The OFFICIAL Anandtech Forums TeS V: Skyrim Thread

[Face2Face]

It's not annoying for me. I keep it simple and install textures manually. I already had the Bethesda HQ packs installed through Workshop. I just downloaded the Skyrim HD files from Nexus and extracted them to a folder. Then copied the Skyrim HD data folder to my Steam Skyrim folder and said yes when asked if I wanted to merge them. Then said to replace the files in the conflict window that pops up. The Skyrim HD files simply overwrote Bethesda's and Skyrim HD doesn't even show in my mod list when I start Skyrim.

I use a lot of Steam texture mods now - as shown in my post above. I am downloading the Full Skyrim HD mod now - I want to give it a try. Looks like they are packed using BSA? How did you extract it?

Once unpacked you just merged all of the files like said above?

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I use a lot of Steam texture mods now - as shown in my post above. I am downloading the Full Skyrim HD mod now - I want to give it a try. Looks like they are packed using BSA? How did you extract it?

Once unpacked you just merged all of the files like said above?

Don't get the bsa files; that mod is also available as loose files. Those are the ones you'll need if you just want to do a basic extraction/overwrite. Are you using a mod manager? It will make things alot easier for you.

 

[Face2Face]

Don't get the bsa files; that mod is also available as loose files. Those are the ones you'll need if you just want to do a basic extraction/overwrite. Are you using a mod manager? It will make things alot easier for you.

Okay, I will download them individuality then. I am just using the mod manage include with skyrim.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Okay, I will download them individuality then. I am just using the mod manage include with skyrim.

The mod manager included with Skyrim isn't good. It's only a load order for esp, bsa and esm files, and it won't help you with loose files (which is generally a preferable method for dealing with texture packs unless you are ONLY using one). If you use bsa files and you place one later in the load order, it will completely replace any textures from earlier packs, rather than letting you pick and choose which ones you actually want to use from each pack.

Use Nexus Mod Manager. It does everything automatically and if you have any issues, it's a snap to disable mods until you find the conflict. And, as a general rule, if a mod has loose files or a bsa, opt for the loose files. NMM will install them all automatically regardless, and you have less chance of a conflict when just overwriting texture files as opposed to bsas and scripts.

 

[Face2Face]

The mod manager included with Skyrim isn't good. It's only a load order for esp, bsa and esm files, and it won't help you with loose files (which is generally a preferable method for dealing with texture packs unless you are ONLY using one). If you use bsa files and you place one later in the load order, it will completely replace any textures from earlier packs, rather than letting you pick and choose which ones you actually want to use from each pack.

Use Nexus Mod Manager. It does everything automatically and if you have any issues, it's a snap to disable mods until you find the conflict. And, as a general rule, if a mod has loose files or a bsa, opt for the loose files. NMM will install them all automatically regardless, and you have less chance of a conflict when just overwriting texture files as opposed to bsas and scripts.

Thanks for the info. Just trying to determine if it's worth going through all of the trouble to install this 2K texture mod?. As is, it looks great with the mods I have now.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Thanks for the info. Just trying to determine if it's worth going through all of the trouble to install this 2K texture mod?. As is, it looks great with the mods I have now.

It's a personal choice. As I said, the great thing about using NMM is if you don't like it, one click disables it and takes you back to what you had before. Looking through your mods, you already use a number that show up in the Texture Pack Combiner that I mentioned earlier. I highly recommend this mod, even if you just use it for the big three required mods (Skyrim HD 2K, Skyrim HD Retexture and Skyrim Realistic Overhaul). It really improves the landscape textures throughout the entire world. I went ahead and did every optional mod as well (except for the Milky Way Galaxy, Lush Trees, Lush Grass or the Parallax mods), and the results are just astounding. It takes a long time to download everything and get it all in the proper folders, but it does everything else for you and the results are hugely impressive.

The other mod that I've really taken a liking to is Glorious Grasses. It expands the grass coverage to make it seem like actual grassy forests or plains as opposed to a few random tufts scattered about. Used in conjunction with Lush Grass the grass gets a little overwhelming which is why I decided against using Lush Grass, but some people really like the effect of both. Here's a sample shot showing off Glorious Grass:

 

[Face2Face]

It's a personal choice. As I said, the great thing about using NMM is if you don't like it, one click disables it and takes you back to what you had before. Looking through your mods, you already use a number that show up in the Texture Pack Combiner that I mentioned earlier. I highly recommend this mod, even if you just use it for the big three required mods (Skyrim HD 2K, Skyrim HD Retexture and Skyrim Realistic Overhaul). It really improves the landscape textures throughout the entire world. I went ahead and did every optional mod as well (except for the Milky Way Galaxy, Lush Trees, Lush Grass or the Parallax mods), and the results are just astounding. It takes a long time to download everything and get it all in the proper folders, but it does everything else for you and the results are hugely impressive.

The other mod that I've really taken a liking to is Glorious Grasses. It expands the grass coverage to make it seem like actual grassy forests or plains as opposed to a few random tufts scattered about. Used in conjunction with Lush Grass the grass gets a little overwhelming which is why I decided against using Lush Grass, but some people really like the effect of both. Here's a sample shot showing off Glorious Grass:

I just think you talked me into it. I will look into it tonight when I get home. Thanks for your help!

 

[Rhezuss]

Well i'll declare this: Nexus Mod Manage and the Texture Pack Combiner is the best thing that happened to me in a long time...Skyrim wise that is

Really awesome tools but htey need some time getting used to if it's the first time you're launching NMM and/or trying to use the TPC.

But when all is done and it's working, you'll be glad you took the time!

BTW, before installing all the stuff from the TPC, do a fresh install of the game. I had some bad texture popping and bugs before the fresh install. Now I have some (mainly in the starting area) but they're rare.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I had some bad texture popping and bugs before the fresh install. Now I have some (mainly in the starting area) but they're rare.

What do you mean by texture popping? Textures popping in, not appearing correctly, shimmering, or something else? Is it something you could catch in a screenshot? What are your draw distance settings set to? You might try increasing them to see if the problem goes away.

 

[Rhezuss]

What do you mean by texture popping? Textures popping in, not appearing correctly, shimmering, or something else? Is it something you could catch in a screenshot? What are your draw distance settings set to? You might try increasing them to see if the problem goes away.

My game is on Ultra and everything is on the highest setting, 2xAA, 16xAF, FXAA enabled, 1080p.

The "popping" happened mainly on the ground and wall surfaces. Some textures would simply flash or quickly appear/disappear whenever I looked around (moss on walls, stones on the road, general stone/rocks/sand/walls textures). It was really annoying and happened mostly, for now, in the intro area from when you get off the cart to when you exit the cave after the bear.

I'm walking the world now and didn't encounter the bug yet, neither outdoor nor indoor but I get some quick texture flash from time to time on the water and some on the general environment.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

My game is on Ultra and everything is on the highest setting, 2xAA, 16xAF, FXAA enabled, 1080p.

The "popping" happened mainly on the ground and wall surfaces. Some textures would simply flash or quickly appear/disappear whenever I looked around (moss on walls, stones on the road, general stone/rocks/sand/walls textures). It was really annoying and happened mostly, for now, in the intro area from when you get off the cart to when you exit the cave after the bear.

I'm walking the world now and didn't encounter the bug yet, neither outdoor nor indoor but I get some quick texture flash from time to time on the water and some on the general environment.

Are you using the latest drivers for your graphics card? Always best to doublecheck that first. What's your load order on the plugins tab on NMM look like? I would wonder if the "official" texture pack is having some issues with the overlap of the new textures you've installed.

 

[Rhezuss]

Are you using the latest drivers for your graphics card? Always best to doublecheck that first. What's your load order on the plugins tab on NMM look like? I would wonder if the "official" texture pack is having some issues with the overlap of the new textures you've installed.

Using 12.8 WHQL...not the 12.9 but not sure it'll make any difference.

Might update anyway soon.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Using 12.8 WHQL...not the 12.9 but not sure it'll make any difference.

Might update anyway soon.

What about the load order for the Plugins tab of Nexus Mod Manager? The further down the list something appears, the later it is loaded. If you have multiple esp files that edit cell content, you may need to adjust the load order or you can get a conflict.

 

[Rhezuss]

What about the load order for the Plugins tab of Nexus Mod Manager? The further down the list something appears, the later it is loaded. If you have multiple esp files that edit cell content, you may need to adjust the load order or you can get a conflict.

Well my load order in NMM goes like this:

Skyrim.esm
Dawnguard.esm
Update.esm
HighResTexturePAck01.esp
HighResTexturePAck02.esp
StaticMeshImprovementMod.esp
WATER.esp
WATER - Get Wet.esp
Skyrim Flora Overhaul.esp
GloriousGrass.esp
Better Dynamic Snow.esp
Realistic Lighting.esp

And my installed mods in NMM are:

Glorious Grasses - Glorious Grass- The Grass
Realistic Lighing with Customization
Texture Pack Combiner (the compiled texture stuff you posted earlier)
W.A.T.E.R. - Water And Terrain Enhancement Redux

But like I said everything is behaving normally since I left the starting area. Textures are awesome, water look amazing, sky and lighting is gorgeous so no complaint for now.

I'll see along the way if anything weird happens but for now I keep my finger crossed.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Well my load order in NMM goes like this:

Skyrim.esm
Dawnguard.esm
Update.esm
HighResTexturePAck01.esp
HighResTexturePAck02.esp
StaticMeshImprovementMod.esp
WATER.esp
WATER - Get Wet.esp
Skyrim Flora Overhaul.esp
GloriousGrass.esp
Better Dynamic Snow.esp
Realistic Lighting.esp

And my installed mods in NMM are:

Glorious Grasses - Glorious Grass- The Grass
Realistic Lighing with Customization
Texture Pack Combiner (the compiled texture stuff you posted earlier)
W.A.T.E.R. - Water And Terrain Enhancement Redux

But like I said everything is behaving normally since I left the starting area. Textures are awesome, water look amazing, sky and lighting is gorgeous so no complaint for now.

I'll see along the way if anything weird happens but for now I keep my finger crossed.

I'd move Water and Water - Get Wet to the end of the load order; the mod author has mentioned that other mods which modify world cells (like Better Dynamic Snow) can cause issues with Water not rendering properly when crossing cell spaces. But if everything's working, great!

 

[Rhezuss]

I'd move Water and Water - Get Wet to the end of the load order; the mod author has mentioned that other mods which modify world cells (like Better Dynamic Snow) can cause issues with Water not rendering properly when crossing cell spaces. But if everything's working, great!

The only thing I just saw is a bug with the Torches in the Dungeons. The torches on the walls "lighten" up when I approach them for the first time when I enter a dungeon. They're there and they emit some light but when i'm cloing on them the light they emit get brighter...

I disabled Realistic Lighting but it's still doing this...

I just did Embershard Mine (spelling?), the first mine you encounter when walking to Riverwood...

 

[lkailburn]

Great info on the texture collection. I'm currently playing at 1920x1080 on medium on my old GeForce 8800 gts 512. My new 7979 2gb comes this weekend. I can't wait to crank up to ultra with these texture packs!

-Luke

 

[dennilfloss]

Just browsed quickly through the workshop and subscribed to two mods that make many more female NPCs marriable (including Lysette), along with a 'summon ancient dragon' spell tome. Gonna be able to watch some nice dragon vs other creature/dragon fights.

 

[Rhezuss]

I'm looking for another culprit for those distracting little rocks scattered everywhere...and most importantly those brown rocks in white snow that I saw when walking to the first dungeon (castle int he mountain) near Riverwood...

Is it Vurts Flora Overhaul that added these?

 

[Face2Face]

Do all of the mods listed with the Texture Pack Combiner including Glorious grasses install properly with Nexus mod manager? I watched a intro to the mod manager online and it looks like some mods for Skyrim install in the wrong directory.

 

[Rhezuss]

Do all of the mods listed with the Texture Pack Combiner including Glorious grasses install properly with Nexus mod manager? I watched a intro to the mod manager online and it looks like some mods for Skyrim install in the wrong directory.

I have the Texture Pack Combiner and Glorious Grasses, all installed with NMM and everything is at the right place.

NMM is a time saver and an extremely efficient mod organiser.

But keep in mind that it's still in BETA stage so maybe there's still some bugs floating around but for the mods you mentionned all is working properly.

 

[Face2Face]

What area of the game do you notice the biggest change - or the best looking area or textures? Could you post a screen shot if you have the time?

 

[Rhezuss]

What area of the game do you notice the biggest change - or the best looking area or textures? Could you post a screen shot if you have the time?

I'll try to post a shot today if time allows.

The best improvements are outdoor environments. The world look simply stunning! It's amazing how those mods made Skyrim look so beautiful without slowing down the game.

Ground, grass, rocks, mountains, walls, roads, rivers (with W.A.T.E.R.), houses, distant terrains...everything is so crisp and detailed compared to vanilla it's not even funny.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I'm looking for another culprit for those distracting little rocks scattered everywhere...and most importantly those brown rocks in white snow that I saw when walking to the first dungeon (castle int he mountain) near Riverwood...

Is it Vurts Flora Overhaul that added these?

Probably Glorious Grasses. I think I know what you're talking about; large fields of rocks scattered about the ground all in a group. That's Glorious Grasses. I don't know if that's because the mod author intended it that way or because of how Skyrim handles scattered terrain pieces (grasses, shrubs, rocks and the like). It's distracting, but I find that it's worth it for the improvement in grass fields, so I've just learned to ignore it.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Just browsed quickly through the workshop and subscribed to two mods that make many more female NPCs marriable (including Lysette), along with a 'summon ancient dragon' spell tome. Gonna be able to watch some nice dragon vs other creature/dragon fights.

Do you only use the Workshop for your mods or do you use Skyrim Nexus as well? I know there are a number of mods on Nexus that make dragons harder, increase random encounters, change animal's territorial behavior, all sorts of things like that. They're probably on the Workshop as well; I haven't worked with the Workshop so I don't know what all is in there.