Very odd bug at start of game...

[dbrown1986]

So I installed all core and non-core mods, took EVERY care to adhere to all detailed instructions, ran FNIS and DSR patches, used Wrye bash, applied crime radius fix, did archiveinvalidations, used BOSS and cleaned all files (with the exception of Guard Dialogue) that needed to be clean; and I have done as much as I can to ensure a clean and prestine STEP install in skyrim.

 

I am also using an ENB w/ SweetFX, the latest TESV update and SKSE.

 

Here's what happens:

 

The game starts as normal, gets to the main menu with no issues.

I start a new character.

 

The prologue progresses (QUITE UNUSUALLY) to the point of beheading.

The scene starts with everyone outside the carraige (I assume this is the game sorting out all the NPC's and PC on the carraige, which your not supposed to see until after the black screen fades away, so there is apparent lag there).

During the approach to Helgen, the cart stops abruptly, backs up, does a barrel roll, then continues.

In Helgen, the cart exceeds its stopping point, then does another barrel roll, backs up to a point right next to the other cart, and you and the NPC's get off at a point nowhere near where you're supposed to (the opposite side of the cart and quite far from the Guard Captain and Hadvar).

Then, the rollcall proceeds as normal, until they call Lokir, he says his "WAIT! We're not rebels" spiel and then the game does nothing... Lokir doesn't run off, the guard doesn't call the archers to shoot him

 

he just stands there... looking worried as hell for all eternity...

 

-OR-

 

The game crashes the minute the prologue starts

 

So... WTF did I miss? Any clues?

[dbrown1986]

Meanwhile, while I wait for tips, I'm going to run the LO through TES5Edit and see if it flags any errors. Here's my LO, Also let me know if you need any other details.

 

Active Mod Files:

00  Skyrim.esm
01  Update.esm
02  Dawnguard.esm
03  HearthFires.esm
04  Dragonborn.esm
05  ApachiiHair.esm
06  Skyrim Project Optimization - Full Version.esm
07  Deus Mons.esm
08  Lanterns Of Skyrim - All In One - Main.esm
09  SPIKE.esm
0A  portal2mod.esp
0B  HighResTexturePack01.esp
0C  HighResTexturePack02.esp
0D  Brawl Bugs CE.esp
0E  Unofficial Skyrim Patch.esp  [Version 1.3.3b]
0F  Unofficial Dawnguard Patch.esp  [Version 1.2.3]
10  Unofficial Hearthfire Patch.esp  [Version 1.1.1]
11  Unofficial Dragonborn Patch.esp  [Version 1.0.4]
12  Unofficial High Resolution Patch.esp  [Version 1.1.2]
13  Weapons & Armor Fixes_Remade.esp
14  Better Dynamic Snow.esp
15  Rainbows.esp
16  BWS.esp
17  Clanking Armor.esp
18  IHSS.esp
19  Improved Combat Sounds v2.2.esp
1A  randomthunder.esp
1B  Thundering Shouts.esp
1C  mintylightningmod.esp
1D  StaticMeshImprovementMod.esp
1E  TradeBarter.esp
1F  83Willows_101BUGS_V4_LowRes.esp
20  Ars Metallica.esp  [Version 1.2.0]
21  Ars Metallica - Dawnguard.esp  [Version 1.2.0]
22  Ars Metallica - Hearthfire.esp  [Version 1.2.0]
23  Ars Metallica - Dragonborn.esp  [Version 1.2.0]
24  BirdsHFclean.esp
25  Birdsofskyrim.esp
26  BLESSINGS - Altar Descriptions.esp
27  Bring Out Your Dead.esp  [Version 1.2]
28  Chesko_WearableLantern.esp
29  Chesko_WearableLantern_Guards.esp
2A  Chesko_WearableLantern_Candle_DG.esp
2B  Chesko_WearableLantern_Caravaner.esp
2C  ClamsDropPearls.esp
2D  Dead Body Collision.esp
2E  Disease Descriptions.esp
2F  DD_Dawnguard Additions.esp
30  DD_Dragonborn Additions.esp
31  Dual Sheath Redux.esp
32  DungeonQuestAwareness.esp
33  fFastTravelSpeedMult_4.esp  [Version 1.0]
34  manny Lantern Caretakers.esp
35  MVABasic.esp
36  MVAIvarstead.esp
37  MVARorikstead.esp
38  Moss Rocks.esp
39  Oblivion Gates v3 without Markers - Skyrim + Dawnguard DLC.esp
3A  ORM-Arvak.esp
3B  PilgrimsDelight.esp
3C  Point The Way.esp  [Version 1.0.1a]
3D  RabbitsPlus.esp
3E  Radiant and Unique Potions Poisons and Booze.esp
3F  ShootingStars.esp
40  Skyrim Flora Overhaul.esp
41  SkyrimImprovedPuddles-DG-HF-DB.esp  [Version 1.1]
42  SMDropLitTorch.esp
43  Traps Make Noise.esp
44  Convenient Horses.esp
45  Auto Unequip Ammo.esp
46  Chesko_LoreBasedLoadingScreens.esp
47  Footprints.esp
48  Footprints - Ash.esp
49  NoxUE2.00.esp
4A  RaceMenu.esp
4B  RaceMenuPlugin.esp
4C  WetandCold.esp
4D  WetandCold - Ashes.esp
4E  SkyUI.esp
4F  iHUD.esp
50  Elemental Staves.esp
51  ExplosiveBoltsVisualized.esp
52  imp_helm.esp
53  imp_helm_dawn.esp
54  imp_helm_imp.esp
55  Lock Overhaul.esp
56  Deus Mons_WithNPCs.esp
57  Gildergreen Regrown.esp  [Version 1.2.5]
58  HallsOfDovahndor.esp
59  Run For Your Lives.esp  [Version 1.2.2]
5A  When Vampires Attack.esp  [Version 1.0.3]
5B  SkyrimChimneysRW.esp
5C  The Paarthurnax Dilemma.esp  [Version 1.2.4]
5D  SkyrimCoinReplacer.esp
5E  Acquisitive Soul Gems.esp
5F  Appropriately Attired Jarls Redux.esp
60  BetterQuestObjectives.esp
61  BetterQuestObjectives-PaarDilemmaPatch.esp
62  BetterQuestObjectives-DBForevertoMisc.esp
63  BlockSparkles.esp
64  Distant DetailHF.esp
65  DiversePriests.esp
66  DiversePriests_BringOutYourDeadPatch.esp
67  dynamic fires.esp
68  Guard Dialogue Overhaul.esp
69  masser Size x0.5.esp
6A  More Salt Please.esp
6B  dD-No Twitching Dragon Death Animation.esp
6C  NonEssentialChildren.esp
6D  BetterQuestObjectives-NECPatch.esp
6E  secunda Size x0.5.esp
6F  dD - Enhanced Blood Main.esp
70  dD-Dragonborn-Dawnguard-EBT Patch.esp
71  Thieves Guild Requirements.esp
72  Waterbreathing Breathless Emerge.esp
73  aMidianborn_Skyforge_Weapons.esp
74  WeaponsArmorFixes_MultiMod_DLCPatch.esp
75  AIMP - Antz in my Pantz.esp
76  Chesko_Step418.esp
77  Unique Region Names.esp  [Version 2.1]
78  Open Cities Skyrim.esp  [Version 0.9.9a]
79  SoS - The Dungeons.esp  [Version 1.23]
7A  SoS - The Wilds.esp  [Version 1.13]
7B  SoS - Civilization.esp  [Version 1.02]
7C  BFSEffects.esp
7D  DeadlySpellImpacts.esp
7E  Dual Wield Parrying_SKSE.esp
7F  Enhanced Soul Trap.esp
80  Soul Gems Differ - E.esp
81  dD-No Spinning Death Animation.esp
82  Beards.esp
83  Brows.esp
84  SGHairPack06.esp
85  SGHairPack04.esp
86  SGHairPack01.esp
87  SGHairPack03.esp
88  SGHairPack05.esp
89  SGHairPack02.esp
8A  Slightly Reduced Distance NPC Greetings.esp
8B  SPTConsistentOlderPeople.esp  [Version 1.4]
8C  Follower Trap Safety.esp
8D  moveitLWT.esp
8E  dD - Realistic Ragdoll Force - Realistic.esp
8F  Animated Weapon Enchants.esp
90  DawnguardRuneWeaponsFXSReplacer.esp
91  WATER.esp
92  WATER Plants.esp
93  WATER DB Waves.esp
94  SPTConsistentOlderPeopleCompatability.esp
95  DiversePriests_ConsistentOlderPeoplePatch.esp
96  Bashed Patch, 0.esp
97  Dual Sheath Redux Patch.esp
98  Auto Unequip Shield.esp

UPDATE: TES5Edit only produced one error for DeusMons.esp

01:38] Background Loader: <Warning: File [07] Deus Mons.esm with Group GRUP Cell Children of [CELL:00000D74] (in Tamriel "Skyrim" [WRLD:0000003C] at 0,0) is missing an overriden record for [CELL:00000D74] (in Tamriel "Skyrim" [WRLD:0000003C] at 0,0)

[EssArrBee]

The intro is quite intensive and I believe if your FPS isn't over 30 then there can be timing issues for the carts that make them go all weird. You can try disabling ENB (Shift + F12) until after you finish the character creation. Also, it is okay to install Alternate Start - Live Another Life on top of STEP and use that to skip the carriage ride.

[Kelmych]

The carriage ride is a good benchmark for the system being used; that is what is used for the benchmarks posted here on the STEP wiki. If there are problems such as low FPS, excessive VRAM use, or excessive GPU use on the carriage ride then we recommend making some changes before actually using the game. There is a lot of discussion on these forums about how to reduce the graphics load (e.g., using lower resolution textures, reducing the size of the normal maps used, etc.)

 

You didn't describe the system you are using or which STEP track (e.g., extreme STEP, baseline STEP) you followed.

[dbrown1986]

I'm using a Q6600 Quad Core with 8GB RAM and a Radeon 5870 1GB DDR5. The carraige ride does dip from 17fps to 8fps, I can deal with 17 now and then, game usually runs around 22-30 w/ STEP full. So perhaps I go through chargen first with a vanilla skyrim, then save after chargen and install STEP, that should work, yes?

[EssArrBee]

I'd go with STEP, but disable ENB ingame with the Shift+F12 thing until after chargen and see if that works. If not then you could try reducing some textures with DDSopt. Your hardware is a bit older so you may want to go with performance versions of mods where ever possible and maybe sacrifice a few mods altogether for better performance.

[dbrown1986]

Yeah, I wont have time to upgrade until October, so I think I'll take a vanilla post-chargen and go with that, see if it works.

 

What I have now:

 

MSI P43-C51 LGA775 Mainboard

Intel Q6600 2.4Ghz

SUPERTALENT DDR3-1066 8GB (4GB x 2 in Dual Channel) (CAS: 7-7-9-20)

MSI Radeon 5870 1GB DDR5 (I like to pair mobo's with video cards as much as possible).

 

What I will be getting in October:

 

MSI Z77A-GD65 LGA 1155 Mainboard

Intel Core i7-3770 3.4GHz (3.9GHz Turbo)

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 (CAS 9-9-9-21)

MSI R7850 Twin Frozr 2GD5/OC Radeon HD 7850 2GB 256-bit GDDR5

 

$784.96 in upgrades O.o

but more than enough to run most games flawlessly...

 

My old setup has done me well for years, and I've upgraded the mainboard, ram and video here and there, but I figure it's time to retire it soon.

[Aiyen]

Most likely your issue is due to severe FPS drops in the startup sequence. If it drops too low then it is because the CPU is also working overtime, hence the scripts and timings get offset.

 

You can also experience this with too many script intensive mods if you activate them all during the ride.

 

Make sure your shadow settings are no higher then 1k in the ini´s and also you can reduce grass draw distances, and how dense it is to improve performance with little visual loss.

 

Also make sure you do not have Skylighting enabled if you are using an ENB... or at least use one of the newer versions since there performance is VASTLY superior to older versions.

[dbrown1986]

Okay, so here's what I did. I went back to vanilla, started a new game and let the carriage ride run its course. All went well and as soon as it autosaves after getting off the carraige but before character generation is when I quit and installed STEP and ENB, everything worked fine, made a character and played for about an hour, got to the Whiterun stables, thunder struck, then as the screen went white, it crashed to desktop >.<.

[rootsrat]

Recreate this scenario, but this time run the game via Skyrim Performance Monitor and see what is your VRAM and RAM usage, report back.

[dbrown1986]

Sorry, I've been away for a while sorting out college stuffs. Don't mean to bump this topic; but I've recently reinstalled OS, so I'm going to try and run TESV through SPM and see if the thunder thing happens again. If it does and my RAM/VRAM spikes at that point, then I will remove Immersive thunder and all that jazz, if no spikes occur and it crashes, I will still disable the mod and try and post SPM statistics here.

 

EDIT: Here is the SPM. Game ran for 12 minutes before locking up in the caverns below Helgen, just after leaving the Mage's torture chamber. No CTD, just froze but could still hear music and audio. Just complete and total frame stop. It looks like the GPU is breaking 1GB, the game then drops frames to try and compensate and then rather than throttling the card, it just simply gives up. Am I too dinosaur to be running STEP?