Trying to figure out best mod/mod packs for better looking skyrim.

[Fitcher]

So i never used mods that make skyrim look better due to not having a pc good enough for it.

But now that pc specs are not an issue i started to look into mods and mod packs that would make skyrim look better.

But im kinda confused to as what mod or mod packs to use, trying to do a search and there is so many options so chose and some seem so confusing not because i dont know how to install them but because there is so much going on with the packs.

So im looking for any tips on this this matter, im not rly looking for anything specific just something that updated and makes the game look better.

[mikk011]

Most of the regular contributors to this forum do not use modpacks, preferring the specificity and control of creating their own modlist. Most of us would recommend finding a guide (there are some suggested in the pinned topics and some available on nexusmods) because the good ones will actually teach you how to use the tools and how generally to mod the game correctly. The mods in a good guide are usually worthwhile and either work together properly or can be patched properly. Read user reviews; there are quite famous guides online whose authors are notoriously bad at customer service.

As far as modpacks go, go to Nexus Collections or Wabbajack, read the descriptions, watch the videos, and see if anything appeals to you. Read the descriptions CAREFULLY; many modpacks make very dramatic changes to gameplay. Use only only modpacks that have high posted success rates and read user reviews to make sure the authors properly support the modpack. All of those suggestions apply to any recommendations made by people on this forum.

One last word on modpacks. Unless you personally are good at modding these packs kind of need to be used "as is". Attempts at changing them will almost always conflict with custom files needed for that modpack to run correctly.

[UncivilS3rvant]

I'm using Nolvus. It's a huge installation as over 2000 mods, but loving the look and feel of it...

[Doom Sayer]

Yeah I was gonna do long post but its kinda pointless. Basically TLDR:
Rudy enb presets are peak.
QW's Grass Patch 2 - Origins of Forest - Cathedral - Folkvangr is peak
Tree mod = pick your poison
Use dyndolod
Body/npc edits pick your poison I like vanilla style setup i have buts its a lot and dont want to do links unless someone wants it.

Honestly just too many mods to say much without it being too much. I am currently at 510 mods on my game and always adding more. Also on 2000+ mod counts... its somewhat nebulous. Its matter of why there are 2000 mods. Like patches, stuff replacing and overwriting pointlessly.... stuff replaced or made 4k-8k when there is no point. I do believe there is such a thing as feature creep in basically any task. I want to install mods that have impact or fill a very specific hole. At 510 mods my game is feeling basically way I want 100%. I doubt i will reach 1000+ but I know im not done adding more yet.

https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/60764
https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/129638
Both are replacers of specific items and are good examples of filling a hole left by devs and large mods. Originals looked bad when I got them first time saved, exited, downloaded mods and solved the problem.


Another thing no PC is good enough to not struggle running a fully modded skyrim there is always a way to make it lag while not overtly doing something wrong. Its also possible to make it look good on cheapish specs with 55-60fps. Its all arbitrary. Im running on 3070ti and 7800x3d but am choosing frame drops because i decided its worth it for what im getting.

[mikk011]

Originally posted by UncivilS3rvant:

I'm using Nolvus. It's a huge installation as over 2000 mods, but loving the look and feel of it...

I entirely expected that someone would make this recommendation. Nolvus is a fantastic-looking modpack with an enthusiastic userbase, but I would like to use it as an example of doing your consumer research carefully.

Some things a potential Nolvus user should consider are:
-It includes the major mod "Legacy of the Dragonborn", which impacts practically every item and location in the game, with a large footprint on gameplay. It is practically a different game.
-Nolvus requires the full "Anniversary Upgrade". You can't use the pack without the Upgrade DLC.
-Nolvus requires a powerful system to run correctly, both because of graphics enhancers and various physics upgrades.
-Nolvus makes changes to the base game camera and movesets that you will need to familiarize yourself with.
-This is a large pack. Be sure you have enough disk space.

None of the above is meant to recommend against Nolvus. What it is meant to show is that YOU need to know what you are downloading, installing, and playing. If you have problems, the amount of help here, on Reddit, or anyplace other than through the author's portal will be very limited.

edit: and continuing the point, every modpack available will have things you need to be aware of.

[Fitcher]

Hmm ye it all feels like a big processes and i kinda have no idea where to start.
I mean i know how to mod the game and had my share issues with mods before sorting them out on my own but when it comes to visual overhaul it just feel like a huge mountain to climb and not finding the starting point.

I did check some out and i did look at Nolvus, at first hand it looked nice, easy to install and what i want but after looking trough the mod list there was way too much things i dont like or want in my game.

Some other i did look into but so many have all thees pre-installation steps to go trough and i just kinda feel like meh. also some of them seem to be pretty old so i have no idea if they work and i would spend all the time for nothing.

[UncivilS3rvant]

Originally posted by Fitcher:

I did check some out and i did look at Nolvus, at first hand it looked nice, easy to install and what i want but after looking trough the mod list there was way too much things i dont like or want in my game.

That's fair. I just wanted to go back to Skyrim after a few years and only 60 hours but make it look better with the least effort. I'd seen some videos on modpacks pop up in my youtube algorithm and just plumped for this one.

The only things I've adjusted are the interior and night brightness settings as it was way too dark for my tastes and far too many shadows.

The rest I can live with as I was able to add in quest mods such as Forgotten City and Falskar, which was one of my primary motivations for coming back to this after 500+ hours on Starfield despite never finishing the main quest in Skyrim.

I'm not generally interested in mods, so if I go down that route then I want life to be as easy as possible. I appreciate that there are actually many people who could provide advice on their far greater expertise on modding, this is just my very inexperienced view...

[Païtiti]

Originally posted by Fitcher:

Hmm ye it all feels like a big processes and i kinda have no idea where to start.

Because it is. Without doing your research your attempts will fail. There's unfortunately no "quick fix" for modding nowadays.

[Doom Sayer]

If you want to mod yourself just use a guide. Follow fixes etc then after that choose what you like and replace what you find questionable skip stuff you dont care about. Is how i learned in fallout 3, new vegas, skyrim. I dont need it anymore I know most things intuitively.

[Melkolf]

If you don't like the way Skyrim looks, just play it with your eyes closed.

No problems with computer specs, over-choice and/or needing to know what nasties are hidden in mod collections etc that way.

[Doom Sayer]

Originally posted by Melkolf:

If you don't like the way Skyrim looks, just play it with your eyes closed.

No problems with computer specs, over-choice and/or needing to know what nasties are hidden in mod collections etc that way.

I dont have to because i have free will and am not mentally impotent.

[pizza7]

try youtube, there are several channels with mods, you can see how it looks and order of install.