When is the best time to install mods?

[phazer11]

Hello everybody, as the title suggests I'd like to know the best time to install mods. I know when not to continue with a save that has had mods removed. However, I usually use the default Helgen intro sequence to check any mods I install.

 

This latest playthrough I've been using STEP v2.2.5 and a few extra mods but have been CTD either when Alduin lands on the wall above you (halfway through the sprint to the keep) or a few seconds thereafter. If I do manage to get past that without a CTD it will either CTD the second I touch the door to the keep or right after Alduin passes over the mouth of the cave (as it is marking the helgen quest completed and switching to the new one I believe).

 

I got S.T.E.P installed (around 200 mods core and optional mostly the 2048 textures and a few 1024 where the only other option were 4096 textures like Whiterun Trellis) and I believe everything worked ok. It was the extra immersion mods I added that seemed to be the problem.

I have Frostfall, Realistic Needs and Diseases, Winterhold - Expanded Ruins, some body and custom skeleton mods (these aren't the problem) along with Drinking fountains of Skyrim, Immersive Armors, Winter is Coming, Cloaks of Skyrim, Ultimate Follower Overhaul, Move it Dammit (and UFO Patch) and I replaced Female Vampires have fangs with Realistic Teeth by Brumbek. I'm also using Automatic Variants (with Bellyache's and Slof's AV packs) instead of Bellyache's alone.

 

For all of the core S.T.E.P mods (and the new mods) that had compatibility patches for one another I installed those, ordered with BOSS and then I use SUM to make a merged patch for Automatic Variants and Dual Sheath Redux. Finally I check the order with BOSS again and rebuild the Bashed Patch which merges all of the changes to the leveled lists and that seems to be about it.

 

I've searched for some answers around here and on the Nexus forums and haven't come up with much. The general consensus seems to be don't install mods until after the Helgen sequence as the whole sequence's scripting is buggy as hell (even with USKP).

 

Also Winter is Coming does not seem to work right when installed through Wrye Bash (since it add all five esp's and BOSS doesn't seem to mark them right) so I install through NMM (might be a problem but I was having the same issues when using Wrye Bash) and tell it to add the Cloaks of Skyrim patch.

 

I've uninstalled individual mods and whole sets of them, not much seems to help maybe I'm making the patch wrong probably I'm new to WB) Or I'lll have to part with some immersio mods (which would be dissapointing as I really wanted a more immersive survivialistic explorative experience this time round. Also I'm not using any of Bethesda's DLC's besides the texture pack.

 

I'm about to make yet another attempt at solving this on my own. If you need BOSS logs or what have you I'll post them.

 

System Specs: ASUS G75VX ROG Laptop

Intel Core i7 3630QM

Nvidia GTX 470MX 3GB VRAM (Of which I'm only using 2.2GB max even when it CTDs)

Corsair Neutron GTX 240 GB SSD with Windows 8 Core 64-Bit (Skyrim and mods are installed here)

HGST 1TB 5400 RPM HDD

8GB 1600 MHz DDR3 RAM

[torminater]

What's your RAM usage?

Usually for any immersion mod/spawn mod/hardcore mod/realism mod it is best to install them after exiting helgen dungeon.

[phazer11]

UH... RAM usage is ~2.2-2.5GB for System Memory before it CTD's. With my browser open to allow me to view mods tabs in between attempts plus the OS it comes out to a total of ~5.6GB out of 8GB so ~75% of total.

[Aiyen]

First activate mods after your hands are untied in helgen keep.

For example if you activate frostfall during the carriage ride the horse theif will die.. which kinda bugs out the game.

[DOHstep2013]

Winter Is Coming does not have 5 .esps that should be active, you should read the installation instructions. Some of them are "either/or".

 

*********************

-----------------

Main plugins:

-----------------

Please use ONLY ONE.

 

1nivWICCloaks.esp: This is the main plugin for WIC, it places items through out the game on NPCs, Vendors AND crafting. PLEASE PICK ONE PLUGIN.

 

1nivWICCloaksCRAFT.esp: This plugin makes the cloaks ONLY craftable, that means you will NOT find them on NPCs or Vendors everything must be crafted at the Tanning Rack. PLEASE PICK ONE PLUGIN.

 

1nivWICCloaksNoGuards.esp: This plugin is the same as the main plugin, except this one has no guards edited in the mod. They will have NO cloaks or hoods from WIC. PLEASE PICK ONE PLUGIN.

 

-------------------

Optional Patches:

-------------------

Optional patches require BOTH Winter Is Coming AND the mod they patch to be installed and turned on.

 

.........................................................................

Cloaks of Skyrim: https://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=12092

.........................................................................

 

You do NOT need a patch if you use the CRAFT only version of WIC.

Please use ONLY ONE.

 

1nivWICSkyCloaksPatch.esp: This is a optional patch for the mod Cloaks Of Skyrim, only use if you have Cloaks Of Skyrim mod. This patch edits the level lists and Outfit lists to play nicely with each other, you need this patch even if you make a Bashed patch.

 

1nivWICSkyCloaksPatch-No Imp.esp: This is a optional patch for the mod Cloaks Of Skyrim the No Imperial version, only use if you have Cloaks Of Skyrim No Imperial mod.

 

1nivWICSkyCloaksPatch-NoGuards.esp: This is a optional patch for the mod Cloaks Of Skyrim, only use if you have Cloaks Of Skyrim mod AND Winter Is Coming No Guards version.

 

1nivWICSkyCloaksPatch-No ImpGuards.esp: This is a optional patch for the mod Cloaks Of Skyrim the No Imperial version, only use if you have Cloaks Of Skyrim No Imperial mod AND Winter Is Coming No Guards version.

[DOHstep2013]

I actually have a similar question regarding "Alternate Start - Live Another Life" - https://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/9557

 

Does anyone know how this mod effects the introduction of S.T.E.P and the mods it recommends? Should we to be "in the game" to start?

[Neovalen]

Live Another Life is to be used when clicking "New Game".

[phazer11]

Winter Is Coming does not have 5 .esps that should be active, you should read the installation instructions. Some of them are "either/or".

 

*********************

-----------------

Main plugins:

-----------------

Please use ONLY ONE.

 

1nivWICCloaks.esp: This is the main plugin for WIC, it places items through out the game on NPCs, Vendors AND crafting. PLEASE PICK ONE PLUGIN.

 

1nivWICCloaksCRAFT.esp: This plugin makes the cloaks ONLY craftable, that means you will NOT find them on NPCs or Vendors everything must be crafted at the Tanning Rack. PLEASE PICK ONE PLUGIN.

 

1nivWICCloaksNoGuards.esp: This plugin is the same as the main plugin, except this one has no guards edited in the mod. They will have NO cloaks or hoods from WIC. PLEASE PICK ONE PLUGIN.

 

-------------------

Optional Patches:

-------------------

Optional patches require BOTH Winter Is Coming AND the mod they patch to be installed and turned on.

 

.........................................................................

Cloaks of Skyrim: https://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=12092

.........................................................................

 

You do NOT need a patch if you use the CRAFT only version of WIC.

Please use ONLY ONE.

 

1nivWICSkyCloaksPatch.esp: This is a optional patch for the mod Cloaks Of Skyrim, only use if you have Cloaks Of Skyrim mod. This patch edits the level lists and Outfit lists to play nicely with each other, you need this patch even if you make a Bashed patch.

 

1nivWICSkyCloaksPatch-No Imp.esp: This is a optional patch for the mod Cloaks Of Skyrim the No Imperial version, only use if you have Cloaks Of Skyrim No Imperial mod.

 

1nivWICSkyCloaksPatch-NoGuards.esp: This is a optional patch for the mod Cloaks Of Skyrim, only use if you have Cloaks Of Skyrim mod AND Winter Is Coming No Guards version.

 

1nivWICSkyCloaksPatch-No ImpGuards.esp: This is a optional patch for the mod Cloaks Of Skyrim the No Imperial version, only use if you have Cloaks Of Skyrim No Imperial mod AND Winter Is Coming No Guards version.

 

You obviously didn't read my post. For whatever reason Wyre Bash does not properly save my changes when it places the Winter is Coming .esp's into the Skyrim directory eve after checking the tick marks again hitting install or uninstall and using anneal. I mark the main file only so that it both places and lets you craft the items. Then there is the patch which comes with it's own .esp's. BOSS improperly marks the esp's and does not include the main file in it's notification. Either way I'm still working on this, I could make a custom archive but meh.

 

If someone could post a list of the mods that could cause problems during the Helgen intro it would be helpful. Mainly the ones that edit scripts and such I would think such as birds of skyrim etc.

[Vond]

Could you add a pic of WiC in the WB installer window? Cause that sounds very odd, I never had any problem installing WiC normally thru WB

 

As for mods that are causing issues in Helgen I wouldn't know as I haven't used the normal intro for a long, long time I'm afraid