Merging mods question

[ZombieKidzRule!]

I have read what I could find about merging mods and I understand that some types of mods shouldn't be merged, like quest mods or mods that replace things.

I am wondering if it is best/safest to only merge mods that are only .esp files?

Or, if it is mostly safe to merge similar mods that add meshes, textures, and icons, like clothing mods. For instance, merging all the BadKarma mods.

Another example might be merging all the Emma heads mods.

Or maybe merging mods that only add items like various new weapons.

I am trying to figure out which mods are safest to try merging since I have more than 255 that I want to use.

I also am going to try and use Wyre Mash to merge leveled lists instead of TESTool since that one stops working from the amount of mods I am using and testing.

I also couldn't tell from what I read if I could only merge two mods at a time or if I could merge more. I am going to try and experiment tomorrow.

Thanks for any additional advice!

[EgoMaster]

If I understand you correctly, you can't merge mods like that. Merging mods means merging levelled lists and is a must if you have a mod that adds levelled items such as item additions, quest mods etc. If you "merge" them, you'll add new items to games lists, so that you can find them as loot in game. Wrye Mash should handle it automatically merge all required mods to one in a single pass. But if your idea is to merge all similar mods to one to free some slots, you can't do that unless you know your way around the official editor, which is not a part of Steam Morrowind installation. If anything, merging mods will require an additional slot in the form of "merged_lists.esp". It should always be the last mod on your list.

[ZombieKidzRule!]

Thanks, but I think that is different. I already merge leveled lists and objects with TESTool, but I am switching to Wyre Mash. I am talking about merging .esp mods to take up less slots. I have read that you can do that and I just experimented last night and it seemed to work. I still need to test the new mod though.

[ZombieKidzRule!]

So this definitely works! I made 4 new Combined .esp files merging a bunch of mods. I created a Combined file for character generation mods, for miscellaneous items, for clothing, and for new Merchants. I just tested the game and I can already tell that many of the Combined mods are working fine. I may need to tweak things a little more, but the concept is sound and stable!