Questions About Downgrading To 1.5.97

[Pixel-Sama]

Hello!
I am considering to downgrade to 1.5.97, since this seems to be the version before the AE update. Will this remove the four free CC mods that got baked into the game? Also, will the downgraded version cause any issues if I happen to want to install mods?

[SeaL]

I am on 1.5.97. Every AE CC mod works fine, no issues whatsoever. Your skyrim.exe will change but not the contents of Data folder as far I as I know.

[TAGma]

Yes, the 4x free CC were added in 1.6+ update, so downgrading to 1.5.97 will delete it.
That said, you can manually copy it, downgrade your game, and then paste it into the DATA folder again.

The 4x free CC files:
ccBGSSSE001-Fish.BSA
ccBGSSSE001-Fish.ESM
ccBGSSSE025-AdvDSGS.BSA
ccBGSSSE025-AdvDSGS.ESM
ccBGSSSE037-Curios.BSA
ccBGSSSE037-Curios.ESL
ccQDRSSE001-SurvivalMode.BSA
ccQDRSSE001-SurvivalMode.ESL

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The main problem with the Skyrim versions updates are the SKSE ".DLL" mods. If you downgrade to 1.5.97, you can only install SKSE .DLL mods made for 1.5.97.
You will not be able to use SKSE .DLL mods made for 1.6 versions - eg: journeyman:
https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/92220

Just like if you stay on updated 1.6.1130, You will not be able to use 1.5.97 .DLL mods, eg: MiniMap: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/49490

[TAGma]

Before you ask, no, there is no version that allows "ALL" .DLL mods - no matter which version you choose you will lose something.

It's up to you to decide which version has the .DLL mods that interest you most.

[mikk011]

As someone still using 1.5.97 myself, I recommend not downgrading unless you personally can diagnose and manage your modlist and sort out any backwards-compatibility issues. Nobody in here or on Reddit or anyplace else is likely to take the time to research modpages to debug/find correct mod versions for an obsolete modlist, and many mod authors will hide old versions of their mods because they don't want to support anything but their most recent versions.