Part 2: World Graphics and Immersion
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Dyndolod Resouces - Only for those planning to use Dyndolod(you should be but only if you aren't brand new to modding). Obviously, make sure to get the SE download. If you don't use Dyndolod you will get a ton of pop in and will have terrible LODs. HERE is my video guide on setting it up. Don't worry about following the video till AFTER you finished this guide though. This requires SKSE and SkyUI. Check out near end of my absolute beginners video for install instructions(at the one hour one minute mark).
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Imaginator - an essential tool that lets you adjust color saturation, contrast and brightness to your preferences. Added converted oldrim version with MCM
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Particle Patch SSE - Make sure to install the Special Edition version
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Enhanced Texture Details - skip first page, tick I want it all on second page, check SHD rocks and reduced light flickering,
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Static Mesh Improvement Mod - full Install (Lite install for lower end systems)
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Noble Skyrim 2K - Get the top download and get the SMIM patch in the update files
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Unofficial Material Fix - only main download, for now, will get some patches lower in the order.
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Ren's HD Shrines by Rengel - it has picks next to each option I mostly just used what it defaults on.
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Misc Retexture Project - when installing the folder format is wrong.. you will see the data folder just right click it and click set as data directly then mo2 will pick it up fine. Get the SMIM download as well.​
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Solstheim Landscape Overhaul HD - I found a lot of the extra plants this added looked awful in VR. So I made edited textures to remove them HERE. Download and install main file then overwrite with my edited textures.
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Skyrim Textures Redone Skyhaven
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Skyland Imperial Forts - the ESP can be deleted all it does is fix a minor issue around the western watchtower but not worth taking an esp slot for it.
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MystiriousDawn's HD Skyrim - If you have 6gb+ VRAM use the 4k version(highest quality download) of this it's one of the few 4k overhauls I found that does not suffer from the shimmering. This doesn't cover many textures so noble and such is still needed. Also get the two updated landscape texture downloads as well(the two under update files)..Since I get asked this all the time MOUNTAIN re textures are included in this pack.(Some might not like the volcanic tundra textures from this. If so open this mod and go to textures/landscape and delete all the volcanic textures).. or you can try Skyland if it's more your preference. They can be swapped mid game no problem. Can also just keep noble as main landscape as well if you don't like either of them.
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The Streets of Whiterun - get the 4k mossier version if using the 4k above if not use the 2k mossier one.
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HQ Solitude - like above if 6gb+ VRAM use 4k on this one
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Frankly HD Markarth - check both boxes
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Grass Booster - grass is a tricky one as it’s one of the biggest performance hits by far. Grass is literally the biggest headache I have had modding VR in terms of trying to find one with minimal performance hit.. So for grass the booster is fine, the optional textures it can add are up to you but with great forest mod i’d use the green grass tundra option.. The alternative recommendation is Grass Fields . (set imingrass in your ini to 40 or 60 with 60 being better performance but less grass drawn) Performance is much better on this than the other popular grass mods like Veydosebrom and Verdant but it only use a single grass model so just depends if seeing the same grass over and over is fine with you.
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ELFX and ELE - basically I’m using two lighting overhauls together. First up get ELFX and when installing select none and don't’ tick any of the boxes, on the second page click the SMIM boxes if using SMIM and skip the player homes section. On the last page candle, smoke and torches are optional just whatever you prefer. I like the smoke effect and torch effect so I use them but others don’t like it.
Now that you have that you will need my ESP replacers. One replaces the ELFX one and the second is my overhauled version of ELE. Get them HERE . When you install my esp replacers zip just place them under elfx the ELFX esp will be replaced automatically then make sure to place the ELE ESP right after it in your plugins pane on the right. The remade ELE does a lot of things but one main thing is it adds weather records to open spaces in interiors that have sky showing. Make sure the lighting ESPs(ELFX first then ELE after) are at the END of your load order(right before the dyndolod.esp if using dyndolod) as they need to overwrite any other mod that changes those cells base records or the lighting templates won’t work.
The reason I put this up this high is some ELFX meshes I wanted other mods to overwrite but the ESPs need to be at the BOTTOM of your plugins load order. Also realistic waters too is also a requirement for this which I have my edited version of that below. Also I set my fgamma in the ini to 0.8 this gives me nice dark dungeons which I prefer(don't touch this value unless you want interiors dark). If you don't like realistic waters two then this lighting combo won't work so you'd have to use something else for lighting and water. My other recommendation would be relighting Skyrim with ELE then something like lightweight water overhaul or Pure Waters.
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ELFX Fixes - get the ESP version. Place is directly under ELFX esp.. so your lighting order should be ELFX, ELFX FIXES, ELE
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ELFX Fake door light remover - removes the annoying fake light under doors.
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Realistic HD Mods Remastered Collection
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Skyrim 3D Misc - get all of them except the last two(doors and gate)
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Hype1's Doors/Gates - get all of his doors/gates
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Landscape Overhaul - Stone walls - these cover different walls than mod above. When installing I tick variant 1 Medium on second page . You can run these meshes through nif optimizer but shouldn't need it.
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Real 3D Walls - get both the main file then merge in the alternative normal map download
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Rallys City Roofs - just the whiterun one
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Ethereal Cosmos - I prefer the Vivid version but that may be to high fantasy for some. If you prefer something a little more realistic try the twinkle subdued or the base version.
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Solveig Cinematic Sunglare - check the screenshots for your preference I use the natural version.
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Swamp Fungal Pod - V3
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Rudy HQ Hay - I use version 3 but check the screensheets you may prefer 1 or 2
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Hectrol Spider Webs - if you don't like these then use WEBS
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Improved Puddles - says for ENB but looks good without ENB as well
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Oil - this is my SSE convert of THIS mod.. I used the oily water version
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Volcanic Tundra Heat Wave Effects
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Dirt Blast - 1k
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Dust Effect - the BSA in this can be extracted and the esp removed if you need to make space for more ESPs but it isn't required.
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Improved Sparks - 10x grindstone and 2k impact
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Remade Better Dust Piles - 2k skull or no skull whiever you prefer
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Dandelions - 1k download
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Ancient Dwemer Metal - get just the dwemer metal. And the copy over the converted meshes HERE.
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Windhelm Enhanced Metalwork - 2k
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Northfire's Skidmarks​ - get both skidmarks and dragon footprint
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Training Dummies - also download rain barrel fix
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Imperial Tents - dirtier version
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Nordic Tents HD - Get desaturated version then merge in 2k normals
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Soulgem Stand Redone - Get main file then retexture of choice I use the grimy one
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Falmer Glow retexture - I prefer the dark version
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3D Furniture - also merge in the SMIM patch​
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Cinematic Fire Effects 2 - covers numerous textures that Ultimate HD does not
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Ultimate HD Fire - the SSE version wasn't completely converted correctly. I'd just grab the oldrim version. I use the medium download. After installed delete the meshes folder.
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Embers HD - I use HD 2K, fireplace addon, forges and lava crater addon
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Blended Roads - make sure to select the REALLY Blended options when installing and the SMIM patch
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Stunning Statues - just pick whichever looks good to you
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Material Fix Stunning Statues - get the stunning statues patch and put it right under stunning statues
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Ennead Banners - also get the detailed rugs patch(the regular NON clean version)
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Rustic Elderscrolls - get the 2k elder scrolls read effect download as well
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Rustic Furniture - get the SMIM download
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Rustic Soulgems - 2k unsorted
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Peltapalooza - Full download
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Rustic Monuments and Tombstones - 2k, 2k, SMIM
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Rudy HQ Nordic Ruins - get the chest and levers optional files as well
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Rustic Alchemy and Enchanting Tables
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Rally's Honey Pot HQ - either one is good i use the vanilla colored version.
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JS Dragon Claws Amethyst Patch
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Improved Shadowmarks​​
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Morning Fogs - Thin or thick download just whatever your preference is
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Obsidian Weather - ingame turn on seasons and reduced sun brightness to your preference. All the options are under a new power where your shouts are. You also have several presets for color. I have my own version of Obsidian that combines inclement weathers from several mods together, I made it for my Dark Skies overhaul which is linked at the end of this guide. I don't put it here as it's made for my preference of having no sunny weathers and that obviously isn't everyone's cup of tea although I do have patch that adds some sunny weather back in..​
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3D Plants - Go to MISC files at the bottom and get the plants only download DO NOT download the main 3d trees download. While 3d trees do look good up close the LODs look like crap and the transition is terrible(it isn't bad with my Fog of War Weather though since that hides LODs pretty well). Also performance is somewhat heavy on 3d trees. Also download the Gildergreen and static planters as well. I find the leaves and bark to bright for my tastes so I made darker textures HERE.
While 3D plants isn't super performance heavy it's slightly so if you need better performance use Remove Useless Plants after 3d plants. This makes it so you only see harvest-able plants but makes areas a lot more bare. If you decide you do want to use 3d trees you'd put it here and place the darker textures under. Then just skip Enhanced Vanilla Trees below.
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Rudy HQ Falling Leaves - vanilla game download
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Dawn of Skyrim(Optional) - This is a pretty big overhaul to the 5 major cities. Performance is better than JKs Skyrim(and I think Dawn's looks better anyway) but still can cost 5-10 fps depending on the city so up to you but anyone with 1080 or higher should be fine. Also grab the updated esp right below the main download. If you get dark face bug on NPCs added by this mod try THIS facegen and put it at end of your order.
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Enhanced Vanilla Trees When installing I use, post processing, custom trees (large)(you can use custom small if you don't want larger trees), check enhanced clutter, realistic aspen trees, and SFO Snowy pines, on the last page billboards should be auto selected(dyndolod is REQUIRED for custom trees. If you don't want to use dyndolod skip this mod completely. Also HERE are my darkened and edited textures for EVT if you find them to bright place these after EVT, I also edited the branches to remove the extra ugly needle-less branches on pine trees. If you use my textures then the vurt version above won't matter as I use different higher resolution texture for that so pine needles look a little better. Also HERE is an optional mesh replacer download I removed all the branches on the reach trees and stumps as they look terrible imho.. So reach trees will just be bare leafless trees.. Looks much better to me especially with this overhaul.​
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No Snow Under Roof Fixes - download the main mod and check both boxes when installing. Then right click on the mod in mo2 and click open in explorer and delete the 3 ESP files. Then download my all in one ESP HERE and place it under this mod.
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Realistic Water Two - when installing select none then select the VR rivers. and none for the rest. Last page don’t select any patches and install it. Then you will want to download my ESP replacer HERE . This makes a lot of edits and also changes the color to the blue color from Skyland devs watercolor mod . His mod isn’t needed but please endorse his great work. The actual color you see the water does vary depending on the type of weather going on and time of day/location. I use this over pure waters because it affects a lot more things in game overall and has much better waterflow imho. Place this ESP right ABOVE the two lighting ESPs towards the end of your order.
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Improved Water Performance - make sure to select Realistic Waters Two when installing
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Enhanced Magic VSFX - not sure why this got removed but i updated it and fixed some issues
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XxAwesome PotionsXX - best damn looking potions ever.. get the XL download
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Enhanced Blood Textures - this is pretty subjective but during install I use medium, none, High res default, none. You can use the script-free LITE version but the issue with that one is blood on npcs often has seams or looks blocky.​
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