Tech and Talk → Gaming → PC Gaming > Let's talk about [ Skyrim ] - Mods, stories, tips, etc

Let's talk about [ Skyrim ] - Mods, stories, tips, etc

I know that there are a number of different Skyrim threads on these forums. But many of them seem to bounce all around in regards to their topics and such. So I decided to start a new Skyrim thread that would be helpful for me and my current playthrough with the game. Maybe I'm being selfish to start a completely new thread for this game. But I really just want a fresh, clean slate, blank canvas Skyrim thread for me and for whomever is also venturing through Skyrim.

So, about 3 days ago I made the decision to jump back into playing Skyrim. I couldn't remember just how long it had been since I last played. Eventually, the only way I was able to discover exactly how long since I last dabbled in Skyrim was by the dates recorded over my save games. From these save game entries, the most recent date was from February of 2012. Basically, the last time I spent time in Skyrim was almost 2 years ago(exactly 2 years is next February, 2014).

Needless to say, my time away from Skyrim was immediately felt right from the get-go. I, rather intelligently /end sarcasm, saved my game knee deep into a dungeon where pushing ahead meant confronting 2 powerful mages and atleast 3 melee enemies. Turning back meant I would need to navigate the already cluster-f*cked tunnels that twisted and turned all over the place. 2 years had passed since I last laid eyes on my location within this dungeon that I wasn't sure it was worth spending the time to back track out. I had no choice but to "Dark Souls" it and strategize the battle up ahead. Through the use of potions and spells I'd gathered throughout the game and staying extra sharp with the hand shield I had equip to block the melee strikes... after failing countless times[aka 'Dark Soulin' it!] and then failing some more, I did eventually succeed in dispatching those enemies. Come to find out, after doing just that, I was then greeted with 2 friendly NPC's that were pretty freakin' late to the party. I'm not sure why they showed up but it's likely they were part of the quest.

Since I started a few days ago, I can definitely say that I'm sucked right back into the world of Skyrim. I've been playing it non-stop since the day I picked it back up and since then I've literally been thinking about nothing else BUT Skyrim! Even my dreams are littered with Skyrim imagery. Heck, my day-dreams are chalk full of strategies, tactics, decisions I'm considering, goals I'm driven towards, etc. and I know I know, I'm already preparing myself for the comments that will surely come about how I'm extremely late to the Skyrim party. Or how my excitement for the game is completely and 100% of NO surprise to a single soul out there in 'Internet Land'. It truthfully doesn't surprise me either as I was always well aware of just how awesome Skyrim has always been. I spent plenty of time with the game when it first came out but for one reason or another I ended up stepping away from the game and getting sidetracked elsewhere. It's taken just short of 2 years to finally jump back in to the exciting, vast land of Skyrim.

Currently I'm a level 19 Nord with a name that spews originality: Conan. Yes, I know the name I chose couldn't have been further from being "original" but off the cuff it just felt like a good fit for the type of character I decided to "build" at the start of the game. So, chracter name aside, like I said I'm a level 19 Nord and I'm currently underway with a quest that requires me to venture underneath the College of Winterhold to talk to someone(or something) that can give me some rough information about the Elder Scrolls. I went down the small hatch located within the College's courtyard. I was forced to save the game immediately after going underground because I had an appointment I was requested to be at.

Yesterday was the 1st time I had tried downloading and using any mods for this game. And I honestly think I shouldn't have waited so long to do so because some of these mods are just downright amazing! I'm particularly enjoying the aesthetic or visual upgrades. After applying a few visual mods, this game has ended up looking more and more impressive than ever before.

Here is a list of the mods I'm currently applying to my Skyrim:
HighResTexturePack1/2.esp
Unofficial Skyrim Patch.esp
SkyRealism - Grass.esp
SkyUI.esp
ULO v132 Enhanced.esp

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Granted that I'm still VERY new to this whole modding and successful application of these mods to the game. Keyword: Successfully. It's still a tad bit hit or miss right now. But if you follow the directions given by the devs *very carefully* it should all go fairly painless. For awhile there I was really hung up and couldn't get anything to work. Eventually I worked my way through and once I installed that 'skse' file then things started actually working.

If you have questions about gameplay or ways to powerlevel efficiently I can help.

I still have to finish the Drabonborn DLC otherwise I've pretty much done Skyrim.

Enjoy the mods, they make everything better.

I hope you got SkyUI at the very least. This is a must have. I won't play the game without that mod.

edit: TL Ninja'd me on SkyUI

Like you I'm pretty new to modding and I'll second (or third?) SkyUI, I haven't installed anything that requires .ini tweaks yet, but I'm going to fairly shortly.

I've been looking over this:

»itcprosolutions.com/skyrimguides···uide.htm

I'm going to be doing some experimentation with it.

EQ

I forgot the I had a funny Skyrim story that's not related to anything technical:

It was earlier on in my play through, and my almost 3 year old daughter was watching me play but she was hiding behind my chair... so I'm doing the quests for the earl of Whiterun, and I end up at the part where I have to kill the first dragon.

So I start fighting by spraying it with and flame spell, and it (the dragon) responds by breathing fire... so my daughter jumps up behind the chair and yells:

"Daddy the crocodile is going to eat you!"

And scares the living shit out of me. Needless to say, what was a pretty boring fight ended up getting a rise out of me, but not because of Skyrim...
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Not so much of a tip as a heads up, but theres a mod that lets you marry Serana(vampire chick with daddy issues) since beth wont let you in vanilla. My brother uses it, and loves it, I've yet to use it because school work takes time right now.