New to Skyrim, looking for modding advice

[Karnalsyn]

So I've yet to play this game. However since I've recently put together a new gaming rig, the time is now.

I'm both excited and overwhelmed when I see what the modding community has accomplished with this game. And thought I'd come and see if some of you helpful folk could lend me a hand and perhaps ease my nerves.

For starters, I'll say I've yet to mod a game I bought via steam. Somewhat worried about the whole VAC banning thing. I've heard people say it's strictly a multiplayer thing, and single player games are excluded. But I've also seen forum posts from people claiming they've been banned by gfx mods on games like Dark Souls 2. While I understand DS2 has mp in it, the idea that a gfx mod got them in trouble is worrisome as I'd rather not risk my account over something I could have done without.

That aside. If I do jump into a modded up skyrim with no concerns. What should I focus on? There is just so much out there to pick from. Is it better I grab a mod for every individual terrain type out there (rocks, trees, water, sky, etc.), and merge them all? Do I run the risk of one of those mods overstepping the other? Or should I grab a massive 'it does everything' terrain super mod? Should I grab town enhancement mods one town at a time? Or have they been merged into one larger 'all towns' pack that I've yet to find.

Also, is there any sort of program that auto downloads/installs the mods accordingly through a site like nexus (never used nexus yet)? Or are all the installs manual and straight forward?

Thanks for any/all assistance.

[Ilja]

You can't get VAC banned with Skyrim. There is no one and nothing to cheat.
If one could, then my account wouldn't be up. I have 150 mods in my load order right now and not one of them is from Steam.

I could give you a long lecture, but I think Gopher has us covered. He made a good set of tutorial videos about how to mod Skyrim. Some of these videos are slightly outdated, but basics are still same. He also covers Nexus Mod Manager (NMM) and LOOT in his tutorials.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE7DlYarj-DdhDG41roBVJfNCqvO5MmKP

Few essential things.

LOOT is a tool that helps you to sort out your load order and informs you about missing parent mods. Run it always after installing new mod(s).

LOOT
https://loot.github.io/

Bethesda no longer patches Skyrim, but Unofficial Patch crew does. Download and install (as per Gopher's instructions) Unofficial Skyrim Patch and one for each DLC you have - they are linked in this page.

Unofficial Skyrim Patch
http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/19/?

Just ask us, if you get confused.
Good luck. :)

[Karnalsyn]

Thanks for the links!

[Clever Monkey]

http://steamcommunity.com/app/72850/discussions/0/846956740639650936/
help page for all your modding needs

[SpeedFreak1972]

One advice before modding just play the game Vanilla once (without mods) just with the unofficial patches.

[Karnalsyn]

Why do you recommend that Speed? As a means to appreciate the modders hard work even more? If thats the case, I can already say that I'm blown away by the comparisons I've seen.

[❃ Galiäna Krüger ❃]

You don't mod especially you just new to this game - you'll ruined the game.

[Clever Monkey]

I mostly agree with speedfreak because you may not know what changes you would like. if you do know then mod the heck out of it.
either way have fun

[SpeedFreak1972]

Well true however I would do it to experience it once in the way Bethesda it intended also because mods (gameplay) can alter such a way that you'll never know how it was meant. Graphic mods is another thing, but I wouldn't start to play with combat enhancers or overhauls right away such as skyre, requiem or asis, etc..

[Karnalsyn]

I was more inclined to mod the gfx to start. Had no intentions of altering gameplay in any form just yet. I'm not looking to "simply" something that I don't yet know I would benefit from. I do want to experience how the game was originally crafted, just with new age gfx upgrades. So no concerns there.

[SpeedFreak1972]

Ok that's no real problem I guess I was more talking about how the game feels.

[Karnalsyn]

Would a good rule of thumb to go by be: if a game isn't listed in steam workshop, that I probably shouldn't mod it?

There are games out there I love, like say Farcry 3. I wouldn't mind modding that (if there were any) to upgrade its gfx, but it has multiplayer features that would likely get me into trouble even if I had zero interest in playing the multiplayer...right?

[Trigger]

This is a list of the things you will need to start modding Skyrim: The Nexus mod manager, SkyUI, SKSE 1.7 installer, Loot,

[Clever Monkey]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Karnalsyn:

Would a good rule of thumb to go by be: if a game isn't listed in steam workshop, that I probably shouldn't mod it?

There are games out there I love, like say Farcry 3. I wouldn't mind modding that (if there were any) to upgrade its gfx, but it has multiplayer features that would likely get me into trouble even if I had zero interest in playing the multiplayer...right?

even without a modding tool people have found ways to add files, etc. to games whether those are real or viruses you decide but for skyrim I would stick with steam and nexus even though there are other sites out there

[Karnalsyn]

well using Farcry 3 as an example. Nexus appears to have mods for it. Steamworks doesn't. Does that mean steam has actively chosen NOT to include it because it is at risk of VAC ban due to the multiplayer/co-op modes the game comes with?

[Nah]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Karnalsyn:

Would a good rule of thumb to go by be: if a game isn't listed in steam workshop, that I probably shouldn't mod it?

There are games out there I love, like say Farcry 3. I wouldn't mind modding that (if there were any) to upgrade its gfx, but it has multiplayer features that would likely get me into trouble even if I had zero interest in playing the multiplayer...right?

I don't think upgrading it's gfx will get you banned..
You can mod crysis which has a multi too and won't get in trouble for it. So if you trust the mod is not a virus I'd say go ahead..
and I wouldn't know crysis has a steam workshop..