Vortex and new profile

[SPG]

First let me say that I have little experience with using mods and zero experience with mod managers. So, I have basically finished a vanilla game of skyrim and would like to try some mods on a new game. I have gotten as far as installing Vortex using gopher's guide and think I have it set up. I would like to keep that game and create a new game and character and use mods.

On looking at the current profile, it shows the ID and the one mod I did manually place in the data folder, USSEP, which to my surprise is showing as disabled. So a couple of questions.

1. does this mean that the USSEP has not been activated on my vanilla game all along? I followed the instructions for manual installation.

2. do I start a new game and character first before creating a new profile in Vortex or create a profile in Vortex first? and how does this manifest in the game menu?

3. If I use clone, will I still be able to create an entirely new character while keeping all the other settings?

4. I'm mostly interested in mods that open new areas and quests. One of them is Beyond Skyrim Bruma and another is The Forgotten City. Can these be installed using Vortex? Forgotten City seems to indicate it needs a Bethesda account.

Thanks for any help. My lack of experience is making me nervous about how to do this without screwing up.

[alexander_dougherty]

Vortex
Documents regarding the usage of Nexus Mods Vortex - Official Nexus page
https://help.nexusmods.com/category/46-vortex

Gopher's tutorial series for Vortex (YouTube Playlist):
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE7DlYarj-DfYgxma5znKGYEqAHDU_WU-

Either of these any help?

[SPG]

Originally posted by alexander_dougherty:

Vortex
Documents regarding the usage of Nexus Mods Vortex - Official Nexus page
https://help.nexusmods.com/category/46-vortex

Gopher's tutorial series for Vortex (YouTube Playlist):
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE7DlYarj-DfYgxma5znKGYEqAHDU_WU-

Either of these any help?

Thanks, but no they don't help as neither really addresses my questions.

[smr1957]

Well, as you are inexperienced/new to using mods, the place to start is at the beginning.

You absolutely must read these and do all they tell you to do:

Excellent advice regarding modding Skyrim (essay written by PeggleFrank - written for original Skyrim, but basic principles apply to SSE, as well) http://steamcommunity.com/app/72850/discussions/0/343787920127409994/#c343787920127583150

Skyrim SE: Guides and Resources by Ilja
http://steamcommunity.com/app/489830/discussions/0/340412122413706606/
VERY IMPORTANT if you wish to successfully mod your game

And refer to this resource:
HELPFUL LINKS AND REFERENCES
https://steamcommunity.com/app/489830/discussions/0/2828702372997628701/

[..:: eeZee ::..]

Originally posted by SPG:

USSEP, which to my surprise is showing as disabled. So a couple of questions.

1. does this mean that the USSEP has not been activated on my vanilla game all along? I followed the instructions for manual installation.

No.
When you use a new profile, any previous installed mod Vortex finds is automatically disabled in the new profile. (Vortex assumes correctly that you do not want a whole list of active mods in your new profile.) To use a disabled mod in the new profile, simply enable it. Or keep it disabled if you do not want to use it in the new profile.

If you want to start a fresh and don't want to see previously installed and disabled mods, sort the list view in Vortex to show enabled mods only. That way, you can keep track of newly downloaded/installed mods more easily.

Originally posted by SPG:

2. do I start a new game and character first before creating a new profile in Vortex or create a profile in Vortex first? and how does this manifest in the game menu?

Always use the new profile in a new game.
I usually begin a new game with a whole new mod load out already installed.
(Mainly because I use character creation mods. Makes more sense to me this way.)

Originally posted by SPG:

3. If I use clone, will I still be able to create an entirely new character while keeping all the other settings?

I'm not sure. Never used the clone option.
But, why clone? I mean, you can do whatever you want, of course. But doesn't cloning defeat the purpose of a new profile a bit? :-)
Simply start a new game with your current profile, instead of cloning in Vortex. I'd say. :-)

Originally posted by SPG:

4. I'm mostly interested in mods that open new areas and quests. One of them is Beyond Skyrim Bruma and another is The Forgotten City. Can these be installed using Vortex? Forgotten City seems to indicate it needs a Bethesda account.

I don't know. Haven't use those mods, myself. But, the mods should indicate what is needed and what can be used for them. Always read the requirements and installation notes carefully, on the mod page, when provided.

[SPG]

thankyou

smr1957 - I have read the links, but..... the problem for new modders is "information overload", which is made more confusing by old information.

Even gopher's videos on Vortex, which are very good BTW, has some outdated information and doesn't address some basics, like the Chrome link bug and more details on path information.

eeZee

thanks. I went ahead and downloaded some mods to a new profile and enabled them. However, not sure whether I need to start a new game first, I did as far as the intro before character control. So I think I will have to just delete that and start a new game again after I get finished with loading the mods I want.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that all goes well.

[alexander_dougherty]

Originally posted by SPG:

thankyou

smr1957 - I have read the links, but..... the problem for new modders is "information overload", which is made more confusing by old information.

smr generally removes old invalid information, everything there is still valid even if old. Don't confuse new with updated, a lot of those guides are still correct, just the aged. If somebody is posting info that says different I would as a rule ask on these forums, and look for the likes of Ilja, smr, Uncle(not sure of last bit), Fauxpax, Black Album, Avrie, and other Old Farts.

[..:: eeZee ::..]

Originally posted by SPG:

thanks. I went ahead and downloaded some mods to a new profile and enabled them. However, not sure whether I need to start a new game first, I did as far as the intro before character control. So I think I will have to just delete that and start a new game again after I get finished with loading the mods I want.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that all goes well.

That's the way I do it anyway.
First make a mod load out, then start a new game.

Did it twice now with Vortex (just recently using Vortex), one with 120 mods pre-installed and on a other profile one with 144 mods pre-installed. Because I had resolved any mod-conflict beforehand with Vortex, both times went well and I was able to start a new game without a hitch.

But, you can always make a test run in between mod installations. Saves can be discarded anyways.