Pauls massive Skyrim mod thread! :D
What you need:
Registered user at www.skyrimnexus.com
Nexus mod manager (for one click install of nexus mods): http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/modmanager
BOSS (organises startup list for mods): http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/6
ENB (makes skyrim look purdy): http://enbdev.com/mod_tesskyrim_v0113.htm - Click the down arrow beside ENBSeries v0.113 for TES Skyrim
Extract the d3d9.dll from the wrapper folder and place in your main skyrim directory
Next get this: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/6578
Unrar to any directory then copy enbbloom.fx, enbeffectprepass.fx, enbpalette.bmp and enbseries.ini to your main skyrim directory
Then go into the optional- no letterbox folder and copy the enbeffect.fx to your main skyrime directory.
Huzzah you have installed enb and now skyrim is one step towards lookin purdy! :D
My mods -
Skyrim Nexus Mods
Use Nexus mod manager to download and install these: (if it asks do you want to overwrite anything, then say yes). If it asks if you want to update then say "No" to install manually.
Aela Facelift - http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/9425
ApachiiSkyHair - http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/10168
Better Dynamic Snow - http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/10383
Better thieves guild - http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/13718
The kelly brook mod ;) - http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/2666 <-- nudey version *cough*
Cloaks of Skyrim - http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/12092 SEE NOTE AT BOTTOM OF THIS POST
Get rid of ugly NPC's part 1: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/12670
Get rid of ugly NPC's part 2: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/12585
Get rid of ugly NPC's part 3: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/12433
Get rid of ugly NPC's part 4: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/12163
Better looking eyes: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/498
Improved combat sounds: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/5289
Inns and Guilds Have More Visitors (download ALL MAIN FILES from the download section - just click on download with manager button): http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/8340
Jaysus Swords (more weapons is always good): http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/1002
Lockpick mod cheat (yeah i hate lockpicking :P): http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/219
Time on Loading screen (handy so I know when to go to bed): http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/98
Skimpy female armor *cough*: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/3654
More armor!: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/6684
Lush grass: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/3288
Female Daedric Armor Replacer: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/17026
Masters of Death - Rise of the Brotherhood (Replaces Dark Brotherhood amror with a more Assassin style of Armor): http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/9752
Mjoll Facelift: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/8331
Freeroam housecarls (so they dont just sit around in one place all day): http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/11551
Plynxs No Motion Sickness (reduces camera bob/wobble): http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/1450
Populated cities (more npc's wombling around cities): http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/9201
Secondary Locations Map Markers: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/14976
SkyJubs Invisible Helmets: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/18250
Skyrim HD - 2K Textures: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/607 - Download: Skyrim HD v1_5 FULL - Dungeons, Skyrim HD v1_5 FULL - Landscape, Skyrim HD v1_5 FULL - Misc and Skyrim HD v1_5 FULL - Towns
NO MORE SPIDERS (thank [censored]): http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/7192
Uncle Sheogorath Really Helpful Hints and tips on your loading screen: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/12234
Uread books glow: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/10012
WATER - Water And Terrain Enhancement Redux: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/13268
World Map - Skyrim Hold Borders: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/5739
No graphical effects from Ebony Mail armor (enb makes the effect of this armor look weird): http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/2321
Better female faces - http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/3563
Download the nexus mods in the order shown above using the nexus mod manager, and go to the mods tab. Then click on each mod and install them by pressing the jigsaw puzzle piece with the green arrow pointing right.
Steam Workshop mods -
to download these just click the subscribe button and they will download from the skyrim launcher when you next start skyrim from steam:
Lush trees: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=16397
Laterns of Skyrim all in one: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=77247783
True Nordic Hero Weapons: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=76969763
Dragon age series weapons pack: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=78112039
Detailed town/city outskirts: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=14323
Female Dark Dragonscale Assassin Armor: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=76325846
Crimson Dragon Armor: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=12906
Better Breezehome Lights - Anti Artifacts: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=76019126
Crimson Tide - Blood (more gore :D): http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=15917
Dragon Bone Weapons Complete: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=21669
Sounds of Skyrim - The Dungeons: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=9106
Dragonhide Robes: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=75402301
Sounds of Skyrim - The Wilds: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=13231
Water FX - Get Wet: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=16371
Reduced Distance NPC Greetings: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=7492
HQ Skyrimmap: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=7540
HD Plants + Herbs: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=15165
Better Riften: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=11130
Beautiful Whiterun: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=14980
Followers Keep Up: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=10172
5kg Dragon Scales and Bones weight mod: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=7490
Better Quest Objectives: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=14782
Complete Skyforge (in whiterun): http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=7414
Greatsword of Destiny: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=59258860
(for arachnophobia) Spider killing spell!: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=12332
Shut Up Heimskr!: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=73161405
Light Daedric Female Armor: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=12051
Frostbound Dragonscale Armour: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1131647
Smithing Extended: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=8846
Clothing and Smithing Pack: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=9874
Daedric Corset: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=9690
EDWS - Enhanced Dynamic Weather System: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=9485 (this can sometimes make things too cloudy and mess up the lighting ingame, so ignore this one if you wish)
Better Horses: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=9507
Horse Armors: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=17598
Nearly done!
After clicking subscribe on that lot, fire up skyrim and let the launcher download the workshop mods. When its finished EXIT from the launcher and start up the BOSS program that we installed hours ago
BOSS will order the mods into the correct start order so that the game launches properly and theres no conflicts (I hope)
Launch skyrim again after BOSS has done its thing and then click on DATA FILES
Find cloaks.esp on the list, make sure thats ticked and make sure that Cloaks - No Imperial.esp and Cloaks - Player Only.esp are unticked. Then tick anything else that is not ticked.
hit okay, then LAUNCH GAME.
Most of the mods are for female player characters, so probably best to start one a female character or drag Lydia everywhere ;)
Once in game press ` (key above TAB) and type in
fov 85
then hit enter and press ` again to exit the console. This will set the fov to 85 and make it look better :D
So here is a massively cut down Skyrim Mod install - this one will give you purdy graphics, but not much else
If you haven't already downloaded the Skyrim HD DLC pack from bethesda - then do so! It's under DLC section in steam.
Next get these mods and download and install it using Nexus Mod manager:
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/8655 <-- Static Mesh improvement mod, this will improve the default textures and meshes, generally making things look nicer.
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/10383 <-- Better dynamic snow
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/6675 <-- Vibrant Auroras
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/565 <-- Enhanced Galaxy - makes the night sky look purdy
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/8236 <-- HD Textures DLC fix - fixes some stuff with Bethesdas HD DLC pack
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/14719 <-- Fixes some more of the bugs with the HD DLC pack
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/19660 <-- Get Snowy, makes your character and other NPC's obtain a frosted look when it starts snowing
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/436 <-- High Res Road Signs, YOU CAN READ ROAD SIGNS NOW!
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/3288 <-- Lush Grass
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/3385 <-- Lush Trees
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/13268 <-- Purdy lookin water
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/8243 <-- Shrine of Azura LOD Fix - At last I can see that [censored]in huge statue from outside winterhold
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/17802 <-- Project Reality - Climates of Tamriel - Adds a lot of Weather effects, Do not use this with the Sounds of Skyrim mod as it will break it (should be fixed soon though).
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/7192 <-- NO MORE SPIDERS
Not Essential
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/18916 <-- Lanterns of Skyrim - All in one - Sticks lanterns around Towns, villages and main roads. Just to help you find where they are at night.
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/120 <-- Beautiful Skyrim - HD Clutter and Furniture, better furniture textures.
Towns and Villages enhanced collection on Steam Workshop.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=75827207&searchtext=towns+and+villages
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=78084859&searchtext=towns+and+villages
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=68336872&searchtext=towns+and+villages
(Do not need Nexus mod manager to install steam workshop mods)
Performance and Quality ENB: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/14646 <-- not as huge amount of a performance hit and should work with the majority of PC's. Plus unlike most other ENB mods, you will be able to see stuff at night!
Unzip/unrar the above mod and place it in your main Skyrim Directory. Also unzip and place optional remove black bars file in the main skyrim directory if you dont want the letterbox effect.
To make that ENB work grab this file: http://www.enbdev.com/mod_tesskyrim_v0102.htm - extract the d3d9.dll and place it in the main skyrim directory along with the ENB files.
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/15917 <-- Get rid of ugly npc's (different mod than the one linked above, this is an all-in-one mod too)
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/10168 <-- Required hair mod for the mod above
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/6709 <-- Female body mod - Screenshots are NSFW!
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/3563 <-- Female Face mod
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/498 <-- High Quality Eyes
Run BOSS as detailed in the post above to sort out the mods into the correct load order and then play game :)
Ini file tweaks:
http://www.gamefront.com/how-to-improve-skyrim-with-ini-file-tweaks/
http://www.geforce.co.uk/optimise/guides/five-fast-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-tweaks-guaranteed-to-make-your-game-look-even-better/ <-- optimise skyrim for nvidia gpu's
http://www.geforce.com/Optimize/Guides/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-tweak-guide?sf2686171=1/#1 <-- More detailed guide
AMD users can use the same guide, as all the main stuff is named the same in the ATi/AMD control panel.
Want to have more than just your equipped weapon showing on your character?
To do this go into the skyrim.ini file (found in My Docs/My Games/Skyrim)
and add
bDisableGearedUp=0
to the General section at the top of the ini file - below the other stuff in that section obviously! And now when you favorite a weapon (such as a bow), it will appear on your character! :D