First time playing Should I play it with mods?

[MalikATL]

.....

[Grumpy Old Dude]

1st time, I'd recommend installing just the Unofficial Patch, and otherwise playing vanilla. Get some idea for what you WANT to mod into something different, but appreciate the original 1st.

[Altbert]

Maybe also SE Engine Fixes. But, as Grumpy Old Dude wrote, experience the original first, so you know what you would like different, added, etc.

[Fear2288]

Honestly, I’d say don’t even use the Unofficial patch.

Arthmoor and gang didn’t just fix bugs, they also made changes to things based on their own personal preferences.

[Yellowbeard]

'Mods' no...'patches' yes. The unofficial patch fixes bugs...as well as exploits...aka cheats. Some have gotten 'used' to that aspect of the game. I've never broken my leg...but I do have a weak minded relative on Ambien for more than a few weeks...so I know a thing or two about 'crutches'.

[Altbert]

Definitely use the Unofficial Patch and Engine Fixes, otherwise we will see you here time after time if you are stuck in a quest or otherwise. No problem installing mesh and texture replacer mods on your first playthrough when you see those horrible 2D plants and trees, such as the Cathedral 3D replacers by DrJacopo.

[Fear2288]

Yes, the unofficial patch did address some things that were deemed to be “exploits”, but there’s also quite a few smaller changes that were entirely based on Arthmoor’s personal preferences.

Little things like changing the prices/values of items, nerfing the Necromage perk (which some see as making it entirely pointless to play as a vampire in the late game unless you’re using a vampire overhaul mod), changing Grimsreaver (Mjoll’s sword) to a 2H weapon instead of a 1H weapon, changing Red Belly Mine to all iron ore instead of Ebony (making Ebony even rarer to find), etc.

These were changes Arthmoor made not because these things didn’t work, or because they were mistakes - he decided he didn’t like these things and wanted to change them under the guise of “fixing bugs”.

Don’t get me wrong, I really have no issue with these changes and have used the Unofficial Patch for as long as I can remember.

But the belief that it needs to be used by default, only fixes legitimate bugs, and doesn’t diverge from Bethesda’s original intentions isn’t entirely true.

[Altbert]

There are already mods to revert those USSEP changes. Leave that to OP's second playthrough. Let OP first experience the game without all the quest bugs and without exploits! Another advice could be: do not use the console, unless absolutely necessary!!

[Fear2288]

Originally posted by Altbert:

There are already mods to revert those USSEP changes. Leave that to OP's second playthrough. Let OP first experience the game without all the quest bugs and without exploits! Another advice could be: do not use the console, unless absolutely necessary!!

That’s up to the OP regarding whether or not they want to actually experience the game as it was intended/made - for better or worse.

To be honest, I think people needlessly inflate the critical importance of the Unofficial Patch and falsely perpetuate the idea that without it - you will experience constant crashes, broken quests, etc.

When the Unofficial Patch fixes the inability to report in to Galmar/Rikke after fast traveling from a fort takeover/Battle of Whiterun during the Civil War questline THEN I’ll stop playing devil’s advocate :P

[Liquid Inc]

I would say that you should play it completely free of any mods OP.

Not only is it "the way it's intended" as the others have said, but you'll also get a feel for what is actually the game. If you decide to mod later, you'll atleast have an idea of what you liked and disliked about the game, and will have an idea about what mods you want.

If you mod from the get-go, how will you know what you didn't like wasn't added by a mod in the first place?

[Altbert]

I don't agree with you, Fear. CTDs will not be OP's biggest concern with SSE, but broken quests still might be. But, it's not our choice to make.

[Fear2288]

Originally posted by Altbert:

I don't agree with you, Fear. CTDs will not be OP's biggest concern with SSE, but broken quests still might be. But, it's not our choice to make.

Can you please tell me what quests are undeniably broken and only fixed by the Unofficial Patch?

You seem quite confident that without this patch, many quests in the game are broken and unable to be started, progressed, or finished - so much so that it is IMPERATIVE that anyone who plays this game MUST use the Unofficial Patch.

And no, I’m not talking about instances such as “Blood on the Ice won’t start 40% of the time if you enter Windhelm on a Morndas while playing as a female Khajiit wearing leather armor, with a sneak skill below 35, carrying an iron sword in your left hand, after having completed the first two missions of the Thieves Guild questline AND joining the Imperial side of the Civil War”.

[Altbert]

Sorry Fear, not undeniably broken, and no, not all quests in the game will be broken. It may depend on the player's choices and sometimes on external occurrances, when a quest can't be progressed or completed. Just take a look at the various bug sections in the quest pages at the Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages (UESP). It's no MUST to use USSEP, I would only recommend it for first time players. Bugs may not always appear, but when they do ...

[Vlad 254]

Originally posted by Malik404:

.....

The fact you're asking tells me you probably should play Vanilla first so you can see exactly what the game is and what you feel it may or not need or more importantly what you may or may not want. I always recommend vanilla first to 1st time players so if you are a 1st time player then i'd say yes but of course that's up to you in the end.

If anything I'd install the USSEP but that by itself disables achievements if those are important to you. But - when you are ready to mod there are mods that re-enable achievements so you can earn them as you normally would. And just in case you are wondering No it is not against any rules to use mods. Bethesda opened this game up for modding. And this is a single player game so you're fine.

[MalikATL]

Originally posted by Altbert:

Definitely use the Unofficial Patch and Engine Fixes, otherwise we will see you here time after time if you are stuck in a quest or otherwise. No problem installing mesh and texture replacer mods on your first playthrough when you see those horrible 2D plants and trees, such as the Cathedral 3D replacers by DrJacopo.

Just ended up downing Unofficial Patch and this mod that lets you get achievements since i got a entire week off next week going to play it Vanilla first before I download any graphics mods.

[Grumpy Old Dude]

Originally posted by Malik404:

Originally posted by Altbert:

Definitely use the Unofficial Patch and Engine Fixes, otherwise we will see you here time after time if you are stuck in a quest or otherwise. No problem installing mesh and texture replacer mods on your first playthrough when you see those horrible 2D plants and trees, such as the Cathedral 3D replacers by DrJacopo.

Just ended up downing Unofficial Patch and this mod that lets you get achievements since i got a entire week off next week going to play it Vanilla first before I download any graphics mods.

Good choice! Have fun, don't worry too much about race, etc. Just make your character to fit your preferred play style, and have yourself some FUN!