load order for mod utilities

[Mreisse]

Several of my mods require modder's resources like Papyrus, Address Library, ConsoleUtil and so on. I have been wondering what is the best practice for load order of these "mods."

So far, LOOT doesn't touch them so I bunch them up near the bottom (after Nether's Follower Framework). Is there a recommended position for these things? Should load them early (like after SkyUI) or does it not matter?

[Sep]

If you are referring to load order, just let LOOT deal with it.

If you are referring to mod priority, I usually have them at highest priority.

[Mreisse]

Originally posted by Sep:

If you are referring to mod priority, I usually have them at highest priority.

Ah yes, I did mean mod priority! By highest priority, do you mean you load them at the top, right after the main game files (Anniversary Update DLCs) and before USSEP? Does that include something like powerofthree's tweaks or Fuz Ro D-oh type mods?

[Sep]

Originally posted by Mreisse:

Ah yes, I did mean mod priority! By highest priority, do you mean you load them at the top, right after the main game files (Anniversary Update DLCs) and before USSEP? Does that include something like powerofthree's tweaks or Fuz Ro D-oh type mods?

Highest priority = Bottom of the list.

Since they need to load last.

[Grumpy Old Dude]

The earlier a mod loads, the more oppty exists for other mods to overwrite all/parts of it. The last mod loaded, will have absolutely nothing overwritten, so that is the "highest priority" mod. It will be 100% in tact as written by the mod author.

[Altbert]

I'm a little confused of what I've read sofar! PapyrusUtil (if that's what OP ment), Address Library and ConsoleUtil and some others are DLL plugins or binaries. LOOT is in no way involved with these "utilities" and can't set load order for these "utilities". As I'm using Wrye Bash as a mod manager, I have no idea if MO2 or Vortex are able to set their priority, but if they are, it's for OP to test the best priority setting. At this moment I'm using 25 of these type of "utilities" (like the ones mentioned), but never felt the need to chance priority (if I could).

[Sep]

Originally posted by Altbert:

I'm a little confused of what I've read sofar! PapyrusUtil (if that's what OP ment), Address Library and ConsoleUtil and some others are DLL plugins or binaries. LOOT is in no way involved with these "utilities" and can't set load order for these "utilities". As I'm using Wrye Bash as a mod manager, I have no idea if MO2 or Vortex are able to set their priority, but if they are, it's for OP to test the best priority setting. At this moment I'm using 25 of these type of "utilities" (like the ones mentioned), but never felt the need to chance priority (if I could).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNxzayPLMJ0&t=202s

Load order & mod priority are different. This video give a good summary about the differences.

[Altbert]

Originally posted by Sep:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNxzayPLMJ0&t=202s
Load order & mod priority are different. This video give a good summary about the differences.

Clear, but that's about masters (ESM), plugins (ESP) and light plugins (ESL), including those marked as light plugins. Nothing about DLL plugins without an ESM, ESP or ESL plugin, the type of plugins OP mentioned. As far as I know there is no need to set load order or priority for DLL plugins. Correct me if I'm wrong!

[bloodpaladin88 [CF]]

Mod priority in MO2 only matters for overriding files, mod load order is handled by LOOT and doesn't touch dll plugins. You can put Papyrus, Address Library, and everything like that wherever you want cuz it won't make a difference.

[Mreisse]

What I ended up doing:
a. checked filetree for all the "utilities" in my MO2 list that LOOT has been ignoring (because they have no plugins, I assume)
b. if they were for SKSE, SkyUI or interface, moved them to the bottom of the list
c. if they were loose meshes/textures/animations/scripts, moved them above (b), but below the last LOOTed mod (Atlas Mod Markers, as it happens)

Everything seems fine,nothing's crashed and what I can see of my changes are still there. Hmm, maybe overnight at the Bannered Mare to make sure those Bards are still playing instrumentals only. Thanks, everyone!

[SkunkPlaysGames]

Man Load Order is like that one guy in an office who hardly does anything all day but has managed to convince everyone there that he's the lynch pin of the entire operation.

Use xEdit to see where your mods conflict and fix it there. Much easier with MO2 than Vortex. You want to fix your mod incompatibilities not just cover them up by pasting mods over top one another. That's how you get a stable experience that also synergizes disparate mods.

[Mreisse]

Originally posted by SkunkPlaysGames:

Use xEdit to see where your mods conflict and fix it there. Much easier with MO2 than Vortex. You want to fix your mod incompatibilities not just cover them up by pasting mods over top one another. That's how you get a stable experience that also synergizes disparate mods.

Fair, but I have neither the bandwidth nor inclination to work on xEdit. I tried and so much could go wrong so easily with the slip of a mouse click, I'd rather paste mods on top of mods with MO2. Good enough is good enough for this fun hobby for me.

[Eternie]

In order to keep it simple and have as many mods represented with the highest priority possible, is why most people modding Skyrim use a Bash Patch. ( Wyre Bash )
Which loads last.
It's also a utility that you use to combine all leveled lists from your mods so that ideally they all appear in your game.
https://youtu.be/dLqU6rNtOBE?si=kSgsDKQrfhO0kwf0

Actually I think this video explains it better
https://youtu.be/laaw7gq7vE8?si=5iK7ymzo-bjRahtU

Though once he shows how to run it for the Bashed patch I would normally remove all options except for Levelled lists which I think is it's main purpose.

[CEPHY]

I don't think it really matters.

As long as they load before the mods that use them, they're fine anywhere.

I have several hundred mods and my utilities are scattered all over the place - no problems whatsoever.