What's your flavor? - SKSE or ScriptDragon

[Hentai-chan]

I want to ask an honest question to Skyrim modders about which script extender they prefer and why. Let me start of by saying that I am not a modder at least not yet. I actually have both of these script extenders and have been trying them out with mods TK Dodge and Dual Wield Parrying. Here is my conclusion. ScriptDragon, while it may not have MCM like most SKSE mods, is much snappier. (I tried both SKSE and ScriptDragon versions, by the way) I think its because it's using external scripts or loads scripts externally or something like that unlike SKSE which loads script in-game.

 

So my question is: Why aren't there more modders making use of ScriptDragon? Is it because they have different functions? What are these script extenders to begin with? I mean how do they work and how well they perform?

 

[Taskmaster]

I have no idea. Some of the more twitchier scripted mods could really use script dragon.

 

I run Tkdodge through script dragon, too, btw(even using the much older version at the time, until it updated finally with the SKSE one). I don't run dual wield parry through it though, I think it was because the one that I wanted to use was only SKSE.

[DocClox]

SKSE is widely used. SexLab uses it, for instance. So if I want to use SexLab I already have SKSE installed. And if I want to use ScriptDragon, I need to persuade my users to install SD as well as SKSE. So easier just to use SKSE

 

Also, SKSE is integrated into the CK and Papyrus.

 

Also the SKSE team have been doing this since Morrowind. Their reputation is good and they've proved reliable. I'm sure Alexander Blade is a decent fellow, but he's try to compete with an established product, so to speak. For that he needs to offer something compelling, something over and above SKSE. And I don't think SD does that.

 

It did well in the early days when the SKSE team were still getting to grips with Skyrim. These days it's hard to see an advantage in using it.

[Setekh]

Isn't Script Dragon like, long dead?

I remember using it for a few mods back in 2011/early 2012 but once SKSE came on to the scene that was pretty much it for SD.

[Taskmaster]

Isn't Script Dragon like, long dead?

I remember using it for a few mods back in 2011/early 2012 but once SKSE came on to the scene that was pretty much it for SD.

 

It updated earlier in the year, so it works with the "final" version of Skyrim.

 

I think scriptdragon working faster than SKSE is reason enough to use it over SKSE on specific mods that need the scripts to fire ASAP. Tkdodge being one of them. If I was using the SKSE version of Tkdodge then it would probably be a worthless mod.

 

I've used scriptdragon for vxrJump(you can crouch then jump immediately, to jump higher), a running and jumping momentum mod(forgot the name of this, but it makes it so your don't just stop abruptly when you stop jogging or sprinting, and same with jumping in any direction), and tkdodge. All of which wouldn't have worked well in SKSE, cause it would have a slight delay.

[NNS10]

I'm also curious about this since I saw a ScriptDragon version of TKDodge, which was supposedly more responsive.

 

I have the same issue with TK Dodge and SKSE being delayed, but does ScriptDragon really address that? I also thought the animations themselves always had a minor delay to them.

 

And does the SD version also support MCM?

[Rayblue]

I eventually used SKSE because of the enormous advantage SkyUI provided in organizing items, as well as greater control of favorited items. Currently 1.7.1 has sheson's memory patch, which is of course the next best thing since Wonderbread.

[NNS10]

Are SD and SKSE mutually exclusive? You can't run both at the same time?

[Dubhorizon]

What would you need Script Dragon for? So far any mod I've seen needs SKSE.

[Guest]

Are SD and SKSE mutually exclusive? You can't run both at the same time?

 

They should both run at the same time, pretty sure you couldn't play a modded Skyrim without ECE.

 

What would you need Script Dragon for? So far any mod I've seen needs SKSE.

 

Script Dragon was used by many mods in the earlier days of Skyrim, nowaydays not so much because it took a long time until it was updated after every new Skyrim version. But it apparently runs certain scripts faster (the dodge script from TKDodge for example).

[Taskmaster]

I'm also curious about this since I saw a ScriptDragon version of TKDodge, which was supposedly more responsive.

 

I have the same issue with TK Dodge and SKSE being delayed, but does ScriptDragon really address that? I also thought the animations themselves always had a minor delay to them.

 

And does the SD version also support MCM?

 

Yup, the SD version addresses that. I used to run a couple of other mods using SD also, but now I actually just have SD in exclusively for TKdodge. You can also use both SD and SKSE, it's not a problem.

 

The ScriptDragon version doesn't have an MCM, that's a huge strike against it, but there's an ini file you adjust for TKdodge so it's not a major setback. Once you make your adjustments in it, you don't have to ever adjust it again in any new game with any character. I use a different set of dodge animations, I put together from a couple of other animation mods, like I have a back handspring for my back dodge and side tumbles for left and right dodge.

 

Again I feel any combat related action mod, or any script that needs to fire on the dime, should use ScriptDragon. Especially the ones that don't need detailed MCMs.

[Setekh]

 

Isn't Script Dragon like, long dead?

I remember using it for a few mods back in 2011/early 2012 but once SKSE came on to the scene that was pretty much it for SD.

 

It updated earlier in the year, so it works with the "final" version of Skyrim.

 

I think scriptdragon working faster than SKSE is reason enough to use it over SKSE on specific mods that need the scripts to fire ASAP. Tkdodge being one of them. If I was using the SKSE version of Tkdodge then it would probably be a worthless mod.

 

I've used scriptdragon for vxrJump(you can crouch then jump immediately, to jump higher), a running and jumping momentum mod(forgot the name of this, but it makes it so your don't just stop abruptly when you stop jogging or sprinting, and same with jumping in any direction), and tkdodge. All of which wouldn't have worked well in SKSE, cause it would have a slight delay.

 

 

Interesting, thanks for the insight, guess it's still relevant then.

 

[uglykidcid]

I can definitively answer these questions so listen up.

 

History:  I have been playing since day of game launch.  Script Dragon was essential the first mod for Skyrim being released before esps and meshes.  At the time only textures were also available.  It is important when you are downloading mods to understand that older mods are NOT compatible with current updates.  A perfect example is Tytanis.  You cannot run Tytanis with Skyrim 1.9.32.  The reason is that older mods are based on formIDs and scripts which have changed dramatically or no longer exist.  The result is erroneous game instability.  Avoid mods from 2012 and earlier unless you really know the mod is not effected by the updates.  

 

Papyrus:  Skyrim's scripting is based on Payrus which is tied to the games FPS.  You cannto go over 60 FPS without painful T-bugs, animation bugs, and extreme havoc bugs.  Things will fly around in Skyrim like poltergeist.  That means you are permanently limited with the speed of Skyrim's scripts and the more you add the slower they go.  IF your FPS drops so does you Script speed.  So if you have texture packs your combat just slowed down.  If you run Frostfall you will have the same effect.  Script Dragon runs an independent and much faster script system making it ideal for combat mods.

 

Script Dragon: Yes you can run it with SKSE as they have no effect n each other.  SKSE is a team though whereas Script Dragon is one person who has never bothered to answer basic questions from mod authors about incompatibility.  He really does not support his great idea.  Chesko reported that numerous vanilla and Frostfall scripts were failing due to Script Dragon.  Alexander Blade ignored the entire modding community and never addressed the issue.  Other people began reporting other issues and CTD no COC and other issues and Alexander Blade never responded.

 

Conclusion: If your goal is fast and responsive combat then use it with a script light set up.  If you want script intensive immersion mods like Frostfall, R&D, iNeeds, Devious Devices, Climate of Tamriel or anything else that polls you will likely have issues. 

[Rayblue]

 

 

Alexander Blade ignored the entire modding community and never addressed the issue.  Other people began reporting other issues and CTD no COC and other issues and Alexander Blade never responded.

 

Which is why it was a good thing for me to move to SKSE early on.

[Guest]

I don't feel I have a choice really. I go with what the mod author tells me. If SD was more of a thing, I guess I'd be using it. I'm not clever enough to go off-piste.