had to change in ENB, or do with D3Compiler or Community Shaders, to achieve the blending Aylis showed in her screen shots.

 

Thanks for getting back to me!

[Dez65]

Hi folks!

 

I was careful not to install the Dismembering Framework - Draugr Overhaul since I have MNC installed.  However, I'm getting this weird physics glitch (see spoiler) when I kill a Draugr, which I thought only happened if you used the Draugr Overhaul.  Any idea how to fix this?  I'm assuming it has something to do with Dismembering Framework.

 

 

Thanks for any troubleshooting ideas!

 

Spoiler

 

[Suidisir]

45 minutes ago, Dez65 said:

I was careful not to install the Dismembering Framework - Draugr Overhaul since I have MNC installed.  However, I'm getting this weird physics glitch (see spoiler) when I kill a Draugr, which I thought only happened if you used the Draugr Overhaul.  Any idea how to fix this?  I'm assuming it has something to do with Dismembering Framework.

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

 

A few people have had this in recent installs - some of us were able to fix it by getting an updated version of Pandora from their Github page. I also don't use Dismemberment mods, so I'm not sure how that will affect the updated Pandora output. Good luck!

[Dez65]

17 minutes ago, Suidisir said:

some of us were able to fix it by getting an updated version of Pandora from their Github page

Looks like there's a patch I missed on the main Pandora page but I'm not sure how to install it using MO2 as it does not have the standard folder organization.  Never had much luck finding executables on Github but I'll give it a shot.  Any chance you have a link handy?

 

Thanks so much for your quick response!

[Dez65]

16 hours ago, Suidisir said:

Pandora from their Github page.

I found the Github version.  Thanks for the clue!

 

But, I may return to FNIS since one of my favorite mods (Naked Defeat) refuses to play well with Pandora.  Which is too bad since Pandora works so fast and flawlessly.  Hopefully, the author of Naked Defeat will eventually update to make their mod compatible with Pandora.