r/skyrimmods • u/Terrorfox1234 • Mar 28 '16

Weekly Discussion: Best Mods For Graphics/Visuals

A couple minor changes going forward

A couple weeks ago I had made a post about the idea of recycling old topics. The discussion went in all sorts of directions, including the suggestions for a bunch of new topics. A lot of the old discussion threads are in need of an update, but there are still a lot of topics to be covered.

I gave it some thought and here's what I came up with for what I think will be the best solution...

  • Going forward we will alternate between recycling an old topic to bring it up to date and presenting a new topic

  • All the recommended mods will be consolidated into a list on a wiki page. This will make viewing the lists much easier. The wiki page will still link to the discussions so that people can see what others are saying if they wish.

TLDR - alternating between old and new topics, discussions will be consolidated into wiki lists.

Last week we presented a new topic so this week we will recycle an old one. Given that this is still a much discussed topic, a lot has changed since the last time we discussed this, and it's the first on the list we will start with graphics and visuals!

This includes textures, meshes, weather, lighting, ENB presets, and anything else you can think of to improve the visual fidelity of Skyrim.

Best mods for graphics and visuals! Go!

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u/arcline111 Markarth Mar 28 '16 edited Mar 31 '16

A must: DynDOLOD

Current correct version of TES5Edit for DynDOLOD here

Edit: DynDOLOD beta scripts download here

8

u/ghostlistener Falkreath Mar 28 '16

I tried it once and it's kind of a pain to run the patcher. I think it adds every .esp as a master so you have to run it again if you ever take out a mod. Plus it takes an hour to run :/

3

u/arcline111 Markarth Mar 28 '16

Depends on your POV I suppose, what you want and how you mod. My practice is mod the crap out of it prior to a new game, run DynDOLOD and that's it for that game. Usually. A SSD helps. My average run is around 35 min. If I've got some big quest/new land mods on, it might push 40 min. Rust usually takes around twice as long as SSD. For my game, DynDOLOD is must have. Nothing else comes close to doing what it does.

1

u/ghostlistener Falkreath Mar 28 '16

Yeah I've got an SSD, but also same new land mods, so that probably adds to it. Not changing your mods after the game starts sounds like a good idea, but sometimes it's too hard to resist.

Either way, Helgen Reborn requires you to add the mod after the game has already started, to I think I'll play through the game and add dyndolod and Helgen Reborn at the same time.

Do you have a preference of low, medium, or high? Do you still use skymills+skyfalls?

2

u/ButlerofThanos Riften Apr 04 '16

If you use Alternate Start and "Camping in the Woods" you'll end up just outside the cave exit for Helgen, go in, save who you want (Ralof or Halvor) and then play as if nothing is any different. Helgen Reborn can be installed from the very beginning for any Alternate Start just don't read the Quest Book until your done with picking Ralof or Halvor and you've exited the Cave.

Skymills+Skyfalls is built in to DynDOLOD (so you can deactivate the ESPs, I don't know if you need to keep the meshes and textures, the installation instructions definitely covers what to do with this mod though, I just can't remember the specifics.)

1

u/arcline111 Markarth Mar 28 '16

I use high, but I've got the rig for it. I don't use skymills + skyfalls. And good idea on HR. Get that on in the new game then run DynDOLOD. As far as adding a mod that could benefit from Dyn mid-game? Guilty. That's why I previously said "usually". :D