What alternate start mod is better?

[Severny Izgoy]

"Alternate Start - Live Another Life" from Arthmoor or "Random Alternate Start" from Syclonix?

[GrimCat]

Live another life is the better one in my opinion.

[velvetsanity]

I use Live Another Life. I'm not sure I ever tried the random one, but I did compare LAL to Skyrim Unbound and found I prefer LAL.

Additionally, in my experience, any mod I've tried that's had Arthmoor's name attached is high quality and exceptionally stable (unless some other mod is causing a conflict, but that's not his fault).

[Trehek]

Alternate Start is excellent. Haven't tried RAS, though.

[BushiNeko]

Skyrim Unbound since the last update is my go to now.
LAL has a few quirks, but I did enjoy it mind you..
But Unbound now has given me zero issues in any play start or into levels.

[Docsprock]

Ive used both. Random Alternate Start is what I am currently using on this install.

LAL give you a choice of a backstory and starting location.

RAS gives you a choice of character class, then randomly plops you down somewhere. Sometimes in a cave, or the middle of a bandit camp.

I like the randomness.

[Max_paint]

I´ll go with RAS.

Why?

besides being able to choose your skills (if you want to), you can spawn anywere on the world, my first spawn as a mage was in cove with a bear, guess were did i spawned later?

[trouter]

Originally posted by Max_paint:

I´ll go with RAS.

Why?

besides being able to choose your skills (if you want to), you can spawn anywere on the world, my first spawn as a mage was in cove with a bear, guess were did i spawned later?

In a bear with a cove?

I think I'll use RAS again for my next character just because I want to drop into the middle of nowhere with no obligations. LAL is great if you want to role play or whatever, as it can fill in a backstory for you (e.g. making you start in the Brotherhood or Companions).

[Ilja]

Originally posted by 武士猫 ( Bushi Neko ):

Skyrim Unbound since the last update is my go to now.
LAL has a few quirks, but I did enjoy it mind you..
But Unbound now has given me zero issues in any play start or into levels.

Unbound start seems to sometimes mes up SL related mods, because character always starts as male and SL now forces it's initialization. Switching to female in character creation, during forced SL initialization, can cause interesting issues with some mods.

Otherwise Skyrim Unbound is a great mod. I did not find any relevant problems from the mod itself, when I last tested it.

[Carl!!!!]

Having played with all 3, I've enjoyed them all in different ways.

RAS: Easy to pick up main quest, randomness without an overpowered start. Starting with basic gear for your desired class is nice.

LAL: Nice backstory and roleplay value, but some starts can get you pretty ahead of the game for level 1 (such as the companions start with full steel armor, plenty of gold and gems). Plus if you find the other start locations, stashes full of 600-750 gold and lots of gems are available for the taking.

Unbound: Can be tweaked to your liking with wealth, power, etc. I enjoy that you can be alligned with certain factions, making others constantly hostile, to add with roleplay. More starting class choices than RAS, plus you can hand pick your starting location, leave it a little broader or completely random. Also allows skipping of the prologue (past fighting the dragon at the tower). Has a few nifty features, one of my favorite is the auto unlocking of shouts.

[BushiNeko]

Originally posted by Ilja:

Originally posted by 武士猫 ( Bushi Neko ):

Skyrim Unbound since the last update is my go to now.
LAL has a few quirks, but I did enjoy it mind you..
But Unbound now has given me zero issues in any play start or into levels.

Unbound start seems to sometimes mes up SL related mods, because character always starts as male and SL now forces it's initialization. Switching to female in character creation, during forced SL initialization, can cause interesting issues with some mods.

Otherwise Skyrim Unbound is a great mod. I did not find any relevant problems from the mod itself, when I last tested it.

Oh.. the easy fix for that. Or workaround I should say. :-p
Wait til your SL mods are in.. EC+ is irrelevant, it has had no bearing on this at all. Prior to setting any of your mods for a start save whatever.. do a safety save.
Now, I use RACEMENU so if your ECE I have no idea if this works for you with no issue.
Open your showracemenu and simply do a sex swap..leaving a nord default. Go back. Save / load.
Now your SL update initializes and all your mods kick into you being Female and reading as such. Including SL fixing itself.
Now.. I ve had no issues with setting mods, then going thru' normal Unbound setup / startgame after that. I cant swear no issues past 35lvl or so.. 'cause I normally get bored and start new ones about there..
Even SoS kicks over.
Now.. if you TG UNP addon.. well.. that was has been a pain for me always.. I always have to unselect every race at start no matter what or I encounter ... addons...

[Ilja]

Originally posted by 武士猫 ( Bushi Neko ):

Oh.. the easy fix for that. Or workaround I should say. :-p
Wait til your SL mods are in.. EC+ is irrelevant, it has had no bearing on this at all. Prior to setting any of your mods for a start save whatever.. do a safety save.
Now, I use RACEMENU so if your ECE I have no idea if this works for you with no issue.
Open your showracemenu and simply do a sex swap..leaving a nord default. Go back. Save / load.
Now your SL update initializes and all your mods kick into you being Female and reading as such. Including SL fixing itself.
Now.. I ve had no issues with setting mods, then going thru' normal Unbound setup / startgame after that. I cant swear no issues past 35lvl or so.. 'cause I normally get bored and start new ones about there..
Even SoS kicks over.
Now.. if you TG UNP addon.. well.. that was has been a pain for me always.. I always have to unselect every race at start no matter what or I encounter ... addons...

I know that some people are actually still using ECE. I can't figure out why. RaceMenu does what ECE does and provides proper script sources for compatibility modding. In short, RaceMenu all the way for me.

You know what? It did not occur to me that I could have opened RaceMenu prior of character creation and SL initialization. Good thinking.

I am using Disparity anyway. I can do most things I wanted to do with Unbound by ASLAL+Disparity combination. I just ran DynDOLOD for ASLAL, so I am not going to go back for Unbound.

I might, if I end up restarting the game though.

Thanks for the tip. I should slap myself for not thinking that myself. :D

[BushiNeko]

Originally posted by Ilja:

Thanks for the tip. I should slap myself for not thinking that myself. :D

Nah.. have you seen the times a day I slap myself here????

I like Disparity. Or look of it. Have not really fired it up yet, but I ve been paying attention. My next big core mod cleanout will include adding it for sure.

[velvetsanity]

Disparity looks pretty good. Once you finish RaceMenu and mods initialize, go into its MCM, click on you race to confirm and lock it in. Then set up the options, and choose your class and lock it in. Then your birthsign. Final step is picking your starting armor, IIRC. (In LAL it'll stay with you even if you do it before activating the statue and bed, IIRC)