MilesTeg

wow! that's really cool! So you can simply pick the "green" merging suggestions from the nexus thread and start merging with TES5Edit? That's exactly what I was hoping for :) I wouldn't even have considered using TES5Edit because of the amount of time it would take, but now... thx for this great piece of code :) Does the script also clean the mods? Or do you still have to do this by hand?

Yes, it does :)Once I can release s.th. more substancial I will open up a post in the main forum.

wrote a simple script "cat.py" (needs python (version 2.7): https://www.python.org/ftp/python/2.7.6/python-2.7.6.msi) It goes through all .meta files (in the same directory) and changes the categoryID to a new one. Just copy all .meta's that should be changed in a seperate directory together with cat.py and run the script. And use it with care! It creates backups, but hasn't been tested that much yet. cat.zip

yup, RL can be a real showstopper ;) I've updated my mod archive (why does nexus always goes offline when I'm downloading??) yesterday. Currently I work on a small MO-plugin that checks for all files necessary for a STEP core install. pm is on the way

Hey, wolverine, have you released your code somewhere yet? I'm currently trying to get a plugin working

I would vote for d) It`s a clean solution imho. And a simple doc/graphic would be nice that explains the relations. s.th. like: Skyrim Main Game ini \_ Profile ini\_ Mod inis\_ overwrite ini And some spontanous ideas/suggestions about ini editing (involving hopefully relatively slight code changes): - make the configurator the default ini editor. - if the user or game want's to edit the ini, always write changes to overwrite - add a general reset button that reverts all user/game changes back to the vanilla+mods settings. - add a button to open the (resulting merged) ini within the default text editor. User can apply changes and easily search by hand for keys/values. After the editor gets closed write all changes into overwrite dir. I think with the virtual file system you could easily add another (cool?) feature: - within the overwrite you could create a simple versioning system (skyrim_1.ini, skyrim_2.ini etc.). This way the user can just skip back to an older setting if things go south. So in the GUI just add two arrows (like webbrowsing history) and the date of the last change. also with all those layers, would it be a lot of work to add the skyrim presets for "low, normal, high" (+ maybe even community accepted) settings?

I think Ubuntu / mint has several ways of starting wo install

I'm interested quite a lot in copyright systems and as far as I can see it, open content/source will pretty much "win" in the end. some first steps in that direction (concerning games): https://freegamer.blogspot.de/ While those games won't compete with triple A titles, they boost creativity in game development. Same goes for kickstarter (crowdfunding) projects - simply awesome whats going on there.

yes, that's a very bad decision made by the content mafia. There are so many things going wrong these days... But then again... I just saw The Hobbit 2 and it was just amazing! Definitely a must-see for dragon/skyrim fans! It's always a bit schizophrenic to see what great things we (as a society) can create these days (movies/games/mods) and at the same time get handcuffed for beeing a fan (be it let's plays, SW movie mods etc.) edit: I can really recommend this movie! Just don't watch it from a modders POV, cause you really get frustrated about your current ingame graphics ;) btw: what textures are used in this screenshot?

so it's this config + the following files for STEP Core: Skill Interface ReTexture NMM Installer V6 Updated-7308-6-0-0.rar Dawnguard - Werewolf Interface Patch-7308-.rar Dawnguard Skill Interface ReTexture-7308-5-0.rar

from a usability perspective, it would be useful to change the recommendations from If using the aMidianBorn Skyforge Weapons component of Book of Silence use and install the patch for each mod directly below its corresponding mod. to If using the aMidianBorn Skyforge Weapons component of Book of Silence (recommended) use and install the patch for each mod directly below its corresponding mod. minor thing, but got me a bit confused first :/ edit1: and the line about patches is still very vague (if not outdated): "If not using the STEP patches," - doesn't mention which STEP patches are meant. from my pov the recommended Core files are: Compatibility Patch - Guard Dialogue Overhaul-34093-4-0.zip Compatibility Patch - aMidianborn Skyforge Weapons-34093-4-01.zip right?

About spell vs no-spell: Did you come to a final decision, or do you agree to disagree? Just going through all Core mods that need attention as stated here: https://forum.step-project.com/showthread.php?tid=4227

actually, the tool (for automated STEP) I'm currently working on (probably a MO-plugin later on) works similiar to your suggestions. 1. doesn't have a GUI - it's currently a simple python shell app. 2. that feature will be included (there will be a warning msgs of what files are missing) 3. (optional) will probably be part of later versions. 4. as said by michaelrw, the meta files can easily be adjusted with any text editor. It's basically a set of scripts that'll support STEP and other packages.

While I think it's reasonable to give requirenments for a STEP baseline installation, I strongly would recommend some "low end" guide. While it is true that PCs get cheaper and faster all the time, there are many PC players who don't have high end rigs. Especially in the last years, where console games didn't advance in graphics (because XBox 360 and PS3 wouldn't be able to handle it) and many new games run perfectly fine on (so called) low end systems. You'll probably reduce your target group if you would leave them out completely. So: "yes" for a pure baseline guide IF there will be a performance oriented guide later on. On the other hand, 90% performance hogs are texture mods. So a performance guide would basically contain s.th. like "no SRO etc." + some performance mods and maybe leaving out some very CPU intensive mods - shouldn't be that hard.

don't get me wrong, I didn't want you to change the way you work in any way. I created a new template which will show you the latest version on each vX.X changelog page: "(to latest changelog)" . see https://wiki.step-project.com/Changelog/2.0.0 for an example. To keep maintenance work low, the template will automatically recognize the latest release and mark it with "(latest release)" It's also a bit confusing of you visit(ed) the https://wiki.step-project.com/Changelog page and there are already 2.2.8 and 2.3. I would propose a "net yet released" banner for clarification

about aging of elves: so imho, definitely "No Elves optional" if we want to keep it close to the lore.

some changelog feedback: While it makes sense to post all current changes of v2.2.7 in Changelog/2.2.7Â I have to admin I was a bit confused at first... I'll try to edit some structure for easier navigation.

yup, Quake 1 was great! real 3D, online multiplayer, great controls and still alive (Darkplaces etc.) It was also a very bold move for id software to release their games source under an open licence. Baldurs Gate 1+2 were also the pinnacle of RPG. But on the other hand there is Planescape Tornment. Haven't finished it yet, altough I'm not sure if I want it to end ;)

Congrats for version 1.7 I still have to try it ingame :) I'm currently working on another little batch script that will automate the package extraction and sorting/preparation (installation part 2) for Cestrals script. Although you still have to download all mods, you just throw them all in one folder and run the script that will do all this tedious work etc. for you. Currently it's in alpha and works at least for me. Cestral might work on something more sophisticated, but this will be just a quick and dirty solution ;)

Great guide! Some ideas to make the hardware chapter more userfriendly: I would try to mostly adress people who are in search for a new PC that (also) can handle a modded skyrim. People with deeper knowledge get the idea of the performance even without infos like PCIe 2.0 x16. For more information they can look into the seperate hardware guide. - point out laptops and consoles are a no-go for a modded, high quality skyrim - you need a desktop windows 7 pc - most people aren't very familiar with the internal naming of cpus (Sandy/Ivy Bridge). Better talk about: "new pc", 2011 minimum, quadcore, i5 (3rd Gen), i7, Phenom II X4 / X6, "gamer pc" - nothing below! For advanced information you already linked to the hardware guide (that could be fleshed out later) - the motherboard part can be removed (-> advanced guide)

Hi Celestral, first thanks a lot for your mod. It finally brings this texture madness to a manageable level :) I'm curious (and haven't read the whole thread): Do you already work on an automated extraction of the packed files? This would make the handling of all those files even easier. If not I might have the spare time to help with that - although the biggest problem would be to keep the files up-to-date ( maybe through wiki-help?)

At the nexus comments someone reports the automatic helper is broken in 1.7. Can anybody confirm this? edit: Dynavision still works for me, but the summoned helper disappears after a second.