Premade modlist or making your own one?

[GardenData61371]

To be honest I really cannot choose.

From one side going with a premade one saves me a lot of time but i'll have to play with someone else's vision of Skyrim. If i go making my own list then I'll have to spend days modding it and also learning how to troubleshoot conflicts, load order, modding tools etc.

[SpeedFreak1972]

I give you 1 reason to making your own .... we can help you, however a wabbajack list or collection is someone else's list. So if you come here for troubleshooting we can't help you we don't know what's in that list especially regarding custom made patches, etc.

[Wille Wilse]

I would go for own mod list. I do use mods, not many though, and I only add a mod if I feel like I miss something. Like more swords, armour etc.

[SpeedFreak1972]

Originally posted by Wille Wilse:

I would go for own mod list. I do use mods, not many though, and I only add a mod if I feel like I miss something. Like more swords, armour etc.

Immersive armors/weapons maybe ...

[mikk011]

To expand on what Speed said, here is an actual forum thread where the poster wanted to make a fairly small clothing change to a Nexus Collection. Without a skilled modder actually installing this list, the custom files included in the collection (which were relevant to the desired change) made suggestions from this community counterproductive, and there was also a fair amount of not-constructive advice from posters who either didn't read the thread carefully or did not fully understand the technical issues.

https://steamcommunity.com/app/489830/discussions/0/3800527434451931188/#c3800527434456352293

Learning enough about the tools and making your own modlists can be frustrating and time-consuming. In the long run, however, I feel like it is more satisfying, and once you've learned to mod one Bethesda game you have 99% of the knowledge to mod any Bethesda game.

[Altbert]

I have never played with a modlist and I never will. If you have played the vanilla game (without mods), you will know what you want changed in the game. My present playthrough and build is from December 2022. Slowly adding mods to the build over time, one by one, although mesh/texture replacers sometimes in a batch. Over 400 mods in my wishlist, but sofar only installed about 250. I have the full AE DLC upgrade, but after a short testplay, moved all CC content to a backup folder (without the 4 CC content from the original update).
For me SSE Engine Fixes and the Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition are a must, as well as a few mods I created myself. Next various replacers for all those ugly 2D flora, a good NPC AI Overhaul and mods that give more diversity in NPC appearances (TK Children and Northbourne NPCs). My own mods in general concern my annoyances in the game.

Sure, make your own modlist!

[Altbert]

Originally posted by SpeedFreak1972:

I give you 1 reason to making your own .... we can help you, however a wabbajack list or collection is someone else's list. So if you come here for troubleshooting we can't help you we don't know what's in that list especially regarding custom made patches, etc.

^^ This definitely as a first reason! Forgot about that as I don't use modlists!

[Wille Wilse]

Originally posted by SpeedFreak1972:

Originally posted by Wille Wilse:

I would go for own mod list. I do use mods, not many though, and I only add a mod if I feel like I miss something. Like more swords, armour etc.

Immersive armors/weapons maybe ...

Sort of... :)

[Grumpy Old Dude]

and to any new to Skyrim, or new to this specific forum reading this:

do NOT underestimate the value of the assistance these folks can, and do, provide. I've been out of Skyrim for the better part of 5 or 6 years when I got the itch again. Long ago forgot most of what I knew about the game, and thats not even considering the changes made in the game DURING those 5 or 6 years.

2nd major reason for making your own mod list vs a collection: You do not know ALL of what is n the collection. Sure, if it is one you think you want, it obviously contains SOME mods you will be happy for, But what ELSE did that collections author include? What changes/tweaks did they make to THEIR game, which their collection forces upon you?

[smr1957]

If you haven't modded in a while, or are new to it, see the following:

Advice to New Players Regarding Modding the Game
https://steamcommunity.com/app/489830/discussions/0/3780246026239478835/

Link is in the For Those New to Modding the Game section of the following
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2882241414
from the PINNED TOPIC Helpful Links and References

Even if you've done it all before, it's generally a good idea to at least take a look through the linked resources so as to refresh your memory.

Good luck!