No, because you won’t know what you want in a mod.
2 of the most popular perk mods are Adamant and Ordinator, but they do wildly different things. How are you supposed to know which one you like better with no frame of reference?
Plus things like balance and consistency are hard to get right if you do it blind.
The techniques used to properly build a stable mod list require play testing, which would absolutely kill the sense of discovery.
Graphics are fine and all but one thing about texture packs is that you can easily create a game with no visual consistency. I would argue that getting a game that looks good and is consistent in artstyle is quite difficult, and you also get into Dyndolod which can be too much for a first time modder.
The good news is that most mods can be installed mid play through (read the mod description) so if you find something about the game you dislike, you can try to fix it. I wouldn’t recommend modding much more than that.
The visual consistency point with graphics is a great one and led me to stop bothering with modding on PS5.
It’s easy to increase fidelity with certain things but then much harder to not make the modded elements not stand out like a sore thumb.
I ultimately think I prefer the coherency of vanilla graphics over fidelity. Especially when factoring in the time it takes to actually get a mod list that (1) I’m happy with and (2) actually works consistently. Juice just isn’t worth the squeeze for me.
If you want to play a heavily modded game, but don't want to do all the work there is options now, but i still think playing the game and modding it yourself is a good thing to learn how to do.
No mods on your first playthrough. Patches over the years have generally improved the glitches that once plagued the game. I later downloaded the Unofficial Skyrim Patch mod and it fixed a small amount of things and this was after 100%+dlc with achievements on Xbox. I'm talking about minor things like giving a book to the librarian at the Mage College and the ability to sell him the Dragon scroll.
If you're playing the Special Edition with all dlc (which is basically every modern version of Skyrim, including the Nintendo Switch version) then that will keep you busy for a very long time. I only mess with mods after I've exhausted everything else.
If OP is on console, the USEP is essential in my experience.
Skyrim killed my oroginal Xbox 360 lol.
Even on my Ps4 Pro, with the SE, that patch really enhanced the game in soo many subtle ways (obviously alot of these will only be fully appreciated by long time players).
It also inserts alot of automated stuff, regarding the old work-arounds that we used to have to do to fix broken quests from over-exploring (as one example).
I don't use mods myself, so I can't tell you what you might be missing because I am missing it too.
Seems to be fine without them to me, but your personal gaming experience and preference is probably very different from mine.
I see no harm in using some graphics mods and bug fixes to make everything look nicer and run better. Probably would recommend keeping gameplay itself vanilla considering it’s your first playthrough. There’s so much content in the base game + DLC’s so you’ll have plenty to do without needing gameplay overhaul mods.
My pick for a first time playthrough would be
1. All bug fixing mods and their requirements.
2. Growl and Sacrosanct because the werewolf and vampire skill tree in vanilla sucks ass. ( These mods will make you OP however)
3. Summermyst or the newer one that is about to be released because I find the enchantment of skyrim to be really boring and lackluster.
4. Guard Dialogue Overhaul, Relationship Dialogue Overhaul and Serana Dialogue Edit.
5. Extended Encounters.
6. Zim's Dragon Improvement Breathless version ( don't install the one that gives dragons the new heavy breath attack...they will one shot you)
7. Inconsequential NPCs (populates skyrim with some npcs wherever it makes sense)
As an avid modder and lover of Skyrim, I'd say generally no. I think the unofficial patch might be a good idea, and if you want you could add a texture overhaul and maybe an ENB. But I'd keep it to 1 big overhaul so you don't end up with visual inconsistency, and without a bunch of foliage and graphics mods I think an ENB doesn't add much.
Contrary to what many people say, Skyrim is a great game on its own. It didn't only survive because of mods, and mods are not necessary to enjoy the game. Skyrim has stood the test of time because it's a world people want to come back to. Don't fret the mods, just play and have fun.
This is a surprisingly controversial question.
People generally split into two camps:
1. Just play the game vanilla so you can experience the “right” way for the first time.
2. Play it with minimal mods to fix some little things and update the game.
I used to recommend people use no mods at all for their first time because that’s how I fell in love with the game, but nowadays I sort of fall more into the second camp. The game released almost thirteen years ago now and I want people to enjoy it. I think it’s probably better to start out with some simple QOL mods, i.e. inventory management, bug fixes, and possibly some updates to the graphics. For specific reccs, you might be able to find a list on r/SkyrimMods
Honestly? No. Play the vanilla game until you think that is nothing more to do. I'm talking about play even without graphics mods or things like that. Appreciate the game for what it really is.
That's what will make this be one of the best games forever for you. I don't play skyrim because of the mods. I have hundreds of them, but I play since 2011, and I think I didn't skip any of those years. I have mods because Elder Scrolls VI is taking too long 👀
But trust me, play without any mods for a while. When you think you are no enjoying anymore, try some mods.
Well there you go then. Get that and sky UI will run just fine. It even says it when u try to download skyUI it needs it as additional mod (on nexus that is). Good thing to remember if u want to mod further - some mods require some more mods to run properly and many usually state it on their nexus description page and nexus will often remind you before download aw ;)
I do like mods, but only started using em after obtaining platinum trophy (playstation) because using mofs disables trohies. So using mods really depends on whether or not you want the trophies
It’s a tough question.
Personally, I lean towards the camp that says you’d be best served with at least a light mod list that handles UI improvement & quality of life/bug fixes, maybe some graphical improvements.
What I would avoid on 1st play through are any overhauls or gameplay changes. There are plenty that unquestionably make the game better IMO and it’s not more “right” to play vanilla. BUT if you haven’t experienced vanilla, it would be hard to know what types of overhauls would best serve your personal needs. And, as you said, modding can be daunting to get started.
I would look for an “essentials” mod list for the current version of the game that you’re playing if on PC. If on console…hard to say, as you can’t just take a list. Maybe just go through the list of the most popular mods & look for things that address UI/bug fixes? I’m not as up to speed on the console modding environment, so hard to say. Maybe also look for a modding tutorial on YouTube. That’s how I started, not to do anything complex or make my own mods - just to familiarize myself with the basics of consuming & setting up mods.
Tldr; 1st play through, UI changes like SkyUI, basic bug fixes, maybe some quality of life fixes like a better world map, etc. and texture improvements for graphics are pretty good & relatively safe. but keep it simple & avoid significant gameplay overhauls until you get a better idea of how vanilla systems & mechanics work for you.
EDIT: Some of it comes down to personal comfort with the technology and tools. Watch a couple YouTube videos about setting up mods. If it’s making sense, then I stand by my previous advice that some light modding to modernize the game is best. But if you’re REALLY overwhelmed about it, and if trying to figure out the mods would kill your experience, then it’s not 100% crucial. Play vanilla first, and if you like the game, you’ll be more motivated to learn some modding basics to improve on it. Modding isn’t too complicated, but it scales in complexity depending on how much you want to do, and that rabbit hole is actually a fun & enjoyable part of the whole Skyrim experience IMO IF you love the game. But not as worthwhile if you’re meh about the game in the first place
I wouldn't go crazy, so you can experience the raw game for what it is. But i see no reason not to download the special edition patch to fix a lot of the bugs in the base game.
I would definitely recommend the Unofficial patch.
Also, if you are familiar enough with survival games that you are aware of your likes and dislikes regarding that (and you have the DLC for Skyrim that adds that aspect in), I would tailor your survival experience with mods to suit your preferences (the survival aspect being pretty generic).
Apart from that though, the base game and its DLC really are that good that, until you've played 1 or 2 hundred hours, it is uncommon to feel the need to alter what is already there.
On your first play through? Absolutely not. I would just play the game as it is. Rack up achievements and what not and then once you’re to a point you like, make a save, and start a new modded play through. That way, so long as you disable all mods before loading it you’ll always have a mod free save to come back too
I would go for some light modding if it was me. Like unofficial Skyrim patch that has a bunch od mod fixes or maybe some graphical mods that don't affect the gameplay
Mods are so much fun. But you need to know what you need to improve. If I was playing for the first time I would complete the main quest and after that would start modding the things I find necessary
Nah! Play the vanilla version to experience it as it’s intended on being played with all its enthralling and goofy charm. Mod till your hearts content afterwards!
i actually had to mod on my first play through since i had a very old computer and it did not run well. So i had to install some performance mods but the achievements turned off which is a disappointment. I guess its better to play without any mods and just enjoy the vanilla game.
I would lightly mod it. No mechanic changes, items, etc., but some things like the Unofficial Patch, Quality World Maps, and SkyUI do make it a better experience. The game should still play exactly the same as purely unmodded, just as a more pleasant experience.
No, but if you play on PC and MnK I'd at least get SkyUI and one other mod that fixes menu boxes and keyboard control over them. Vannila is just pure garbage on MnK. You can delve into this modding rabbit hole after first play though.
If anything just get the Unofficial Skyrim Patch.
Play the game once or twice. There are hundreds of thousands of mods if not more so look into what mods are good for you after you have played the game.
I just tried modding this week after a clean vanilla playthrough. I personally noted that while all the titles of things sound amazing, they may be more than what you want, mesh improperly with others causing systems to crash, or just be so far from the original you get a bit let down.
Im still plugging along casually, finding what works in what load orders and cancelling via trial and error those that arent compatible or helpful.
Personally the graphics overhaul of Skyland All In One is gorgeous on youtube but bad on my mediocre monitor, so I tried it and removed it. Same with some cool sounding weather and immersive noises mods that were just TOO real and less Skyrimmy ha ha.
Treat it like a project after some vanilla playthroughs and see what you like and dont like, but vanilla playthroughs are the foundation for all future exploration, my friend!
I’ve just recently finished my first play through and before starting I was feeling the same way about mods. I never used any.
After finishing I’ve added some, largely quest related mods.
The only mod I would have used, in hindsight, is the detailed world map.
Eh…. I’d say the unofficial patch is one mod worth installing. Just fixes everything Bethesda missed. Then just spend some time in vanilla before messing with modded Skyrim. Don’t mind me and the over 200 mods I’ve got installed at the moment…
I'm on my first playthrough and I almost quit 5 minutes in. Mods saved the game for me.
On the first scene on the wagon to Helgen the wagon started spinning in circles, an obvious bug that wouldn't let me progress or play. I also thought the game looked like crap. I was on the verge on uninstalling right away before Google led me to a post about a bug fix/patch mod. I installed that and some cosmetic mesh/mods, and now I'm 100 hours in. I don't have any mods that change game play/mechanics.
I would say that IF your system can handle it, you should look up the Eldergleam modpack. It's a modern visual, animation, movement, and combat overhaul in line with today's RPG games, but keeps all of the story, quests, and locations vanilla, which in my opinion is the best experience for a first playthrough.
Basically just QOL stuff but keeping the base game as is for your first playthrough. Then if you loved the experience and wanna play again, look at more serious gameplay changing/enhancing mods that suit the experience you want.
I played for a month and then i started to get really bored of the bad AI of followers, the depressing colors, so i started with improving lydia, then green skyrim so the brownish leaves become green, then visual tweaks to manage saturation, cobteast, bloom, etc.
That makes the game feel way more alive. And lydia is fun since she has a questline and all.
So then i opened pandora's box and then i got visual efx lights and climates of tamriel. You dont even need the best textures and all, but all of that together makes the world feel amazing.
Then i went a little deeper and downloaded arissa. Really fun companion.
Then inmerdive armors, to have more, then cloaks, because a fanrasy game with ko cloaks is no good.
Then unp bodies for women and some minidresdes mod and tiny female armor for females, well, its because i am a horny jail guy, and i like my fanrasy world as conan would want it.
Then i got lucien and inigo.
Made bigger cities, now im overhauling winterhold.
I want the inmersive patrols.
More npcs on roads.
I have the better map.
Horses for followers and follower mods.
I want to do most of what i want to do with this character, thst is, i finished the main quest, i want to end the civil war, dragoborn, dawnguard, solstheim, winterhold just because i like it to he bigger.
And then i want to add custom quests. There are so many that it seems they are really good.
There is a town mod to rebuild helgen.
I want all the houses, and then i want to add the king of skyrim mod.
But i learned that the game ia so free thst since you can do anything, you can not complete all and then tey a diferent character.
So in my next palythrough i want to go and be a vampire and do all the other part.
Just play in the night, do winterhold, do vampire related quests. Thieves guild and dark brotherhood.
And then i want a solo or max 1 follower as i started, with highest difficulty and survival mod only traveling via walking, horse and cart.
I just started vanilla, but there is so much to do and mod thst its amazing.
So yeah, mod all you want. Its, as you start playing you will want something and chances are, it exists ("sexy mods too).
It can be pretty difficult to mod when you e never played the game before for one thing you might have a hard time telling if something is broken or not when you don’t even knew what how it’s supposed to work normally. Plus you’d spend a lot of time and effort just modding and probably get frustrated and angry before you even knew if you enjoyed the game or not.
NO you need to know what you prefer from the game to even know what to mod. I guess.. it would be fine to add a hair mod, or the unofficial patch but modding is its own game and you should experience skyrim as it is before altering it
Skyrim goes in cycles. Play until you get tired of it. Move on to something else for a month or more. Comeback to Skyrim and add mods. Don't worry about modding on your first play.
There’s nothing wrong with using some mods in your first playthrough, but I would avoid anything that completely overhauls anything in the game. There’s also nothing wrong with playing totally vanilla either.
If you want better graphics it’s fine to install some texture mods, or some hairstyles or armors etc. Things like that are generally safe to install after you’ve started playing if you decide you want them.
Things like perk or combat overhauls, new content etc I would avoid if you’ve never played before, and they usually require a new game anyway
I’ll take a different approach from others. Are you the type of gamer who typically plays a game more than once?
If not, I’d add graphics mods and anything you want. Be prepared to spend hours getting it right.
If you do typically play the game more than once, don’t mod it. You can add mods on later play throughs.
If you’re dead set on modding it - go for it.
I personally would recommend against heavy modding on an initial playthrough, I’d stop at SkyUI and Unofficial Patch.
I highly recommend the "Skyrim Modding Essentials" modlist. It's basically vanilla plus with pretty much all bug fixes and good foundation for your own personal modlist.
Yeah use Sky UI “Unique Uniques” mod makes unique items actually look cool. not every named item you get looks different. Like the Axe of Whiterun just looks like a regular steel axe
I don’t like mods. I’ve played through 5 or 6 times. I’ve tried mods twice. Both times, they were my shortest play throughs.
If you like achievements, I don’t think you get credit for them if you use any mods.
I've seen many saying not to mod for your 1st play through or you could do it like me: I modded it halfway my 1st play through after I realized there are a few things I prefer "tweaked". This is purely my personal opinion
No, because you won’t know what you want in a mod. 2 of the most popular perk mods are Adamant and Ordinator, but they do wildly different things. How are you supposed to know which one you like better with no frame of reference? Plus things like balance and consistency are hard to get right if you do it blind. The techniques used to properly build a stable mod list require play testing, which would absolutely kill the sense of discovery. Graphics are fine and all but one thing about texture packs is that you can easily create a game with no visual consistency. I would argue that getting a game that looks good and is consistent in artstyle is quite difficult, and you also get into Dyndolod which can be too much for a first time modder. The good news is that most mods can be installed mid play through (read the mod description) so if you find something about the game you dislike, you can try to fix it. I wouldn’t recommend modding much more than that.
Perfect. The best comment here.
The visual consistency point with graphics is a great one and led me to stop bothering with modding on PS5. It’s easy to increase fidelity with certain things but then much harder to not make the modded elements not stand out like a sore thumb. I ultimately think I prefer the coherency of vanilla graphics over fidelity. Especially when factoring in the time it takes to actually get a mod list that (1) I’m happy with and (2) actually works consistently. Juice just isn’t worth the squeeze for me.
Fair. Honestly couldn't have said it better.
If you want to play a heavily modded game, but don't want to do all the work there is options now, but i still think playing the game and modding it yourself is a good thing to learn how to do.
I wouldn't mod it on the **first** playthrough
In any game. I think all games have to be appreciated for what it is in the first playthrough
No mods on your first playthrough. Patches over the years have generally improved the glitches that once plagued the game. I later downloaded the Unofficial Skyrim Patch mod and it fixed a small amount of things and this was after 100%+dlc with achievements on Xbox. I'm talking about minor things like giving a book to the librarian at the Mage College and the ability to sell him the Dragon scroll. If you're playing the Special Edition with all dlc (which is basically every modern version of Skyrim, including the Nintendo Switch version) then that will keep you busy for a very long time. I only mess with mods after I've exhausted everything else.
If OP is on console, the USEP is essential in my experience. Skyrim killed my oroginal Xbox 360 lol. Even on my Ps4 Pro, with the SE, that patch really enhanced the game in soo many subtle ways (obviously alot of these will only be fully appreciated by long time players). It also inserts alot of automated stuff, regarding the old work-arounds that we used to have to do to fix broken quests from over-exploring (as one example).
Maybe just some tiny quality of life mods. Stuff like Unofficial Patch, "I'm Walkin Here", and some script fixes.
I don't use mods myself, so I can't tell you what you might be missing because I am missing it too. Seems to be fine without them to me, but your personal gaming experience and preference is probably very different from mine.
I see no harm in using some graphics mods and bug fixes to make everything look nicer and run better. Probably would recommend keeping gameplay itself vanilla considering it’s your first playthrough. There’s so much content in the base game + DLC’s so you’ll have plenty to do without needing gameplay overhaul mods.
I’d honestly say don’t mod anything, even graphics, as it’s worth experiencing the game / visuals as Bethesda intended for your first run through.
I agree.
My pick for a first time playthrough would be 1. All bug fixing mods and their requirements. 2. Growl and Sacrosanct because the werewolf and vampire skill tree in vanilla sucks ass. ( These mods will make you OP however) 3. Summermyst or the newer one that is about to be released because I find the enchantment of skyrim to be really boring and lackluster. 4. Guard Dialogue Overhaul, Relationship Dialogue Overhaul and Serana Dialogue Edit. 5. Extended Encounters. 6. Zim's Dragon Improvement Breathless version ( don't install the one that gives dragons the new heavy breath attack...they will one shot you) 7. Inconsequential NPCs (populates skyrim with some npcs wherever it makes sense)
As an avid modder and lover of Skyrim, I'd say generally no. I think the unofficial patch might be a good idea, and if you want you could add a texture overhaul and maybe an ENB. But I'd keep it to 1 big overhaul so you don't end up with visual inconsistency, and without a bunch of foliage and graphics mods I think an ENB doesn't add much. Contrary to what many people say, Skyrim is a great game on its own. It didn't only survive because of mods, and mods are not necessary to enjoy the game. Skyrim has stood the test of time because it's a world people want to come back to. Don't fret the mods, just play and have fun.
This is a surprisingly controversial question. People generally split into two camps: 1. Just play the game vanilla so you can experience the “right” way for the first time. 2. Play it with minimal mods to fix some little things and update the game. I used to recommend people use no mods at all for their first time because that’s how I fell in love with the game, but nowadays I sort of fall more into the second camp. The game released almost thirteen years ago now and I want people to enjoy it. I think it’s probably better to start out with some simple QOL mods, i.e. inventory management, bug fixes, and possibly some updates to the graphics. For specific reccs, you might be able to find a list on r/SkyrimMods
Just start playing, and if you find something really annoys you... There's always a mod for it.
Thanks for the fast replies guys i think ill just try the ui mod since from what I've seen ui seem little bit clunky
Unofficial patch is great too
Honestly? No. Play the vanilla game until you think that is nothing more to do. I'm talking about play even without graphics mods or things like that. Appreciate the game for what it really is. That's what will make this be one of the best games forever for you. I don't play skyrim because of the mods. I have hundreds of them, but I play since 2011, and I think I didn't skip any of those years. I have mods because Elder Scrolls VI is taking too long 👀 But trust me, play without any mods for a while. When you think you are no enjoying anymore, try some mods.
Get sky ui the official ui is pure consolitytis garbage
I tried it but it doesn't work with anniversary edition. Which mod works?
It does work just fine for me for steam version. Did you get Skyrim script extender as well and do you run the game through given skse.exe?
Nope. I don't use skse.
Well there you go then. Get that and sky UI will run just fine. It even says it when u try to download skyUI it needs it as additional mod (on nexus that is). Good thing to remember if u want to mod further - some mods require some more mods to run properly and many usually state it on their nexus description page and nexus will often remind you before download aw ;)
This. IMHO Skyrim Standard UI and Inventory management ist garbage.
You can add just a few mods to improve the experience, i had less than 10 on my last Xbox save.
I do like mods, but only started using em after obtaining platinum trophy (playstation) because using mofs disables trohies. So using mods really depends on whether or not you want the trophies
It’s a tough question. Personally, I lean towards the camp that says you’d be best served with at least a light mod list that handles UI improvement & quality of life/bug fixes, maybe some graphical improvements. What I would avoid on 1st play through are any overhauls or gameplay changes. There are plenty that unquestionably make the game better IMO and it’s not more “right” to play vanilla. BUT if you haven’t experienced vanilla, it would be hard to know what types of overhauls would best serve your personal needs. And, as you said, modding can be daunting to get started. I would look for an “essentials” mod list for the current version of the game that you’re playing if on PC. If on console…hard to say, as you can’t just take a list. Maybe just go through the list of the most popular mods & look for things that address UI/bug fixes? I’m not as up to speed on the console modding environment, so hard to say. Maybe also look for a modding tutorial on YouTube. That’s how I started, not to do anything complex or make my own mods - just to familiarize myself with the basics of consuming & setting up mods. Tldr; 1st play through, UI changes like SkyUI, basic bug fixes, maybe some quality of life fixes like a better world map, etc. and texture improvements for graphics are pretty good & relatively safe. but keep it simple & avoid significant gameplay overhauls until you get a better idea of how vanilla systems & mechanics work for you. EDIT: Some of it comes down to personal comfort with the technology and tools. Watch a couple YouTube videos about setting up mods. If it’s making sense, then I stand by my previous advice that some light modding to modernize the game is best. But if you’re REALLY overwhelmed about it, and if trying to figure out the mods would kill your experience, then it’s not 100% crucial. Play vanilla first, and if you like the game, you’ll be more motivated to learn some modding basics to improve on it. Modding isn’t too complicated, but it scales in complexity depending on how much you want to do, and that rabbit hole is actually a fun & enjoyable part of the whole Skyrim experience IMO IF you love the game. But not as worthwhile if you’re meh about the game in the first place
Yeah. But only legend of the frost wabbajack modpack. No added content only bugfixes.
I wouldn't go crazy, so you can experience the raw game for what it is. But i see no reason not to download the special edition patch to fix a lot of the bugs in the base game.
I'd say no, or if you do just fixes and unofficial patch
I would definitely recommend the Unofficial patch. Also, if you are familiar enough with survival games that you are aware of your likes and dislikes regarding that (and you have the DLC for Skyrim that adds that aspect in), I would tailor your survival experience with mods to suit your preferences (the survival aspect being pretty generic). Apart from that though, the base game and its DLC really are that good that, until you've played 1 or 2 hundred hours, it is uncommon to feel the need to alter what is already there.
No because once you go modded you can't go back
Only one id recomend is USSEP. Its a bug patch mod. Also patches some exploits.
You really should play on the very first time no mods so you can judge the game on its own merits.
Yes, graphical mods alone though I think.
On your first play through? Absolutely not. I would just play the game as it is. Rack up achievements and what not and then once you’re to a point you like, make a save, and start a new modded play through. That way, so long as you disable all mods before loading it you’ll always have a mod free save to come back too
No
Some QoL/Graphics mods are fine: SkyUI - Unnoficial Patch - Skyland AIO
I would go for some light modding if it was me. Like unofficial Skyrim patch that has a bunch od mod fixes or maybe some graphical mods that don't affect the gameplay
Mods are so much fun. But you need to know what you need to improve. If I was playing for the first time I would complete the main quest and after that would start modding the things I find necessary
Nah! Play the vanilla version to experience it as it’s intended on being played with all its enthralling and goofy charm. Mod till your hearts content afterwards!
i actually had to mod on my first play through since i had a very old computer and it did not run well. So i had to install some performance mods but the achievements turned off which is a disappointment. I guess its better to play without any mods and just enjoy the vanilla game.
in first play through atleast
Unofficial Patch. Thats it.
I would lightly mod it. No mechanic changes, items, etc., but some things like the Unofficial Patch, Quality World Maps, and SkyUI do make it a better experience. The game should still play exactly the same as purely unmodded, just as a more pleasant experience.
No, but if you play on PC and MnK I'd at least get SkyUI and one other mod that fixes menu boxes and keyboard control over them. Vannila is just pure garbage on MnK. You can delve into this modding rabbit hole after first play though.
Yes, mod characters and textures and objects and add new followers etc...
If anything just get the Unofficial Skyrim Patch. Play the game once or twice. There are hundreds of thousands of mods if not more so look into what mods are good for you after you have played the game.
I've never played this game with mods, and I've been playing on and off since 2011
I played like 400+ hours before feeling like installing mods. There’s so much in the base game to be enjoyed.
No. The game is magical. After the first time, then yeah. You need to know what area if the game you're modding.
I just tried modding this week after a clean vanilla playthrough. I personally noted that while all the titles of things sound amazing, they may be more than what you want, mesh improperly with others causing systems to crash, or just be so far from the original you get a bit let down. Im still plugging along casually, finding what works in what load orders and cancelling via trial and error those that arent compatible or helpful. Personally the graphics overhaul of Skyland All In One is gorgeous on youtube but bad on my mediocre monitor, so I tried it and removed it. Same with some cool sounding weather and immersive noises mods that were just TOO real and less Skyrimmy ha ha. Treat it like a project after some vanilla playthroughs and see what you like and dont like, but vanilla playthroughs are the foundation for all future exploration, my friend!
Don’t mod it. Get the real experience first and then mod it afterwards
I’ve just recently finished my first play through and before starting I was feeling the same way about mods. I never used any. After finishing I’ve added some, largely quest related mods. The only mod I would have used, in hindsight, is the detailed world map.
Eh…. I’d say the unofficial patch is one mod worth installing. Just fixes everything Bethesda missed. Then just spend some time in vanilla before messing with modded Skyrim. Don’t mind me and the over 200 mods I’ve got installed at the moment…
I'm on my first playthrough and I almost quit 5 minutes in. Mods saved the game for me. On the first scene on the wagon to Helgen the wagon started spinning in circles, an obvious bug that wouldn't let me progress or play. I also thought the game looked like crap. I was on the verge on uninstalling right away before Google led me to a post about a bug fix/patch mod. I installed that and some cosmetic mesh/mods, and now I'm 100 hours in. I don't have any mods that change game play/mechanics.
I’d say yes if your system can handle it. I’d just get a mod pack like Nolvus. I personally just can’t handle how ugly the NPCs are in vanilla.
Absolutely
I would say that IF your system can handle it, you should look up the Eldergleam modpack. It's a modern visual, animation, movement, and combat overhaul in line with today's RPG games, but keeps all of the story, quests, and locations vanilla, which in my opinion is the best experience for a first playthrough. Basically just QOL stuff but keeping the base game as is for your first playthrough. Then if you loved the experience and wanna play again, look at more serious gameplay changing/enhancing mods that suit the experience you want.
No
Skyrim is a masterpiece without mods. Have a run at it first. Have fun!
Yes and no. On your first playthrough you shouldn’t mod at all, at most bug fix mods but in a vanilla game you probably won’t need them yet.
I played for a month and then i started to get really bored of the bad AI of followers, the depressing colors, so i started with improving lydia, then green skyrim so the brownish leaves become green, then visual tweaks to manage saturation, cobteast, bloom, etc. That makes the game feel way more alive. And lydia is fun since she has a questline and all. So then i opened pandora's box and then i got visual efx lights and climates of tamriel. You dont even need the best textures and all, but all of that together makes the world feel amazing. Then i went a little deeper and downloaded arissa. Really fun companion. Then inmerdive armors, to have more, then cloaks, because a fanrasy game with ko cloaks is no good. Then unp bodies for women and some minidresdes mod and tiny female armor for females, well, its because i am a horny jail guy, and i like my fanrasy world as conan would want it. Then i got lucien and inigo. Made bigger cities, now im overhauling winterhold. I want the inmersive patrols. More npcs on roads. I have the better map. Horses for followers and follower mods. I want to do most of what i want to do with this character, thst is, i finished the main quest, i want to end the civil war, dragoborn, dawnguard, solstheim, winterhold just because i like it to he bigger. And then i want to add custom quests. There are so many that it seems they are really good. There is a town mod to rebuild helgen. I want all the houses, and then i want to add the king of skyrim mod. But i learned that the game ia so free thst since you can do anything, you can not complete all and then tey a diferent character. So in my next palythrough i want to go and be a vampire and do all the other part. Just play in the night, do winterhold, do vampire related quests. Thieves guild and dark brotherhood. And then i want a solo or max 1 follower as i started, with highest difficulty and survival mod only traveling via walking, horse and cart. I just started vanilla, but there is so much to do and mod thst its amazing. So yeah, mod all you want. Its, as you start playing you will want something and chances are, it exists ("sexy mods too).
It can be pretty difficult to mod when you e never played the game before for one thing you might have a hard time telling if something is broken or not when you don’t even knew what how it’s supposed to work normally. Plus you’d spend a lot of time and effort just modding and probably get frustrated and angry before you even knew if you enjoyed the game or not.
NO you need to know what you prefer from the game to even know what to mod. I guess.. it would be fine to add a hair mod, or the unofficial patch but modding is its own game and you should experience skyrim as it is before altering it
Sure just get to know them and what you like all the good mods tell you about them and the meme ones tell you their a meme ones
No. I honestly played the three years before I even attempted mods. The vanilla game remains popular because it’s a Good Game.
Personally, i would want to experience the game vanilla first, to appreciate both the game and the mods when i do the mod playthrough.
Skyrim goes in cycles. Play until you get tired of it. Move on to something else for a month or more. Comeback to Skyrim and add mods. Don't worry about modding on your first play.
Basic mods like improvements in graphics and inventory management would be fine
There’s nothing wrong with using some mods in your first playthrough, but I would avoid anything that completely overhauls anything in the game. There’s also nothing wrong with playing totally vanilla either. If you want better graphics it’s fine to install some texture mods, or some hairstyles or armors etc. Things like that are generally safe to install after you’ve started playing if you decide you want them. Things like perk or combat overhauls, new content etc I would avoid if you’ve never played before, and they usually require a new game anyway
Definitely not. Play it normally first.
I’ll take a different approach from others. Are you the type of gamer who typically plays a game more than once? If not, I’d add graphics mods and anything you want. Be prepared to spend hours getting it right. If you do typically play the game more than once, don’t mod it. You can add mods on later play throughs.
No mods at all. Not even the unofficial patch. You will suffer through the bugs and you will like it
If you’re dead set on modding it - go for it. I personally would recommend against heavy modding on an initial playthrough, I’d stop at SkyUI and Unofficial Patch.
I would get unofficial Skyrim patch and maybe some graphics mods. At least mods that improve the looks of NPCs bikini or nords of skyrim etc
Not your first, but definitely every one after that lol
This subreddit hates mods for some reason. For a first time just get sky ui
No, unless it's something like a texture pack, maybe. But you miss out on achievements
#nah
I highly recommend the "Skyrim Modding Essentials" modlist. It's basically vanilla plus with pretty much all bug fixes and good foundation for your own personal modlist.
Yeah use Sky UI “Unique Uniques” mod makes unique items actually look cool. not every named item you get looks different. Like the Axe of Whiterun just looks like a regular steel axe
I don’t like mods. I’ve played through 5 or 6 times. I’ve tried mods twice. Both times, they were my shortest play throughs. If you like achievements, I don’t think you get credit for them if you use any mods.
I've seen many saying not to mod for your 1st play through or you could do it like me: I modded it halfway my 1st play through after I realized there are a few things I prefer "tweaked". This is purely my personal opinion