User:Skwareballz/Personal Mods

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.

Armors

I usually pick my armors for the type of character that I am trying to create in game or I see a brilliant looking set and then make a character who would wear that. In the case of something like hothtropper44's Warchief armor I saw that and immediately decided I needed a vicious Orc, so Tza of the Wu-Vang Clan was born. Since there seems to be quite a bit of armors in my current setup, I seem to have build up a bunch of characters that are all around level 20, and it seems hard to get myself to go back and finish them. It is a double edge sword of having to many choices of clothing options, if you do not believe me then ask your girlfriend. My advice is to only install the armors you want for the character you are currently playing and then switch them out for another character.

Weapons

Weapon mods usually do not make it into my install unless they can bring one whole set of weapons. With the amount of mods that I already have, I cannot see having 8 esps for 8 weapons. Most of the weapon mods I go for take the original Skyrim style and create something that looks like it fits in with the world, Extended Vanilla Weapons does a decent job of that as well as LSB BattleHammers. I also really enjoy mods that add unique items for me to find throughout the world and place their weapons in the leveled lists, this is probably the most important thing for a large weapon mod.

Gameplay mods

I do not use gameplay mods that completely alter the way Skyrim is played, ACE is a great project and looks like it offers the community a high quality experience, but I do not want to relearn how to play Skyrim. Some of the survival mods are fun if they can balance the survival aspect without having to babysit your stats every two minutes. I would rather have gameplay mods that change Skyrim in the background like Economics of Skyrim does.

Character mods

Most of the character mods I use have to do with adding more clothes and jewelry, not less. And then there is the fact that I am completely obsessed with hair mods. I cannot figure out why, but all I can say that there are not enough of them unless it crashes my game when I type showracemenu into the console.

Content mods

Content mods are now relevant for me that 1.6 fixed the navmesh bug. Content mods usually need three things, new places that are not entirely recycled, a quest that makes sense, and rewards for playing through the quest. Most of them are work in progress, so it is fun to play them now and not return for two months until a a good amount of content has been added.

Automatic Variants

A true game changer from Leviathan1753, the creator of SkyProc and this mod, this is definitely on the short list for mod of the year.

AV Packs

Here are some of the variants available and the ones I use and recommend to make Skyrim have a real animal kingdom. There are also some other conversions and batch files to use for testing or to just have some fun, by Wolverine2710.

1. Bellyaches Animals AV Package
   • This is already in STEP, but normally only one variant of each animal can be chosen. The quality of this mod is to high, to have the ability to use all the variants and not use them.
   • Get the Bellyaches Animals AV Package from the optional files on the AV page, not the original version of the mod.
2. Insanity Sorrow AV Package
   • Chicken, Draugr, Skeever, and Skeleton variants, made by Insanity Sorrow.
   • Get the Insanity Sorrow AV Package form the optional files on the AV page, not the original version of the mod.
3. StarX AV Packages
   • StarX has provided his AV Packs, one creature per pack.
   • I use Draugr, Giants, Mammoths, Falmer, Trolls, Snow Sabrecats, Wolves, and Hagravens.
   • All of them are on TES Alliance or a few are on the Nexus at the posted link.
4. Sickly Skeletons
   • Five different variants for skeletons, from Porscha.
5. sounaipr's AV Packages
   • Giant, Mammoth, Sabrecat, and Snow Sabrecat variants, made by sounaipr.

Immersive Armors

Info

Is there a better modder for creating armors that fit perfectly into Skyrim than hothtrooper44? No.

This is his armor compilation complete with leveled lists. Other modders have also given permission to hothtrooper to add their armors to his compilation. It includes all of hothtrooper'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.

Arrows Tweaks

Info

• For this mod to work correctly it is recommended that you and these lines to your Skyrim.ini:

[Actor]

fVisibleNavmeshMoveDist=12288.0000

[Combat]

fMagnetismStrafeHeadingMult=0.0

fMagnetismLookingMult=0.0

f1PArrowTiltUpAngle=0.7

f3PArrowTiltUpAngle=0.7

• These ini tweaks are recommended for everyone even if Arrows Tweaks is not used.
• My personal settings for this mod are:

Faster Arrows Improved - +50%

Increased Progressive Damage (with Nord Hero Arrow) - +50%

Merchant Arrows - +100%

Loot Arrows & Recover Arrows - Not Used

Scout Armor Compatibility Patch - Used

Dragon Bone Weapons Complete - Not Used

• I have a nice BCF with a Wizard for v2.8 NMM version, Scout Armor Patch, and Dragon Bone Weapon Complete Patch, get all three files and the BCF is here.

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.

Argument against:

You hate Robin Hood.

Economics of Skyrim

Info

• As of version 1.2.2 there have been some issues reported, so use at own risk.
• 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.
• There is also the new features of getting a blacksmith to temper your stuff and to place orders for weapons and armor.

Argument for:

Add a bit of a real economy to Skyrim.

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

Info

• 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 human 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 for:

Kill in style.

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?

Show Race Menu Options

Argument for:

Able to change character look but not race or sex, pretty much for people who want to change from blue to pink hair, and need a fresh coat of warpaint. Just go to the guy in the Solitude inn with the pink robe.

Argument against

You play only in first person or you create perfect characters from the start.

Covereyes and Coverkhajiit

Argument for:

Mr. Lenski has made some really good looking eyes especially for the beast races, and his retexture of the Khajiit race is excellent, it really looks like they are covered in fur.

Argument against:

Dog person.

Parallax Rocks and Mountains (Parallax With Custom Rock texture)

• Pannonian originally started by making Diverse_Enhanced Rocks WIP which was just a nice set of rock textures, since Bethesda thought it was okay to only make two for 40 square kilometers of mountains.
• The author moved on to this, a parallax mod for rocks and mountains, but has not supported it in months, still, using the parallax mods is essential with ENB. I use both the regular version 1.04 and the custom textures update 1.04b.
• The custom textures are not quite as high resolution as you may find elsewhere, though they still look great.

Argument for:

How many mountains are there in Skyrim? Yeah, you need this.

Argument against:

Still not sold on ENB.

Real Rain

Argument for:

Personal favorite for rain mods, gives that bit of blurriness buring heavy rain. Made by PlayerTwo who is part of the RLwC team now and this will soon be integrated when v4.0 is released.

Argument against:

You like something else.

Lightning during Thunder Storms

Argument for:

Add lightning to the thuderstorms around Skyrim, with a chance that they can hit you.

Argument against:

Someone you loved died from lightning.

Birds of Skyrim

Argument for:

Adds a lot of birds to the wild and cities, makes the world come alive.

Argument Against:

You are just like me and have never made it all the way through Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds.

Sabre Gear Backpack

Argument for:

Great looking backpacks that look just like they would be used by a murdering, grave robbing, drifter, plus they add carrying capacity.

Argument against:

You do not have a hoarding problem.

Script Extender Plugins

SKSE will probably be the only script extender needed in the future, but there still some really amazing plugins for Script Dragon that should get the attention of the community.

Skyrim -Community- Uncapper

Info:

• I know that this is in STEP already, but it is so customizable that I felt it necessary to mention how I use it.
• I took the time to make a separate ini copy for each race/class depending on the character that is currently being played. For this I just thought about what the character was and limited the skills and leveling speed of that skill based on their race and class (even though there are no classes I made them up in my head).
• An example of this is: Bretons will never level up heavy armor to 100 because I stop them at 75, but they are gifted in magic, so they get extra skills in Destruction, Conjuration,... They all level to 110 or 115.
• To balance the game, so that the characters reach level 81, it is best to keep track of the total skills so they average 100.
• The plugin also changes the total health, magic, and stamina per level, which is nice since I feel vanilla Skyrim is not balanced for strict warriors or mages. The way to change this is to just increase one of those stats.
• Give mages 15 or 20 magic points when leveling magic instead of just 10, and warriors 15 or 20 for stamina and health.
• If you are a hoarder with no hope in sight, then adjust the carrying capacity increases, maybe 5 for every attribute instead of just stamina.

Auto Potion

Info:

• Because potions in Skyrim are weak compared to, say Oblivion, where the potions could heal a lot over time, there is a lot menus, or favorites menus, or hotkeys. This is boring and takes away from the action which is immersion breaking, so I recommend Auto Potion.
• This can be set to take standard potions, i.e. Potion of Minor Healing, Potion of Extreme Stamina, when health, magic, stamina reach a certain percentage. All those extra minor health potions you have been hoarding will now get used when your health reaches 20% or whatever level you set it at.

Argument for:

Using your brain is dumb. Free yourself from having to pay attention to your health, magic, and stamina with automated potion drinking.

Argument against:

You love menus.

No Fast Travel

Info:

• If you think those survival mods make Skyrim hardcore then try playing without fast travel.
• This plugin does one thing and that is disable fast travel so you really have to walk, run, ride a horse, or pay for a carriage.
• I recommend using this with something that expands the carriage system in Skyrim to all the holds and maybe some of the smaller villages.

Argument for:

It is really easy to take in all the sights and sounds of Skyrim and if you want to increase your playthrough time this will do the trick.

Argument against:

You do not have the luxury of time.

Shout Combat and Skill System

Info:

• Do you think that it was wrong that Bethesda gave you this new shouting mechanic for Skyrim, but it had nothing to do with leveling up your character? Then this is for you.
• Levels up Speech skill with shouts and Speech skill can reduce shout recovery time. Some of the useless Speech tree perks are also redone.

Argument for:

Shouting is much more apart of your character.

Argument against:

You really do not use shouting anyways.

Fixes

These are just a few fixes I have seen that are not in STEP or USKP.

Morokei Mask Enchantment Fix

Info

• Bethesda created a unique enchantment for dragon priest masks, but the Morokei mask just had a generic enchantment while there was a unique enchantment listed in the Skyrim.esm. This little fix just removes the generic enchantment and replaces it with the unique one listed in the the esm.
• The unique enchantment is 20% decrease in shout recovery time and 100% increase in magic recovery.

Argument for:

Makes the mask work like it is supposed to work.

Argument against:

The file comes with some different options for hoodless, maskless, and maskless with no hoods which is not really how the masks were designed.

Khajiit Dragonscale Helmet Fix

Info

• Adds Khajiit's ears to the dragonscale helmet, so they stick out of the top.

Argument for:

No little holes in the top of the helmet for Khajiit.

Argument against:

Earrings will not show.