Modding Skyrim SE in 2019 Options

[Grits]

I’m putting together my first Skyrim SE game for PC, and the landscape has changed. Vortex is a new thing. Does anyone have a strong mod organizer preference? I’m still digging around looking for tools, but the MO2 vs Vortex question seems like a first step.

[Grits]

Well for now I'm just using Wrye Bash. Got LOOT and SKSE going.

[ghastley]

Wrye is all I use. MO2 and Vortex do odd things to support shared resources that I don't believe work properly. I trust Wrye to remove mods I don't want any more.

Since I often test mods for compatibility with my own, that I have no intention of keeping, that's probably more important to me than it would be for you.

[Grits]

Thanks, that's good to know. I wasn't sure if there was a new feature in the mod organizers that would replace the Bashed Patch. Most of the discussion I found was one vs another, and no one suggesting neither. Looks like I can just keeping doing it like I used to.

[Renee]

I also use Wrye Smash for Skyrim. Which is odd because I could never figure out that program for Oblivion. But in Skyrim I began using it right from the get-go. Why? I'm not even sure. I think Turija suggested it to me back in 2015-2016 over and over.

Just open the Installers tab, drag the archive over, choose which .esps or other features you want, and toggle them on in the Mods tab. I don't know if SE works this way as well (I have the original version). The program just seems way easier than it did for OB. Whenever I'd try to use WB for Oblivion, I'd get all these red lines all over the page. My game would CTD on launch after opening the program, and so on.

From what I understand, uninstalling mods in Skyrim is a pain, because other some other programs won't uninstall the entire mod (such as scripts). But Bash / Smash definitely does this. I've made sure to have a look into my Scripts folder especially (VERY important) before and after Uninstallation. Wrye always removes them automatically.

[Grits]

Thank you, Renee! After looking at all the new stuff, I was happy to see that Wrye is still the way to go.

It’s been pretty easy getting my load order situated. I guess it’s time to break it with a weather mod or player head tracking.

[Renee]

Welcome. Just remember that if you have to uninstall something, chances are you may need to go back to an earlier save made before the mod you want to uninstall was installed. Especially if there were scripts involved with that mod that's being 86'd.

In other words, let's say your game is up to Save 80. You install some mod and it turns out you don't like it, but you've been saving your game and now you're up to 90. Chances are it's a good idea to go back to Save 80, especially if that undesirable mod had scripts added. Bash will uninstall the mod with no probs, but the save might still depend on that mod. This can cause problems.

Maybe you already know this. I typed that anyway, just for my own sake! Just because.... sometimes I forget.