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

*This is an essential PLUS collection for GOG(1.6.659) version of Skyrim.   It is a simple plug and play collection that fixes and tweaks Skyrim without changing it and can be used by itself to play vanilla Skyrim or as the starting point for a fully modified Skyrim experience.  While similar to my smaller essential collection Hitting The Books, it includes even more tweaks and bug fixes, most  *[Andrealphus' Exploit Fixes](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/46753)*, and *[Static Mesh Improvement Mod - SMIM](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/659)* to make Skyrim better.*

*Please let me know if there is anything you consider essential.*

***

# Core Mods

- [Andrealphus' Exploit Fixes](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/46753) - A compilation of various fixes to common exploits.
- [Optional Quick Start - SE](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/63953) - Adds an option to skip the introduction.
- [Static Mesh Improvement Mod - SMIM](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/659) - A massive project to greatly improve the appearance of countless static 3D models in Skyrim. Basically, this is my attempt to make the Skyrim architecture, clutter, furniture, and landscaping much nicer.
- [Unofficial Skyrim Modder's Patch - USMP SE](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/49616) - A large, community compilation of fixes for bugs, inconsistencies, and errors that can come to light from a modded Skyrim and its DLCs.

# Optional Mods

- [Enhanced textures detail (UV-tweaks)](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/992) - Enhances your existing textures without performance loss. &#x20;

I've added this as an optional mod.  It greatly improves the look of Skyrim without any cost to FPS.  While most modders will say it should go at the beginning of your load order, I've taken the contrary position and I have it overwriting everything.  I've found that you can end up with mismatch meshes if you let other meshes overwrite it.  Such as, if you let Assorted Mesh fixes overwrite it, you end up with the Western Watchtower using Enhanced textures detail (UV-tweaks) for the entrance and Assorted Mesh fixes for the rest of the tower.

You can always include it and then change its priority or disable it afterwards if you prefer the fixes provided by the mods it overwrites.

***

# Before you start

*Vital information regarding this collection.*

**Requirements**

- *Skyrim Anniversary Edition GOG 1.6.659*
- *Full Anniversary Creation Club Content*
- Install the latest x64 version of the required [Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2019](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2977003/the-latest-supported-visual-c-downloads) (on the linked page, it's the download that reads **x64: vc\_redist.x64.exe**). **Install it even if you think you already have it installed**\*\*. \*\*Double click the downloaded file, follow the prompts, and yes, you'll need to reboot.

**New or changed controls**

- [QUI](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/65343) - F11
- [Toggle Compass Hotkey](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/63247) - X
- Sprint - changed from TOGGLE to HOLD via [Classic Sprinting Redone (SKSE64)](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/20166) and can be disabled if you prefer toggle.

***

If you plan on using this as a starting point for a fully modified Skyrim, then here are some recommendations:

SSEEdit - <https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/164>

I can't stress this enough, learn to use SSEEdit.  There are lots of videos and guides out there and the worst thing you can do is mess up a mod you downloaded and have to install it again, but this tool is essential for conflict resolution and modding Skyrim.

Other recommended resources and tools that are not included or needed in this collection are:

Project New Reign - Nemesis Unlimited Behavior Engine - [https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/60033](https:////www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/60033)

BodySlide and Outfit Studio - <https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/201>

DynDOLOD 3 Alpha - <https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/68518>

DynDOLOD Resources SE 3 - <https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/52897>

DynDOLOD DLL SE - <https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/57264>

xLODGen beta 106 - <https://stepmodifications.org/forum/topic/13451-xlodgen-terrain-lod-beta-106-for-fnv-fo3-fo4-fo4vr-tes5-sse-tes5vr-enderal-enderalse/>

xLODGen Resource - SSE Terrain Tamriel - <https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/54680>

There are plenty of instructions and videos on how to use these, and some very nice modding guides that will not only provide instructions on how to use these tools but can take you through a fully modified Skyrim installation and setup and are a great way to learn how to mod Skyrim.  Don't be afraid to experiment, but please do your due diligence, read the WHOLE mod descriptions, if a mod author took the time to write it, you can take the time to read it, read through the comments, odds are you aren't the first person to need help and your question has already been asked and answered, and learn to use SSEEdit to do basic conflict resolution.

Most important, have fun, this is a game.

Before The Storm

This is an essential PLUS collection for GOG(1.6.659) version of Skyrim with full AE content support.

rheadog

I changed my mind and decided WACCF is just too big for an essential collection. I also removed Blended Roads, as there are lots of other road mods, and therefore shouldn't be part of an essential collection.  Finally, added a bunch of snow improvements and fixes.

# Added

- Actually flat flat snow drifts - fix hovering snow drift shadow with ENB
- Andrealphus' Exploit Fixes
- Dawnguard Rune Axe Bug Fix
- Paraphernalia - Snow Colour Fixes
- Simple Snow Improvements - Giant Obelisk Fixes (BOS)
- Simple Snow Improvements - Skyrim Fixes (BOS)
- Simple Snow Improvements - Snow Forts (BOS)
- Simple Snow Improvements - Solstheim Ruins (BOS)
- Snowy Boethiah
- Snowy Landscapes in Snowy Regions
- Snowy Statics Consistency
- Snowy Surfaces Sound Collision and Aesthetics
- Stockade Snow Fix
- Toggle Dialogue Camera

# Removed

- Blended Roads - Conflicts with Paraphernalia - Snow Colour Fixes and there are other road mods that might be preferred.
- Creation Club Integration - Armours
- kryptopyr's Patch Hub
- lilebonymace's patches and xEdit scripts
- Mesh Patch for Various Mods - Assorted Mesh Fixes - SMIM - Blended Roads Patch
- Switch Camera During Dialogue - Replaced with SKSE Toggle Dialogue Camera.
- Weapons Armor Clothing and Clutter Fixes - It's just too big for an essential collection.

Before The Storm

Success ratings

Media

Revision 2 Stats

Tags

Mods By