2 games with different mods. Is it possible?

[Balmung889]

Hi. I was wondering... Is it possible to play multiple games with different mods?
I use Vortex as a mod manager.

[Grey Cloud]

Profiles or whatever they are called in Vortex.

Edited October 17, 2024 by Grey Cloud

[metalhead_hr]

4 hours ago, Balmung889 said:

Hi. I was wondering... Is it possible to play multiple games with different mods?

If you mean playing multiple playthroughs of Skyrim with different mod loads without losing the mod setup, then yes you can.

 

4 hours ago, Balmung889 said:

I use Vortex as a mod manager.

In Vortex you do the following:

1. Select the Profiles screen from the left side under General

2. Either step 3 or 4 for setting up a new profile

3. Setting up a cloned profile

Spoiler

3.1. Open the dropdown menu from the down arrow button next to Edit

3.2. Select Clone from the dropdown menu which will copy current mod library into a new profile

3.3. New profile box opens letting you choose the name for the newly cloned profile

3.4. Enable/Disable the option to have it keep its' own save files separate from original profile

3.5. Enable/Disable the option to have it keep its' own game settings separate from original profile

3.6. Add an optional description for the profile

3.7. Click Save to finish setting up the newly cloned profile

 

4. Setting up a new empty profile

Spoiler

4.1. Click the button that says Add "Skyrim Special Edition" Profile which is below the Skyrim profile is the line that says Other Games, in the center of the line

4.2. That opens a new box for creating a new empty profile

4.3. Add a name for the new profile

4.4. Enable/Disable the option to have it keep its' own save game files

4.5. Enable/Disable the option to have it keep its' own game settings

4.6. Add an optional description for the profile

4.7. Click, save to finish setting up the new empty profile

 

5. Click enable on the newly created profile card

 

Depending on the size of your mod library it may take awhile. Also depending on if you have unsaved changes it may ask if you want to save the changes to files before it completes the switch to the new profile.

 

After the switch depending on which step you followed, 3 or 4, you should either have profile with the existing mod library or an empty profile.

[Balmung889]

4 hours ago, metalhead_hr said:

If you mean playing multiple playthroughs of Skyrim with different mod loads without losing the mod setup, then yes you can.

 

In Vortex you do the following:

1. Select the Profiles screen from the left side under General

2. Either step 3 or 4 for setting up a new profile

3. Setting up a cloned profile

  Reveal hidden contents

3.1. Open the dropdown menu from the down arrow button next to Edit

3.2. Select Clone from the dropdown menu which will copy current mod library into a new profile

3.3. New profile box opens letting you choose the name for the newly cloned profile

3.4. Enable/Disable the option to have it keep its' own save files separate from original profile

3.5. Enable/Disable the option to have it keep its' own game settings separate from original profile

3.6. Add an optional description for the profile

3.7. Click Save to finish setting up the newly cloned profile

 

 

4. Setting up a new empty profile

  Reveal hidden contents

4.1. Click the button that says Add "Skyrim Special Edition" Profile which is below the Skyrim profile is the line that says Other Games, in the center of the line

4.2. That opens a new box for creating a new empty profile

4.3. Add a name for the new profile

4.4. Enable/Disable the option to have it keep its' own save game files

4.5. Enable/Disable the option to have it keep its' own game settings

4.6. Add an optional description for the profile

4.7. Click, save to finish setting up the new empty profile

 

5. Click enable on the newly created profile card

 

Depending on the size of your mod library it may take awhile. Also depending on if you have unsaved changes it may ask if you want to save the changes to files before it completes the switch to the new profile.

 

After the switch depending on which step you followed, 3 or 4, you should either have profile with the existing mod library or an empty profile.

Thanks buddy, I think I understand.
When I feel like starting the other game I will already know what to do.

 

Very complete answer

4 hours ago, metalhead_hr said:

 

3. Setting up a cloned profile

  Reveal hidden contents

3.1. Open the dropdown menu from the down arrow button next to Edit

3.2. Select Clone from the dropdown menu which will copy current mod library into a new profile

3.3. New profile box opens letting you choose the name for the newly cloned profile

3.4. Enable/Disable the option to have it keep its' own save files separate from original profile

3.5. Enable/Disable the option to have it keep its' own game settings separate from original profile

3.6. Add an optional description for the profile

3.7. Click Save to finish setting up the newly cloned profile

 

 

Great. I would have asked later if something similar could be done but you beat me to it.

 

Thanks

[metalhead_hr]

On 10/17/2024 at 3:47 PM, Balmung889 said:

Thanks buddy, I think I understand.
When I feel like starting the other game I will already know what to do.

 

Very complete answer

Great. I would have asked later if something similar could be done but you beat me to it.

 

Thanks

It turns out I forgot a couple of secondary steps right before step 5 which while not necessary can be headache saving if you encounter any issues with switching profiles. I did encounter issues when testing the directions due to my library size it got stuck and I ended up restarting Vortex multiple times before I was able to track down the mod causing the errors. Probably due to that and forgetting the couple of steps I am adding I lost my active plugin list when I switched back to my regular profile.

 

Updated steps, 5 - 6 are optional and may not be needed in all situations:

2.    Run Deployment to make sure any changes that haven't yet been deployed are deployed and take care of any notifications and errors now, once complete go to either step 3 or 4 for setting up a new profile

5.    Create a backup of both load order and active plugin list

5.a. Easiest method is to go into LOOT and select Copy Load Order from the Game menu which will copy the current load order with currently active plugins to the clipboard from which you can paste it into a text file, go to step 6

5.b. Backup your load order either through text file or screenshots of your currently enabled profile

5.c. Backup your active plugins list either through text file or screenshots of your currently enabled profile

6.    Backup in a text file or through screenshots any mod overwrite rules for mods you know you will be using in the new profile

7.    Click Enable on the new created profile card to switch to the new profile, it may take awhile depending on library status and size