Immersive Skyrim

[Kushan]

ENBoost
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/38649//?

I got a pretty massive performance boost from this. I like it alot more then I did Hidalgo. The install process seems complicated but is rather easy. The only thing to note when using is to make sure Vsync is on or use something like dxtory to lock your FPS at 69-60, I had items it buildings getting thrown randomly around rooms because my FPS was too high.

I take this back. I found I got a better performance boost by using ENB to lock my FPS at 60 rather then Dxtory. Dxtory actually crashed my game with ENB installed.

That being said, I ran all around Riverwood, with the static mesh improvement mod installed (adds a ton more polygons to the area) with view distances set to max, and didn't experience so much as a stutter. Was rather amazed since doing the same without ENBoost brings even my gaming rig to its knees. Can't recommend ENBoost enough. After playing some last night and watching Gophers latest Skyrim Let's Play, I'm thinking of switching back to Climates of Tamriel and using an full blown ENB with ENBoost built in. Performance loss was always a major turn off for me. Want to find one that looks realistic and doesn't have depth of field set insanely high.

[sandman2575]

Gopher's Skyrim tutorials are freakin' amazing.  And he's done like a hundred of them (not to mention  the mods he's created).  Anyone interested in modding or ENBs should really check these out.  Time well spent.

Kushan, you might give RealVison a try - performance version.  This version doesn't add any of the Depth if Field camera focusing (can't recall the technical name for this) -- I find it very distracting and am glad not to use it.  I really like the look of this ENB, and it's very FPS friendly.  Gophers video on it is worth watching -- seems to be the ENB he settled on, unless he's moved on to something else in the meantime.

[Kushan]

Gopher's Skyrim tutorials are freakin' amazing.  And he's done like a hundred of them (not to mention  the mods he's created).  Anyone interested in modding or ENBs should really check these out.  Time well spent.

Kushan, you might give RealVison a try - performance version.  This version doesn't add any of the Depth if Field camera focusing (can't recall the technical name for this) -- I find it very distracting and am glad not to use it.  I really like the look of this ENB, and it's very FPS friendly.  Gophers video on it is worth watching -- seems to be the ENB he settled on, unless he's moved on to something else in the meantime.

Gophers tutorials are a definite must watch for anyone wanting to get into modding Skyrim. His LP's are one of the few that i watch consistently.

I believe Gopher settled on using the Phinix EMB (or at least that's whats listed). I just got done trying it out for a bit. I instantly lost 20 FPS that I was getting with RCRN. I went from 60 down to 40, but the game still ran smooth as butter. I ran all through Falkreath and Riverwood and my FPS never dropped below 40. Hope to have some screenshots later.

[PanzersEast]

Death Alternative - Your Money or Your Life
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/45894/?
Instead of insta-death this mod adds some alternative ways you can lose a fight and your gear.

A Matter of Time - A HUD clock widget
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/44091/?
What time is it?  This mod is great for gaging time of day and is fully integrated with Immersive HUD and Frostfall mod... also has MCM control. 


PE

[Kushan]

A Matter of Time - A HUD clock widget
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/44091/?
What time is it?  This mod is great for gaging time of day and is fully integrated with Immersive HUD and Frostfall mod... also has MCM control. 

Love this mod. I have the toggle key set to the same key as iHUD so my whole UI is on one toggle.

[Gusington]

What does Frostfall do?

[PanzersEast]

What does Frostfall do?

With a couple of mods, Skyrim turns into surviving in Skyrim....  Frostfall measures the temperature outside and what items you are wearing to gauge the effects it will have on you.  If  you are not adequately protected or have a way to get warm, the end is not good.

- Frostfall - Hypothermia Camping Survival
This mod gauges the outside temperature and your attire and then applies effects to your health and skills.  It also reconized most mods and will inform you how protected you are with that item you have put on.
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/11163
   
- Wet and Cold
Works with Frostfall for your wet and cold effects
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/27563


- Realistic Needs & Diseases
You now need food and sleep.... no shortcuts
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/26228#content


PE

[Kushan]

With skyrim redone + frostfall + RND, creatures (not including dragons) becomes the least of your concerns. Playing with frostfall in hardcore mode right now. Have to really plan out my routes before moving in the northern regions and make sure I leave myself enough time to make camp before it gets dark.

[Gusington]

Wow.

$%^#! hardcore, as the kids say.

[Kushan]

Wow.

$%^#! hardcore, as the kids say.

All I've really done it to turn up the rate that you gain exposure above the normal limit. The normal rate is 1.0x. Not sure what the equates to in real time. If you want to only occasionally have to take cover then you can set it anywhere between 0 and 1.x or if you want a really hard game you can set it over 1.0x exposure rate. I tried the max amount but it was a bit to harsh for my taste, think my last setting was around 1.5x exposure rate. I figured a little higher then normal was appropriate given that I'm currently playing a Survivalist/Ranger.

One of the many improvements SkyUI adds is the MCM system in SkyUI. It lets you customize mod settings on the fly to suite your own personal taste. Its also cleaner and easier to program on the mod maker side of things as well. Its a lot better then the "old" way of doing things, which was to add an item (usually a book) into your inventory, which when read would bring up a cumbersome menu.

[Gusington]

^You've made your own mods? I think I may have asked you that before but don't remember...

[Kushan]

^You've made your own mods? I think I may have asked you that before but don't remember...

I'm working on one. Unfortunately between being busy with work all summer and taking a break from Skyrim I'm not that far along with it. The stuff I'm working on is simple compared to the majority of mods out there.

[Ian C]

What a great thread! I'm especially interested to see how the Frostfall and Hunger mods impact gameplay. Can anyone recommend a good graphical mod? I heard about the EN Boost making graphics smoother but I'm a novice in this area.

Just to mention my Skyrim Legendary Edition Guide arrived today, at over 1000 pages. It's a freaking tome. I'm really going to enjoy my second play through, once I get some immersive mods installed.

[Kushan]

What a great thread! I'm especially interested to see how the Frostfall and Hunger mods impact gameplay. Can anyone recommend a good graphical mod? I heard about the EN Boost making graphics smoother but I'm a novice in this area.

I would go with either Realistic Colors Realistic Nights (RCRN for short) or Climates of Tamriel with either Realistic Lighting Overhaul (RLO) or Enhanced Lights and FX added to CoT. It really is a toss up between RCRN and CoT. I like the lighting in RCRN more. At the same time I like the weather in CoT a little more then RCRN. Not so say RCRN's is bad, its just a personal preference. Unfortunately the two mods are incompatible.

I recommend watching Gophers excellent Beginners Guide to Skyrim, He goes over everything about how to mod your game, and the various types of mods. Part 6 is all on lighting, and give you a really good comparison between CoT with RLO and CoT with ELFX.

Beginners Guide to Skyrim (Series)
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE7DlYarj-DdhDG41roBVJfNCqvO5MmKP

Beginners Guide to Skyrim - Part 6 (Lighting)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BlcG2Hp4Go&list=PLE7DlYarj-DdhDG41roBVJfNCqvO5MmKP&index=9

For a novice I would avoid ENBs all together until you get your feet wet. Their not hard to install but they can require a little more knowledge about how Skyrim is set up then most mods. You don't need to use a ENB graphical mod to use ENBoost, all you need to do is download the ENB binaries and your good to go. Standalone ENBoost is even compatible with the two suggestions I have above. Gopher started doing a ENB series, where he tested a new ENB every week, but seems to have stopped doing that. He has mentioned that he wants to continue doing them, but given that he is currently doing two Let's Play Series and two different mod review video series, I don't expect him to do any ENB videos for awhile.

[Ian C]

Many thanks Kushan - all helpful info.