[Request] Advice on my Load Order & Merge Plugin's

[boelimaa]

Dear STEP Community

I am seeking advice on my load order and ideas on which plugins I should merge to get back to 255.esp's in Skyrim. I could not find a good thread or a specific forum so hopefully it's ok to post it here, as my first post.

First some general information: In the past years i've done several large stable installations of Skyrim. I use the correct tools and have gained some basic knowledge and how to solve issues.

With the standalone Merge Plugins released I started a new build. A final build. This will not be updated in the forseable future. That is helpful as we can assume the load will be static. I use Mod Organizer, LOOT, FNIS, Merge Patch, Bash Patch and one reproccer (Perma)

The build is ready to be merged down to 255 plugins. Please help me with your experience and knowledge to support me getting a plan to get from 345 esp's (CURRENT) to 245 esp's(TARGET) files.

Info on current load order:
- I installed the build mainly following SRLE and added my own additionals.
- I added mod by mod and always ran LOOT in between installing mods.
- I know of general load order guidance, however, loot ends up with a extreme mix with such a long plugin list, even with some "load-after" tags for some mods (SRLE). That means there are patches everywhere.
- Please note that I use Perma. Perma is able to deal with this modlist in my opinion. Did it with long load order before.
- FNIS Patch, MergedPatch.esp and BashPatch.esp as well as PatchusMaximus.esp are not yet in the load order. These are the steps to follow after Merge Process.

 

The current load order:

 

 

Skyrim.esm
Update.esm
Dawnguard.esm
HearthFires.esm
Dragonborn.esm
Unofficial Skyrim Legendary Edition Patch.esp
Skyrim Project Optimization - Full Version.esm
Falskaar.esm
Wyrmstooth.esp
EFFCore.esm
WM Flora Fixes.esp
ETaC - RESOURCES.esm
RSkyrimChildren.esm
Campfire.esm
CompanionArissa.esm
notice board.esp
Ket_ARMONIZER_v2.esm
Cutting Room Floor.esp
Auto Unequip Ammo.esp
FISS.esp
SkyUI.esp
Extended UI.esp
AMatterOfTime.esp
iHUD.esp
LessIntrusiveHUD.esp
AHZmoreHUD.esp
RaceMenu.esp
towConversation.esp
UIExtensions.esp
DialogueTweaks.esp
Wyrmstooth - Typo Fix.esp
mintylightningmod.esp
WondersofWeather.esp
EnhancedLightsandFX.esp
You Hunger.esp
Wyrmstooth - Realistic Ownership.esp
ETaC - Complete.esp
WetandCold.esp
ELFX - Exteriors.esp
Skyrim Particle Patch for ENB - Flame Atronach Fix.esp
Moss Rocks - Legendary.esp
ServicesAssets.esp
TakeNotes.esp
Attribute Icon Widget.esp
suspiciouscityguards.esp
AnonymousPeople.esp
RealNames.esp
AshRocks.esp
SulfurRocks.esp
MoonGlow.esp
Footprints.esp
AchieveThat.esp
RealisticHumanoidMovementSpeed.esp
AddressUnknown.esp
sandboxcylinderheight.esp
SimplyKnock.esp
vwrSprintJump.esp
ETaC IHO Compatibility Patch.esp
ORM-Arvak.esp
AOS.esp
AOS2_WetandCold Patch.esp
Dont_Steal_My_Crops.esp
3DNPC.esp
Prometheus_No_snow_Under_the_roof.esp
Tes Arena - Skyrim Frontier Fortress.esp
Hothtrooper44_ArmorCompilation.esp
Guard Dialogue Overhaul.esp
Weapons & Armor Fixes_Remade.esp
Better Dynamic Snow.esp
Clothing & Clutter Fixes.esp
BetterQuestObjectives.esp
Immersive Sounds - Compendium.esp
Weapons & Armor_TrueWeaponsLvlLists.esp
Skyrim Immersive Creatures.esp
Immersive Weapons.esp
WeaponsArmorFixes_ImmersiveWeapons_Patch.esp
Skyrim Immersive Creatures - DLC2.esp
High Level Enemies - SIC.esp
High Level Enemies - SIC Falskaar.esp
Rebirth Monster.esp
Duel - Combat Realism.esp
OBIS.esp
aMidianBorn_ContentAddon.esp
Complete Crafting Overhaul_Remade.esp
Complete Alchemy & Cooking Overhaul.esp
YouHungerHardcore-ETAC-Patch.esp
Disparity.esp
DeadlySpellImpacts.esp
AOS2_DSI Patch.esp
Vividian - Torches Preset.esp
RUSTIC SOULGEMS - Unsorted.esp
ISC DeadlySpellImpacts Patch.esp
ISCompendium AOS Patch.esp
ISCompendium CCO Patch.esp
Book Covers Skyrim.esp
Real Wildlife Skyrim 0.1.esp
Immersive Orc Strongholds.esp
Helgen Reborn.esp
Lore Weapon Expansion.esp
Prometheus_NSUTR BDS Patch.esp
SkyrimCoinReplacerRedux.esp
Thieves Guild Redone.esp
Populated Skyrim Legendary.esp
ETaC - Complete ELFX Patch.esp
hold guard.esp
SoS - The Wilds.esp
BetterDarkBrotherhood.esp
Animal Tweaks.esp
PermaZONESLegendaryBalanced.esp
OBISDB.esp
Civil War Overhaul.esp
SoS - Civilization.esp
Vivid Weathers.esp
Holidays.esp
ETaC - Complete Holidays Patch.esp
SoS - The Dungeons.esp
WAO - Weather and Ambience Overhaul.esp
Immersive Whiterun.esp
Hidden Hideouts of Skyrim - Merged - Deep Immersion.esp
Immersive Solstheim.esp
CornerofTheSkyrim.esp
JKs SuperLITE - Merged.esp
Hunting in Skyrim - No Perks.esp
WAF_CCF_SIC Patch.esp
SPTDiverseGuardsSkyrim.esp
Combat Evolved - Core.esp
dD - Enhanced Blood Main.esp
AOS2_EBT Patch.esp
ISCompendium Enhanced Blood Patch.esp
LocalizedGuildJobs.esp
Point The Way.esp
RealisticWaterTwo.esp
RealisticWaterTwo - Wyrmstooth.esp
Thieves Guild Requirements.esp
RelightingSkyrim-FULL.esp
EMCompViljaSkyrim.esp
Inigo.esp
HothFollower.esp
BP2Meeko.esp
InigoMCM.esp
EMViljaInSolstheimAddOn.esp
smfArena1.8.esp
TheChoiceIsYours.esp
Inconsequential NPCs.esp
EFFDialogue.esp
Dynamic Dialogue Followers.esp
SkyrimSewers.esp
Atlas Legendary.esp
RealisticWaterTwo - Legendary.esp
SFO - Dragonborn.esp
Run For Your Lives.esp
RiversideLodgeReduxBE.esp
Ket_ARMONIZER_LListsNPC.esp
AOS2_RealisticWaterTwo Patch.esp
UniqueBorderGates-All.esp
ETaC - Complete CRF Patch.esp
ETaC - Complete NoSnow Patch.esp
VariousGuardReplacer.esp
Hunterborn.esp
Immersive Patrols II.esp
Immersive Horses.esp
ETaC - Dragon Bridge South.esp
Hunterborn_CACO_Patch.esp
Craftable Horse Barding.esp
YouHungerHardcore-INPC-Patch.esp
Book Covers Skyrim - Lost Library.esp
Skyrim Flora Overhaul.esp
Wyrmstooth - Landmarks.esp
HoamaiiClearskyHideout.esp
TES ARENA AIO-Clutting-patch.esp
dD-DG-DB-Immersive Creatures EBT Patch.esp
ETaC - Complete RS Patch.esp
Hearthfire IHO Compatibility Patch.esp
Animal Tweaks - SIC.esp
Animal Tweaks - OBIS Patch.esp
OBIS DG Faction Patch.esp
Inconsequential NPCs - CRF Compatibility Patch.esp
CACO_SkyrimImmersiveCreatures+DLC2_Patch.esp
Frostfall.esp
CUYC_CleanUpYourCorpses.esp
CACO_3DNPC.esp
Provincial Courier Service.esp
RealisticWaterTwo - Waves - Wyrmstooth.esp
ForgottenCity.esp
3DNPC Alternative Locations.esp
ETaC - Whiterun Ext ELFX Patch.esp
WATER Plants.esp
The Paarthurnax Dilemma.esp
PilgrimsDelight.esp
HoldBorderBanners.esp
Argonian Access.esp
LIAT - Less NPCs.esp
LIAT - Sounds.esp
Better Vampires.esp
EmbersHD.esp
No Snow Under The Roof - CRF Patch.esp
iNeed.esp
Blowing in the Wind.esp
TimingIsEverything.esp
Wyrmstooth - Radiant Encounter Tweaks.esp
Gildergreen Regrown.esp
Prometheus_NSUTR Falskaar Dock.esp
_tck_SpellCrafting.esp
HHoS Subterranean Hot Spring DI.esp
notice board - dragonborn patch.esp
UniqueBorderGates-All-PointTheWay.esp
ETaC - Complete Atlas Patch.esp
ArtOfTheCatch.esp
Apocalypse - The Spell Package.esp
PerkusMaximus_Master.esp
PerkusMaximus_SimplyKnock.esp
DeadlyDragons.esp
AOS2_DD Patch.esp
Apocalypse - PerMa Compatibility Patch.esp
PerMa Expansion 1 - Wintermyst.esp
Pre PaMa WAFR CCF CCOR Wintermyst Patch.esp
PerkusMaximus_Mage.esp
PerMaDefluffedPerkDescriptions.esp
PerkusMaximus_Thief.esp
ISC PerMa Compatibility Patch.esp
ISC CCF Patch.esp
Pre PaMa SiC Patch.esp
aMidianborn_Skyforge_Weapons.esp
ISC WAFR Patch.esp
AOS2_WAF Patch.esp
Wyrmstooth - Craftable Sets.esp
Wyrmstooth - Notice Board - New Armor Sets.esp
Falskaar - Notice Board.esp
Wyrmstooth - Dragon Lore - Deadly Dragons.esp
RealisticWaterTwo - Waves - Falskaar.esp
RealisticWaterTwo - Falskaar.esp
PerkusMaximus_Warrior.esp
HHoS Ancient Shrine DI.esp
Wyrmstooth - Quest Tweaks - No Main Vanilla Quest Req.esp
3DNPCEFF.esp
FNIS.esp
Beards.esp
Brows.esp
KS Hairdo's.esp
TheEyesOfBeauty.esp
The Eyes Of Beauty - Elves Edition.esp
NB-Scars.esp
MatureSkinComplexions.esp
NonEssentialChildren.esp
RSChildren_PatchNEC.esp
RSChildren_CompleteUSKP.esp
Patch - Interesting NPCs - RS kids.esp
Patch - Inconsequential NPCs - RS kids.esp
RSChildren - CRF Patch.esp
Patch - Wyrm - RS kids.esp
Patch - Falskaar - RS kids.esp
DSAMG - Greybeard Fix.esp
DSAMG - Miraak Music Fixes.esp
Dual Wield Parrying_SKSE.esp
dD-No Spinning Death Animation Merged.esp
dD - Realistic Ragdoll Force - Realistic.esp
XPMSE.esp
DSerArcheryGameplayOverhaul.esp
Thugs.esp
GuardAnimationsGDO.esp
WetandCold - Ashes.esp
AMB Glass Variants Lore.esp
BDYEB.esp
Differently Ebony.esp
GQJ_DG_vampireamuletfix.esp
Mage Outfit Texture Overhaul.esp
Slightly Reduced Distance NPC Greetings.esp
HonedMetal.esp
TavernClothes-MTM.esp
Hunterborn_Campfire_Patch.esp
Chesko_WearableLantern.esp
Vividian - Wearable Lanterns Preset.esp
Forsworn-MTM.esp
EasyWheel.esp
CACO_CoinReplacer_Patch.esp
CACO_ETaC_Patch.esp
CACO_USLEEP_Patch.esp
CACO_Wyrmstooth_Patch.esp
CACO - ArtOfTheCatch Patch.esp
CACO_CRF.esp
CCO_SIC_Patch.esp
Rebirth Monster - OBIS Patch.esp
Rebirth Monster - USLEEP Patch.esp
Rebirth Monster - HLE SIC Patch.esp
Rebirth Monster - SIC Patch.esp
Animallica.esp
Animallica - Real Wildlife Loot.esp
Clothing & Clutter_3DNPC_Patch.esp
Hunterborn_WearableLantern-Patch.esp
iNeed - Dangerous Diseases.esp
Bathing in Skyrim - Main.esp
Bathing in Skyrim - Hunterborn.esp
Bathing In Skyrim - Followers Only.esp
BetterQuestObjectives-AMBSkyforgePatch.esp
BetterQuestObjectives-CRFPatch.esp
BetterQuestObjectives-DBForevertoMisc.esp
BetterQuestObjectives-EFFPatch.esp
BetterQuestObjectives-PaarDilemmaPatch.esp
BetterQuestObjectives-PerMaPatch.esp
ThievesGuildReq_LocalizedGuildJobs_Patch.esp
Inconsequential NPCs - Enhancement.esp
Rebirth Monster - Animal Tweaks Patch.esp
Rebirth Monster - Clothing & Clutter Fixes Patch.esp
Rebirth Monster - Immersive Weapons Patch.esp
Rebirth Monster - OBISDB Patch.esp
CACO - iNeed - MoonlightTales.esp
Brevi_MoonlightTalesEssentials.esp
Traps Are Dangerous.esp
VioLens.esp
WM Trap Fixes.esp
TradeBarter.esp
CACO_Bathing in Skyrim.esp
Helgen Reborn-RSC patch.esp
kuerteeGoldAjustment.esp
CrimeDecay.esp
When Vampires Attack.esp
TwoRings.esp
HBetterBows.esp
You Hunger Brutal Leveled Lists.esp
LPBards.esp
UltimateCombat.esp
Action Combat.esp
TKDodge.esp
attack commitment movement speed fluid 3.esp
_tck_camp_PortableAltar.esp
_tck_SpellCraftingPerma.esp
Apocalypse - More Apocalypse.esp
Apocalypse - More Apocalypse - PerMa Compatibility Patch.esp
1nivWICCloaks.esp
OBISCCOR&IA8.esp
PerMa-CACO.esp
PerMa-Hunterborn.esp
PerMa_USLEEP master patch.esp
Wyrmstooth - PerMa Patch.esp
LootandDegradation.esp
Alternate Start - Live Another Life.esp
ETaC - Complete AS-LAL Patch.esp
BetterQuestObjectives-AlternateStartPatch.esp
ELE_Legendary_Fs_Wt_Lite.esp
Complete Crafting_TrueWeaponsLvlLists.esp
ETaC - Complete ELE Patch.esp
Scarcity - Less Loot Mod.esp
Scarcity - 8x Loot Rarity.esp
Scarcity - 8x Merchant Item Rarity.esp
DynDOLOD.esp

 

Please advise me on what plugins I should merge or how I should adjust my load order and then merge. Thanks if you take the time to look into this and provide your expertise.

Kind regards and happy modding
boelimaa (Thomas)
 

 

 

plugins.txt

modlist.txt

[darkside]

That is a big mod list.

Outside guide recommended merges, I generally merge patches that do not contain nav mesh data. I usually merge plugins that closer together in the load order.

 

I think merge plugin has dictionary about safe to merge plugins.

[Nozzer66]

You could look at Merging all the Better Quest Objectives stuff, all the Bathing in Skyrim Stuff, Rebirth Monster Patches, CACO patches, Sounds stuff etc.

 

Also maybe some of the smaller little UI stuff and smaller little texture mods, much like what Darth Mathias suggests in his SRLE Extended guide.

 

It's going to take some pretty serious work to get that down far enough though, given you're near 100 over 255.

[boelimaa]

That is interesting. No nav mesh data ok. I am wondering if I need to start finding small groups of mods down the list and just group everything I get no errors in merge plugins? Can groups of patches of different mods (if continous) be merged?

 

Main issues I see is that patches are spreaded all over. I am trying to find continous groups of esp's to merge. If I understand this correctly; standalone esp's (no patches etc.) should be mergable with the standalone merge plugin program through mod organizer. Now, does that mean I just need to find nice groups in this list and merge them? If I assume the load order is not going to change...?

 

Edit:

yes, doing the SRLE and SRLE Extended groups wherever possible in theory now. Can those esp files in the groups suggested be moved around after loot in the load order savely? Maybe put the new esp. where the last loaded included esp was? .-)

 

Sorry for all the questions. It's my final skyrim modding build and i've been working on it for a month now.

Edited May 8, 2016 by boelimaa

[Nozzer66]

If you merge big groups of patches, you can LOOT rule the resulting merged ESP's to load late in the list.

[boelimaa]

Thanks, I see, okey. Would you advise to force groups and modify this order (i worry this could brake the "working" order of mods, or really find groups in this order and just patch wherever possible and hope i get 100 down? In regards to the contingeous mods needed to be able to merge.

Edited May 8, 2016 by boelimaa

[Nozzer66]

Have a look at what Darth Mathias does in SRLE Extended with some of his merges. He does a few good ones that may give you a guide. You'll find the merged ESP will usually sort pretty nicely where they should, ie after all the mods they patch. But if they are not where you want them, LOOT it so they are. You'll not really break too much if you try and keep to smaller mods as much as possible.

Edited May 8, 2016 by Nozzer66

[boelimaa]

Thank you sir, I wil check the guide advised groups again from SRLE and SRLE Extended first. Should I generally be able to move all the suggested patches together to make them contingeous without breaking other patches? Do patches depend on other patches? I guess not. Thanks, i'll keep ya updated, and would take any other ideas and tips.

 

Actually there is thought put in this mod list regarding enhancement of gameplay besides graphics. And I also like to play the game with all the fantastic mods alot. I guess everyone has an idea of his mods list. It would be stunning getting this to work.

Edited May 8, 2016 by boelimaa

[darkside]

Most patches don't depend on other patches, but sometimes load order matters. What override what.

[Nozzer66]

I usually move anything I'm patching to the very end of the load order, making them all contingenous. If there's something untoward in doing that, the plugin loading part of Merge Plugins will say so. 

 

Once the merge is done I make a new mod from the merge and drop it on the left pane right after it's master (if it's just patches etc.) Then LOOT and see where it sits.