Getting Started with Using/Installing Mods

A guide I initially made to help my friend to help him get into the wonderful realm of modding Skyrim. If this is useful to you then go ahead and use it.

Welcome

Hello to my guide, I have intended this to give you the resources you need to start modding. I will not be guiding you through the actual modding process but I will be providing important programs and a few essential mods for you to start out installing mods with. Enjoy.

Terms to know

Here is a list of terms used by the modding community that may confuse you if you don't know the meaning.

• CTD
  Crash To Desktop (Means you screwed up bad or you're playing a Bethesda game)
  
• UNP/CBBE
  Types of female body remeshes.
  
• NMM
  Nexus Mod Manager, my favorite mod manager for skyrim. It is later discussed in this guide.
  
• MO
  Mod Organizer, another mod manager like Nexus Mod Manager.
  
• ...

Well I can't think of anything else at the moment, please feel free to suggest terms (and definitions) in the comments section and I'll add them here.

Required or Useful Programs

There are a few programs that will greatly increase the easability with modding as they can help prevent mod conflictions, actually adding/removing your mods for you, and allow you to get a larger variety of mods.

Nexus Mod Manager (NMM)[www.nexusmods.com]

This is what I personally use to Manage all of my mods, besides the very few I have with the Steam Workshop. It's simple and easy-to-use. It even allows direct downloading of mods from the Nexus webpage.

Mod Organizer (MO)[www.nexusmods.com]

This is an alternative, more advanced, mod manger for Skyrim which also supports direct downloads from the Nexus. I don't personally use this one and I've heard it can have problems with SKSE. I listed it though, for your own knowledge.

Originally posted by Grеηdеl:

MO's main advantage is not profiles, it's the virtualization of mod folders. They're not only archived in seperate folders, they're actually run from seperate folders, and your vanilla game files are never touched. This brings a whole list of advantages.

This is why, for instance, MO has two load order window panes, instead of just one. With virtualization you can actually drag the overwrite orders of mod files before they're even plugged into the game, on the fly, any time.

After I grasped the advantages of this, I realized that until other mod managers start using this feature, there is little reason at all to use anything besides MO. It saved me so much headache in the long run. The primary disadvantage of MO is that the advanced features add a layer of extra learning curve. For example, you must run SKSE through MO itself and the installation is different. If you install and use it properly, it works exactly as intended.

LOOT[github.com]

This is a must for anyone that plans to install multiple mods. This programs organizes your load order to prevent mods from overwritting eachother in the wrong way.

Skyrim Script Extender (SKSE)

This opens up a lot of modding potential as it messes with scripts upon starting the game. The only downfall to this is that you always have to use SKSE to launch the game but that's about it.
Non-Steam Version[skse.silverlock.org]

Suggested Starter Mods

Here are a list of mods I think you should get if you plan on modding, these are a must for playing Skyrim. All of which can be found on the Nexus Mod Website[www.nexusmods.com].

• SkyUI[www.nexusmods.com]
  This will not only make the UI a lot more keyboard/mouse friendly, it also gives access to the MCM which is required by most mods.
  
• Unofficial Skyrim Patch[www.nexusmods.com] (USKP)
  This fixes practically all of the bugs Bethesda left in their "finished" masterpiece, just make sure your load order is set up right and you won't have to worry about anything. Links to the DLC versions are in this page.
  
• Unofficial Skyrim - Legendary Edition Patch (USLEEP)[www.nexusmods.com]
  I've only recently heard of this thanks to Drake and McQuire. The mod is a massive patch just like USKP but apparently better if you have the Legendary Edition (All three DLCs) If you have none, one, or only two of the DLCs then stick with USKP. This specific mod I have very limited knowledge of besides what I've read on the page and from the two mentioned before. I have not personally used this mod.
  

G.E.M.S. (New Link)

What? You want MORE than those mods? Fine... A nice organized list of mods for you to check out would be Gameplay Enhancement Mods for Skyrim[skyrimgems.com], (GEMS).

The original host of Skyrim GEMS is no longer up but someone saved the site and uploaded it, I don't believe it gets updated anymore but it's still a good source of mods.
https://icurse.github.io/skyrim-gems/

Goodbye

Well, I hope I helped you with what you needed (Please Like and Favorite if I did). If you have any questions just ask in the comments or something. Tootles from Shiny Potato Head.

Answered Questions Below

Below are sections added to answer large questions that were asked of me or question that need a long explanation.

Using NMM with Non-Nexus mods.

So I was recently asked if it were possible to use Nexus Mod Manager with mods that are not downloaded using the Nexus. Yes it is and I will show you how.

I've decided to download the mod Amazing Follower Tweaks[www.nexusmods.com] (AFT) as an example. I did download this from the Nexus but I used a manual download which just gives you the raw files like another website would do.

Now keep in mind the file extension for this file is .7z which basically is a compressed archive. There are multiple files compressed into this one file. All mods should be downloaded in this manner but they may come in a .zip or other form of compressed file. That is completely fine and you won't have to download anything to enter this file

Now to add it to NMM you need to first open it then locate the large green plus/addition symbol (+) and click it, if you pops up a url thing then you may need to hit the tiny drop down arrow beside it and click the file option.

Now you need to locate the compressed file you wish to add.

And now you will find it in your mod list to install, delete, and what not. (I have two because I decided not to delete my other copy of the mod before installing this one.)

You should be good to go now. This was just a brief explanation but if you want a further in depth guide to NMM in general, watch this video by Gopher. Keep in mind that he is using a much older version of NMM but not much has changed except the profile system, you can find a video for that on his channel too I believe.

[mikeboyt12g13]

This heped so much i can now play with my thomas the train dragon

[Rex 81-12]

@Walker Texas Ranger,
The best way would be to reinstall but you can also just delete your data folder and then Verify Integrity of Game Cache if uninstalling does not work. Is there a specific problem you're having?

[SLEAZY]

so what if u di screw up really bad when downloading a mod is there a way to fix it?

[McQuire]

You're welcome. Here is the Nexus Link to it, http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/71214/? .

However, you can find it on Steam as well searching for Unofficial Skyrim Legendary Edition Patch in the Workshop.

[Rex 81-12]

Hey thanks for the input McQuire. I've never heard of USLEEP but I'll add it with your information.

[McQuire]

Oh, and this is a very well written guide to help people get started with modding Skyrim.

[McQuire]

Actually USKP isn't out dated.

USLEEP is best if you have all three DLCs, but if you don't have all three DLCs, you will still need USKP and the relative versions for the specific DLCs you do have.

[Rex 81-12]

Really? I didn't even know this. Whoops. I'll look into it when I get home.

[Crimson Raven]

Hey mate, might want to let folks know that USKP is outdated, need to update to USLEEP.

[Xarabas]