Quitch

But... but I just learned Wrye and everything! You can't go and tempt me with sexy new mod managers, I'm trying to play the game, damnit!

I certainly think that STEP should just declare Wrye the mod manager of choice, then integrate elements of guidance for it into the main STEP guide.

Hangs seem to have stopped after I updated my Bash Patch. I didn't even know I had to do that. Hopefully it's smooth sailing from here.

It's not an INI option, you need to right-click Bashed Patch on the Mods list and choose Rebuild Patch.

I started a new game after moving to 2.2.6 and I didn't have that crash. My game does hang after a while, but haven't tracked that one down yet and it's not new to 2.2.6.

This has been dropped, though what its been replaced with doesn't appear to be in the guide yet.

This is back in so the title needs updating.

While I agree that bFloatPointRenderTarget should be 0 for anyone not using an ENB, I believe bDrawLandShadows provides a superior experience with a minimal frame rate hit regardless of whether you're using an ENB or not. I've included HardOCP benchmarks of the setting on and off, also their screenshots and screenshots posted by another forum user. HardOCP benchmarking and screenshots bDrawLandShadows=0 bDrawLandShadows=1 I believe the guide should include bDrawLandShadows=1 as a default setting for the baseline profile.

The INF bits that had been added to the change log have been removed again. Is there not a section in the change log for INF changes? The Z striping(?) settings that have been removed were a sizable hit to framerate, so if they're no longer considered necessary the change log should definitely mention this. While I understand this from an admin perspective, from a user perspective it's not helpful and the change log should definately include it, along with a note that it was supposed to be part of 2.2.5 but was missed for most of its life. I started with 2.2.5 and unless the change log tells me to revisit the INF settings, I won't. The only reason I did is I noticed one of the sections looked smaller as I scrolled past and I started comparing notes and revisiting my ini files.

Thanks for the clarification. J New Idles for Skyrim As far as I can tell there's no way to get Wrye to install the EXE files for this mod (I tried Override Skips), which means you can't complete the detailed installation instructions. If there's a way to get this working under Wrye it should be listed in the note, otherwise the note should state that the EXE files need to be extracted manually.

M Oblivion Gates Shouldn't these be under Landscape & Environment or something? It's no different to adding some trees or something. They don't do anything.

Yes, you can setup game profiles, but the guide doesn't currently recommend that. Without a very specific reason for forcing AA and AF through the control panel, there's no reason to do it. An application should also always be allowed to handle its own AA and AF. Setting up a custom profile will also override any hidden profile that AMD has for Skyrim. Change log doesn't state that the detailed instructions for Skyrim Flora Overhaul have been updated (to clarify that 181 should be used not 179). D Cursor Fix This is core, but C Borderless Window is not. Isn't Double Cursor Fix specifically for Borderless Window?

Thanks for the link! 1.F.1. Skyrim INI The SkyrimPrefs.ini guidance has had the TerrainManager and MAIN steps removed, but this isn't mentioned in the change log. iLargeIntRefCount=131072 has been moved from General to Display in Skyrim.ini, but this is also missing from the change log. Fixes the shadow flickering issue. Shadow flickering is caused by updating sun shadows. I think this step should note that it replaces the smooth movement of shadows with stepped movement. I definitely found this to be a downgrade. I would strongly recommend removing the first line since you shouldn't force AA and AF through the control panel without very specific reasons. This will also impact on other games.

1.C.2. AMD Users This is my bad as I somehow overlooked this when I last checked the section but the steps Mirror the anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering values set using the Skyrim Launcher above. and Make sure that [Anti-Aliasing Mode] and [Anti-Aliasing Samples] are set to Use application settings contradict one another. STEP should not be recommending the first of these two without good reason as this would lead to everything having AA and AF applied to it, lowering performance without necessarily increasing graphical fidelity. By letting the application determine the settings it can apply AA and AF only to items it chooses. The control panel should only be used to force AA and AF in games which don't offer these options, or where the developers clearly made a pig's ear of it. Tick Enable Surface Format Optimization I think I noted this last time. There are no check boxes in the Catalyst Control Panel, it's all drop-down boxes. This step should read "Set [surface Format Optimization] to 'On'". Incidentally, this is the default setting. Death Cam Duration Options - Not vanilla What does this even mean? This is a mod guide, nothing here is vanilla. Realistic Crime Radius - being replace via Wrye Bash setting Has this actually been replaced? I couldn't find any reference to crime in the wiki. It seems odd to remove it before the replacement is ready, and even if for some reason this is the way the mod team wants to do it the note should be clearer. If the replacement is in the guide somewhere, it would be handy to note this as there's nothing to this effect in the change log. Roosters At Dawn - causes various issues Can we get more information or a link to more information? The change log isn't giving me enough to make an educated decision. For example, the next note is about removing a mod which conflicts with another mod, as I don't use the mod it conflicts with I know I can probably keep on using it safely. Simple Crosshair - conflicts with NACMIM Can the guide please avoid using shorthand in one location which is never explained or used anywhere else? The mod isn't called NACMIM in the guide so it shouldn't be called NACMIM in the change log. D - Maximum Skeleton STEP 2.2.5 had you install the "01 NON FNIS patch" sub-package. The change log really should state that this sub-package should be removed now that FNIS is part of STEP. I assume that J packages will override D packages, but still.

Double Cursor Fix Referred to by this name in the change log, called Cursor Fix in the STEP Wiki. The change log is using the correct name. Fore's New Idles for Skyrim Referred to by this name in the change log, called New Idles for Skyrim in the STEP Wiki. The change log is using the correct name.

It says at the top of the mod tables that loose files should be used when ever available, it doesn't need to be mentioned on every mod. But it needs to be consistent, otherwise you confuse the user. After all, why list it for one but not the other? Suddenly you think perhaps that means you shouldn't use the loose files here, otherwise it would say, right? etc. G04 Skyrim Floral Overhaul I think this is a bit heavy for the baseline and consideration should either be given to making it optional, or making exclusion of Skyrim Floral Overhaul.esp part of the baseline. On my system this mod alone is a 5fps hit during the intro sequence, without that esp it's only 2fps. The guide also needs to specify whether 179 or 181 should be used since 181 is not an upgrade, rather it's a version of the mod without the hand placed elements. EDIT: 181 also appears to be a lower FPS hit, so maybe 181 for baseline and 179 is the HQ option? Someone with a more thorough testing methodology than me should probably look at this.

There are broken quests because almost all of them are Alpha or Beta. The main file throws in everything they're doing, finished or not. There is an optional update to restrict the mod to voiced NPCs only, which also removes the Alpha and Beta quests. It states it's for 2.42, but as far as I can tell it's still the right file for 2.43.x. According to the readmes there's still a few silent sections left even with this file where an NPC is voiced, but some lines have had their VO removed while it's re-recorded or something.

G26 Vibrant Auras Two options are available, 1.5x and 2.0x, ideally there should be a STEP recommendation. G27 Visible Windows Instructions should state that only 00 Data is required and that other sub-packages are to customise to taste, not additional textures or locations. Ideally there should be a STEP recommendation here. G28 WATER Instructions state to use the WATER Dragonborn addon if you have Dragonborn, but no instructions are provided on which sub-packages to use. 10 WATER - DB and 20 - WATER - DB Waves are mutually exclusive. H25 Xenius Character Enhancement This has a number of sub-packages after the BCF is applied, but there's no instructions on which to use. As best as I can tell you only want 00 Core. I03 Book of Silence Instructions should specify that once you've installed the BCF you should use the wizard and select STEP Default. This is a great BCF by the way, good job whoever made it. I06Â Closer Quivers & Longer Arrows Does not state whether you should install the slim quivers. Should probably note that the Elven Weaponry mod mentioned is not the Elven Weapons mod used by STEP (AFAIK). Does not state whether you should install closer bolts, and if you do whether you should use closer or hidden. Options are selected by default though, so my assumption was that those were the right options. I08 Elven Weapons for Silence No instructions are provided on which sub-packages to install after applying the BCF. All are optional apart from 00 CORE, though I think STEP should look into the silver textures as the screenshots look rather nice while not moving too far from the original. J18 Skyrim Sunglare There are two main packages (mutually exclusive), one with and one without lens flare. STEP should make a recommendation. Section D There's a mod (which I have yet to identify) which is using subtitles to be displayed during the opening between the imperial soldier manning the gate and general Tullius. Final note At least one mod, D06 Dual Sheath Redux needs a file running after all mods have been installed. It would be really handy to have a list of these at the end of the mod list so you remember which ones you need to go back and check on again once you've worked your way down the list. Thanks to everyone who put this guide together, it was really very helpful.

Additional documentation issues: D06 Consistent Older People Notes need to mention you should ensure the BOYD sub-package is selected for installation if you're going to use BOYD. D23 Maximum Skeleton The installer will ask if you want to installation animation files for this mod. There's nothing in the STEP notes about this. Selecting "Magic-Shield-Crouch patch for NON FNIS User" in the installation wizard doesn't lead to the sub-package 01 NON FNIS patch being selected. My guess is that this sub-package should be selected and so the notes will need to be updated if this is a bug in the wizard or the script handling this.

Okay, so I've been working through the STEP v2.2.5 guide and have run into the following: H5 AOF Believable Hair The BCF when applied to 1.3.2 breaks it. In its default state Wyre will not install the Optional folder (which would override one of the base textures), but once the BCF has been applied none of the textures will be installed due to the naming scheme used. It looks like the intention is to turn the folders into sub-packages, but this is not what happens. K22 Septim HD The BCF doesn't work with this mod. I've added the BCF to Wyre, but neither main nor the optional flipped release offer the option to apply the conversion. The mod is still at 1.0. M27 Wearable Lanterns This has a choice between BSA and loose installation downloads. I believe that baseline should be recommending the non-BSA as it does for the two other wearable lantern add-ons. 1.C.2 guidance "Set [Catalyst A.I.] to highest texture quality and tick Enable Surface Format Optimization" This should be "Set [surface Format Optimization] to On" Set [Wait for vertical refresh] to Quality I'm assuming the intention here is to enable vertical refresh, in which case it should be one of the following: "Set [Wait for vertical refresh] to 'On, unless application specifies'" or "Set [Wait for vertical refresh] to 'Always on'" The former is my recommendation, unless Skyrim specifically requests that the graphics driver disable vsync. Tick Triple buffering under [OpenGL Settings] Skyrim is a DirectX game, there's no need to change OpenGL settings. Download and install the latest AMD drivers (beta if available). At this point in the game's lifecycle, users should not be being directed to beta drivers. Set [Anti-Aliasing Mode] to Multi-sample AA This is the default setting (the correct name is "Multi-sample"). If the intention is to have the user check that it's correct, then the user should also be checking that both [Anti-Aliasing Mode] and [Anti-Aliasing Samples] are set to "Use application settings". Set [Tessellation] to AMD Optimized It's now called [Tessellation Mode].