Skyrim SE on sale, *BUT* do i get 1.5.97 AND the current 1.6+ ver stuff with that?

[titaniumweasel]

this is the address for the specific product in steam atm im considering:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/489830/The_Elder_Scrolls_V_Skyrim_Special_Edition/

my old mod setup works with 1.5.97, so i need to be able to get that at some point, the ability to cleanly install that version. i would also buy if its just the current 1.6+ version that i can play with if i want later, but atm i want to know i can make steam give me an archived version of 1.5.97, for skse 20.0.20 etc, so my 30 hours of mods tweaking and setup isnt wasted :S.

i know new is better and all that, but with bethesda games and mods, you follow versions to keep your sanity :P

[Skumboni]

Updated game equals updated or abandoned mods, some got updated others did not. You could move oldrim to another location so it does not get over written.

[titaniumweasel]

thanks for the tip :)

yeah, im trying to have it both ways XD so i can use an old modded setup in one directory (or one at a time) then another time i might want to use the 1.6+ 'brand new' stuff, i dont mind copying directories etc, been doing it for years, heh.

as long as what im getting in this purchase allows for the current newest: "Current Anniversary Edition build 2.2.3 (game version 1.6.640)" AND ability to download the older version 1.5.97, im good. - (from the SKSE program website)

what i cant tell is that if i buy the bundle that has SSE and the anniversary edition in it, if it will lock me into forced AE content/install that i wont want all the time :P.

theres another bundle that includes the Anniversary edition, i'll see if i can link that url here. (https://store.steampowered.com/sub/626153/) shows it has both versions. SE and AE. but ...doesnt say if they can be handled separately :P [that url seems dead, god i hate this steam browser. if anyone can look at the product page i linked in OP, and compare the options with the version down the page that includes the SE&AE bundle for 16.49 i would be grateful]

[Vlad 254]

The vast majority of mods have been updated for 1.6.640

The mods most affected will be SKSE64 your mods that depend on it, they all need to be for 1.6.640.

The Unofficial patch (USSEP) is also updated for 1.6.640 and it also covers the 4 free creation club mods that are now included with the base game.

[Rez Elwin]

Originally posted by titaniumweasel:

thanks for the tip :)

yeah, im trying to have it both ways XD so i can use an old modded setup in one directory (or one at a time) then another time i might want to use the 1.6+ 'brand new' stuff, i dont mind copying directories etc, been doing it for years, heh.

as long as what im getting in this purchase allows for the current newest: "Current Anniversary Edition build 2.2.3 (game version 1.6.640)" AND ability to download the older version 1.5.97, im good. - (from the SKSE program website)

what i cant tell is that if i buy the bundle that has SSE and the anniversary edition in it, if it will lock me into forced AE content/install that i wont want all the time :P.

theres another bundle that includes the Anniversary edition, i'll see if i can link that url here. (https://store.steampowered.com/sub/626153/) shows it has both versions. SE and AE. but ...doesnt say if they can be handled separately :P [that url seems dead, god i hate this steam browser. if anyone can look at the product page i linked in OP, and compare the options with the version down the page that includes the SE&AE bundle for 16.49 i would be grateful]

AE and SE are not separate games, AE is a DLC for SE.

The only thing forced on you is Survival Mode (which in-game is optional), Fishing (you will get the quests but can also be ignored) Saints & Seducers (You might see a few items but unless you start the quest is pretty benign), and Rare Curios (Adds miscellaneous ingredients and Items as loot, mostly from the caravans.

Unless you actually install the dlc that is all 1.6 will change. Those 4 CC items are now part of the base game.

[Three-Headed-Monkey]

you can downgrade the .exe to 1.5.97 through a 3rd party tool

[:bestgamerchina#1最好的中國]

You can have both. Simply keep 1.5.97 exe somewhere safe and copy and paste it after "upgrading" to newest version into Your main Skyrim Special Edition folder, where it will override 1.6.40+ exe.
Also a warning. DO NOT play on 1.6.40+, if You like COMBAT OVERHAUL mods like SCAR or Distance based combat wich adds combos and danger to NPCs. Those mods and their requirements are mostly not updated to AE.
Most more complex LL mods do not support anything above 1.5.97 as well, simply becouse those are abandoned for years.

[smr1957]

Originally posted by Decoy:

You can have both. Simply keep 1.5.97 exe somewhere safe and copy and paste it after "upgrading" to newest version into Your main Skyrim Special Edition folder, where it will override 1.6.40+ exe.
Also a warning. DO NOT play on 1.6.40+, if You like COMBAT OVERHAUL mods like SCAR or Distance based combat wich adds combos and danger to NPCs. Those mods and their requirements are mostly not updated to AE.
Most more complex LL mods do not support anything above 1.5.97 as well, simply becouse those are abandoned for years.

"As to using the old EXE and the new content ... it's basically a broken game courting instability"
https://www.afkmods.com/index.php?/topic/5954-skyrim-anniversary-edition-and-you/&do=findComment&comment=182918

As to using Best of Both Worlds which states that you can use current CC content with the old .exe, there is this
"anyone running the game with the current CC content and who has downgraded, is running the game in a broken state because the new content requires the updated executable."
https://www.afkmods.com/index.php?/topic/5954-skyrim-anniversary-edition-and-you/&do=findComment&comment=182911

Originally posted by Three-Headed-Monkey:

you can downgrade the .exe to 1.5.97 through a 3rd party tool

Downgrading is NOT recommended for a reason (whether you have the new content or not) - as it WILL cause issues - up to and including CTDs. As to those extremely few mods that do not work on the current game version, the same rule applies to them as to any potentially problematic mods - do not use the mods.

The Golden Rule of Modding
"No matter how good a mod may look or sound, no matter how much you may really want a mod, if the mod does not work as it should, causes issues in your game, or even seems to have the potential to cause issues, dump the mod. A game that does not work is no game at all."

Quote is from the following section of the PINNED TOPIC Helpful Links and References:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2880736526

[:bestgamerchina#1最好的中國]

Originally posted by smr1957:

Originally posted by Decoy:

You can have both. Simply keep 1.5.97 exe somewhere safe and copy and paste it after "upgrading" to newest version into Your main Skyrim Special Edition folder, where it will override 1.6.40+ exe.
Also a warning. DO NOT play on 1.6.40+, if You like COMBAT OVERHAUL mods like SCAR or Distance based combat wich adds combos and danger to NPCs. Those mods and their requirements are mostly not updated to AE.
Most more complex LL mods do not support anything above 1.5.97 as well, simply becouse those are abandoned for years.

"As to using the old EXE and the new content ... it's basically a broken game courting instability"
https://www.afkmods.com/index.php?/topic/5954-skyrim-anniversary-edition-and-you/&do=findComment&comment=182918

As to using Best of Both Worlds which states that you can use current CC content with the old .exe, there is this
"anyone running the game with the current CC content and who has downgraded, is running the game in a broken state because the new content requires the updated executable."
https://www.afkmods.com/index.php?/topic/5954-skyrim-anniversary-edition-and-you/&do=findComment&comment=182911

Instability as in, never crashes with 700+ mods and has no new files except mesh, sound and textures from CC content?
I use 1.5.97 exe since forever. With AE update for SE, I have Curios, S&S, fishing, camping, most remodeled armors, horse armors etc. CCs added after AE release. Never had a SINGULAR problem with core game. All You need to have is newest Skyrim.ccc file in folder with Skyrim.exe and updated .bsa files in Data folder.

I am sorry if I come out agressive here, but I am tired of people pretending modding is 10x harder and complicated than it is, once You know the basics.
Especially becouse of such people easy search for a fix on google, becomes a slog as there are 20 posts about long and bullshitty way to fix something, when You need a singular .dll to fix Your issue in most cases.

[tulle040657]

You already own SE no need to buy it again

[Three-Headed-Monkey]

Originally posted by smr1957:

Originally posted by Three-Headed-Monkey:

you can downgrade the .exe to 1.5.97 through a 3rd party tool

Downgrading is NOT recommended for a reason (whether you have the new content or not) - as it WILL cause issues - up to and including CTDs. As to those extremely few mods that do not work on the current game version, the same rule applies to them as to any potentially problematic mods - do not use the mods.

my downgraded .exe is doing fine with 2051 plugins :P

[Snogard]

Originally posted by Three-Headed-Monkey:

Originally posted by smr1957:

Downgrading is NOT recommended for a reason (whether you have the new content or not) - as it WILL cause issues - up to and including CTDs. As to those extremely few mods that do not work on the current game version, the same rule applies to them as to any potentially problematic mods - do not use the mods.

my downgraded .exe is doing fine with 2051 plugins :P

i am curious about your modlist XD

[Snogard]

Originally posted by smr1957:

"As to using the old EXE and the new content ... it's basically a broken game courting instability"
https://www.afkmods.com/index.php?/topic/5954-skyrim-anniversary-edition-and-you/&do=findComment&comment=182918

As to using Best of Both Worlds which states that you can use current CC content with the old .exe, there is this
"anyone running the game with the current CC content and who has downgraded, is running the game in a broken state because the new content requires the updated executable."
https://www.afkmods.com/index.php?/topic/5954-skyrim-anniversary-edition-and-you/&do=findComment&comment=182911

If you are skilled enought you could get the full old version of the game back by using something like this -> https://github.com/mmvanheusden/SteamDepotDownloaderGUI

[Bad Distraction Carnifex]

Skyrim SE will automatically include the AE free update, which gives you fishing, survival mode and...I think that's it for new content?

Terminology is kinda whack, basically 1.5.97=SE and everything after is considered AE - but there's the AE update and then there's the AE mod pack you can buy separately. This matters a lot for modding.

On the store page though it's called SE and AE only refers to the AE mod pack.

With that out of the way if you're looking to use SE and not AE as defined by the terms above...

Just use the unofficial downgrader on Nexus Mods.

Some people say that using "best of both words" can cause issues. I've never ran into them personally but it's totally possible that it'll cause issues due to records not being where the game expects them to be due to how Bethesda packaged the new content.

Instead use the normal downgrader option if this is a concern for you.

The AE update did a few things.

1. It updated the game compiler, doesn't really do much for modern computers so this is a whatever burger.

2. Adds a few CC mods (Bethesda paid modding) for free.

3. The AE package that IS NOT FREE includes a ton of CC mods (Bethesda paid modding)

4. Both 2 and 3 can work with the "best of both worlds" downgrader, though it may cause issues.

Why use 1.5.97 instead of the newest version?

Mostly because you want to use No Grass in Objects for the grass caching or because you plan on using a mod like Poise that officially only supports 1.5.97 (mod author left the modding scene, pretty sure there's an AE version too but it's an add-on mod made by someone else).

Hope this covered the topic well for you, tried to be pretty comprehensive to solve questions you may have before you thought to ask them lol.

[Vlad 254]

Like so many have been saying - There is no Base game called AE. Terminology is only "whack" if you let it be. Yes some mods are marked as AE but if they don't specify which game version their mod is for you're left guessing. Fortunately most do.

Pay attention to game version and you can't go wrong. Don't get caught up in incorrect terminology.

As for modding the game the latest game version is 1.6.640 and the vast majority of mods have indeed been updated for it. But a ton of mods never needed updating and work fine on all versions of Skyrim Special Edition which includes versions 1.5.97, 1.6.353, and 1.6.640

No need to confuse you, just pay attention to versions regardless of what decision you make going forward and you'll save yourself headaches.

Anytime you want to verify which game you're modding just look at the executable in your game directory.
Look at SkyrimSE.exe / right click / Properties / Details tab
go down to "Product version"

The executable is always SkyrimSE.exe - there is no SkyrimAE.exe regardless of which version you are running. The game will also be listed as Skyrim Special Edition in your Steam library regardless of which version you are running. Version number is the key.

Any mod author worth his weight will tell you the same thing regarding versions. Using AE is too general of a term, even people who call it "AE" need to know which version. Think game version.

[titaniumweasel]

Very, Very helpful guys, thanks much! i appreciate the help boiling down the google search results!! that alone saved me hours. felt out of control in all the version numbers, modding terms and compatibility issues, now i don't :D. consider stickying this, only 15 replies and people new to the game are up to speed! great stuff. i pulled the trigger on the SE version, and now that i know i dont 'need' the AE dlc pack to make up to date mods work, im gonna hold there for now :).
for those that referenced their mod count, i would LOVE to look at your load orders, that, from what i remember will be my biggest learning curve going forward, and would save new guys like me even more time, even if its just a ballpark comparison ^_^.

thanks all! godspeed!!!