STEP:Mod Testing

Template:Warning Template:Notice Mod Testing for S.T.E.P. -- by the S.T.E.P. Team

Updated: 23:08:36 2 July 2016 (UTC)

General Information

This guide will attempt to lay out best practices for testing mods marked for testing which could be potentially included in STEP With a guide as complex as STEP, it is beneficial to reduce as much variation as possible in mod testing, since variation can breed a host of issues. This guide will outline standardized testing techniques for STEP mod testing. The approach will be bottom-up, meaning recommendations will begin at the hardware level, progressing to software, and then to mods.

Mod Testing

What is mod testing? Mod testing can be many different things; however, for the purposes of STEP, mod testing is the testing of mods for inclusion/exclusion in STEP:Core/Extended. This includes testing a mod's stability with other STEP mods, checking it against Elder Scroll lore to make sure the mod is lore-friendly and meets the STEP Mandates, testing the mod's function to make sure it's working as intended, comparing it to other mods of similar content to find the best solution, and much more. Mod Testers are the staff members whom this job falls to though all staff members usually help out.

Mod Testers are not unlike foot soldiers for STEP. They are the front lines in mods getting added or dropped from STEP and similar to real soldiers, their job is often the hardest and most unglamorous one. Mod testing can be long and tedious at times, but it can be fun and joyful too. This is to say, mod testing is only for those that have a real dedication to it. As such, the turnover rate on Mod Testers tends to be rather high since Testers quickly become "worn out" when they don't realize what they've gotten themselves into. Before considering becoming a Mod Tester, read through this guide. It should give a fairly reasonable idea of what Mod Testers do. If you still want to be a tester after that, let us know!

Mod Tester Requirements

To be an official Mod Tester there are a few requirements that STEP will need the Testers to meet. If you can meet these requirements and are interested in becoming a Mod Tester for STEP, contact an Administrator or Senior Staff member.

Computer must be able to play Skyrim with a fully installed STEP:Extended profile on High to Ultra settings. At minimum, the computer has to meet the STEP Recommended System Requirements found at the top of the STEP Guide.
Testers must use Mod Organizer to test. Mod Organizer is the official recommendation for STEP and Testers are required to use it.
Testers must be able to set aside a small amount of time that will be used for mod testing. Generally, approximately 1-2 hours per week should be enough; however, the more the better! Some mods will require actual playtime to test.
Testers must already possess general knowledge of modding and troubleshooting to be effective Testers. Knowledge of the tools used for modding such as TES5Edit and the Creation Kit are not required but are extremely helpful and desirable skills!

Overview of Testing Procedure

This will be updated as the procedures are developed and outlined within the other tabs. Testing is separated into two sections: external testing and in-game testing.

Examine files in game
All mods with scripts should include methods for installing and uninstalling in-game or at the very least stopping scripts with a console command.
Each mod is examined in multiple ways in game to confirm functionality and compatibility.
- Test in various key spots of the world.
- Test in various key points of quest development.
- Test with a Vanilla Skyrim installation. (if there are issues with the mod under this test then no further testing is needed)
- Test on a STEP:Extended profile that is complete and up-to-date.
- Test with a new game and with adding the mod to an existing game.
- Note changes to the game's Appearance, Gameplay, etc.
- Note quantitative changes like VRAM, GPU, CPU, RAM, and FPS usage.
Write a review of the mod with your findings providing screenshots, benchmark data, etc
Contact mod authors with hard evidence and constructive criticism on how to improve any areas of the mod in need of improvement.

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General Information

A stable system and Skyrim installation is critical to mod testing. Without a stable computer and game installation, it will be much more difficult to determine if the mod itself is incompatible with STEP itself, or if the mod is incompatible with the system it's running on. Below users will find guidance on how to increase system and game stability, as well as, how to setup a system for mod testing.

Computer Stability

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Device Drivers

A driver is software that allows computer programs to interact with hardware devices. Most drivers are updated relatively frequently, especially drivers for graphic devices such as AMD's or Nvidia's graphic cards. Driver updates fix bugs and often provide performance improvements. As such, it is important to have an up-to-date set of drivers for all hardware devices within the system.

If the system being used for mod testing is pre-built, for example, an off-the-shelf computer under a brand name such as HP, ACER, or ASUS a program is usually included that assists in vendor specific driver updates. If this is the case, it is important to use this program since many off-the-shelf computers have drivers specifically designed for their hardware devices, rather than generic drivers. Consult the manual or the manufacturer's website for more information on how to do this on specific off-the-shelf computers. The exception to this is usually graphic card drivers. The latest drivers for these cards should normally be obtained from the card manufacturer's website (AMD or Nvidia).

If the system is custom built, then there are several excellent programs to assist with driver updates. One great tool is Driver Genius. This program will download an up-to-date list of drivers for almost all hardware devices, scan the system using that list, and specify which drivers need to be updated. The free version will do all of this except download and install the drivers; however, users can manually search the web for the drivers using the summary the program provides. It is not recommended to allow this program to update your graphics drivers. This is best done manually by downloading them from directly from AMD or Nvidia.

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Overclocking

If the system being used to mod test is currently overclocked, it is optional but recommended to revert all timings back to their default/stock settings. This includes the CPU, GPU, and RAM. Although the chances are low, it's possible for a new mod which is resource intensive to instigate stability issues even if the overclock settings were stable to begin with. CPU and RAM overclocks can be managed from the motherboard's BIOS or UEFI, and GPU overclocks are usually managed by a 3rd party program.

Bloatware and Unnecessary Programs

Bloatware and unnecessary programs can slow down a computer and use valuable resources. These programs include browser tool bars, shareware programs installed during the installation of a separate program, bloatware that was installed by the computer manufacturer, and programs installed by the user that are no longer used or needed. Many of these programs automatically start at system boot, eating up system resources and slowing down the computer. It's important to remove these programs for a more stable system. There are a few tools which will help users do this:

PC Decrapifier is a great tool which will help detect and remove many of the programs described above. It will scan both new and used computers for any bloatware and unnecessary programs and then run the uninstallers for these programs. This isn't foolproof; however, so manually scanning through the installed programs list is still recommended. Remove any programs that are no longer needed on the system; however, be careful of uninstalling unknown programs because they might be important. For any unknown programs, Google the names and read about them before uninstalling.

CCleaner is a powerful system tool with multiple functions. At this point, the one we're interested in is the Startup list. This is found under the Tools tab and then by clicking on Startup. Programs listed here will start automatically when Windows is started. Users should review the list and disable (double click) any programs which are not needed from the start of the computer. Most programs listed here can be started manually by opening the programs; however, most are not necessary from system boot and can be disabled until they are needed. Be sure to review the list carefully! Some program may be desired such as audio software, graphic card software, fan control software, printers, etc. Users should use their best discretion when deciding what to disable from running at system boot.

Ghosts in the Machine

Over time a computer will generate many useless files that, at the minimum, will do nothing harmful or, at worst, could cause stability issues. These files can include temporary files left by programs that are no longer needed by the programs, redundant or unused registry entries and more. It's recommended to use a program such as CCleaner to clean up these files; as well as, to fix any registry issues.

To ensure proper registry cleaning, it is recommended to restart your computer after any program installations or uninstallations and any hardware driver related changes. This is important because Windows will clean up some of the registry on its own when the system reboots. Once the system has been restarted, it is safe to proceed with cleaning the registry as well as removing unneeded files; however, be sure to back up the registry when asked in the event it needs to be restored.

To clean the out old files using CCleaner, open the tool and it should already be on the "Cleaner" tab. Just leave the default selections and click on [Analyze]. It will scan your system for unused and unneeded files. Once finished, click on [Run Cleaner] and let it delete all those files.

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Cleaning the system registry is an advanced process and is only recommended if users know what they are doing. It is not a click and done process! Some research is required. To use CCleaner for registry cleaning, click on the "Registry" tab on the left. Select an options you want the program to scan for and click, [Scan for Issues]. Once complete, research what it found. Some items may not be desirable to delete. When the research is complete, click [Fix selected issues...] and allow CCleaner to make a backup of the registry before continuing. This will help if the registry needs to be restored.

At this point it is also a good idea to do a thorough cleaning of old files and remove them from the system as well. Backup pictures to an external device, delete any personal files no longer needed, delete any old log files, downloaded software installers, and so on. Get the hard drives as clean as possible before continuing.

Spyware and Viruses

Ensuring the system is clean of spyware and viruses is critical to a stable system. The first step is to ensure there is an anti-virus installed with up-to-date definitions running at all times. Most users here could be considered power users and; thus, Microsoft Security Essentials should be all that is needed. It's lightweight and minimal and is perfect for users that follow "best practices". Avast is also well respected in the IT community, but is a bit heavier than MS Security Essentials. Both are free to use and there is no need for the paid version of Avast. The free version has everything anyone will ever need to protect their systems. User should run regular scans of their systems using the anti-virus software.

Now that the system is protected, ensuring it clean and free of any possible spyware is the next step. There are several free programs for this; however, one of the best is SUPERAntiSpyware. This program comes in several different versions, including a portable version. The free version will do the job well so no need to pay for it. SUPERAntiSpyware will scan for any potential spyware issues and clean them from the system. Close the program completely when it's done and uninstall it. It's not recommended to run the program in the background consistently as your anti-virus program would. Simply run it once a month along with the rest of the regular monthly maintenance on the system. Another great program is, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.

As always with spyware and viruses, the best solution is prevention by following common best practices.

Disk Fragmentation

On hard disk drives (HDD), over time files that are regularly used by the computer will fragment (located on separate parts of the disk). This increases read times and potentially causes stability issues. Defragmenting alines fragmented files by placing them in order on the disks. It is always good practice to make sure the HDDs are defragmented before testing a mod. Thus, defrag the hard drives after installing a new mod, especially large mods such as texture overhauls. A recommended program is Auslogics Disk Defrag, which allows full drive defragmenting as well as specific file and/or folder defragmenting.

If the system has a solid state drive (SSD), please disregard the defragmentation advice detailed above. Defragmenting a SSD offers no benefit and will significantly decrease the life span of the drive.

Background Processes

Background processes will take up system resources and also potentially introduce stability issues when playing or testing Skyrim. The first step is to disable or delete startup items.

The previously mentioned, CCleaner, can removed unwanted startup programs. These are programs that open and remain open in the background when Windows starts. Removing wanted startup programs will decrease startup time and free up system resources. Be sure to leave the anti-virus program and any required programs enabled. Disabling these can leave the system vulnerable and not working properly. If the program is unknown, Google it and read about what it is and what it does before disabling or deleting the program from startup.

System background services are no longer an issue on modern operating systems such as Windows 7 and Windows 8. Unless you are aware of a system process/service that is eating up system resources, it is best to simply leave them alone.

TESV.exe Properties

These settings will ensure that when Skyrim runs, Windows Aero Theme will be disabled, freeing up VRAM, since Aero may use between 64 to 128MB of VRAM. To access these settings navigate to the Skyrim folder, right click on TESV.exe and then click on the "Compatibility" tab. Tick the "Disable Visual Themes" and "Disable Desktop Composition" boxes, as shown in the image below. This only applies to Windows Vista and Windows 7; Windows 8 users will not have these options due to the requirements of the new Start Screen.

thumb:Figure 1. TESV.exe Properties Settings

Skyrim Stability and Settings

Reference the Skyrim Installation Guide as needed ... this is required reading for all mod testers. Pursue (or post questions to) the mod testing forum if needed; guessing is not standard procedure here.

Launcher Settings

Unless intimately familiar with the game settings and INIs, it is recommended to leave the launcher settings as they were set in the STEP Guide. However, they may be changed to the hearts content, as long as the game remains stable. If the settings are changed, keep the following in mind:

Try to select a screen resolution of 1920x1080 or higher. This will provide a true high definition (HD) testing environment. However, if unable to do so, don't worry. Full HD (1920x1080) users are by no means a large majority. The other common screen resolution to test at is 1600x900; which is still 720p HD. Antialiasing should be set to at least 4x and AF to at least 8x. These should be set in video drivers. All view distance sliders should be at least halfway; maxed out preferred. Distant object detail should be high or medium, at the lowest, and FXAA should be disabled (unchecked).

INI Settings

It is recommended to test a mod on default high or ultra INI settings. Keep in mind that testing on ultra may skew the results of the testing slightly in some circumstances, especially if others may want to use the mod. The majority of Skyrim users will not have high end computer setups which are able to run on maxed out, ultra settings.

The easiest way to achieve this is to use Mod Organizer's INI editor. Make sure to generate a default Skyrim.ini and SkyrimPrefs.ini. This can be done by deleting the current INIs (remember to back them up first) in the Documents folder. Once deleted, generate new INIs by running the Skyrim Launcher and changing the settings in the launcher to either high or ultra. Once these default INIs have been generated, back them up in case a revert needs to be performed.

Mod Organizer
In Mod Organizer, the INI edits are specific to the profile that is loaded. To make a high or ultra default INI, simply create a profile and copy and paste the default INIs into the INI Editor for that profile then save. When that profile is loaded, so will be the default INI. (Profile creation is covered in the next tab.)

NOTE: The STEP INI edits are considered default for testing purposes and should be in each profile's INI files.

uGrids

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This INI setting MUST be set to the default value of 5. For those who use a value of 7 and above, be warned that these higher values are 100% inherently unstable. It may be stable as a rock for some setups; however, please don't test mods with anything but the default value of 5. The chances that a new mod may cause stability issues with higher uGrids values is very high, and again, most Skyrim players will be using the default value for uGrids. To easily switch between uGrids values, create the relevant personal profile and custom INI files, as mentioned in the section above.

Should anyone attempt to test mods on a save game that used to have a higher uGrids value than 5, they will be unable to load it. There are two solutions to this. The first is to start a new game, which is highly preferred. The second option is to use a selection of vanilla saves that can be downloaded under the Save Game Archive section.

Default uGrids Settings (Skyrim.ini)

[General]
uGridstoLoad=5
uExterior Cell Buffer=32

SKSE INI

This INI tweak will help to keep save games clean of issues related to scripts and is highly recommended for increased stability. The following is also completed during the STEP installation.

This 'mod' requires a special install:

Place *.exe and *.dll into <skyrim>/ (not the data directory!)
Repackage skse*.zip:
- Extract Data/
- Repackage into a new zip file (name it accordingly)
- Place into MO downloads directory
Install repacked archive via MO
Add the following to <skyrim>\Data\SKSE\skse.ini (create INI if necessary):

[General]
ClearInvalidRegistrations=1

Papyrus Logging

These INI tweaks will log mod issues caused by errors in the mods scripts. Not all mods will contain scripts though. This tweak is applied to the Skyrim.ini file in the Mod Organizer INI editor.

Papyrus Logging (Skyrim.ini)

[Papyrus]
bEnableLogging=1
bEnableTrace=1
bLoadDebugInformation = 1

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This page is still under development. More or reviewed information will be added/edited.

Mod Managing Programs

Any modder should be using a proper mod manager such as Mod Organizer (MO) or Wrye Bash (WB). Please note that Nexus Mod Manager (NMM) is no longer supported by STEP. Using these programs is a must for any Mod Tester. The required and only supported manager for mod testing is Mod Organizer. It has proven more helpful for mod testing purposes.

Mod Organizer (required)

Reading down the features list of Mod Organizer speaks for it. However, for mod testing it has some key advantages over Wrye Bash.

Creates a virtual Data folder, which means it will keep the Skyrim directory completely clean.
Installs mods in separate folders in its own directory, which translates to organized mods that are quick and easy to track down.
Ability to create multiple profiles without the need for a third party app. This is essential to mod testing.
Full control over BSAs and the ability to extract them during installation which allows the removal of some unnecessary ESPs.
Nexus integration for downloading, installing and upgrading.
Portable design that requires not installations. Just unpack and use.
Automatic program updating. No more need to keep track of MO's updates.
Mod version tracking and notification when mods are out-of-date.
Profile specific INI files with internal INI editor. No need to keep track of multiple INIs for multiple play-throughs. Also essential for mod testing.

Mod Testing Setup

Reference the Skyrim Installation Guide as needed ... this is required reading for all mod testers. Pursue (or post questions to) the mod testing forum if needed; guessing is not standard procedure here.

Overview

Skyrim installed in a non windows directory, if able. Preferably something like E:\Games\Steam\steamapps\common\skyrim
All DLC's installed and cleaned with TES5edit. (STEP now requires all DLCs)
All Unofficial Patches installed
All INIs with STEP modified High to Ultra settings.

General Setup

Ensure a clean install of Steam and Skyrim (non-windows directory)
Use TES5Edit to clean any relevant DLC content present
Optional: use DDSopt to fix the vanilla textures
Install and properly configure utilities and extenders
- SKSE
- BOSS
- Mod Organizer
- TES5Edit
- FRAPS (For performance benchmarking)
- Your preferred capturing program. STEP recommends the paid version of FRAPS, but no need to spend money to test unless you want to.
Start a new game from a vanilla profile (only Extenders and Unofficial Patches installed), play through until you leave Helgen, and save as soon as the dragon flies away after exiting the cave. This save is the vanilla save file from which to test new mods from (so don't overwrite it!).

Mod Organizer Profile Setup

Follow these instructions to set up the profiles in Mod Organizer for mod testing:

Open Mod Organizer and click on the Configure Profiles button at the top.
Click the Create button on the right side of the window that opens.
Type the name of the profile. Suggested profiles are Vanilla, STEP:Core and STEP:Extended.
Click okay to save the new profile.
For each profile you can choose have local savegames and automatic archive invalidation or not. For testing:
- Make sure the "Local Savegames box" is not checked for the testing profiles.
- Make sure the "Automatic Archive Invalidation box" is selected for the testing profiles.
Click close to return to the main program window.

You can now switch between profiles at will from the Profile drop-down box located above the Mod List (the left pane). Mods activated will be profile specific meaning mods active (checked) in your STEP:Core profile will not be active when you switch to your Vanilla profile.

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General Information

Now that your system is setup for mod testing, the fun begins! External testing is where all testing starts. Use the following steps as a guide to testing any mod externally before moving on to testing them in-game. Each step should be completed and notes taken from each before in-game testing occurs.

External Mod Testing Procedure

Step 1 - Opening Post/Workflow

Read the mod's thread opening post (OP) or workflow in the Mod Testing Forum.

There, an outline of what needs to be tested for the particular mod can be found. Make note of this and use it when testing begins.

Step 2 - Nexus Page

Read the Nexus Page in it's entirety

Read the mod's Nexus page description completely as well as the changelog (if provided). Make note of any special installation/uninstall instructions, of any known issues with the mod or mod compatibility issues, and of any potential conflicts with the DLCs and/or other STEP mods. The changelog can often provide a sense of where the author is taking the mod and what might be expected from a mod and its author.

Step 3 - Mod's Forums

Read the Nexus forums

A complete read is not necessary; however, try to develop a sense of user satisfaction and a list of possible bugs to attempt to confirm or deny. This is also a good way to find out how active the author is with the mod. No replies from the author in a long period of time usually indicates they have been absent or may no longer be actively supporting the mod.

Step 4 - Documentation

Examine the documentation included with the mod

Read the Readme and any other documentation which comes with the mod. Note any lack of clarity, installation/uninstall directions, and general completeness. If the mod does not include documentation, please make note of this as well for the final review and mod page creation.

Step 5 - Validation

Validate the archive package, naming scheme, and directory structure using your mod manager or 7zip.

Observe if the downloaded mod package is properly structured and configured for installation. Detailed information on proper mod package structure for WB can be found here. Mod Organizer can also use BAIN type installations; however, FOMODs are preferred which use XML. You can validate the FOMOD XML using an online validation tool. W3Schools has an always up-to-date XML Validator.

Step 6 - DDSopt

Use DDSopt to determine quality of texture compression for texture mods.

The DDSopt Guide can help; however, basic knowledge of texture compression and familiarity with DDSopt will be required.

Step 7 - TES5Edit

Inspect the mod in TES5Edit to determine quality of edits of any plugin files and the scope of mod

Note any issues of the mod not carrying over changes from the DLCs and/or from the Unofficial Patches. Also note any conflicts with mods already in STEP. Knowledge of TES5Edit and conflict resolution will be required for this step. Even though it's not for Skyrim, this guide will help in learning TES5Edit.

Step 8 - Installation/Uninstall

Validate the installation procedure
Validate the uninstallation procedure

Step 9 - Inspection

Inspect in MO

Make note of any file conflicts - Using a Mod Organizer, take note of any conflicts that appear against vanilla Skyrim files and other STEP mods. You should be familiar how to do this in MO. MO provides the option to extract BSAs during installation of the mod; however, with recent innovations in MO this is no longer necessary. Extracting BSAs is still recommended due to being able to eliminate a few unnecessary ESPs.
Run BOSS

Unless the mod is new on the scene, BOSS will recognize it and provide some valuable information about the mod such as: if the mod is clean or dirty, requires other mods, etc. Include this information, if any, in your review.

Step 10 - Before Testing

Enable papyrus logging if it's not already enabled for scripted mods.

Open your Skyrim.ini file in the MO INI editor and scroll down to [Papyrus]. Set bEnableLogging=0 to 1 and save. When testing is complete, this can be reset to being disabled.

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Still to be reviewed.

General Information

This section is the most important and will detail the steps required to test a mod in such a way that it can be recommended (or not recommended) for STEP. It will be as simple and streamlined as possible. However, with the complexity, breadth and depth of mods for Skyrim, this Guide will never be able to cover all testing scenarios. Ultimately, it should cover the majority of mod testing scenarios; however, when the scenario isn't covered best judgment must be used.

Testing Procedure

The mod chosen to test will be examined using several tools to assess viability. This should have been completed from the External Testing process.
Next, the mod will be tested on a vanilla Skyrim profile.
The mod will then be tested on a complete STEP:Core or STEP:Extended profile depending on whether it is up for inclusion in Core or Extended.
Finally, the Mod Tester will write a detailed review (as much as possible) about their findings.

A Note About Screen & Video Captures

When screenshots or videos are needed for comparisons, provide them from in-game sources. Do not use "studio" applications to provide shots and/or video. In-game lighting conditions and rendering can change the appearance of many textures compared to studio applications. Therefore, it is very important to capture these comparisons from within Skyrim itself.

FRAPS is an excellent program for both screen and video captures in-game as well as capturing FPS data; however, feel free to use your preferred program for captures. The paid version of FRAPS provides more functionality and is recommended. PNG is the preferred format for screen captures due to its accuracy in capturing correct colors, saturation, tints, etc. JPEG is not recommended because some loss of the image's originality can be lost; however, it can be used if PNG isn't an option. Do not use GIF format for screen captures!

For video captures, AVI, MKV, and MP4 file formats (containers) are best. FRAPS will capture videos in the AVI format. Using one of these three formats or a higher quality one for capturing video is very important for proper captures in high definition. If you can set the codec for captures, use H.264 as the first choice and MPEG-4 as a second choice. Video for true HD should be captured in 1080p, not 1080i. Audio for video captures, if it can be set, should be no less than a 48khz sample rate and no less than a 128kbps bit rate (96khz sample/384kbps bit rate is recommended for true HD audio). Use this information for encoding edited videos for compares as well. Adobe Premiere Elements is excellent for this, but rather expensive.

When uploading captures for posting compares on the STEP forums, please use a 3rd party service to host your captures. Do not store your captures on the STEP wiki! Imgur has proven to be an excellent free image hosting site for uploading screen captures to. Please use the inline image functions on the forums to post your compares. For posting video captures, please use YouTube. Other services have proven themselves annoying for members to use; most requiring an account to view the videos. YouTube videos can also be included right in the post using the video clip button in the formatting bar on the forum. As long as you've followed the recommendations above for video captures and encoding, your YouTube videos will be in proper HD.

Quick tip: Unless you're running at a monitor resolution of 1920x1080 or higher and capturing at that resolution, do not encode your videos in 1080p. The result will be blurry due to upscaling. If you're below 1920x1080, 1600x900 for example, encode your videos in 720p.

In-Game Mod Assessment

Pretesting Setup

Enable a Vanilla Skyrim Profile
Enable your vanilla profile in Mod Organizer.

Papyrus Logging
During all stages of mod testing, papyrus logging should be enabled for testing mods with scripts. Activate it by changing the relevant INI values in the Skyrim.ini in the MO INI editor.

Testing Locations

Testing Hall
Riften
Whiterun
Riverwood
Mod Specific

Testing Step 1 - Vanilla

With the mod properly installed in Mod Organizer, launch Skyrim and load your vanilla save.
Fast travel or COC to the area closest to the mod's in-game location.
Assess the mod. Is it working as intended? Does it look as intended? Does the mod fit in with the Skyrim ambiance/environment? Are there any issues?
Play the game for a period of time. Save the game (new save) and reload it. Have any issues appeared?
Close Skyrim.
Review your findings.

Testing Step 2 - Core/Extended

Relaunch Mod Organizer and select the STEP: Core or Extended profile, depending on which the mod is up for inclusion in.
Relaunch Skyrim and load your vanilla save again.
Allow the mods to initialize and then return to the area(s) which you tested the mod in your vanilla test.
Assess the mod again in the same manner you did for the vanilla test. Is it working as intended? Does it look as intended? Does the mod fit in with the Skyrim ambiance/environment? Are there any issues?
Play the game for a period of time. Save the game (new save) and reload it. Have any issues appeared?
Close Skyrim.
Review your findings.

Final Step - Review

Gather your findings from all testing sources including the external testing as well as the in-game testing.
Summarize your finding into a review and post this review on the mod's thread in the Mod Testing Forum. Things to include are, but not limited to:

Issues with file structure and installation
Conflicts with vanilla or STEP content
Whether the mod met or fell below expectations
In-game issues
Personal assessment of whether mod should or should not be included in STEP
NOTE: Be careful to remain objective. Do not write anything that will reflect upon the author in a personal manner. Only review the craftsmanship, reliability, operation, etc of the mod itself. We're assessing mods for STEP inclusion, not judging authors!

Texture Mod Comparison Sets

When testing texture based mods, comparison screen shots have to be taken. These shots should include Vanilla, current STEP and mod being tested. The best practices will be outlined below to capture screen shots that work best for these comparisons. This outline will allow the shots to be of the exact same screen in each shot with the only difference being the texture replacements in each.

Install Immersive HUD if not already installed and active it for all MO profiles used in the testing.
Load the vanilla profile and vanilla save file. (The mod being tested should not be active until step 11 below)
While in-game, locate the vanilla texture(s) that need to be captured. Explore until the texture(s) are found or fast travel or COC to the texture's location, if known.
Once the texture is found, line the shot up in the frame. Pay attention to lighting and angles to make sure the shot will be good for compares. Make sure there is nothing that will interfere in the shot such as an NPC walking into the frame.
Save the game with a new save and load that save.
Do NOT touch that mouse!
Once the game reloads, make sure there is no text on the screen and Immersive HUD has hidden the HUD elements. When all is good, press the screen capture key for the program being used to capture. (This is F10 in FRAPS by default)
Now exit Skyrim and relaunch Mod Organizer.
Switch to the Core or Extended profile. (depending on which the mod being tested is slated to be added to)
Repeat steps 6-8 above for the STEP shots.
Now in the current MO profile (Core or Extended), active the mod being tested.
Repeat steps 6-8 to capture the textures from the mod being tested. (No need to relaunch MO at this point)

If completed correctly, a set of three compares should exist: a vanilla texture shot, a STEP texture shot and a shot from the mod being tested. These can be used to post comparison shots on the forum threads. Simply repeat this process for all textures that require a comparison set for any given mod. When only one texture is being tested, it is nice to provide several compares from various locations/lighting situations to help evaluate the comparison set.

Helpful Console Commands

Below is a list of helpful console commands to use while testing. Use these to expedite the testing while in-game.

To open the in-game console press the [ ~ ] (tilde) key which is normally located just below the ESC key on a standard keyboard. Press it again to close the console.

Toggles

tmm 1: This will toggle all map markers on; thus allowing you to fast travel to any location quickly. Enter 0 in place of 1, to reset to default.

tgm: Toggles God Mode on/off making you invincible. Health, magicka and stamina will not run out either with enabled.

tcl: Toggles collisions on/off. Don't use while falling or you may crash to desktop.

tfc: Toggles Free Camera Mode on/off so you can fly around the environment. 'tfc 1' will pause the camera.

tm: Toggles menus on/off. Useful when taking screenshots. Immersive HUD can be used to achieve this without having to use the console.

tai: Toggles Artificial Intelligence so characters will not react to the player.

tcai: Toggle Combat Artificial Intelligence so NPCs will not attack the player.

Player Commands

player.additem formID ###: Adds the item to the player's inventory. Replace 'formID' with the item code of the item. Codes can be found here. Replace the '###' with the number of items to add. For example, to add gold: player.additem f 200 (this adds 200 gold to the player's inventory.) Tip: leading zeroes can be dropped in the item code.

player.addspell formID: Adds a specified spell to the player's spell list. Spell codes can be found here.

Other Commands

coc locationName: Transports the player to a specified location. Replace the locationName with the name of the location. A list of location names can be found here and here.

coc qasmoke: Transports the player to the developer testing hall.

unlock: Unlocks the targeted object (doors, chests, etc). To target an item/object click on it while the console is open.

Kill: Kills a targeted enemy.

killall: Kill all non-essential NPCs within the player's vicinity.

Resurrect: Resurrects a dead target.

set timescale to ##: Changes the timescale of the game. 20 is the default setting. Setting this below 10 can cause issues.

[edit]

Still to be created and archives added.

General

Below are saved game archives that are meant to be used for mod testing purposes only. Using these saves to "skip" ahead in the game is not recommended. All locations have been unlocked for the saves as well. Game setup for saves include:

Skyrim version: 1.9.32.08
SKSE version: 1.6.16 rel 44
DLC/Mods

Dawnguard
Hearthfire
Dragonborn
Unofficial Skyrim Patch
Unofficial Dawnguard Patch
Unofficial Hearthfire Patch
Unofficial Dragonborn Patch
Unofficial High Resolution Patch

Note: HRDLC was present in saves; however, they were used as loose files so they have no effect on the save files.

Vanilla Saves

Tester Nord - Game Start
This save is based off a default Nord (male) character which has no customization. Character is at level 1, has no perks assigned, is located just outside the Helgen Keep cavern exit and has all map locations unlocked. This save will be helpful for texture mod compares and testing as you'll quickly be able to switch to different locations around Tamriel.

Tester Nord - Archive
This is a collection of saves based on the above save; however, with character advancements. Character has perks assigned and has completed incremental parts of the storyline (depending on the save loaded). As such, expect to find the character with a range of armor, inventory, and weapons all depending on which save is loaded. These archives will be most helpful when needing to test at a certain point or quest in the game as you'll be able to pick a save that is the closest to the point at which testing is required. This archive will be updated until it encompassed a completed game.

[edit]

Still to be reviewed.

General Information

Several in-game tools will be specified here. These tools will for the most part be mods that are particularly useful when it comes to mod testing.

Elys MemInfo is a SKSE plugin that is very useful for displaying in game resource usage. Currently it is able to show RAM, Pagefile, Virtual Manager, Handles, and VRAM use and utilization by Skyrim. This is most useful when testing mods that affect graphics, such as texture mods, FXAA Injectors, ENB presets, and lighting and shadow tweaks and mods. For example, when testing out texture omptimizer, such as DDSOpt, it is possible to see how much VRAM use has decreased in certain areas. If you are hitting your graphic cards VRAM limit, it is useful to know that the optimizations have lowered VRAM use. Since Elys MemInfo displays this information in game, there is no need to minimize the game to bring up alternative resource use tools such as GPUZ or the Task Manager. (Requires SKSE)

Alternative Start - Live Another Life is an extremely useful in game testing mod. As explained before, mod testing is best done by starting a new game. One of the issues with testing out one, or many, mods quickly when starting out a new game, is the requirement by Skyrim to watch and play the opening sequence of the game. This mod allows mod testers to simply skip the rather long introduction sequence. For reducing the time required for testing mods, Live Another Life is an invaluable addition. It is also a safe and clean mod, and will not break any quest lines.

No Boring Sleep Wait Menu allows the tester to wait up to 31 days quickly and easily, which is not possible using the vanilla waiting system. Skyrim requires a 31 day in-game wait time before as many cells as possible can be reset. Cell resets are useful when mod testing for several reasons. A cell may be badly generated, or you wish to install a mod without starting a new game for testing. In both cases a cell reset will potentially generate a proper cell, and the new mod may be integrated properly, especially if the mod affects spawns.

ScenicCarriages transforms the non-moving Skyrim carriages to a fully functional carriage ride. This mod is great for bench testing performance within the game. It will allow you to provide more accurate results than if you tried to bench and re-bench by simply walking/running. Simply pay the carriage driver to go from Whiterun to Riften, climb in the back of the carriage, hit your benchmark hot key (FRAPS) and you're off. For best results when using this for benchmarking, use the default settings and don't move the mouse to look around. The ride from Whiterun to Riften will take around 15 minutes and provides a wide range of textures during the benchmark.

[edit]

Still to be reviewed.

General Information

This page contains a list of programs that will be recommended for use during the testing procedure.

Generic Programs

GPU-Z is an amazing lightweight program that offers a plethora of information regarding any type of gpu you have, as well as allowing logging and graphing of gpu related processes such as vram load, temperature, clock speeds, and far more. This will be the main tool for testing graphic related mods, as its logging ability is very useful here.

Nvidia Inspector (NI), is a program that allows for in depth gpu information of Nvidia graphics cards. It allows for very fine profile tuning for skyrim, as well as monitors for a range of process such as gpu temperature and vram use.

FRAPS is an excellent program for capturing both screenshots and video. It's as easy as pressing your Hotkey while in-game. FRAPS is also great at capturing FPS data for performance testing. Both free and paid versions are available; however, if you're serious about Mod Testing and plan on capturing a lot of shots or videos then the paid version, which opens up new (and better) file formats for screenshots and better options overall, is well worth the cost.

FRAPS Bench Viewer is a free tool that graphs out your FRAPS logs from your benchmarks (FPS data) in easy to read visual graphs. This makes it very easy to spot performance issues.

ATI Tools

None so far.

NVIDIA Tools

NVIDIA Texture Tools for Photoshop - allows you to open, edit, save DDS files in Adobe Photoshop. Will also generate mip maps and normal maps and cube map formatting. DDSopt tends to be the best for creating mip maps though.

Skyrim Focused Programs