Morrowind

Oblivion

Shadowrun Returns

Skyrim

Fallout 3

Fallout New Vegas

Dragon Age: Origins

Dragon Age 2

The Witcher

XCOM: Enemy Unknown

The Witcher 2

X: Rebirth

World of Tanks

Legend of Grimrock

Dark Souls

Fallen Enchantress

Far Cry 3

Chivalry: Medieval Warfare

Dungeon Defenders

Neverwinter Nights

Neverwinter Nights 2

Mount & Blade

Mount & Blade: Warband

Mount & Blade: With Fire & Sword

Left 4 Dead 2

Minecraft

Knights of the Old Republic II

Warcraft 3

Mass Effect 3

Sins of a Solar Empire

State of Decay

Saints Row 4

Savage XR

Faster Than Light

Knights of the Old Republic

Mass Effect

Starbound

Deus Ex

Torchlight II

Grand Theft Auto IV

Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis

Mafia 2

Zoo Tycoon 2

Thief 2: The Metal Age

Mass Effect 2

Halo: Combat Evolved

Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver

Kerbal Space Program

Game Dev Tycoon

Battlefield 2

DmC: Devil May Cry

Madden NFL 08

Batman: Arkham Origins

Black and White 2

X3: Terran Conflict

Just Cause 2

Disciples 3: Reincarnation

Towns

The Sims 3

RPG Maker VX Ace

Remember Me

Crysis

Team Fortress 2

Jade Empire

Euro Truck Simulator 2

3089

Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast

Drox Operative

Risen

Crysis Warhead

Crusader Kings 2

Half-Life 2

Borderlands

Myst Online: Uru Live

Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 3

Thief 3: Deadly Shadows

Doom 3

Arx Fatalis

Batman: Arkham City

Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force

Command & Conquer: Generals

Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead

The Elder Scrolls Online

Rimworld

Men of War

Borderlands 2

Fallout 2

South Park: The Stick of Truth

ArmA 3

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines

Resident Evil 4

Rodina

War Thunder

Star Wars: Empire at War

Sacred

Tabletop Simulator

TUG: The Untitled Game

Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization

Fallen Enchantress: Legendary Heroes

Space Engineers

Skyrim Special Edition

# Description

**TL;DR This mod collection massively expands Skyrim cities and some towns but avoids massive changes to characters or gameplay which can make Skyrim unrecognizable. This is a new and improved, but recognizable, Skyrim.**

&#x20;    This mod collection is built primarily overtop of [Truly Essentials for AE 1.6.640](https://next.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/collections/llafgc), then augmented hand-picked changes to all major Skyrim cities (**TODO:** Makarth expansion and exteriors) and some towns. This mod collection also contains some core but lore-friendly and realistic gameplay changes. Specifically, better NPC AI and interactions, more details from Couriers and about locked quest items, the ability to take on all Thieves Guild radiant quests at once, etc.&#x20;

**Why?**

&#x20;    There are many wonderful mod collections out there, but most of them made me feel like I was living in a Skyrim I didn't visually recognize, or had so many core UI and gameplay changes that I felt I was playing a totally new game. Further, there are many great city expansion collections out there, but they usually use the same modder's mods for everything. I wanted to mix and match what I felt were the best ideas and overhauls of each city and interior space. However, that requires/required significant patching. So, this collection aims to provide you with a ready-to-go but hand-picked and pre-configured expanded Skyrim.&#x20;

***

# Main features

### **Helpful but lore-friendly and realistic gameplay changes including:**

- SkyUI makes the inventory window larger, sortable, and generally easier to use. This resembles ESO's UI.&#x20;
- MCM (Mod Configuration) helps you manage some mod options from within the game.&#x20;
- Upper-left notifications will tell you the name of the letter you've just received.
- Upper-left notifications will tell you the quest which prevents a specific quest item from being removed from your inventory.
- Upper-left notifications will tell you your relationship rank with an interacting NPC.
- You can share vanilla, creation club, and modded player homes and unique spaces with your followers using the *"Let's talk about home..."* dialogue option. \
  (**TODO:** add **Bless This Space** support, which will allow you to do the same with your spouse and kids.) \
  **(TODO:** multiple spouses and multiple adoptions support.)
- You can smelt down many extra weapons and gear items for crafting ingots.&#x20;
- Cutting Room Floor adds planned (but cut, likely for time or budget reasons only) Bethesda-developed content back into the game *(random example, Thalmor are actually inside Thalmor Headquarters in Solitude now!)*
- Extra NPCs are added to cities to make them feel more populated and lively. Some of these are Merchants, who you can buy from and sell to.
- NPC AI is improved with Immersive Citizens - AI Overhaul. (*Note: this particular mod requires patches for many other mods. It is famous and well-supported, though, so you should be able to add many mods successfully.*)
- NPC dialogue is improved with Bandit Lines and Relationship Dialogue Overhaul.&#x20;
- NPCs will bump into you less and get out of your way easier.
- City economies are unique and change according to supply and demand.
- Merchants may sell items you sell to them to bandits.&#x20;
- Additional random world encounters are added to spice up life in the wild.&#x20;
- Additional road patrols are added.
- All Thieves Guild radiant quest types from Delvin and Vex can be accepted at the same time.
- The Dark Brotherhood quest line continues for 24 more quests (only if you want to do them, they're not necessary.)
- Ore veins glow.
- Unread books glow.
- Shadowmarks glow.&#x20;

### **City and towns expansions and overhauls including:**

- Entire new district in Solitude to the east of Castle Dour/behind Proudspire Manor. Many new shops and NPC homes.
- Entire new Solitude Docks district. Many new shops and NPC homes.
- Entire new Solitude outskirts district. Many new shops and NPC homes.
- The Golden Hen in Solitude -- player business where you can make and sell food (or hire an assistant to sell food.) Buy it for 30K gold by clicking on the poster to the right of the door.
- The Rookery in Solitude -- small player home. Free. The key is in Viarmo's bedroom at Bard's College. You may need to lift/take/steal some books to find the key on the dresser.
- Barnacle Cottage in Solitude -- medium player home. Free. It's next to Bits and Pieces, just walk in. Comes with 2 children (not through the adoption system) and a housecarl (not through the Thane system) by default.
- Marsh View outside Solitude on the road towards Dragon Bridge -- medium player home. Free. It's about halfway between the default Solitude gate and the new, final gate.&#x20;
- Most vanilla shops in Solitude have better and/or expanded interiors.&#x20;
- The Blue Palace in Solitude is significantly doper.
- New shops and NPC homes in Windhelm, including but not limited to the Gray Quarter.
- Player home in the northwest of Windhelm Gray Quarter, up the (new) ladders -- tiny player home. Buy for 1K at Sadri's Used Wares. NOT a pretty place, but you know... it's Windhelm. And the Gray Quarter.
- The Palace of Kings in Windhelm is significantly doper.
- Windhelm outskirts, near the Windhelm Stables, is improved and expanded a bit.
- Entire new district of Winterhold near the College of Winterhold. Many new shops and NPC homes.
- Entire new district of Winterhold down near the Sea of Ghosts. Many new shops and NPC homes. Includes a Fish Hatchery.
- New Temple in Winterhold above the Sea of Ghosts, on a ledge across from the College of Winterhold. Has an underground greenhouse with a TON of growing space.
- A few vanilla shops in Winterhold have better and/or expanded interiors.
- College of Winterhold interior is improved.
- Many vanilla shops in Makarth have better and/or expanded interiors. (TODO: more Makarth work.)
- Understone Keep in Makarth interior is improved.
- Entire new Whiterun Markets district outside the city limits, both to the north and the west. Many new roadside and freestanding shops. Many vanilla NPC homes and farms are significantly expanded.
- Most vanilla shops in Whiterun have better and/or expanded interiors.&#x20;
- Dragonreach is a bit doper.
- Riften outskirts, near the Riften Stables, is improved and expanded a bit.
- Entire new Riften Docks District. More kiosk shops and NPCs are added.
- Entire new Riften Southend District, found outside the gates to the right of Mistveil Keep. Many new shops and NPC homes are added.
- Most vanilla shops in Riften have better and/or expanded interiors.
- Mistveil Keep is a bit doper.
- The Thieves Guild Ragged Flagon and Ragged Flagon Cistern are expanded and improved significantly.
- The Dark Brotherhood Dawnstar Sanctuary is expanded and improved significantly. Paintings are added to the overhauled interior. Also, torture victims (...) are now silent.
- Riftweald Manor is now yours if you join the Thieves Guild and...erm...do the thing... to Mercer. It is very slightly improved but mostly looks like the vanilla interior.
- Honeyside interior and dock interior are improved for crafting and farming efficiency.&#x20;
- Breezehome interior is significantly improved and cozy.&#x20;
- Proudspire Manor interior is significantly improved. Paintings are added to the overhauled interior.
- Baths are now standard in the vast majority of inns (often on the lower level.)
- Similar improvements and expansions to some towns like Riverrun, Rorikstead, etc.
- ...and so much more!&#x20;

***

# Before you start

*Vital information regarding this collection.*

**Requirements**

- A new game is **NOT** required for this collection. However, some features may work better if you start a new game. *(Random example, if you install mid-game, you will have to fix the new Jorrvaskr Living Quarters door. *[*You can fix it very quickly using this short guide.*](https://www.reddit.com/r/skyrimmods/comments/s82tca/jorrvaskr_living_quarters_door_gone/)*)*
- If using Nexus Vortex, click on Dashboard after everything is installed and make sure SKSE is there as a tool. If not, add it. \*(Open file explorer, find each .exe, and press create.) \*
- Launch your game from the SKSE tool in Vortex/Mod Manager *(hover over the icon and click, and it will open Skyrim AE for you.)*

**Best practices**

This goes for *any* time you intend to seriously test a large collection thoroughly:&#x20;

- Uninstall Skyrim and delete all its Steam folders completely. Make sure all related folders and files are totally deleted. **(Make a new folder in Documents -- or anywhere -- and copy paste your Save files there! Do the same for any working mod collections you want to switch between in the future.)**
- Reinstall Skyrim. Reminder, this collection is for Anniversary Edition 1.6.640 through Steam.&#x20;
- Playthrough the intro with NO MODS.&#x20;
- Save as soon as you get out of Helgen.&#x20;
- You will Load this Save to test \*\*(use this save to test any mods or collections, not just mine!) \*\*
- If everything works, you should be able to confidently resume a mid-game save or start a new character with mods loaded this time.

***

# Recommended specs

*Hardware setup suitable for this collection.*

- You can use [CPU-Z](https://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html) (or a similar tool) to check your GPU information for the **Faster HDT-SMP** mod. You may be prompted for this information on installation.

***

# Adding onto this collection - Compatibility Information

### Likely will work:

- **Enhanced Lighting and FX** *(should work with patches, but you will need to reinstall all patch collections and pick the correct options.)*
- **Skyrim Unique Treasures** *(should work with patches, but you will need to reinstall all patch collections and pick the correct options.)*
- **Legacy of the Dragonborn** *(may work with patches, but it will take more effort than usual. Solitude is already heavily overhauled in this collection, so changing it more will require multiple patches at a minimum.)*
- **Alternate Start** (should work with patches, but you will need to reinstall all patch collections and pick the correct options. Also, read Helgen Reborn's notes about how to trigger the rebuilding of Helgen if you don't do the default opening sequence.)&#x20;
- **Any mod which changes interiors already changed by one of JK's interiors** *(see mod list. You can also always just remove JK's interior for that specific shop/etc and replace it with another. This should work just fine.)*
- **Any mod which changes Breezehome, Honeyside, Proudspire Manor, the Thieves Guild, or the Dark Brotherhood Dawnstar Sanctuary** *(just swap out the mods in this collection for your own. This should work just fine.)*
- **Mods that change NPC appearances** *(may require patching with Immersive Citizens - AI Overhaul. In any case, this collection changes 0 NPC appearances, so this should work just fine.)*
- **Mods that change character appearances**\* (may require patching, but most changes should work out of the box just fine. This collection changes nothing about player appearances, so these should work just fine.)\*
- **Mods that require animations**\* (may require patching for some mods in this collection, like Faster HDT-SMP or USSEP. In any case, this collection includes FNIS, so these should work just fine.)\*
- **Mods that make further changes to UI/HUD** *(should work as long as they play nicely with SKSE, SkyUI, and MCM. You may or may not need patches for these.)*
- **HS's instead of JK's interiors/exteriors/player homes** *(all JK packages are listed individually in this mod collection, so you should be able to swap out individual interiors/exteriors for HS's instead BUT remember you will likely need HS's patches -- this collection comes with JK's by default. You may want or need to keep JK's patches if you are keeping some of JK's assets.)*

### Likely won't work:

- **Mod which changes all textures everywhere -- roads, grasses, snows, water, etc.** *(may work with patches, but you will need to reinstall all patch collections and pick the correct options. These CAN work, but it heavily depends on the individual mods and whether they have patch support, so I put it in this "Likely won't work" category because they CAN be breaking changes.)*
- **Any mod which further changes terrain, navmeshes, or other exteriors within a city or its outskirts** *(will work ONLY if your choice of mod(s) have compatible patches, WILL NOT WORK otherwise. Solitude, in particular, has MANY terrain patches, so please be careful with additional mods and be sure to patch them, otherwise you will get rocks and trees in random places.)*
- **Open Cities** *(90% sure this isn't compatible, but I'm open to being proven wrong.)*
- **Completely alternate overhauls of cities.** I mean, d'uh.

***

# Known issues

I'm interested in assistance/opinions/advice/pointers from experienced modders on any of the below issues:

- Barnacle Cottage Terrace is supposed to have stairs down to the new Solitude Docks District but doesn't. Also, some rocks occlude its terrace a bit. Was not fixed by existing terrain/Expanded Solitude SSE collection patches. **Needs investigation.**
- There are 2 randomly floating lanterns in Solitude; one near the blacksmith and the Golden Hen, on the stairway no one uses. The other is a bit to the left of the entrance of the Castle Dour courtyard. I believe this can be resolved with one of JK's patches, but I need to find it again and test it.&#x20;
- Trying to go up the hidden stairs behind the Suspicious Wall in the New Gnisis Cornerclub in Windhelm Gray Quarter results in an infinite loading screen (must force-kill the game and reopen your previous save.) **Needs investigation.**
- The door to the Jorrvaskr Living Quarters will be absent and a black hole if you install mid-game. [You can fix it with these quick guides. ](https://www.reddit.com/r/skyrimmods/comments/s82tca/jorrvaskr_living_quarters_door_gone/)
- There is an unclickable but glowing (with the Unread Books Glow mod) book in the new Windhelm Hall of Relics library room. This persists even if occluding books are taken/stolen off the shelf.
- In the new Ghost Sea Arcaneum in Solitude, Marcon and Surudus like to stand on top of each other at the counter.

Expanded Skyrim Cities & Essentials

This mod collection massively expands Skyrim cities and some towns, but avoids massive changes to characters or gameplay which can make Skyrim unrecognizable. This is a new and improved, but still very recognizable, Skyrim. (LORE-FRIENDLY/REALISTIC)

Clalen

\- Removed **Scrambled Bug Fixes** due to .dll issues

\- Added **Alternate Start - Live Another Life**

**BE SURE THAT *****ALTERNATE START***** LOADS LATE IN YOUR LOAD ORDER (I recommend downloading LOOT and taking its suggestion.)**

Expanded Skyrim Cities & Essentials

Media

Revision 2 Stats

Tags

Mods by