Project Lightly Modded Skyrim (AE Ready)

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition★ 5 · 521 ratings16k views958 favorites9 min readby YonagaUpdated May 1, 2025View on Steam ↗

Hello!

Welcome to my modding Guide!

THIS GUIDE IS NOW READY FOR THE AE UPDATE

I will show you how to get most out of your game using as less mods as possible! Following this guide will give you a stable, beautiful looking and highly customizable game.
For people who never modded before or are new: Feel free to use the "Nexus Mod Manager". If you already know how to use Mod Organizer 2, use that one instead! Vortex works as well!

For the NMM users: Always overwrite any existing mod, when NMM asks to. ("Yes to all"). If a mod comes with an installation, alway install everything and or to your liking!

Have fun!

If you have questions feel free to write a comment below! Because I am just a normal human being some mistakes might happen. If you have tips or additions, or see any problems in my modlist, feel also free to let me know and I will fix them!

Modding - Textures

All we need to start is a fresh installation of Skyrim. If you still have Skyrim installed and modded it before, delete it! Also delete the folder under "My Documents/My Games/Skyrim Special Edition" (Back up your savefiles before).

Install "Skyrim Script Extender (SKSE)" first please! Just place everything into your Skyrim folder (The "skse64_loader.exe" should be in the same Location as your Skyrim.exe). Always start the game with the "skse64_loader.exe" (Make a shortcut to your Desktop)

Now please install the following mods in this exact order!

2. Address Library for SKSE Plugins - All in one (1.6.X) (Version 11)
3. Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Patch (Version 4.3.4a)
4. Skyrim SE - Project Optimization - ESL VERSION (Version 1.5)
5. PapyrusUtil AE SE - Scripting Utility Functions (Version 4.6)
6. SkyUI_5_2_SE (Version 5.2SE)
7. Forgotten Retex Project - Full Resolution (Version 8.4)
Install Everything!
8. Static Mesh Improvement Mod - SMIM (VErsion 2.08)
Choose "Skyrim 2016 Special Edtion: Everything" but dont check "Statues" on the second page!
9. Relighting Skyrim SE (Version 3.0)
10. High Poly Project (Version 5.3)
11. Noble Skyrim - Full Pack (Version 5.5.0) + NSM - SMIM Patch (Version 5.5.0)
12. Skyrim 202X Downscale

Choose whichever resolution you want. (I suggest 2k if you only are going to play in 1080p)
13. Better Dynamic Ash SE (Version 2.1.1)
14. Simplicity of Snow (Version 0.25)
15. RUSTIC CLOTHING - Special Edition - 4K-2K (Version 3.0)
16. Simply Realistic Armor and Weapons
Simply Realistic Armor (NordwarUA Edition) (Version 1.2)
Simply Realistic Armor (NordwarUA Edition) - All-In-One Weapons Replacer (Version 1.0)
Simply Realistic Armor (NordwarUA Edition) - 1.3 Patch (Version 1.3)
SRA - All-In-One Weapons Replacer Update v1.1 Patch (Version 1.1)
17. Wigfrid's Skyrim Tree Replacer (Version 1.1)
18. Skyland - A Landsacpe Texture Overhaul 2k (Version 5.2)

Install everything!
19. Northern Grass (Version 1.00)
20. Cathedral - Weathers (Version 2.23b) + Cathedral Weathers Unofficial Update (Version 2.36)
21. Landscapes - Cathedral Concept (Version 3.0.3)
Also install: "LODGEN Textures for v3" from the "Miscellaneous files"
22. Cathedral Landscape - Fixed Bridge Meshes - REALly Blended Roads for SMIM (Version 1.0)
23. Cathedral - 3D Pine Grass (Version 0.457)
24. Northern Cathedral Regional Grass (Version 1.0)
25. Pre generated lod for Wigfrids Tree Replacer (Version 1.1)
26. Cathedral - Water (Version 3.7)
27. ETHEREAL CLOUDS SE - 2K (Version 3.0)
28. Smooth Sky Mesh (Version 1.0.262)
29. Cathedral - Luminosity (Version 4.2)
30. Project Clarity - Creature Textures Redone (Version 1.8)

Modding - NPC Overhauls

You might have noticed my character I play with in Skyrim. If you also want to have a good looking character, here are some suggestions. Just, as always, install them in this order!

As for the bodies: I prefer both body types (CBBE and UNP), but for this one I choose UNP.

RaceMenu Anniversary Edition (Version 0.4.19.16)
RaceCompatibilty All-In-One (Version 2.15) + Untranslated Plugins
Moonlight Tales: Do not install
Optional Compatibility Patches: USSEP
Optional Vampire Lord Transformation: Do not install
Optional Vampire Overhaul: No Vampire Overhaul
KS Hairdos SSE
CBPC - Fomod installer - MAIN FILE (Version 1.6.4)
HDT-SMP for SSE 1.5.97 v2.11 (Version 2.11)
FNIS Behaviours (Version 7.6)
XP32 Maximum Skeleton Special Extended (Version 5.06)
Just click “Next”. The only thing you should uncheck is the
“SoS” option (on page 7). Select “NONE
UNP Female Body Renewal (Version 4.6)
Cathedral Player and NPC Overhaul II (Version 4.52)
Expressive Facegen Morphs SE (Version 1.0)”
Bijin Warmaidens SE (Version 3.1.3)
Pandorable's NPCs - Dawnguard SE (Version 1.2)
Pandorable's NPCs - Dragonborn SE (Version 1.1)
Pandorable's Heroines (Version 1.1)

You have to run FNIS! Otherwise the animations won’t work. You can find the tool here:
*STEAMFOLDER*\steamapps\common\Skyrim Special Edition\Data\Tools\GenerateFNIS_for_Users\GenerateFNISforUsers.exe

Check the first two patches! (“GENDER Specific Animations” and “SKELETON Arm Fix”)

Afterwards press the big yellow button “Update FNIS Behaviour”. If this is done (It could take some time) press the “Consistence Check” button! Now you can press “Exit”. The program just asks you if you want to have a shortcut on your desktop. Choose either “No” or “Yes”, because this is not really important.

ENB

The ENB I am using is "PI-CHO ENB - Konan Edition". The installation is fairly simple! Most of the following files will be installed manually (without a modmanager)!

Download the latest ENB binary (From the ENBDev Homepage!) and manually copy the "d3d11.dll" and "decompiler_46e.dll" (inside the wrapper folder) to the Skyrim SE installation folder (where the .exe is).

Download "ENB Helper SE" (Version 2.2.0) and install it like any other mod!

Download Pi-CHO ENB and manually copy/paste the content of the folder into your Skyrim SE folder!

Check the following value in the Skyrimprefs.ini file.
(Documents -> My Games -> Skyrim Special Edition)

bEnableImprovedSnow=0
bToggleSparkles=0
bSAO_CS_Enable=0
bSAOEnable=0
bUseTAA = 1
bVolumetricLightingEnable = 1
iVolumetricLightingQuality = 0

LODs Generation (Not necessary!)

This can be tricky for some users, but if you really want to have a good LOD this is a must have (Especially with the Enhanced Vanilla Tree settings you made!)

Lets go!

First you need to Google for "xLODGen". There should be a link for the "STEP Modifications" website and download the latest BETA (beta 95).

Afterwards you extract it wherever you want and rename the "xLODGEN.exe" to "SSELODGEN.exe" (64bit version!).

Start it up in "Admin-Mode" and wait until another window pops-up!

Check:

Objects LOD
Trees LOD
Terrain LOD

For the LOD brightness in the tree section I suggest you to set it to "-3"!

Now click "Generate" and wait.... Shouldtake between 10 and 30 minutes to be finished, but can even take a bit longer!

If it says "LOD Generation Finished" you can close the windows!

Thats all!

Last but not least!

Now you can finally start your game (With the SKSE.exe!)!

GG WP GL HF

Useful Console Commands for Screenarchery

For this we don't need any mods! We are just using the ingame console!

You can access the console using the "^" key (its above your TAB key - at least on a European keyboard)

Command

Description

TFC

"Toggle Free Cam" means that you can fly around with the camera and make shots without being stuck at your character. If you go into the third person view you can make shots of your character this way. If you stay in first person your character will disappear.

TFC 1

Same as above, but you also freeze time the moment you enter it. This is a good way to make action shots. If you use this while swinging your sword, swimming, running (and other animations) your character and every NPC around you will freeze. You can still move your camera!
Set Gamehour To "x" - You don't like the time you have right now ingame? You want to have a better sunlight for a better scene lighting? Don't waste your time using the "waiting" feature. Use this command to immediately change it. The "x" stands for the time you can enter (0 - 23)

CSB

"Clear Screen Blood" removes the blood from your screen. This is perfect during action shots, and you got hit before. This will save you a lot of time.

TCL

"Toggle Collision" disables the physic and makes your character fly (This only works if you have nothing selected in your console - If you have something selected just double-click on an object until the number in the mid of the screen disappears). Any other NPC can't move during this time!

TAI

"Toggle AI" disables (what a surprise) the AI in the game. A good way to make shots of enemies or animals without aggro them or making them run away. If you just want one NPC to have the AI disabled, select him and use the command. Only this NPC won't react anymore to anything. You can't cast spells during the time the global AI is set to off (Spells have an AI as well)

Player.PlaceAtMe x

Places anything near you. A Dragon for example. If you need a NPC for a scene use this shot to place him at you. The "x" stands for the NPC ID. Check them up on the Elder Scrolls wiki!

Player.SetAv Speedmult x

Makes you run "x"-times faster (Combine it with TCL to get to a good spot for a panorama faster!). I recommended a speed of 500 (standard speed is 100!)
TGM - "Toggle God Mode" is a good way not to die during action shots! You have infinite HP, Mana and Stamina

player.setscale x

If you select a NPC (or yourself) you can change the scale (height) of that selected NPC. 1 is the standard height. For example: To make the NPC smaller you can go down to 0.1.

FOV x

Changes the field of view! Use "fov 90" for example to change your view angle to 90°. The default FOV is 65!

ShowRaceMenu

This will open up the character creation menu again. If you don't like the look of your character, this is the way to change it to your liking!

This disables the HUD completely (Not needed when you use mods like "Immersive HUD"). Be warned: Everything on your screen is gone! You can't even see the menu anymore when you press ESC. The console is also gone. To toggle the HUD on again, you have to open the console and type in "tm" again. Blindly!