So, what are your best content mods

[Veylox]

Just checking if there are hidden gems out there that I missed due to workshop keeping them hidden.

- Ideally content mods that try to have some balance, they don't just add stuff for the sake of making it easier, unless it's real fun.
- No bloat. Mods that adds 30 new flintlock weapons and 150 different t-shirts and I'm gonna use exactly zero of them is a no-go.
- Mods that make the game more difficult are fine (again, keeping balance in mind, stuff like VOID is obviously not an option), I do enjoy Alpha mechs / VFE insectoids for example
- Not too heavy on performance if possible

My ideal content mod would be something like army of the fetid corpses if it was balanced, or SOS2 if it was updated. Does anyone use lesser known content mods that are definitely worth cheking out ?

[Jaggid Edje]

One of my personal favorites for content mods is Caravan Adventures, as it expands on what you experience on the overworld map when caravans are traveling and adds a few entire quest lines, plus a new faction that offers bounty missions once you do the start of their quest line. Obviously not something you'd benefit from though if you are more of a stay at home player.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2558957509

I also enjoy all of the Vanilla Factions Expanded mods. I don't run with all of them enabled at once, but rather add one based on how I'd like to do the playthrough.

I'm using VFE: Tribals on my current run, for example, because it massively expands on the tribal start of the game. For my next playthrough I'm going to use VFE: Pirates, and play as a pirate. Basically any given VFE mod adds entirely new aspects and mechanics to the game along with items, ruleset changes, and even including a new storyteller for that particular style of play.

And, if you enjoy the Ideology play, Vanilla Expanded: Ideologies greatly enhances the options and choices for your ideology.

In my current run, for example, my Tribal ideology started as nature focus, pretty vanilla game, but with VE: Ideologies I have progressed to an Ideology with the "Bushido" meme. What that meme does is make it so I have to raid other factions regularly or get mood penalties. Also, any of my pawns who is defeated in combat (downed) more than once in a 30 day period needs to commit Seppuka, a ritual suicide required by the Bushido meme.

Like the VFE mod line, its a modular set so you only add in whichever VE: Ideology mods you want for a specific playthrough, though the core memes and structures mod is one I have active at all times:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2636329500

I use a few other Vanilla expanded mods from their furniture, clothing, cooking, etc lines, but those fall mostly in the category of mods you said you weren't interested in so I won't do any details or links for those.

[big knee]

I saw a pretty cool mod a while back, i havent actually gotten around to using it much but it looks cool
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3227008885
hope that works, never tried to link a workshop item but oh well, yeah luciferium mod, adds some cool new stuff for late-ish game, Alpha animals and i think alpha genes is one as well add a bit but you've probably already heard of those.
only mod i cant live without is vanilla psycasts expanded, probably a little OP but it makes psycasting which otherwise to me was quite underwhelming quite interesting and fun, most of the mods i use are more QoL mods rather than content mods but i hope this helps :)

[Veylox]

Yeah I used to play a lot with caravan adventures but the problem with it is that you actually benefit too much for staying at home. It brings overpowered stuff to compensate for nomadic playstyles but when you have an actual colony it's too much. Free +8 mood for everyone, free vanometric cell early on, a godly melee/psychic pawn, etc

[Jaggid Edje]

It is entirely configurable though. I don't have that +8 mood thing turned on if not playing a nomadic playstyle, for example.

[MadArtillery]

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=725947920

Has been a fav of mine for awhile. Adds a few lines of themed equipment, armour and weapons. Adds a good variety of with without bloating in a bunch of identical crap. Balance is pretty good, though some of it played a bit too safe so sometimes on the weak side. Enemy pirates, outlanders, and especially the empire can spawn with it all so one of the best parts is having more varied enemy equipment.


Edit: adding a choice for a reason other then what the tin may suggest.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3028702598

Going to actually add this in here for the raids actually, makes for a very interesting hostile faction because they can actually spawn squads of elites to go with their more regular units. They will ask you, "Do you have armour pen?" When a squad of 5 (excellent) power armoured troopers come say hello mixed in with a wave of half naked chaff to draw fire and stress your line as support it makes for a very unique experience. Highly recommend if you are looking to spice up enemy raid types. Quickly became a fav among hostile factions. Their bright dyes on their gear also make them very visibily distinct and make sure you can always spot the elites easily. Genes can be interesting too but seriously, the faction is the star of the show.