My Choices
These mods differ a bit from a strictly STEP install approach because they are mod about fun. I do not spend hours tinkering with my game and then have become a boring experience (I could of married a cheerleader if I was into that). Some of these mods are already recommended for STEP and I have played with them for many hours with my STEP install, so conflicts should be worked out unless they are mods with conflicting leveled lists which require merging into a bashed patch. If you are not using Wrye Bash for that then you are on your own.
Immersive Armors
Info
- Is there a better modder for creating armors that fit perfectly into Skyrim than hothtropper44? No.
- This is his armor compilation complete with leveled lists. Other modders have also given permission to hothtropper to add their armors to his compilation. It includes all of hothtropper's armors, Lore Friendly Armor Pack, Einherjar Armor, Fur Hoods HD, Heroic Stormcloak Armor, Nordic Hunter Light Armor, and Apotheus Light Armor.
Argument for:
- With over 1500 new pieces you can take your hoarding to all new heights.
Argument against:
- Something inside you is dead.
Omegared99 - Armor Compilation
Argument for:
- The other best armor compilation for Skyrim. Adds a bunch of cool looking armors to Skyrim including some recreations from the Game of Thrones tv series. The non-Game of Thrones armors are part of the leveled lists, so expect to see some of the pieces on people.
Argument against:
- The GoT bleeding into Skyrim hurts your puritan nerdness.
Arrow Tweaks
Argument for:
- Who knew there were so many things to do with arrows? Increase damage, speed, loot, merchant inventory all with this nifty archers dream. A few compatibility patches are available and a guide to get this working for <Insert Favorite Arrow> in about 10 minutes with the CK. I have a nice BCF with a Wizard if you want it just send me a message.
Argument against:
- You hate Robin Hood.
Economics of Skyrim
Argument for:
- Things in Skyrim cost different amounts as you travel from hold to hold. A Dwarven Ingot costs less in Markarth, since it is a Dwarven City, than it does in Riften. The general goods store wont have a better selection of weapons and armor than the blacksmith anymore either. There is also the new features of getting a blacksmith to temper you stuff and to place orders for weapons and armor.
- As of version 1.2.2 there have been some issues reported, so use at own risk.
Argument against:
- Mods that add lots of scripts are a pain to test.
Bellyaches New Dragon Species and Ohdaviing Replacer
Argument for:
- This adds a bunch of new dragon species and a total of 50 new dragons around Skyrim. The dragons look spectacular, but why expect anything else from Bellyache. Only dragon mod I use.
Argument against:
- The nightmares are already bad enough.
Convenient Horses
Argument for:
- Makes owning a horse less annoying, lets you add stuff to the horses inventory and auto transfers that stuff to a new horse if you get one. Allows you to change horses health and stamina so your pony can sprint for more than 5 seconds. Even adds a sweet horn to call your horse from anywhere. There are special options for dismounting your horse with a weapon drawn and to pick ingredients or search dead stuff and talk to NPCs all while mounted.
Argument against:
- Refuse to ride a horse until there is jousting.
Immersive Patrols
Argument for:
- Make Skyrim's roads have more soldiers roaming around, I mean it is a war right? Fun to have with Skyrim Monster Mod, Bellyaches New Dragon Species, and SkyTest so absolute mayhem can ensue. Doesn't add any new scripts so it works really well without any conflicts.
Argument against:
- You are a loner and this type of thing makes you nervous.
LSB BattleHammers
Argument for:
- Lord Banewrath Sunblade has created one of best weapon mods and it deserves way more love than it has gotten so far. Most of the weapons are craftable, but the rest are unique and placed through out Skyrim, there are books with hints out front of some of the inns.
Argument against:
- Your only mistress is magic.
Amethyst Hollows Dreamworld
Argument for:
- Great modder deserving support. Adds an amazing player home with some really unique features that cannot be found anywhere else. It has an archery room with a target practice mini game, mannequins that can show as clones of your player(and thanks to a little bug your clone mannequin will attend your wedding), a hoarding addiction treatment, and a special teleportation orb thingy.
Argument against:
- A bit over the top for a player home.
Black Tower and Black Sacrament Armor pack
Argument for:
- Same modder as Amethyst Hollows Dreamworld. Adds one the best armor sets, ever created, for any game, ever. There is a big tower to hang out in, buy stuff, craft the Black Sacrament Armor, buy a player home, and get new followers. The armor needs human hearts for crafting, so Amethyst Deceiver added a bunch of human hearts and human flesh to the loot of NPCs and some achievements for collecting them. Getting a big update to Rise of the Black Phoenix or something like that, with a questline and more armors.
Argument against:
- All the human hearts makes you queasy.
Expanded Jewelry Crafting
Argument for:
- Adds great looking jewelry to Skyrim, since my little cousin could make better looking jewelry out of macaroni than the vanilla stuff. Use metals like ebony and moonstone to make necklaces and rings, which all look pretty awesome and adds a lot more uniqueness to the game.
Argument against:
- You hate everything beautiful in the world.
ApachiiSkyHair
Argument for:
- If you think most of the vanilla hair styles are less than good then this will make you smile. Some are lore friendly some are not. With Extended Slider Colors you can have awesome hair styles of any color. There is also an added plugin that will add hair wigs under helmets so your character does not look bald under your helm.
Argument against:
- You are the one in five that Rogaine does not work for.
Radiance
Argument for:
- Adds a number of encounters with NPCs to Skyrim to make the world seem more alive.
Argument against:
- Does not seem to be supported very well. Making Skyrim have more life seems to make your real life seem so empty.
Alternate Start - Live Another Life
Argument for:
- Made by Arthmoor, and that alone should be enough. Lets you start a game much more quickly and start as different factions or no faction at all.
Argument against:
- The original start of Skyrim is good enough for you.
Matys Mithril
Argument for:
- This is the only Mithril(or is it Mythril?) armor made for Skyrim that I like. There are some decent chainmail looking armors, but none specifically mithril that I would recommend. Maty743 is good at making armor mods and everyone should look at his work.
Argument against:
- I'm a werewolf and can not take a chance this is made of silver.
Mystic Elven Armor - HD
Argument for:
- I like Elven Armor so adding some extra standalone Elven armors makes me happy. This one is a heavy armor version and there is a really high res version of weapons and armor that is available. There is also the option to armor a custom horse.
Argument against:
- You do not like Elven Armor.
Weapons of the Third Era MoS edition
Argument for:
- Lots of new weapons that are really awesome and added to leveled lists.
Argument against:
- Less is more?
Auto Potion
Argument for:
- This little Script Dragon plugin saves lives and button presses, literally. It will take your health, magic, and stamina potions for you when you reach a certain percentage of your overall stat. You can set the percentage to whatever value you like in the ini, and then you will not have to spam the menu, favorites menu, or hotkey.
Argument against:
- You love menus.
