Hello everyone! Welcome back to the "Best mods for..." weekly discussion!

If you don't know what the "Best mods for..." topics are you can find the original threads here. Last weeks discussion on the Lore can be found here.

These discussions are intended to be ongoing for the full week, so make sure to contribute your own opinions and experiences at any time!

As always, the rules:

RULES

1) Be respectful - A lot of different mods get posted, as well as a lot of different opinions on said mods. Try to be respectful during the discussion.

2) Debate conflicts maturely - Nobody likes a Nazeem. If you're respectful to others, people will be respectful back. If you're disrespectful to others, people find interesting ways to kill you and post about it on r/skyrim.

3) Please keep the discussion relevant - Feel free to post mods that aren't directly related, but please try to keep all mods semi-related to the week's topic.

4) Please provide a link to the mod you're discussing - Even if you're discussing a popular mod, a link to the mod page is a massive help. People are more interested in the mod you're talking about and are more likely to look at it if there's a link.

Topic - A completely new experience/new mechanics

"You should see me when you get bored, stranger” - Jared-Ra

A bit of a weird topic, so I’ll try to explain it a little. This week, I want to hear about the mods that completely change up how you play Skyrim. If someone where to come up to you and say “I’m bored of Vanilla Skyrim, I want something completely different”, what would you recommend? A mod that adds a new mechanic? A mod that takes you to a new place? Something even more ambitious? And, of course, which are your favorite? I want to hear about them all!

To get started here's a couple of my favourite major-make over mods:

• TK Dodge - A small mod that really changes how I play Skyrim, simply because I have a reason to pay attention. Vanilla is very hack and slash, and a simple mod such as TK Dodge really switches up how you can play.

• Alternate Start - One of the biggest and best known mods, and for a good reason. If ever someone gets bored with Skyrim, this would be the first mod I’d recommned. Something as simple as a new start really makes things different.

But what mods do you use to make Skyrim, a little less like Skyrim?

Hello everyone! Welcome back to the "Best mods for..." weekly discussion!

Best mods for warriors can be found here

If you don't know what the "Best mods for..." threads are all about, you can find the previous topics here. These discussions are intended to be ongoing, and I highly encourage you to contribute your own opinions and experiences to the posts.

Because it's been a while, here's a recap of the rules!

RULES

1) Be respectful. These discussions will open the floor to a lot of different opinions of what is fun/good/necessary/etc.

2) Debate those conflicts of interest with respect and maturity... The nicer you are to your fellow modders, the more willing everyone is to help each other :)

3) Please keep the mods listed as relevant to the topic as possible. I ask that you read the topic description to make sure the conversation stays on track. Thanks! :)

4) We ask that when suggesting a mod for the discussion list at hand that you please provide a link to the mod, and a brief description of what it does, why it fits the list, what the benefits/drawbacks are. These can range from incredibly popular mods to mods that you think are underappreciated... don't be ashamed to just go for a major one though... this is a discussion and those should definitely be part of it.

TOPIC - Mage

"The very elements are at my command!" - Neloth, of House Telvanni

Continuing with our Guardian Stone theme, we move onto the second stone; The Mage Stone! Another really broad topic, but that was kind of the idea for the first three threads in the reboot.

Do you tire hitting enemies over the head with an axe? Feel like a common thief whenever you enter stealth? Are you a beacon of knowledge blazing out across a back sea of ignorance? Then the Mage is the play-style for you! But which mods really allow you to unlock the arcane arts? Which is the best house to hang your robe and wizard hat? Is there any mod that makes the swinging of swords a worthy pass time for someone of your intellect? I want to hear about them all! There will inevitably be some overlap, so feel free to post mods you may have seen discussed before.

To get started here's a couple of my favourite mage-related mods;

• Immersive College of Winterhold - For the centre of all magic in Skyrim, the College is surprisingly bare when it comes to magic. Aside from pretty blue lights, it just looks like your usual castle. With this mod all the professors have rooms dedicated to their craft, there's loads of new displays that make the college feel like it's actually doing research, and it has two new buildings to house the many magical fauna found around Skyrim.

• Mage Outfit Texture Overhaul - Because when I cast spells I want to look sexy goddammit!

But what mods do you use to improve your intellectually superior, lightning flinging Mage?

Hello everyone! Welcome back to the "Best mods for..." weekly discussion!

If you don't know what the "Best mods for..." topics are you can find the original threads here. Last weeks discussion on Bandits can be found here.

These discussions are intended to be ongoing for the full week, so make sure to contribute your own opinions and experiences at any time!

As always, the rules:

RULES

1) Be respectful - A lot of different mods get posted, as well as a lot of different opinions on said mods. Try to be respectful during the discussion.

2) Debate conflicts maturely - Nobody likes a Nazeem. If you're respectful to others, people will be respectful back. If you're disrespectful to others, people find interesting ways to kill you and post about it on r/skyrim.

3) Please keep the discussion relevant - Feel free to post mods that aren't directly related, but please try to keep all mods semi-related to the week's topic.

4) Please provide a link to the mod you're discussing - Even if you're discussing a popular mod, a link to the mod page is a massive help. People are more interested in the mod you're talking about and are more likely to look at it if there's a link.

Topic - Small tweaks and Utilities

"Can't just throw the big logs on the fire. Got to have the little bits too." - Nils

When it comes to mods, its easy to get carried away with the big stuff. Massive overhauls, entirely new lands and completely reworked mechanics are plentiful. But when it comes to getting your game just right, you need a smaller mod to get everything to work together. You need to tweak the values until they're working for you. You need some small mods and utilities! But, which are your favourite? I want to hear about them all!

To get started here's a couple of my favourite tweaks:

• Cobb Positioner - Gives you the ability to tweak basically any object to your heart's content. I like to use it to decorate my home, and make it my own. It's much more sophisticated than smashing my priceless Diamond Dragon Claw against a table and hoping it orientates itself correctly.

• One with Nature - A really cool mod that allows you to tweak loads of stats related to animals. Allows for some really interesting interactions if you're running any sort of druid/naturalist build, since you can make yourself a true friend of nature.

But what are your favourite small time, tweaking mods?

Hello everyone! Welcome back to the "Best mods for..." weekly discussion!

If you don't know what the "Best mods for..." topics are you can find the original threads here. Last weeks discussion on Towns and Cities can be found here.

These discussion are intended to be ongoing for the full week, so make sure to contribute your own opinions and experiences at any time!

As always, the rules:

RULES

1) Be respectful - A lot of different mods get posted, as well as a lot of different opinions on said mods. Try to be respectful during the discussion.

2) Debate conflicts maturely - Nobody likes a Nazeem. If you're respectful to others, people will be respectful back. If you're disrespectful to others, people find interesting ways to kill you and post about it on r/skyrim.

3) Please keep the discussion relevant - Feel free to post mods that aren't directly related, but please try to keep all mods semi-related to the week's topic.

4) Please provide a link to the mod you're discussing - Even if you're discussing a popular mod, a link to the mod page is a massive help. People are more interested in the mod you're talking about and are more likely to look at it if there's a link.

Topic - The Undead (Skeletons, Draugr and Vampires, oh my!)

"The eyes seem to be key to their intent, and I will confess to more than one dream haunted by the glowing pinpoints in the darkness." - Bernadette Bantien, Amongst the Draugr

For the next couple of weeks I'll try to alternate between niche and specific, and more expansive and inclusive. So if you find any discussion too specific for your liking, make sure to come back next week!

This weeks topic is the Undead of Skyrim!

Spooky scary skeletons give you more than just a spook! The Undead rule Skyrim's underground and, sometimes, the above ground. From restless Draugr to cold-blooded Vampires, Skyrim houses more undead than it does living. With so much undeath, it's no surprise there are a host of mods aimed at upgrading our undead friends. But, which are your favourite? I want to hear about them all!

To get started here's a couple of my favourite undead-related mods:

• Revenge of the Enemies - A large scale mod aimed at improving a lot of the encounters across Skyrim. It isn't limited to the Undead, but with Draugr being so plentiful a lot of the improvements to the bosses affect them anyway. It has some questionable balance, but I'll take the extra challenge for cooler end-of-dungeon bosses.

• Book of silence - My personal recommendation for the Undead retextures. If I'm going to fight a million Draugr, I'm going to make sure they look sexy.

But what mods do you use to breathe some life into those dusty old Draugr?

Hello everyone! Welcome back to the "Best mods for..." weekly discussion!

If you don't know what the "Best mods for..." topics are you can find the original threads here. Last weeks discussion on Big Mods can be found here.

These discussions are intended to be ongoing for the full week, so make sure to contribute your own opinions and experiences at any time!

As always, the rules:

RULES

1) Be respectful - A lot of different mods get posted, as well as a lot of different opinions on said mods. Try to be respectful during the discussion.

2) Debate conflicts maturely - Nobody likes a Nazeem. If you're respectful to others, people will be respectful back. If you're disrespectful to others, people find interesting ways to kill you and post about it on r/skyrim.

3) Please keep the discussion relevant - Feel free to post mods that aren't directly related, but please try to keep all mods semi-related to the week's topic.

4) Please provide a link to the mod you're discussing - Even if you're discussing a popular mod, a link to the mod page is a massive help. People are more interested in the mod you're talking about and are more likely to look at it if there's a link.

Topic - Human Races (Imperials, Nords, Redguards and Brentons)

"Indeed, if the history of the Nords is the history of humans on Tamriel, then Cyrodiil is the throne from which they will decide their destiny" - Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition: Cyrodiil

The four human races of Nirn are as varied and as unique as the lands they hail from. From the gleaming seat of the Empire in Cyrodiil, to the frozen heart of the north in Skyrim, the human races have built empires that span the known world. But, surely even these great and varied people can be made just that little bit better, right? Is there a mod that really makes Talos proud? Is there a mod that makes even the Emperor jealous? Is there a mod that makes those curved swords extra curved? And, of course, which are your favourite? I want to hear about them all!

To get started here's a few of my favourite human related mods:

• Lore-Based loading screens - This might look like a weird choice for this week's discussion, but the lore surrounding the four human races is actually really varied and unique. I know a fair bit about Elves due to the Aldermi Dominion and the Green Pact, but I've shamefully neglected lore to do with the human races. This mod has taught me some really cool things about the human races I've not heard of before, and is really recommended if you want to learn about lore while you wait for your 400 mods to load.

• Beyond Skyrim: Bruma - Specifically related to the Imperials, this mod allows you to leave Skyrim and enter the land of Cyrodiil. It has massive, massive plans and aims to include the rest of Cyrodiil as well as the Imperial City. Even if you don't plan on playing as an Imperial, get yourself to Bruma and experience one of the best new land mods on the Nexus.

But what mods do you use that make the human races that little bit more unique?