Should I get AE for modding SE?

[roldoi1911]

I’m looking into modding SE from vanilla, but looking into AE has mixed reactions. I don’t mind imbalance, but the bugs and mod breaking is worrying. Is it overblown or legitimate concern?

[AngelPhoenix69]

It's a personal choice. AE, is basically a bunch of paid mods. How it was explained to me, is there is no difference between SE and AE.

[xXDeliteXx]

My game personally loads faster on my system with latest version than it did with the version from 2 years ago.
Used to have 10-15 minute load times, and used to just blame my i5 processor and my 400+ mods.
Now I have same amount of mods and it's about 5 minutes max. A huge difference that makes the game much more playable and funner to mod in my opinion.

[roldoi1911]

7 minutes ago, xXDeliteXx said:

My game personally loads faster on my system with latest version than it did with the version from 2 years ago.
Used to have 10-15 minute load times, and used to just blame my i5 processor and my 400+ mods.
Now I have same amount of mods and it's about 5 minutes max. A huge difference that makes the game much more playable and funner to mod in my opinion.

So AE makes it faster too?

[Aylis]

2 hours ago, roldoi1911 said:

So AE makes it faster too?

Not really. AE is more or less just SE with added CCC from Bethesda.

 

But using the right mods will improve the visuals while keeping a good framerate. I got a RTX 3080 and with my current build (and I got ~1850 mods installed) I never drop below 60 FPS. My TFT is older and I am limited to that framerate. 

[xXDeliteXx]

2 hours ago, roldoi1911 said:

So AE makes it faster too?

From my personal experience, I believe it does.
Using old version you have to use this other old mod https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/106441 in conjunction

It feels like a whole bunch of jerry rigging compared to what we have now

I was one of those "why the heck is Skyrim getting updated?" people too, and now in 2025, I can for certain say "all of these updates were something we needed but didn't know we needed"

Edited September 9, 2025 by xXDeliteXx

[roldoi1911]

Aight, I’ll look into any performance improvements AE or mods for it might have. Otherwise AE doesn’t sound worth it.

[Miauzi]

Vor 1 Stunde sagte roldoi1911:

Okay, ich werde mir die Leistungsverbesserungen ansehen, die AE oder Mods dafür bieten könnten. Ansonsten scheint sich AE nicht zu lohnen.

 

Of course, the AE version is also worth it without all the CC nonsense -> because virtually every new mod is programmed on the AE version.

Or the authors update their older mods to AE (usually the 1170).

So anyone still using the SE version is increasingly experiencing compatibility issues... thus requiring a "backport" system (like "BEES").

 

I, too, was still working with the SE version until the beginning of the year - but then decided to switch to AE.

 

Ultimately, AE is just an improved SE - but why should one deny this improvement?

[roldoi1911]

24 minutes ago, Miauzi said:

 

Of course, the AE version is also worth it without all the CC nonsense -> because virtually every new mod is programmed on the AE version.

Or the authors update their older mods to AE (usually the 1170).

So anyone still using the SE version is increasingly experiencing compatibility issues... thus requiring a "backport" system (like "BEES").

 

I, too, was still working with the SE version until the beginning of the year - but then decided to switch to AE.

 

Ultimately, AE is just an improved SE - but why should one deny this improvement?

$20 price tag

[Miauzi]

Vor 25 Minuten sagte roldoi1911:

Preisschild: 20 $

 

It didn't cost me anything... because, for one thing, I've always gotten my Skyrim through Steam - and, for another, I had to prevent the upgrade from my SE version to the AE for over two years (using Steam's offline mode).

 

I only have the so-called FREE "basic" version - so-called "minimal" CC content... but I don't care at all for the rest of the CC crap.

 

[chaimhewast]

To be clear: the AE update (1.6 and later) is worthwhile. The AE upgrade with all the CC DLCs is not.

[roldoi1911]

2 hours ago, Miauzi said:

 

It didn't cost me anything... because, for one thing, I've always gotten my Skyrim through Steam - and, for another, I had to prevent the upgrade from my SE version to the AE for over two years (using Steam's offline mode).

 

I only have the so-called FREE "basic" version - so-called "minimal" CC content... but I don't care at all for the rest of the CC crap.

 

So SE has AE built in? Is it V1.6 or whatever it is? I’m confused on the AE update and the AE product on the steam store. I didn’t know there was a difference.

[Aylis]

1 hour ago, roldoi1911 said:

So SE has AE built in? Is it V1.6 or whatever it is? I’m confused on the AE update and the AE product on the steam store. I didn’t know there was a difference.

You can use 'AE Light' and that will cost you nothing.

 

Bethesda gives you four CCC and some updates. Thats all and that is done by simply using the newest version of the game.

Edited September 9, 2025 by Aylis

[Miauzi]

Vor 1 Stunde sagte roldoi1911:

Also ist AE in SE integriert? Ist es V1.6 oder was auch immer? Ich bin verwirrt über das AE-Update und das AE-Produkt im Steam Store. Ich wusste nicht, dass es einen Unterschied gibt.

 

Unfortunately, there are now several AE versions – the latest of which is number 1.6.1170.

Every AE version (regardless of whether it's from Steam or GoG) requires a customized SKSE!

 

1.6.1170 has probably been available for over two years now, and many (but not all) authors are writing their mods for 1.6.1170.

To achieve full backward compatibility – that is, with "older" AE versions and the SE version (1.5.97) – a "backport" tool is required.

 

The automatic and free upgrade (on Steam) from the SE to an AE version has existed since AE was released... but it only affects the "base" version.

But this is perfectly sufficient to use all other mods from Nexus or Loverslab.

 

The "full" version of AE includes a ton of CC content – which, firstly, isn't needed for a mod-capable Skyrim AND, secondly, is generally complete garbage!

Because the "Creation Club" aka CC was a total flop, Bugdesta had the "brilliant" idea of putting its creations into the so-called "AE full version"... ultimately just a "sham" package.

 

Is this a bit clearer now?

 

[roldoi1911]

13 minutes ago, Miauzi said:

 

Unfortunately, there are now several AE versions – the latest of which is number 1.6.1170.

Every AE version (regardless of whether it's from Steam or GoG) requires a customized SKSE!

 

1.6.1170 has probably been available for over two years now, and many (but not all) authors are writing their mods for 1.6.1170.

To achieve full backward compatibility – that is, with "older" AE versions and the SE version (1.5.97) – a "backport" tool is required.

 

The automatic and free upgrade (on Steam) from the SE to an AE version has existed since AE was released... but it only affects the "base" version.

But this is perfectly sufficient to use all other mods from Nexus or Loverslab.

 

The "full" version of AE includes a ton of CC content – which, firstly, isn't needed for a mod-capable Skyrim AND, secondly, is generally complete garbage!

Because the "Creation Club" aka CC was a total flop, Bugdesta had the "brilliant" idea of putting its creations into the so-called "AE full version"... ultimately just a "sham" package.

 

Is this a bit clearer now?

 

Geez Skyrim has enough versions to cause a singularity. Whew, thank goodness I posted here, would’ve wasted money on CC slop.

[Miauzi]

Vor 1 Stunde sagte roldoi1911:

Meine Güte, Skyrim hat genug Versionen, um eine Singularität zu verursachen. Puh, Gott sei Dank habe ich hier gepostet, sonst hätte ich mein Geld für CC-Schund verschwendet.

 

The "basic" version (aka "AE light") comes with 5 CC modules – unfortunately, you can't do without them... but these modules cost NOTHING!

 

Since these modules are inextricably linked to the AE version of Skyrim, they are occasionally used by authors for their mods... which then makes these mods incompatible with the outdated SE version – so always read the descriptions (aka requirements) of new mods carefully!

 

Personally, I was looking forward to the "Shivering Isles" part – it was my favorite DLC in "Oblivion."

Unfortunately, the CC module only consists of an underground tunnel system – where you encounter some monsters from these islands... but you can't access the islands themselves!

 

Freelance mod authors have only recently achieved this with their unpaid work -> in the mod "Sykrim Extended Cut - Saints and Seducers" (available on Nexus)