SexLab and STEP Load Order

[Yawgnor]

It's been quite some time since I've last had Skyrim loaded. I jumped right in with the mods almost as soon as they started coming out. But then life took over. I figured that, like Oblivion, the mods would be polished, and with more options when I returned; I was not disappointed.

 

Now that I'm setting things up again, I could use some help with load orders. I found the SexLab Index, but I'm also doing the S.T.E.P. Project as well.

 

Any polite suggestions?

[RitualClarity]

For the most part. I use LOOT and run it. It pretty much does a good job at managing the load order. Then .. a very few tweaks might be needed to get exactly what you want. You know some mods don't play together well and need to be specifically changed to "win" in the load order. . For the most part.. I only have to do that to one or two mods any major changes I do to my Skyrim install.

 

Glad you returned.. hope you enjoy your time in Skyirm.. ..

[Yawgnor]

My thanks.

 

I'm thinking that you all will be hearing from me as soon as I get to needing tweaks then.

[RitualClarity]

I admittedly run a very light Skyrim install. mostly needed texture replacers and not even Sexlab mods many times. I barely run over 120 mods (plugins) and total of 180 mods (counting non plugin mods like textures) Not very heavy compared to many Skyrim fans around here.

 

In my link there is a tutorial for a very heavy and diverse Skyrim install if you want to take a look at it.. It is from Anatriax and pretty intense setup. It is pretty recent even though she isn't currently updating it. She is also a regular here when she has down time with her projects. Very skilled in heaver Skyrim modding something more along the lines that I believe you are desiring.. .

 

Coming back from a break from Skyrim.. Don' t Know which mod manager you use but most here use MO now.. It is very powerful but has a learning curve.. Cool part.. It is virtual installation nothing installed to the Data folder, profiles where you can have many play through ready to go, easy conflict resolution.. got something not working.. you can see at a glance what is conflicting with any mod installed through MO and finally your tools can be run through MO further keeping your game folder as clean as possible. I have links for that as well in my sig.. loads of links in my sig..

 

 

[Pinute]

Be sure to create the merge patch in tes5edit when you've settled on your load order. Several sexlab mods add factions to npcs and items to merchant containers, and if you don't create the merge patch whichever mod edits the npc or container last wins. The patch will ensure that all mods making those kinds of changes get accounted for. 

 

Then be prepared to go over the Sexlab mods in detail with tes5edit and create additional patches as needed. Many make edits to npcs, locations,  cells, items, etc that will conflict with each other and STEP mods and/or the STEP patch that won't get picked up by the merge patch.

[Yawgnor]

I found the MO right off. And thanks for that tidbit about creating a merge patch.

[Pinute]

http://wiki.step-project.com/Guide:Merging_Plugins should definitely be on your reading list. If you've never created a patch, building the STEP patch manually (once!) will give you a good grounding on the various forms that describe objects, lists, and npcs. It takes a while, but doing it will give you a good grounding on what you'll be doing when you create patches for your preferred mods.