TUCOGUIDE – Installing mods in SSE – tutorial with install order

Overview

— LONG TIME DEFUNCT — VISIT https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/10694 FOR CURRENT VERSION —v1.2The aim is mainly graphical and performance improvements, leaving the gameplay, perks, balance, combat and lore faithful to the original, with one exception – Frostfall / Camping complete / iNeed – if you do not care about the survival aspect modification, ignore those.

I. Before you start, ESSENTIAL tools

The aim is mainly graphical and performance improvements, leaving the gameplay, perks, balance, combat and lore faithful to the original, with one exception – Frostfall / Camping complete / iNeed – if you do not care about the survival aspect modification, ignore those. All credit goes to the authors of these fantastic game modifications. I hope that creating this list will be a humble contribution to making their work more popular.

=== BREAKING NEWS ===

TUCOGUIDE 2.0 – a tutorial for modding the game with Mod Organizer 2 – WAS RELEASED on the 15th of July.

TUCOGUIDE 2.0[www.nexusmods.com]

It is a much refreshed, updated and enhanced version of this guide. If you still want to use Nexus Mod Manager, this version here can be still used.

=== BREAKING NEWS ===

If you’re about to mod also TES 4: Oblivion, take Bevilex’ guide here:
[link]

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PDF Version of TUCOGUIDE available here:
[link]

The tutorial aims at a high performance on the recommended system configuration. It should keep 60 FPS if installed correctly. It should play well on the minimum requirements with occasional performance dips. It is a balance between looks and speed, hence I included a cut down Skyrim Flora Overhaul (plants only) among others, in favour of Verdant Grass and Simply Bigger Trees.
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Install the mods in the order of this tutorial and overwrite textures when asked. If there is a exception to this, I will let you know in the tutorial.

Here you can get an idea how your game will look like after going through this guide:

PREVIEWS OF TUCOGUIDE:

Using OrganicENB:

Using Nyclix’s ENB (might be a bit more demanding then OrganicENB:

Using Skyrim Re-Engaged (reshade only version, color correcion only):

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DISCLAIMER: Please note, that the author of this tutorial, nor the authors of the files presented here shall be held liable for any software or hardware damage resulting from using this content. You mod your game on your own risk. In worst case you can always wipe out the Nexus directories and your game directory, download the game again and start from scratch.

System requirements:

Minimum:
i5 3570K or Q9650 @4.10 GHz or Xeon E5450 @4.10 GHz
8 GB RAM (memory clock is important for this game)
GTX 970 / R9 290
65 GB disc space (35 GB for Skyrim game folder, 30 for Nexus files)

Recommended:
i5 4690K @4.0 GHz or better
8 GB RAM (memory clock is important for this game) or more
GTX 980 / R9 390 or better
90 GB disc space (45 GB SSD space for the Skyrim Game Folder, 45 GB for Nexus files) or more

My machine:
i7 6700K
16GB DDR4 2400 MHz CL12
R9 390 Gaming G1 8GB VRAM
SSD Samsung EVO 850 500 GB.

Always check the Changelog when new version is published to stay up-to-date

[OLDRIM!] CAUTION!
Mods labelled as [OLDRIM!] are from the Oldrim 😀 – need to be downloaded manually and added to Nexus Mod Manager / Mod Organizer 2 with the green “+”

ESSENTIAL, before you even start adding mods:

A. Install Skyrim SE somewhere else than C:Program Files (to prevent potential permissioning issues), then install the Nexus Mod Manager or Mod Organizer 2 (as of March 19th 2017 I am using this guide with Mod Organizer 2 and it works very well, giving much more safety and flexibility). It will find your SSE installation, confirm to use for this game with the green tick in the game search window.

B. SSEEDIT – Unpack somewhere to a directory and clean the master files. Have the SSEEDIT tool handy for the future and remember to check for updates of SSEEDIT, because it will not be tracked for updated by Nexus Mod Manager / Mod Organizer 2.
[link]

– Master files cleaning instructions: – these are for TES5EDIT, but the usage is the same.

B1 – NOT NEEDED STARTING WITH GAME UPDATE 1.3.9! Change the modification timestamps for the Update, Dawnguard, Hearthfires and Dragonborn esm files in the Data folder of your SSE installation. This will prevent crashes and game breaking bugs as advised by Arthmoor, the author/administrator of the Unofficial SSE patch. Very important.

A guide is provided here:
[link]

This is how my files look in explorer after doing the changes, I’ve set them to Nov the 3rd 2016, 14:22 for Update.esm and +2 minutes for each next file:

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C. BethINI – A GUI for altering your Skyrim.ini and SkyrimPrefs.ini. Download and extract to a separate folder
[link]

– First choose the Ultra preset, then change the following:
– Shadow Quality – Medium
– Godrays Quality – Medium, Everywhere (Off for ENB, your preference, I use OFF)
– Detailed Shadows – 3500
– Particles – 3000
– VSync – ON
– Field of view (FOV) – 100
– Flickering Light Distance – 8192
– Turn off intro sequence and menu music
– Turn off TAA (Antialiasing), leave FXAA / LEAVE TAA ON if using OrganicENB
– Set Snow Sparkles intensity to 0.30
– Do not make ini files read-only

D. SkyrimTools (install with NMM)
[link]
– Use ReSaver.exe on a weekly basis, cleaning option 1,2,5. Save to a new save file with next number (Save as > Save031… Save032…)
– The program installs in your SSE game dirDataSkyrimTools

E. xSHADOWMANx’s Dll Loader – place files in Skyrim SE game direcory
[link]

F1. Achievements Mods Enabler – install with NMM
[link]

F2. LOOT – always use LOOT after installing new mods and after disabling/deleting mods.
[link]

F3. Before you make changes to the game:

a) Start a new game and finish the intro sequence in Helgen, so your hands are unbound. To speed things up, you can use:
[link] – a save file that is just before character creation! Place the ess file in My GamesSkyrim Special EditionSaves

b) Save in new slot after your hands are unbound. Now, after adding more and more mods, when you see this:

****************************
* RUN LOOT, test game *
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… run LOOT, Sort Plugins, Apply, load the game, see if you can run around, save in new slot. Repeat after each couple of mods or when prompted by this guide.

Tutorial in Polish that also covers LOOT available here:
[link]

Ia. LIGHTING mods – Reshade OR ENB?

G. CHOOSE BETWEEN Skyrim SE Re-Engaged v2.7 ReShade Only version OR OrganicENB – OR Nyclix’s ENB (my current choice as of TUCOGUIDE 1.0 Final). They are both optional. The Reshade in color-correction-only mode has virtually no impact on the performance of the game. The ENB is more demanding! OrganicENB is very soft. Nyclix’s ENB is sharper.

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* Pics from Reshade: *
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* Pics from OrganicENB: *
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* Pics from Nyclix’s ENB: *
***************************************

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INSTALLATION OF RESHADE:
Skyrim SE Re-Engaged v2.7 (I use 2.7, ReShade Only version, color correction only) – install default files and color correction only version for vanilla/True Storms.
[link]
a) open the downloaded file, extract it’s contents
b) open the folder Default Version (Install 1st always)
c) Mark all the files and the ReShade folder and copy them to your game folder (where SkyrimSE.exe resides)
d) Go up and then down to folder Vanilla Lighting or True Storms Users (Install 2nd)
e) Go down to the folder Color Correction Version (Radeon R9 290, R9 390, GTX 970). Choose better quality versions for better video cards like GTX 980Ti, GTX 1070, GTX 1080
f) Copy the contents of the chosen folder to your game folder and overwrite when asked

You can also totally ignore installing the Re-Engaged ReShade and choose another ReShade or ENB instead. I use Skyrim SE Re-Engaged (ReShade Only version, color correction only)

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OR INSTALLATION OF ENB:

[link] – click on v0.310 and download. Unpack archive, go to WrapperVersion and copy those two files to your SSE game directory (where SkyrimSE.exe resides):
d3d11.dll
d3dcompiler_46e.dll

Download the preset OrganicENB here:
[link]
Then unpack the archive and copy the contents to your SSE game folder

OR download Nyclix’s ENB:
[link]
1. Unpack the archive
2. Copy the contents of the folder „1 – PUT CONTENTS IN SKYRIM FOLDER” to your SSE game folder
3. Go down to „2 – SELECT PRESET” → „Vanilla & True Storms” → „Ultimate Edition” and copy the contensts to your game folder. Overwrite when asked.

Use BethINI to:
1. Turn on TAA when using ENB (that is my personal preference).
2. IMPORTANT: I turn off God Rays. Do it especially for OrganicENB. I use Nyclix’s ENB also without the game’s godrays. Will wait until ENB has proper godrays implemented.
3. Turn off Depth Of Field when using ENB (we will use one from thge ENB)

Depth of field (for both OrganicENB and Nyclix’s):
Get the latest version of this Depth Of Field effect:
[link]

4. Extract the DOF archive and you will get s file – enbdepthoffield.fx. Copy this file to your Game Folderenbseries and overwrite when asked.
5. Ingame hit Shift+Enter, turn the UseDepthOfField on, Save configuration and Apply changes.

Still in doubt if to use ReShade or ENB? Let me put it this way: I would recommend the ENB for R9 390, GTX 980 or above:

If using the ENB, do not install mod 49 and 71. Mod 72 is optional in that case.

With the latest version of OrganicENB and Darker Nights mod installed with the “Lighter” option, no tuning of the ENB for night lighting is necessary. Currently testing interiors/dungeons. With Nyclix’s ENB currently I do not use Darker Nights

II. Install mods in the following order

Default action for each mod below:
Visit mod page, go to Files section, click “DOWNLOAD WITH MANAGER” on the main file.

1. Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Patch

– click URL below, go to Files section and click on DOWNLOAD WITH MANAGER on the Main File (do so for further mods too unless instructed to do it differently)

[link]

2. Project Optimized Textures Skyrim Special Edition
[link]

3. Static Mesh Improvement Mod – SMIM
[link]

4. NobleSkyrimMod HD-2K [OLDRIM! – download manually, hit the green “+” in Nexus Mod Manager and navigate to the downloaded archive, do so whenever you see [OLDRIM!] for the rest of the tutorial]
[link]

Download manually and install A. NSM – FULL PACK_v.5.3.0_2K – For Skyrim Special Edition and download manually and install the file NSM SMIM Patch

For those who updata from previous guide versions: See guide Updates section (after changelog) for instructions how to update Noble Skyrim from 5.0.0 to 5.3.0

5. Detailed 2K Terrain (Currently not available on Nexus, please ignore)
[link]

6. Majestic Mountains – Install the file Majestic Mountains V1.5 Preview v3
[link]

7. Nordic Snow (aka HQ Snow Texture)
[link]

Optional:
Disable SunDaytimeNorth and SunDaytimeSouth esps in Nexus Mod Manager (plugins tab) after installation if using with ENB.

8. aMidianBorn Whiterun [OLDRIM!]
[link]
+ rename/delete wrfieldgrass01_n.dds !!
(Or copy the file over from Noble Skyrim mod archive and replace it. You can backup the original by renaming it)

9. RUSTIC WINDOWS – Special Edition
[link]

10. Realistic Aspen Trees SE 4k
[link]

11. TreesHD_Skyrim_Variation [OLDRIM!]
[link]

12. Simply Bigger Trees SE – (formerly SkySight SBT) SE
[link]
Choose only the file Simply Bigger Trees SE (Realistic Aspen Trees – Loose)

13. 4K Parallax Treebark [OLDRIM!]
[link]

14. Ruins Clutter Improved (now SSE! See Update section if updating from previous TUCOGUIDE version)
[link]

15. Skyrim HD – 2K Textures [OLDRIM!] – install Dungeons FULL from files section
[link]

16. ETHEREAL CLOUDS
[link]

17. Verdant – A Skyrim Grass Plugin
[link]
(install main file and RealisticWaterTwo – Verdant Patch by Olejkaaa)

After installation go to SSE game folderData and edit Verdant – A Skyrim Grass Plugin SSE Version.ini

# [Display]
# fGlobalContrastBoost=-0.2
[Grass]
iMaxGrassTypesPerTexure=15
iMinGrassSize=70

iMinGrassSize can be set between 60 and 110. The lower the value, the more grass and less performance.
Remember to put the # before the first two lines. This will deactivate them, this settings will influence the global contrast if you do not put the # there.

17b. Spring Grass Overhaul for Verdant Grass
[link]
Choose file Spring Grass Overhaul 3.0 – 2K (55 MB size)

18. Realistic Water Two (choose iNeed patch during install)+ set up global priority 5 for the .esp plugins in LOOT
[link]

19. True Storms Special Edition – Thunder Rain and Weather Redone (DO NOT OVERWRITE ETHEREAL CLOUDS)
[link]

20. iNeed – Food Water and Sleep (choose Realistic Water Two patch during install if available!)
[link]

21. Enhanced Lighting for ENB (ELE) – Special Edition
[link]

22. Reverb and Ambiance Overhaul + RAO – ELE patch SSE
[link]

23. Enhanced Blood Textures SE (tick the right patches during install)
[link]
In SkyrimPrefs.ini, under [Decals] section add the following line:
bDecalsOnSkinnedGeometry=1

24. Immersive Sounds – Compendium (tick the right patches during install)
[link]

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* RUN LOOT, test game *
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25. HD Road Signs
[link]

26. Bellyaches HD Dragon Replacer Pack (SE)
[link]

27. Skyrim SE Improved Puddles
[link]

28. Realistic Ragdolls and Force
[link]

29. XP32 Maximum Skeleton
[link]

30. Fores New Idles in Skyrim – FNIS
+ install main file and spells
+ RUN THE GENERATOR AFTER INSTALLING! (more info on mod site)
[link]

30a. ApachiiSkyHair SSE
[link]
a) install main file ApachiiSkyHair_v_1_6_Full
b) install ApachiiSkyHairFemale
c) install ApachiiSkyHairMale

30b. Total Character Makeover
[link]

31. UNP Female Body Renewal – A female face and body replacer – install the main file.
[link]

III. Install further mods in this order

32. Bijin All in One-SSE
a) Install the following:
-Bijin Warmaidens v3.1.1 + High res skin textures [OLDRIM!]
[link]
-Bijin NPC’s v1.2 [OLDRIM!]
[link]
-Bijin Wives v1.1.1 * + High res skin textures [OLDRIM!]
[link]
-Seranaholic v1.6 (And I mean it, 1.6) [OLDRIM!]
[link]
-Valerica 1.7 + High res skin textures (you find it in the Seranaholic files) [OLDRIM!]
[link]

b) Then install this file from [link] :

Bijin AIO SSE-Serana Valerica

c) Disable all the OLDRIM Bijin, Serana and Valerica esp plugins. Only leave the BijinAIO_SSE-3.1.1-SV.esp active

Should look like this in the load order:

****************************
* RUN LOOT, test game *
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32a. Immersive Armors – tick the UNP option during mod installation.
[link]

32b. Modern Brawl Bug Fix
[link]

33. Run For Your Lives
[link]

34. VioLens
[link]

35. Immersive Amazing Follower Tweaks – CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE, so no follower tweaks for now.
[link]

36. Frostfall – Hypothermia Camping Survival
[link]

37. Wet and Cold
[link]

38. Campfire – Complete Camping System
[link]

39. SkyUI [OLDRIM!] – install version 2.2, the last that does not require SKSE!
[link]

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* RUN LOOT, test game *
****************************

40. Even Better Quest Objectives – EBQO + Parthunaax Dilemma patch
[link]

41. Unread Books Glow
[link]

43. 1hm and Dual Wield Animations Overhaul SSE
[link]
a) install with NMM
b) run FNIS GENERATOR

44. Dual Wield Improved Animation SSE
[link]
a) install with NMM
b) run FNIS GENERATOR

45. The Choice is Yours
[link]

46. The Paarthurnax Dilemma
[link]

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* RUN LOOT, test game *
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47. Immersive Patrols SE
[link]

48. Blacksmith Forge Water Fix – Special Edition
[link]

49. IMAGINATOR – Visual Control Device for Skyrim (do NOT install if using ENB)
[link]

My current IMAGINATOR settings:
SATURATION = -0.400000
BRIGHTNESS = 0.00000
CONTRAST = 1.100000
To achieve this settings:

a) summon the IMAGINATOR,
b) go to CONTRASTOR settings, tell him to rise the contrast by 10 and then by 1
c) tell him to lower the saturation by 1, repeat 4 times.

50. Tembtra Thief – DX Mini Armor Collection SSE
[link]
a) install Tembtra Thief – UNP from files section
b) install Tembtra Thief – Ultra Resolution Texture Pack from files section

51. Celes Nightingale – DX Mini Armor Collection SSE
[link]
(Same procedure as for Tembtra, install UNP version and Ultra res tex pack)

52. Sotteta Necromancer – DX Mini Armor Collection SSE
[link]
(Same procedure as above, UNP version)

53. Mod is redundant now.

54. Ultimate HD Fire Effects [OLDRIM!]
[link]
(choose Medium or Ultra resolution according to your GPU VRAM size)

55. Arcane Enchanter – Blurry Fix
[link]

56. Sovngarde – Mist’s Font Replacer SE
[link]

57. Categorized Favorites Menu – EN FR GE ES – SkyrimSE (Currently off Nexus, sorry)
[link]

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* RUN LOOT, test game *
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58. When Vampires Attack
[link]

59. TRUE EYES
[link]
(install main file and Author picks afterwards, overwrite textures)

60. TRUE BROWS SE
[link]

61. JK’s Whiterun
[link]

62. Better MessageBox Controls
[link]

63. Beards
[link]

64. SABRECAT
[link]

65. Footprints
[link]

66. RUGNAROK
[link]
Do not overwrite aMidiadborn Whiterun, overwrite everything else

****************************
* RUN LOOT, test game *
****************************

67. Skyrim Flora Overhaul SE
[link]

IMPORTANT!! We are going to customize the SFO SE mod to install only the plants using NexusMod Manager.
To achieve this we will do the following:
a) Download the main version of SFO from the file section MANUALLY
b) Extract the archive
c) Create a new folder named SFO-PLANTS-ONLY and the sub directory Data
d) Copy the folder DataMeshesplants from vurts SFO to SFO-PLANTS-ONLYDataMeshesplants
e) Copy the folder DataMeshesLandscapeplants from vurts SFO to SFO-PLANTS-ONLYDataMeshesLandscapeplants
f) Copy the folder DataTexturesplants from vurts SFO to SFO-PLANTS-ONLYDataTexturesplants
g) rightclick on SFO-PLANTS-ONLY, choose Send to > Compressed Archive. SFO-PLANTS-ONLY.zip will be created.
h) Open Nexus Mod Manager, click on the green “+” under Mods, navigate to your SFO-PLANTS-ONLY.zip and open it. It will be installed in your game. Overwrite textures when asked.
i) Load up your save, save in new slot, load from the new slot. You can now continue playing.

VIDEO showing how I did it is here:
[link]

A graphical scheme:

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68. Fences of Skyrim – No more flickering fences (install with NMM, overwrite textures)
[link]

69. RUSTIC CLUTTER COLLECTION – Special Edition
[link]

Overwrite files.

After adding a new mod (even a mod with only meshes and textures) it is good to make a new save and than load from it again!

IV. Install even more mods

70. Stunning Statues of Skyrim
[link]

Install 4K versions for the big statues. If you have 6-8 GB VRAM, choose 4K for everything
Tested on Radeon R9 390, no performance impact.

71. Sun Lens Flares (Rather don’t use with ENB)
[link]

72. Darker Nights (optional if using ENB – I use it with “Lighter” option during mod install)
[link]

73. Skyrim 2017 Textures – 4K Diffuse 2K Normalmap – Mines (overwrite texturese when asked)
[link]

74. Instant Container Access
[link]

75. Better descriptions SSE – shrines – blessings – furniture – containers – chests
[link]

Install the main file and the ADDON for mage stones

76. Instant Mining – I use the version where the tools are still needed.
[link]

77. Valdacil’s Item Sorting
[link]

Install the main file. You will be asked about patches, most will be selected. I needed only to choose the patch for Rustic Soulgems + Immersive Sound

You will be asked if to install a preset for the Categorized Favorites Menu mod, I chose yes, works perfectly.

78. Amazing Follower Tweaks SE
[link]

Install main file and the Valdacil’s Item Sorting Patch for AFT SE – if using the Valdacil’s Item Sorting mod (part of this tutorial!)

79. Sounds of Skyrim Complete SE
[link]

80. Hunters Not Bandits
[link]

81. HD Lava for Dawnguard
[link]

82. A Quality World Map – 9.0.1 A Quality World Map – Vivid with Flat Roads
[link]

83. Blended Roads – makes roads look much better
[link]

84. Matso Immersive Sun for SSE
[link]

Add this lines to your Skyrim.ini:

[Weather]
fSunBaseSize=500
fSunGlareSize=600

85. College of Winterhold Light Pillars FIX
[link]

86. Dust Effects by HHaleyy
[link]

87. Lightning During Storms Sse (Minty lightning) by L3st4t
[link]

88. Relighting Skyrim – SSE – along with ELE my favorite
[link]

89. Snowy AF Windhelm
[link]

90. Skyrim Better Roads (SkyBeRoads)
[link]
Use file Skyrim Better Roads SE (FOMOD Installer), install bridges only (road additions tested, too big performance hit for it to make sense for me

91. Terrain LOD redone
[link]
I use 2 files:
– Terrain Diffuse a (9.1 MB)
– Terrain Normal Maps (270 MB)

92. Glorious Dwarven Metal
[link]
Use the file Glorious Dwarven Metal USSEP Safe

93. Landscape Fixes For Grass Mods
[link]
Use main file and the optional „Tweaks for Verdant” – helps to gain some performance.

94 – Joy of Perspective
[link]
1. Install mod
2. Run FNIS Generator

****************************
* RUN LOOT, test game *
****************************

This is all for the the mods for the basic TUCOGUIDE build. Further mods will be listed in the next section as additional. They can contribute to further lowering the performace even on “Recommended PC config”. However they contribute to even better looks of the game.

Additional mods

ADDITIONAL MODS (I use them, might lower the performance on weaker systems):

A1. RUSTIC SOULGEMS – Special Edition /2K Unsorted
[link]

A2. DRAUGR /4K-2K
[link]

A3. DRAGON PRIEST /4K-2K
[link]

A4. TROLL /4K-2K
[link]

A5. GIANT
[link] – version 2K

A6. MAMMOTH
[link] – version 4K.2K or version 2K for weaker GPUs

A7. Light refracting Glass armor and weapons – UNP CBBE 7Base
[link]

A8. Transparent and Refracting Icicle and Frost Atronach
[link]

A9. HAGRAVEN
[link]

A10. Beautiful Whiterun [OLDRIM!]
[link]

This one can be quite performance heavy in some areas of Whiterun. I get 3-8 frames dropped when this is active.

A11. Smoking Torches and Candles
[link]

A12. RUSTIC COOKING – Special Edition
[link]

Performance note

PERFORMANCE NOTE:

If you find the performance is not satisfying, please start with rising the iMinGrassSize= value in Verdant – A Skyrim Grass Plugin SSE Version.ini
The guide suggests to set it to 70. The performance should increase signifficanly in very grassy and forest areas (where it typically drops) if you set it to 90 or 100. The maximal value is 110.

Further cutdowns to increase performance will be subject to this section, comming soon.

Screenshots from game (unedited, raw, from Re-Engaged Reshade version, pics from ENB version soon!)

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Changelog

Changelog:

— THIS GUIDE IS ABANDONED — PROJECT CONTINUES HERE: [link] —

1.2
– Added mods – 17b, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94
– New isntruction for Smoking candles and torches – use only smoking torches
– Corrected mod 83 to Blended Roads

1.1
– Small fixes for ENB instructions + ENB mod choices
– Fixed some mod descriptions
– Mod 5 currently off Nexus
– Mod 57 off Nexus
– Added mods 86, 87, 88, A11, A12

1.0 FINAL
– Added mods 83, 84, 85
– Added Nyclix’s ENB option
– Added additional mod A10

0.5.1
– Mod 6 changed to Majestic Mountains, use without SunDaytimeNorth and SunDaytimeSouth esps if using with ENB
– Added mods 78, 79, 80, 81, 82
– Added additional mod A9
– Updated ENB binaries – download from [link]
– Updated OrganicENB SE to version 0.310.12.2
– Updated some already installed mods to newer versions

0.5.0
New OrganicENB version and new instructions, see the section Ia. LIGHTING mods – Reshade OR ENB?
– No more Bethesda Godrays
– Custom DOF, link provided
– Improved performance without Bethesda washed out godrays.
– Game’s Vsync now ON (set in BethINI)

0.4.6
Added mods 73-77, please pay attention when installing mod 77,
Renumbered additional mods starting from A1

0.4.5
Moved Reshade OR ENB instalaltion to a separate section, as they are not really essential
Notice for ESSENTIAL step B1 – not needed if using version 1.3.9 of the game or later
HOTFIX: Added mod 32a – Immersive Armors

0.4.4
Added current ENB settings with option to disable the ENB’s Depth Of Field effect and enable the game’s vanilla DOF because of buggy blurring when aiming with bows (See ESSENTIAL – section G)

0.4.3
Added instructions on fine tuning OrganicENB in game (Essential section G)

0.4.2
Added additional mods 77, 78, 79, 80
Edited descriptions for mods 71 and 72 (you can install them even with ENB, but optional, I use them)
Edited C – BethINI settings (please check)
HOTFIX: Added new instruction for mod 23

0.4.1
Moved mod 42 to position 30a
Added mod 30b – Total Character Makeover – thanks to BayHrborButch3r for suggesting to add one of the big character overhauls (installation together with Bijin works, explained!)

0.4.0
Added Essential G – OrganicENB option + install instructions
Added information about what mods NOT to install if using OrganicENB
Updated mod 14 to SSE version

0.3.0
Added mods 70, 71, 72, renumbered additional mods

0.2.9
Added Additional Mods Section
Added mod 69 to core mods section (as final mod to conclude the texture and mesh overhaul)
Added mods 70, 71, 72, 73 to Additional mods section

0.2.8
More detailed and changed instructions for mod 4 – Noble Skyrim
Update Noble Skyrim 5.0.0 to 5.3.0, please check the next section (Updates section)
More detailed instruction – mod 1

0.2.7
Removed one of the Bijin SSE mods. Only Bijin AIO SSE – Serana and Valerica is necessary. Thanks to Qahnaarin Tom!

0.2.6
More precise instructions for mod 12 (Simply Bigger Trees)
More precise instructions for Bijin mods (including screenshot of load order)
Thanks to Neoshadower for pointing this out!

0.2.5
Added important note about the the purpose, concept and evolution of the TUCOGUIDE in the beginning, some minor edits

0.2.4
Better isntructions for creating custom Skyrim Flora Overhaul version.

0.2.3
Edited description of BethINI (Essential Step C)
Added mod 68

0.2.2
Added mod 67 + Skyrim Flora Overhaul with repackaging instruction for use with TUCOGUIDE

0.2.1
Important: SSEEDIT cleaning is back. The cleaning with SSEEDIT is necessary. What prevents the crashes is setting the modification timestamps for Update, Dawnguard, Hearthfires and Dragonborn esm files.
Added link to time stamp changing guide and a screenshot of my master esms sorted by date modified. See I. Before you start, Essential tools > section B1. It is an essential step.

0.1.1
Added Known Issues section and issue i0001

0.1.0
Important: Edited B. SSEEDIT – DO NOT clean your master files yet! Crashes reported. If you already did, check Important Updates (last section after Changelog)

0.0.10
Added disclaimer
Added detailed isntructions on installing the ReShade
Added more description of the purpose of this tutorial
Added explanation for Vsync off and frame lock at 60 FPS, other minor corrections

0.0.9
Revised numbering! Realistic Aspen Trees moved before TreesHD.
Corrected a wrong link (mod 57)
Corrected instructions for C. BethINI (DO NOT make the inis read only
Added mods 66 and 67
0.0.8
Added Verdant config instructions (mod 16)
Added Dual Wield Improved Animation SSE installation instruction (mod 43)
Edited System Requirements

0.0.7
Added mods: Beards and SABRECAT (steps 63, 64)
Added an overview, purpose of the TUCOGUIDE
Added System Requirements
Expanded descriptions of the ESSENTIAL TOOLS, sections A – J
Changed the [OLDRIM!] alert bold red for better visibility
Added IMAGINATOR (step 48) description

0.0.6
Switched mod 11to the new Simply Bigger Trees SE – (formerly SkySight SBT), see update instruction at very bottom
Added Better MessageBox Controls (mod 62)

0.0.5
Rewritten instructions for Bijin mods (step 30).

0.0.4
Added to description of SkyrimTools
Added J. Before you make changes to the game – initial test save creation
Added explanation of the “RUN LOOT, test game” prompt
Corrected Verdant Grass mod link

0.0.3
Added link to SkyrimTools
Corrected description of SkyrimTools

0.0.2
Initial release

UPDATES (if you update from TUCOGUIDE version to version):

1.1 > 1.2
– Install mod 17b
– Replace XP32 Maximum Skeleton (mod 29) with latest version (4.11 as I am writing it)
– Install mods 89-94

0.5.1 > 1.0 FINAL
1. Install mods 83 – 85, also additional mod A10 (depending on hardware and performance vs looks desires)
2. Add the following to Skyrim.ini:

[Weather]
fSunBaseSize=500
fSunGlareSize=600

3. If you want to try and change ENB to Nyclix’s ENB:

Delete
enbseries
enblocal.ini
enbseries.ini

– Download and unpack [link]
– Copy the contents of the folder „1 – PUT CONTENTS IN SKYRIM FOLDER” to your SSE game folder
– Go down to „2 – SELECT PRESET” → „Vanilla & True Storms” → „Ultimate Edition” and copy the contensts to your game folder. Overwrite when asked.
– open BethINI and set Detail > Ambient Occlusion > SSAO Full, exit BethINI, save changes (see if your performance is good with this).

0.5.0 > 0.5.1
1. Install mods 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, A9
2. Deinstall mod 6 – Gecko’s Mountains

3. Install Majestic Moutains (as described in the guide under mod 6)
a) NSM, Project Optimized Tex, SMIM – Yes To Mod (overwrite)
b) Nordic Snow – No To Mod (do not overwrite)
c) Use without SunDaytimeNorth and SunDaytimeSouth esps if using with ENB

4. Delete:
enbseries directory,
enbseries.ini,
enblocal.ini,
d3d11.dll,
d3dcompiler_46e.dll
5. Re-download ENB from [link] and unpack to new dir.
6. Copy d3d11.dll and d3dcompiler_46e.dll to game folder
7. Download OrganicENB 0.310.12.2 or newer and extract the contents of archive to game folder

0.4.6 > 0.5.0
Download latest version of OrganicENB
Reinstall the ENB according to instructions, turn off Godrays in BethINI
Reinstall Darker Nights and choose option „Lighter” during installation

0.4.4 > 0.4.5
Install mod 32a – Immersive Armors

0.4.1 > 0.4.2
Please check your BethINI settings with the current version of the guide

0.4.0 > 0.4.1
Adding Total Character Makeover (mod 30b) requires the following steps if you previously used TUCOGUIDE 0.4.0, to get version 0.4.1:
0. Deactivate Bijin mods (rightclick on each of them and choose deactivate)
1. Reinstall Apachiihair (NMM Mod List > rightclick on Apachiihair mods and choose reinstall, there are 3 of them)
2. Install TCM, Beards – Yes To Mod, TRUE EYES – No To Mod, TRUE BROWS – Yes To Mod
3. Reinstall UNP
4. Activate all Bijins (+ disable the Oldrim Bijins in Plugins list again)
5. LOOT sort
That’s what I did and got a stable game.

0.3.0 > 0.4.0
Deinstall mod 14 Ruins Clutter Improved and install the SSE version, overwrite SMIM and Project Optimized Textures.

Now if you choose to switch from the Re-Engaged reshade to Organic ENB,
1. Deinstall mods 49, 71 and 72
2. Delete all Re-Engaged reshade files
3. Follow instructions from Essential G – Organic ENB
4. Load your save, save again to a new slot and load from it to continue playing.
5. You might use ReSaver.exe from SkyrimTools and clean the last save with options 1,2,5 after doing the above.

0.2.7 > 0.2.8
The author of Noble Skyrim provided an update from version 5.0.0 (initially used in this guide) to the current 5.3.0:
[link]

So if you installed the version 5.0.0 like me, you can download and install the above file and you will be on 5.3.0 Noble Skyrim. Do not need to reinstall the SMIM patch.

You will get the file NSM.Update.from.5.0.0.to.5.3.0_2K-SE.7z from the above link.
Install this in Nexus Mod Manager using the green “+”.

Overwite (Yes to mod):
Project Optimized Textures
Static Mesh Improvement Mod
Patch Skyrim Special Edition

Do not overwrite other mods (No to mod), will be only a couple of them to choose “No to mod”.

0.2.6 > 0.2.7
Deinstall the mod Bijin All in One-SSE, irght click on it and remove permanently in NMM
Leave the second one with Serana and Valerica in the mod name in place

0.2.1 > 0.2.2
Please install a repackaged version of Skyrim Flora Overhaul SE. Repackaging instructions in step 67 along with link to video tutorial

0.1.1 > 0.2.1
If you did the 0.0.10 > 0.1.0 update (verrified the integrity of the game cache in steam), please clean the masters again with SSEEDIT and follow by doing step B1 – setting correct modified timestamps

0.0.10 > 0.1.0
If you cleaned your master files before,
please go to your Steam > Library > rightclick Skyrim SE > Properties > LOCAL FILES > VERIFY INTEGRITY OF GAME CACHE

0.0.8 > 0.0.9
1. Deinstall Realistic Aspen Trees Patch (this was mod 53, Oldrim)
2. Reinstall TreesHD
3. Install Realistic Aspen Trees SE 4k
4. Reinstall Simply Bigger Trees

0.0.5 > 0.0.6
Reinstall 11. Simply Bigger Trees as a Sskyrim SE version just arrived (tested, running:
1. Uninstall SBT Oldrim version in NMM
2. Install Simply Bigger Trees SE – (formerly SkySight SBT)
[link]
a) go to Files section and install the file Simply Bigger Trees SE (Realistic Aspen Trees – Loose).
b) DO NOT overwrite 4K Treebark mod during installation (choose No to mod when prompted), overwrite everything else (Yes to mod when prompted)
c) Run LOOT
d) Run Skyrim, load last save, save to new slot, load from new slot, play.

Known Issues

i0001

TUCOGUIDE bug 001 – TreesHD/Simply Bigger Trees/4K Parallax Treebark?

Need to get to know which texture it is and add instruction to delete it from folder or revert from Noble Skyrim