Old Farts' Coffee House

[Avrie]

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2248436202
A fully licensed franchise of Ilja's Forum Works Ltd. (all rights reserved)

If you're new to Skyrim, or just having problems, and not sure where to begin ... Just ask. All are welcome, If you can grow pubic hair you're already an old fart to someone.

This is just a place to hang, chat, ask questions, and get abused by forum regulars. Feel free to drop by ... We might not have all the answers, but we probably already know the people that do, and we will be happy to help.

Bashing, spamming, self promoting, advertising, and trolling will simply provide us with target practice and make you look really lame. Please leave politics and religion at the door as well.

Personal attacks against forum guests based on country, race, ethnicity, and lifestyle preferences will not be tollerated in any way ... Period, and we will be enforcing the moderators rules around here ... Period

Keep it clean (mostly) While the game is listed as mature, a lot of the people aren't
Keep it civil (always) arguing a little is fine, just keep it friendly

Move over young ones ... Gramps moved back in.

[Avrie]

Morning *waves* Up for a while already following the markets. Third cuppa is already doing it's thing. 53 new mods, but not a lot catches the eye today. I'll wake the cat in a bit.

Originally posted by DragonMaster:

Now what do you have against the CW quest line?

Hi DM, Nothing specific other then repetitive stupidity. The missions are all the same. 'Go here, kill everyone, come back, get promoted' That's bad enough, but you're also saddled with 'your squad' And lets face it; The only thing 'stupider' in this game than the generic NPCs, are the Skyrim dogs. As an archer having my squad run in front of my arrows at the last moment got very old very fast. It became easier to just kill everyone including my own team just to end the boring battles quickly... And you still got promoted

That about sums it up. It's a personal failing of mine DM. I don't handle stupid very well.

Originally posted by Corinze:

Well, when I got into game after dinner I was welcomed to about 1/8 to maybe ¼ of my NPCs being bald. Good news was, no brown faces – lol.

Morning Stan, I had something similar happen to just my character a while back. I'll have to dig through my notes, it was several years ago and I'm fuzzy on what caused it. I'll see what I can dig up.

[Corinze]

mmm To bad reading does not help ones writing skills, or I just might morph into a novelist, o-wait I'm awake I did not fall asleep again, reading the instructions.

So this mod
https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/86800

I'm going to uninstall everything, purge and roll back to a hard save and just add the minimum requirements. I am guilty of adding all the other optional files. If the issue still resist, I'll start a new game for the testing.
I'm sort of thinking maybe I don't have this mod loading after all my hair mods, as I do have a nice collection. There seems to be a few bugs but the author appears to be still actively updating it. with only 100 downloads with the newest version, this mod is still being under estimated.

Time to do some of that work stuff, to earn me pay, catch everyone later.

[lupus_hegemonia]

So... after quite much gameplay time (I'm 21 level now), I had my first "freeze" (not CTD).
While I was trying to wait and let time pass (I was during night, pitch black - so I wanted to let the night pass)... and during the waiting popup menu, the game "frozen".

I guess it's ok, I'm running a quite heavy build (over 700 plugins) and "of course" I have no idea to use xEdit for solving conflicts etc, so a "freeze" or CTD after so many gameplay hours, it's quite acceptable.

I have a "problem" (in my gameplay).
Except whatever I have installed for combat and such, I haven't installed anything else to make the enemies stronger (animals are quite strong, I'm talling about the "humanoid" enemies)... and also the DRAGONS.
Now, that I'm 21 level (and my 2 followers, Yuriana & Serana), facing a dragon is like "walk in the park", we killing every dragon in few minutes!

So... I want suggestions from you, how to make enemies ("humanoid", bandits, etc) much more dangerous... and ESPECIALLY the dragons, to make the battle with them really a challenge; obviously not make them TOO strong (and need 2 hrs to kill a dragon), but also not that weak (vanilla) they are now.

Any suggestions, if you please?

[Avrie]

Goooooooood morning Tamriel!

Ah'vrie wishes you well. It is Tirdas the 4th of Sun's Dawn and a quiet predawn here on warm sands, and congratulations on surviving another Morndas. The blessed moons have set and it is once again time for this one to tend the inn. Excuse please while the fires are stoked, and fresh water is put to the flame. Our brew of the day is Arpeggio, and the biscuits will be Sweet Loren's chocolate brownie cookies in a few more minutes. The aroma is beginning to drive this old cat nuts lol. Checking the hot sheets we have 54 new with the normal eclectic mix of jiggles, dangles, patches and goofs. Let's see what catches an old cats eye over a fresh cuppa...

ASLaneZero released A Pinch of Salt as a first mod. Welcome
https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/140842
"Allows a Salt Pile to be broken down into 10x "Pinch of Salt". Rebuilds cooking recipes to use Pinch of Salt instead of Salt Pile, while leaving alchemy alone."

Not the first obviously, but handled well as a standalone mod. There's no mention of which recipes were converted, but probably just vanilla for now. The author mentions doing patches soon. Three versions available. Obsolete, SE, and AE. Thanks, have a salt free cookie

Lets see... SeekingAsy1um released Regal ReShade
https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/140624
Intended for screen archery, not really for playing. Thanks

Sym3tric released Sym's Dead Men's Respite
https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/140794
"A remake of a pretty empty location, wanted to share my vision of this location." This is actually more fitting than quite a bit of their previous work. This location supports first era stonework quite nicely. This one gets a cookie.

Snazzy Interiors - Dawnstar Mortar and Pestle by Gutmaw
https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/140567
"Overhaul of The Mortar and Pestle in Dawnstar" Another of the snazzy series. this one is basically a total interior overhaul and quite well done. The interior is almost opulent compared to the rest of Dawnstar, but that fits well in the context of "i remember when Skall the elder was Skall the younger..." She's had a few years to spruce the place up. This one gets a cookie as well. Why not?

VendeClarion released HD Terrain Noise by Vende
https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/140861
Well, there's arguably a slight improvement in a vanilla build, but we already have better available. We'll add it to the pile anyway. Thanks

And we'll add with another warning as opposed to a mod of the day...

ThisUsernameIsntTaken4929 released PreAE

This appears to be a list of locations to acquire archived files for 1.5 users. It pays lip service to mod authors rights, but at the very least the old cat finds this suspicious. This one needs more than a 'pinch' of salt. Cautions is advised.\

And that will do for today. The fires are stoked, the kettles scrubbed, and the floors are swept. Have a seat by the fires and warm your bones. We-B-open!

[Avrie]

Originally posted by lupus_hegemonia:

Any suggestions, if you please?

Just my two favorite old standbys

Wildcat - Combat of Skyrim
https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/1368

paired with RAID
https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/2345

Makes humanoid enemies smarter, harder, and they see you coming

Match that up with Deadly dragons
https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/23723

That'll keep you ducking from shadows. Beware dragon breath... now you just die if you get hit. I've found it reasonably challenging, and makes me actually watch the skies.

[Ilja]

Personally I replaced Wildcat with Valravn. RAID is part of my load order as well. I am getting my hide handed to me at every turn in Expert difficulty. Now character requires a bit more planning and companions have effect as well.

Valravn - Integrated Combat of Skyrim
https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/53869

If you want some challenge and added realism, then throw this in to soup as well.

Smart NPC Potions - Enemies Use Potions and Poisons
https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/40102

There is also a mod that I use, but can't remember it's name right now. I am at work and can't check. That mod allows NPCs to properly benefit fro enchantments, in good and bad. Good thing is that your followers now actually enjoy the benefits of enchanted items you give. Bad thing is that so do the enemies, if they happen have something in their inventories.

[Black Album]

Originally posted by Avrie:

Originally posted by lupus_hegemonia:

Any suggestions, if you please?

Just my two favorite old standbys

Wildcat - Combat of Skyrim
https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/1368

paired with RAID
https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/2345

Makes humanoid enemies smarter, harder, and they see you coming

Match that up with Deadly dragons
https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/23723

That'll keep you ducking from shadows. Beware dragon breath... now you just die if you get hit. I've found it reasonably challenging, and makes me actually watch the skies.

You forgot to mention the "barrel mod" for hiding from the new improved humanoid AI ...

[gnewna]

Nice little CC reintegration mod from Jelidity

https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/110617

"A simple mod placing Stendarr's Hammer in the world (in one of a few different places, not always the same), with simple restrictions for acquisition, rather than in a museum for Dwemer artifacts. "

(The placement happens when you approach the selected site, when the hammer falls to earth, which is pretty neat)

[Avrie]

Morning Gnewna. *waves*

Thanks, I missed it was from Jelidity, and the falls to Nirn bit. I must be slipping. Thanks. I don't really follow CC mods, so I'm glad you do.

[DragonMaster]

Originally posted by Avrie:

Morning *waves* Up for a while already following the markets. Third cuppa is already doing it's thing. 53 new mods, but not a lot catches the eye today. I'll wake the cat in a bit.

Originally posted by DragonMaster:

Now what do you have against the CW quest line?

Hi DM, Nothing specific other then repetitive stupidity. The missions are all the same. 'Go here, kill everyone, come back, get promoted' That's bad enough, but you're also saddled with 'your squad' And lets face it; The only thing 'stupider' in this game than the generic NPCs, are the Skyrim dogs. As an archer having my squad run in front of my arrows at the last moment got very old very fast. It became easier to just kill everyone including my own team just to end the boring battles quickly... And you still got promoted

That about sums it up. It's a personal failing of mine DM. I don't handle stupid very well.

Originally posted by Corinze:

Well, when I got into game after dinner I was welcomed to about 1/8 to maybe ¼ of my NPCs being bald. Good news was, no brown faces – lol.

Morning Stan, I had something similar happen to just my character a while back. I'll have to dig through my notes, it was several years ago and I'm fuzzy on what caused it. I'll see what I can dig up.

I can relate to the stupidity part especially when your own team members run into your arrow or bolt shots at the last second. Hence the reason for which I've been running solo all this time. I even leave the housecarls at the houses. Only reason for which I'm going to do the CW is for testing another mod like I said.

[Altbert]

I'm really quite happy with Community Shaders. I have it combined with

• CSLight
  
• Light Limit Fix
  
• Light Placer
  
• Cloud Shadows
  
• Skylighting
  
• Screen Space Global Illumination

Just been watching sunrise from the Floating Island of Legends:
https://www.elder-scrolls.nl/files/CommShaders.png

[DragonMaster]

Originally posted by gnewna:

Nice little CC reintegration mod from Jelidity

https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/110617

"A simple mod placing Stendarr's Hammer in the world (in one of a few different places, not always the same), with simple restrictions for acquisition, rather than in a museum for Dwemer artifacts. "

(The placement happens when you approach the selected site, when the hammer falls to earth, which is pretty neat)

Yes but bad thing about the hammer falling from the sky is the fact tat if your the unfortunate one standing where the hammer hits. Hopefully you've got a recent save.

[DragonMaster]

Originally posted by Altbert:

I'm really quite happy with Community Shaders. I have it combined with

• CSLight
  
• Light Limit Fix
  
• Light Placer
  
• Cloud Shadows
  
• Skylighting
  
• Screen Space Global Illumination

Just been watching sunrise from the Floating Island of Legends:
https://www.elder-scrolls.nl/files/CommShaders.png

Well now I'll have to admit that it looks great

[Avrie]

I'm glad it's working for you Altbert. We'll probably all be using it for the next elder scrolls game. I don't think Boris is interested in maintaining ENB moving forward. It looks like most of the major advantages of ENB are being added one layer at a time. Hopefully by the time TES6 comes out we'll have a fully working replacement for ENBs. Fingers crossed.

[Avrie]

A quick reminder for anyone interested. Gopher will be streaming his first looks at the new KCD2 release. This is not a play through, just a get acquainted romp.

https://youtu.be/oZAd3IRV7hk

He is planning a full let's play, but he's waiting on hard core mode to be released, and a couple of mods. Gopher handles head bob like I handle stupid ;-)