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About MIME
NOTES:
If you happen to stumble onto this page, don't proceed unless you know what you're doing! (because I don't)
Some steps are skipped which may be considered important, such as making backups of cleaned Bethesda Masterfiles
This guide is mostly modular, but be sure not to install patches associated with mods you don't install
This is my personal STEP setup, designed (hopefully) with a minimal amount of mods and little to no impact on performance, while adding content, improving gameplay and increasing immersion.
It's a combination of:
- Minimal STEP:Guide (no HD/HQ, performance friendly options, and selected Extended mods)
- Pack:Modular Morrowloot Overhaul (only deleveled and scarcer NPCs and loot, and immersion mods)
- Pack:Explorers Guide (selected for expanded towns and quests)
- Additional mods to improve gameplay, increase immersion, and add content
Main Features
- STEP fixes and more
- No HD/HQ mods or DLC
- Lore-friendly
- Professions, Skill, Perks Overhauls
- Vampire and Werewolf Overhaul
- Deleveled NPCs and Loot
- Improved Gameplay
- Immersion: Needs, Weather Survival and more
- Expanded Towns, Cities and more
- New lands: Falskaar, Wyrmstooth, Shadow of Morrowind
- More and Improved Equipment, Spells, NPCs, Creatures and Quests
- Pure Waters/Weather
System Used for MIME
This is the system I (bur) am installing this mod setup on:
| Hardware | |
|---|---|
| Windows OS | Windows 7 x64 |
| CPU | AMD Athlon 7850 Dual-Core (2.8Ghz) |
| System RAM | 4GB DDR2, 400Mhz |
| GPU | Sapphire Radeon HD 4650, 200MHz, 1GB DDR2 RAM |
| Monitor Resolution | 1360x768 |
STEP 1
NOTE: This guide assumes all DLCs except the Hi-Resolution DLC are installed!
1.A. Install Steam & Skyrim
Detailed Information --> Skyrim Installation Guide
1.A.1. Security Settings
Since User Account Control can prevent some tools from working correctly, it is recommended to edit the security settings of your skyrim directory to give Users full control. To do this:
- Find your skyrim directory (normally located in
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\). - Right-click the skyrim folder and select Properties.
- Go to the Security tab and click Edit...
- Highlight Users (<username>\Users) in the top panel.
- In the bottom panel, under the Allow column for Full Control, check the checkbox and click Apply.
- Click OK and OK and you're done.
1.B. Skyrim Launcher Options
Detailed Information --> Skyrim Launcher Guide
As a quick-start to installing STEP, simply launch Skyrim from Steam to initialize the auto-detection process, accept the preset, and continue to 1.C. Make certain that the preset Antialiasing is no greater than 4x (4 samples); otherwise, keep the preset. This is a conservative preset that will facilitate a smooth game once STEP is configured initially according to this guide (i.e., what does not tax performance now may be burdensome later). More extensive INI tweaking can be done after STEP is set up and verified as running smoothly.
1.C. Install Utilities
This guide uses Mod Organizer.
| Mod Name | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Mod Organizer | Detailed instructions available | |
| LOOT | Detailed instructions available | |
| TES5Edit | Detailed instructions available | |
| Merge Plugins TES5Edit Script | Copy the contents of the included "Edit Scripts" folder into TES5Edit's "Edit Scripts" folder. This folder is located in the directory where TES5Edit.exe is. | |
| Wrye Bash | Detailed instructions available |
1.D. INI Tweaks
Detailed Information --> Skyrim INI Guide
As in the previous section above, it is highly recommended that no other INI settings be configured at this point, because the conservative presets are a good starting point for accommodating a performance-friendly initial STEP setup. The detailed INI guide can be referenced once a stable setup is verified after completing this guide.
The following INI tweaks are recommended for all users and affect gameplay without impacting performance.
Using the Tools > [Configurator] tool prevents any editing mistakes. Open the tool, click [Basic] to get the Advanced options, and choose the applicable section from the combobox. Then find the applicable setting and alter as indicated below. Click the [Save] button after each change and close the dialog when finished.
1.D.1. Skyrim INI
Each of the following entries can be pasted directly into the INI (if editing manually). The entry descriptions are commented, so they will not be interpreted by the game at startup. Alternatively, these descriptions can be omitted.
[General] sIntroSequence= ;Disables the intro sequence for a faster startup fFlickeringLightDistance=8192 ;Helps prevent lighting pop-in
[Display] ;Improves shadow changes as the sun moves through the sky fSunShadowUpdateTime=0.25 ;Transition time of sun-shadow movement fSunUpdateThreshold=1.5 ;Time between sun-shadow movement
[Actor] fVisibleNavmeshMoveDist=12288.0000 ;allows arrows to hit objects as far as the appear to fly.
1.D.2. SkyrimPrefs INI
[Display] iMaxAnisotropy = 0 ;Anisotropic Filtering - set this to zero, as it should be controlled via the graphics driver. iPresentInterval = 0 ;disable vsync! - vsync should be handled in enblocal.ini (see ENBoost mod instructions)
[Controls] bMouseAcceleration=0 ;Disable mouse acceleration
STEP 2
2.A. LOOT Sorting
At any time during the mod installation process LOOT should be used to sort plugin load order before stopping to benchmark and test Skyrim. This is necessary to ensure proper plugin priority order (load order), which can have a dramatic impact on the game (or at worst cause a CTD).
- Launch LOOT via Mod Organizer by clicking on the "Sort" button or directly from the executables drop-down menu.
- Examine the LOOT output carefully and look for any alerts or warnings and address each. The Plugins tab in MO (on the right side of the MO window) is where plugins can be activated/deactivated and sorted (either drag and drop or use Ctrl + Up/Down arrow keys to sort).
2.B. Clean the Bethesda Master Files
To remove errors in the Bethesda master files, STEP recommends that they be cleaned with TES5Edit. This ensures maximum stability and compatibility within the Skyrim modding experience.
- Clean Update.esm, Dawnguard.esm, HearthFires.esm and Dragonborn.esm in the following manner:
- Clean the .esm.
- Run TES5Edit through Mod Organizer.
- Right-click the list of plugins and choose Select None.
- Double-click the .esm.
- Wait for the Background Loader: finished message in the right panel, and then right-click the .esm and select Apply Filter For Cleaning.
- Wait for the [Filtering done] message in the right panel, and then right-click the .esm and select Remove "Identical to Master" records. If the Warning! prompt pops up, click Yes, I'm absolutely sure.
- Wait for the [Removing "Identical to Master" records done] message, and then right-click the .esm and select Undelete and Disable References.
- Wait for the [Undeleting and Disabling References done] message, and then click the [X] to exit the program
- At the prompt, make sure the .esm is checked and click OK.
- After cleaning, there shall be files in Overwrite (essentially a fake mod located at the bottom of the left pane if sorted by priority ascending) created by TES5Edit.
- Right-click Overwrite and select Create Mod
- Name it TES5Edit Backups and click OK. This will create a new mod listing in the left pane for the TES5Edit Backups useful if the changes failed to be successful.
- Each subsequent time TES5Edit is used to edit a file, open Overwrite and drag the TES5Edit Backups back to this mod. This will keep them in an organized and safe location. The files have no impact on the game.
- Right-click the TES5Edit Backups mod and select Ignore Missing Data to remove the red X
flag.
- After that, repeat the process once more for Dawnguard.esm, but don't Undelete and Disable References (unnecessary).
2.C.
| Mod Name | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Skyrim Script Extender | Detailed instructions available | |
| JContainers - data storage framework | Only needed for Familiar Faces. | |
| ENBoost | Detailed instructions available. Leave EnableVSync=false if you don't care about screen tearing. |
2.D.
LOOT Rules:
- Weapons & Armor_TrueOrcish&DaedricWeapons.esp after Weapons & Armor Fixes_Remade.esp
2.E.
| Mod Name | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Better Dialogue Controls | ||
| Better MessageBox Controls | ||
| Disease Descriptions |
Select:
| |
| High Quality 3D Map | STEP recommends the HQ3DMap - Meshes Hi-Res and HQ3DMap - Normals Original (1k) main files. Do not install any of the textures. | |
| Immersive HUD | ||
| Lore-Based Loading Screens | ||
| Main Font Replacement | Fertigo Pro Font | |
| RaceMenu | ||
| SkyUI | ||
| Smaller Cursor | Consistent Older People All NPCs CRF BOYD Compatible | |
| Unknown Enchants | Select: DLCs: Dawnguard+Dragonborn |
2.F.
| Mod Name | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| SkyFalls and SkyMills |
Select:
| |
| Static Mesh Improvement Mod |
Select: Lite with Dragonborn DLC. | |
| A Quality World Map | STEP recommends the Hi-Res Quality World Map - Main Roads optional file and DO NOT install Clear Map Add-on. |
2.G.
| Mod Name | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Hearthfire Chimneys for Skyrim | Install Hearthfire Chimneys for Expanded Towns and Cities and Hearthfire Chimneys for Falskaar. | |
| HiRes Legible Road Signs | STEP recommends only installing the HiRes Road Signs Version 3 Worn Text optional file. | |
| Point the Way | ||
| Stalhrim of Skyrim-Fixes | Install 512 and custom opacity. |
2.H.
| Mod Name | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| 83Willows 101BugsHD | Lower resolution | |
| Better Beast Races | Lite | |
| Birds and Flocks | Install Hearthfire Edition Cleaned. TES5Edit Cleaning Required (48 ITM) | |
| Female Vampires Have Fangs |
Clean with TES5Edit:
- Clean BirdsHFclean.esp (48 ITM)
2.I.
| Mod Name | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Dawnguard Crossbow Bolts Visualized | ||
| Closer Quivers and Longer Arrows | Detailed instruction available. Options: Conversion of other mods: Select only: Immersive Weapons (and anything else applicable). | |
| Elemental Staffs | Install Elemental Staffs 1K Main Cleaned main file and 04. Elemental Staffs High Performance Textures optional file. | |
| New Thinner Torch |
2.J.
| Mod Name | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Enhanced Blood Textures |
Install
| ||
| Lightning During Thunder Storms | Detailed instructions available | ||
| No Spinning Death Animation | Install No Spinning Death Animation v1_1 MERGED main file | ||
| Running With Bows | |||
| Smaller Ice Spikes and Spear | STEP recommends the Smaller Ice Spike 50 optional file. | ||
| Skyrim Performance Plus | Detailed instructions available |
2.K.
| Mod Name | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| The 418th Step | STEP recommends "Snow Version". | |
| Dark Brotherhood Tenets Restored | Install Tenets Restored 1_3 - Performance Edition. Options: High Performance. | |
| Pilgrim's Delight | STEP recommends "Legacy" version. |
2.L.
| Mod Name | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Better Animal Footsteps | Also install Optional Pets of Skyrim cat patch | |
| Better Horse Pain Sounds | ||
| IHSS-Improved Horse Steps | ||
| Immersive Thunder | ||
| Improved Combat Sounds | Also install EnhancedBlood-ImprovedCombatSounds optional file. | |
| Smooth Blade Draw and Sheathe | STEP recommends to install ADS during installation and all SBDS options. | |
| Ultra Realistic Bow Shoot Sounds | ||
| Ultra Realistic Crossbow Shoot Sounds |
2.M.
| Mod Name | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Auto Unequip Ammo | Detailed instructions available | |
| Bring Out Your Dead | ||
| Clams Drop Pearls | ||
| Come together N Out of the way | ||
| Convenient Horses | ||
| Gildergreen Regrown | ||
| Lock Overhaul | Detailed instructions available | |
| No NPC Greetings | Slightly Reduced | |
| Kill Every NPC - Including Children | Default installation. Note: in STEP 2.2.9, Non-Essential Children is used instead. | |
| Oblivion Gates | STEP recommends only installing the Dawnguard version main file. Use only one ESP; the "without markers" ESP is recommended. Move the other esp to Optional ESPs. | |
| Run For Your Lives | ||
| Skyrim Coin Replacer Redux | ||
| Skyrim-Community-Uncapper | ||
| The Choice is Yours | Also install the Update and Dawnguard files. This mod has conflicts with Bring Out Your Dead. The STEP Patches address these conflicts. | |
| The Paarthurnax Dilemma | ||
| Thieves Guild Requirements | ||
| Traps Make Noise | Install Traps Make Noise and Are Dangerous main file and Mining Makes Noise_CCO Version optional file. | |
| Wet and Cold | ||
| Wet and Cold - Ashes | ||
| When Vampires Attack |
2.N.
| Mod Name | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| STEP Patches |
Install STEP Combined Plugins 229 v1. Delete STEP Combined Plugin.esp (keep HF). | |
| Dual Sheath Redux | Don't run SkyProc Patcher yet. | |
| Better Shaped Weapons | Detailed instructions available | |
| Fores New Idles in Skyrim | Detailed instructions available. Don't run Updater yet. |
LOOT Rules:
- STEP Combined PluginHF.esp change priority to 987000
Previous LOOT Rules (double check):
- Weapons & Armor_TrueOrcish&DaedricWeapons.esp after Weapons & Armor Fixes_Remade.esp
STEP 3
3.A. Deleveled Scarcer Loot
- Mods that make loot scarcer and deleveled.
| Mod Name | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Morrowloot 4E Edition |
Install main file and Lore Weapon Expansion Patch. | |
| Scarcity - Less Loot Mod |
Only install:
| |
| Professions |
Install only kuP merged with MCM 0p801 optional file. Replace the ini file in the original with this. | |
| You Hunger | Install You Hunger Realism Complete Edition. Bash Tagging Required: You Hunger.esp (Delev) | |
| Realistic Perseids Inns and Taverns - Realistic Room Rental Enhanced | Install RealisticRoomRental-Enhanced. Do not install any patches. |
LOOT Rules:
- Morrowloot.esp after Weapons & Armor Fixes_Remade.esp
Clean with TES5Edit:
- Clean Scarcity - Less Loot Mod.esp (1 ITM)
3.B. Deleveled Skyrim & Immersion
- Mods that make Skyrim deleveled and more immersive.
| Mod Name | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| E.R.S.O. – Erkeil’s Real Skyrim Overhaul ADVANCED |
Choose the following in the main installer:
| |
| E.R.S.O. Encounters | Extract "ERSO 09.2 - Radiance" and package it as a new archive using 7-zip. Install this new archive as a mod using Mod organizer. ERSO's mod can be hard to install using MO and this particular module has a BSA that doesn't get unpacked by MO if it isn't done this way (and you do unpack BSA's). Using the main installer, choose: 18 - LAWE Hardcore (SUGGESTED), 29 - DPMO. | |
| Skyrim Immersive Creatures | Options: Both Mod Files. | |
| Frostfall - Hypothermia Camping Survival | ||
| iNeed - Food Water and Sleep | ||
| Better Fast Travel - Carriages and Ships - Overhauled | Install Better Fast Travel v3.76 - BSA - Hearthfires. | |
| Realistic Humanoid Movement Speed | Install only Realistic Humanoid Movement Speed 1_03 With Horse speed modifiers optional file. | |
| Smarter Combat Music |
3.C. Equipment
- Mods that add equipment to Skyrim.
STEP 6
6.A. Mod Configuration Menu
| Mod Name | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| ASIS | Reduced indoor spawns | |
| Auto Unequip Ammo | Follower Addon: Ticked | |
| Autosave Manager | Set AutoSave Events and Save Conditions. | |
| Better Fast Travel | Enable No Weight Limit and disable Sit to Travel on Ships | |
| Complete Crafting |
Mods:
| |
| Convenient Horses | Auto Loot: DISABLED | |
| Crime Decay | Enable Avoid Entire Holds? | |
| CS Tag & Track | General Settings: Enable Dead NPC Notifications | |
| Dovahkiin Relaxes Too | Enable Tough Face, Disable Use Config Power | |
| Frostfall | Enable the mod (in Overview), close the system menu, and wait for the mod to load. | |
| Harvest Overhaul | Enable HO: Creatures items | |
| Immersive Armors | Turn off all item distribution. | |
| Immersive Creatures |
| |
| Immersive HUD |
| |
| iNeed |
| |
| Inns & Taverns | Tick Enhanced Mode and Follower Bed Ownership | |
| Lock Overhaul |
You must active the options in the MCM for Lock Overhaul or the mod will basically do nothing. If the mod is not active, activate it. In activating it, you'll have to exit the menus back to the game before you're able to see the available options.
| |
| Minty Lightning |
Lightning Config - Fork Lightning Options:
| |
| Nausicaa's Tweaker |
Come Together: Out of the way: More Quick & Wide | |
| Professions |
Turn everything off except the "actions take time" stuff. This will remove all functionality of this mod except for making actions take time. | |
| Swift Potion | Tick Combat Only | |
| The Dance Of Death |
General:
| |
| Trade and Barter | Do not click "start mod" |
6.B. Optimize Field of View & Misc
- For a 16:9 aspect ratio (1360x768, 1680x1050), set fov 81.
- Show FPS: [*] (on the numpad)
- Free VRAM: [f4]
Credits
Source Guides
Special Credits
I (bur) would sincerely like to thank:
- The authors of the STEP:Guide
- The authors of the A Real Explorer's Guide to Skyrim Pack
- The authors of the Modular Morrowloot Overhaul Pack
- The authors of the mods used in this guide
- The Nexus community
- Bethesda Softworks for Skyrim
- Tannin for continued development and support of Mod Organizer
The core STEP team is:
- stoppingby4now - Main site developer, Semantic Mediawiki developer & extraordinaire, site founder
- TheCompiler - STEP creator, mod-list extraordinaire
- z929669 - Wiki & forums content editor, main site administrator, hosting maintenance, site founder
- Active STEP volunteer staff: Aiyen, EssArrBee, deathneko11, DoubleYou, GSDfan, Kelmych, kryptopyr, phazer11, phryxolydian, rootsrat, TechAngel85, torminater, WilliamImm
- Farlo - Mediawiki developer & extraordinaire, Mod-list co-compiler, forums admin, site founder (out of commission since November, 2013)
- MontyMM - Solutions developer (Semi-Automatic STEP), site founder (out of commission since December, 2013)
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