Skyrim GAMEPLAY mods for more of a challenge?

[Sulaco]

Yes, I know, there's a ton of Skyrim modding threads from years back, but they all seem to center around graphical and interface mods.

I'm a Skyrim vet (200+ hours) who hasn't played in a couple of years, but just started to get back into modding.
Graphically, it's where I want to be, but I'm looking for personal recommendations from folks who've modded the gameplay experience to be more challenging.

Specifically, I'd like tougher enemies, more realistic combat, tougher dragons and more dangers from the world.

I've already got "Realistic Needs and Disases" mod, and that's a good start.

Anybody have any personal favorite gameplay mods they can vouch for?

 

[ImpulsE69]

Did you install deadly dragons and deadly beasts?

 

[Jodell88]

Any lighting mod that requires some sort of light source for night time and caves.

 

[Cerb]

Try replacing RND with iNeed. It's more basic, but doesn't require so many patches.

Epic Gameplay Overhaul. It's modular, and generally highly compatible with other mods.
http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/52487/?

Enemy AI Overhaul (Revenge of the Enemies). Also check the compatibility list for more mods.
http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/40491/?

 

[DigDog]

it's just that hexen-like gameplay thats unsalvageable.

 

[manimal]

man I wish there was an all in one skyrim mod I can get a good boost of visuals and gameplay without having to fart around for six hours before getting it right. That six hours constitutes 100 percent of my game time for 2 weeks ><

 

[bystander36]

Skyrim is plenty challenging until you get to level 40ish if using the higher game levels. Sadly, the game doesn't scale well enough to provide a challenge as you pick up a ton of skills, particularly blacksmith and enchanting.

In order to provide challenge:
1) I've never stuck with one character past level 50.
2) I sometimes limit myself from using blacksmith or enchanting. This further adds to excitement of finding loot.
3) Don't use potions and or blacksmith/alchemy/enchanting gear.

With an open ended game like Skyrim is, you often have to prevent yourself from abusing some synergies which are overpowered.

By not sticking with 1 character, you kind of have to pick a quest line to go through each play through, rather than playing the same quests.

 

[Morbus]

I recommend Requiem. It's a hell of a lot of fun at the beginning of the game, but the late game is ridiculously easy (except when it's not, and you die).

 

[Scooby Doo]

Personally I like Imp's More Complex Needs, but that's 6 of one, half a dozen of the other..

Also try Frostfall.

 

[Cerb]

Personally I like Imp's More Complex Needs, but that's 6 of one, half a dozen of the other.

Then 2 dozen patches D:. That's what drove me to iNeed. Both RND and Imp's need patches, which can be a pain (not just loading and ordering them, but getting the right ones for the right versions, including possibly downgrading other mos so it will work)

Also try Frostfall.

Holy facepalm, Batman! I practically forgot about it, since that's pretty much the first thing I add, and it's sufficiently immersive to forget it's an add-on, sometimes (gathering wood being one glaring exception). I think I've played all of 3 hours without it, and maybe not even that. Don't just try it, consider it a must-have. Mechanics like are in it should have been in the game to begin with.

 

[Cerb]

Skyrim is plenty challenging until you get to level 40ish if using the higher game levels.

Replace that with 10ish, and you might be on to something, with the stock game's balance. Maybe if you play with a gamepad, it could provide challenge into the 20s.

 

[bystander36]

Replace that with 10ish, and you might be on to something, with the stock game's balance. Maybe if you play with a gamepad, it could provide challenge into the 20s.

If you play at Legendary difficulty, it goes way beyond 10. Many quest mobs are able to 1 or 2 shot you on the high difficulties. This is assuming you aren't using mods that greatly increase the ease of the game. Most weapon and armor mods are much more powerful than the basic game.

Build may also play a role. A mage, for instance, will not be able to play at even Legendary for a while, due to mana restrictions. You can pump every bit of mana you have and barely dent many mobs you run into on the quests.

 

[Sulaco]

So...dumb question, but what does the game difficulty actually do? Like, what does it effect? Enemy HP? Health regen rate?

 

[Cerb]

If you play at Legendary difficulty, it goes way beyond 10. Many quest mobs are able to 1 or 2 shot you on the high difficulties. This is assuming you aren't using mods that greatly increase the ease of the game. Most weapon and armor mods are much more powerful than the basic game.

Build may also play a role. A mage, for instance, will not be able to play at even Legendary for a while, due to mana restrictions. You can pump every bit of mana you have and barely dent many mobs you run into on the quests.

Why are those enemies getting 2 hits in? Again, I can see it with a controller; but with KB+mouse, it's like unmodded Oblivion and FO3: you keep moving, and it takes a little longer to kill them. Only in prepared battles in very tight spaces should it be difficult, if you're used to FPS games (go play FEAR--the old one--then come back and laugh at Skyrim's enemies). Playing a pure mage is basically a difficulty cap for yourself, yes; that's been the case since they [rightfully] nerfed combat magic way back in Morrowind. With difficulty just affecting damage, once you get used to the AI's typical patterns, it's more added tedium than difficulty.

Random bandits should be able to kill you in 1-2 hits . So far, no mods have managed to keep wolves and bears dangerous for long, though, except for getting ill after the fight.

 

[norseamd]

If you play at Legendary difficulty, it goes way beyond 10. Many quest mobs are able to 1 or 2 shot you on the high difficulties. This is assuming you aren't using mods that greatly increase the ease of the game. Most weapon and armor mods are much more powerful than the basic game.

Build may also play a role. A mage, for instance, will not be able to play at even Legendary for a while, due to mana restrictions. You can pump every bit of mana you have and barely dent many mobs you run into on the quests.

Artificial handicaps are not that much fun. This is why I never move the difficulty off adept cause anything above or below that is just putting handicaps in the game with no real increase in realistic difficulty.

 

[norseamd]

Also I use Requiem, IMCN, Frostfall, Wet and Cold, plus some other mods. Probably going to replace Imps with RND due to the fact that food and drink items are not fully matched up right in Imps plus the fact that RND will probably be less work to patch for compatibility and crap.

 

[norseamd]

Random bandits should be able to kill you in 1-2 hits

So have you moved from SKYRE to Requiem?

 

[bystander36]

Why are those enemies getting 2 hits in? Again, I can see it with a controller; but with KB+mouse, it's like unmodded Oblivion and FO3: you keep moving, and it takes a little longer to kill them. Only in prepared battles in very tight spaces should it be difficult, if you're used to FPS games (go play FEAR--the old one--then come back and laugh at Skyrim's enemies). Playing a pure mage is basically a difficulty cap for yourself, yes; that's been the case since they [rightfully] nerfed combat magic way back in Morrowind. With difficulty just affecting damage, once you get used to the AI's typical patterns, it's more added tedium than difficulty.

Random bandits should be able to kill you in 1-2 hits . So far, no mods have managed to keep wolves and bears dangerous for long, though, except for getting ill after the fight.

I don't need to hear your chest thumping. Yes, any difficulty can be beat by avoiding combat all together, and spending how ever long it takes. If that is what you call "easy", fine. I don't own a difficult game.

But lets be honest here. If it takes you avoiding all hits to win, the game setting is difficult.

 

[bystander36]

Artificial handicaps are not that much fun. This is why I never move the difficulty off adept cause anything above or below that is just putting handicaps in the game with no real increase in realistic difficulty.

What is the difference between changing the difficulty setting, using a mod, or applying a self inflicted handicap?

The game dev's just give different difficulty settings to try to please all types of players. What is to say that Legendary wasn't what the dev's thought was the proper difficulty, and they just put in adept so lesser players could enjoy the game?

I do understand not wanting to put in self handicaps, but it really should not matter. Most games outside of video games, have always had self applied rules. It really is not that bad of a thing.

 

[norseamd]

What is the difference between changing the difficulty setting, using a mod, or applying a self inflicted handicap?

The game dev's just give different difficulty settings to try to please all types of players. What is to say that Legendary wasn't what the dev's thought was the proper difficulty, and they just put in adept so lesser players could enjoy the game?

I do understand not wanting to put in self handicaps, but it really should not matter. Most games outside of video games, have always had self applied rules. It really is not that bad of a thing.

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/19281/?

 

[norseamd]

And no anything but adept is not true differences in difficulty because at any difficulty level other than adept you and enemies do not do the same damage with the same equipment.

 

[norseamd]

http://www.pocketplane.net/volothamp/chap10.htm

 

[bystander36]

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/19281/?

But you just modified the game, so it is no longer the way it was meant to be played. How is that different than applying a difficulty setting?

All I am saying is difficulty is what ever you make it. You seem to only think consider AI improvements as valid improvements. I disagree.

 

[norseamd]

All I am saying is difficulty is what ever you make it. You seem to only think consider AI improvements as valid improvements. I disagree.

There is far more than just that actually. Weapons are about 4 times as damaging and armor is about 4 times as powerful. Heavy armor tends to block bows into minor problems while wearing light armor means you can still get one-shotted by archer enemies.

 

[bystander36]

There is far more than just that actually. Weapons are about 4 times as damaging and armor is about 4 times as powerful. Heavy armor tends to block bows into minor problems while wearing light armor means you can still get one-shotted by archer enemies.

Anyways, going back to the difficulty settings. You do realize that you as a player get things like blacksmithing and enchanting, yet the AI does not. Giving them a boost is basically like giving them the ability to improve their weapons.

Then again, not using it yourself, also levels the playing field, and has a side bonus to give gear you find a chance to be used. This can be fun.

I'm glad you like the mod. It sounds like it too can be fun, but mods are not the only way to balance things.