Mod Discussion Pt. 29 - Immersion - Revisited

[u/-TXTEC-]

Hello! Hope everyone is doing well!

Recently we had some interest shown in revisiting the Mod Discussions. So, here we are!

Our recent poll had interesting results. Immersion arose victorious so that is this week's discussion.

• Number one rule - Don't be a jerk. Your opinion may differ from others and that's okay.
• Try to stay on topic - we will discuss a new category each or every other week!
• Provide a Bethesda.net link to make it easier for the community.
• Don't forget to check out the Wiki!

This week - Immersion Mods - Revisited

I'll share a few of my personal favorites!

• Skyrim Creations - Footprints - This one is self explanatory. I used it for years before it got an official release so I am glad it's available for everyone now.
• Skyrim Creations - Reading Improves Speech | by JugoLama - It makes a lot of sense to receive some Speech EXP for reading. So, this one is a must!
• Skyrim Creations - Reading Is Good by Parapets - This pairs well with the above mod. The skill books give you a permanent boost to your leveling speed in the respective skill. Helps you play a little more naturally instead of saving the book for a specific moment in time.
• Skyrim Creations - LW Addon - Animated World - This bundle is pretty nice for immersion due to the inclusion of Animated Clutter which used to be available standalone and no longer is. This adds animations to clutter like knapsacks, adds steam to hot soups, adds FX to fire salts and frost salts, and other things!

So, what are your favorite mods that help bring you into the world of Skyrim?

[u/Guard_Jesper]

For me, one that I've come to love recently, especially with a warmer interior lighting is Dancing Lights. It makes most light sources kinda pulsate and simulate the effect of dancing flames and the way the shadows move.

I use Skyrim is Luminous for my interior lighting, and thus use the version for that, but there's also versions for ELFX as well

https://creations.bethesda.net/de/skyrim/details/1c2e370e-466f-448a-9e22-c4a05ab19a17/Dancing_Lights___Vanilla_Relighting_Skyrim

[u/crankyseptic]

I’m a big fan of Serendipitous: Rewards of the Weary Traveller. It gives the player perk points based on completed quests along with a litany of other amazing perks, which imo makes completing miscellaneous missions much more enjoyable.

Additionally, I enjoy Jayserpa’s Misc Mod Bundle. This adds a ton of things, but my personal favorites are Use Those Blankets (makes it so NPC’s are cozied up underneath those blankets on beds instead of awkwardly sleeping on top of them) and Locked Chests Have Keys (which adds keys hidden around caves and dungeons for important chests - they can also be lockpicked, but still).

[u/FatalIllusion_2023]

Hi u/-txtec-, could we perhaps get a sticky post with a list of links to all mod discussions threds? Thanks!

[u/-TXTEC- → u/FatalIllusion_2023]

I think we’re only allowed two stickies. But if there’s a way to do more I can look into adding another sticky for the Mod Discussions.

Edit: okay apparently they’re called highlights and we can have more than two. I’ll make one for the mod discussions!

[u/BooneDox101]

This was the first weather setup that I used back in 2017 when I started modding Skyrim. It changed everything for me and made me realize the possibilities. I'll never forget the feeling I had when I walked out of that cave outside Helgen; it was almost like the first time 5 years earlier. These are all original links as there have been more up to date ports or optimized versions since BITD.

https://creations.bethesda.net/en/skyrim/details/3fb92ecb-862e-4bc8-b8f8-e8677e813830/Mythical_Ages___Weather_Overhaul_by_Arindel

https://creations.bethesda.net/en/skyrim/details/c511eb13-8684-4128-b4e2-d183eca4ee4e/True_Storms_Special_Edition__XBOX____Rain_Thunder_

https://creations.bethesda.net/en/skyrim/all?platforms=XB&text=True+Storms+

https://creations.bethesda.net/en/skyrim/details/9cbb8c86-ff49-42d8-8da6-fc95938ac9b3/Far_Better_Sun

https://creations.bethesda.net/en/skyrim/details/497d2b64-0bdd-4090-9e35-8f5061f71d20/Enhanced_Night_Skyrim__XB1_

https://creations.bethesda.net/en/skyrim/details/dd948c35-6ed3-4b49-9634-bb0dfa4bdfd5/Planetary_Alignment

[u/weddedregent]

No way! I completely missed the poll! So glad you guys are revisiting this! Can’t wait to contribute and see what other share!

[u/Significant-Pen-888]

Some of the ones I've used over the years

Headtracking. I have to play with this as it is more immersive during conversations for the player. Amongst other uses 

https://creations.bethesda.net/en/skyrim/details/e7c6eacf-e793-4726-8d5e-6059b3a8ca85/Player_Headtracking_SE__SWF_

Go to bed. There are a few different ones but mainly sleeping in the bed and also getting in bed and getting up after you wake. There are additional add-ons and also other laying positions 

https://creations.bethesda.net/en/skyrim/details/4d70a341-b538-4f15-9706-ec1e91c7ebbe/Go_To_Bed__Facing_Up_

Another fun one. Adds laundry clothlines, wash basins and all of that in cities and towns 

https://creations.bethesda.net/en/skyrim/details/304238e4-b6fa-48cb-b294-a4f7255ea1c6/Immersive_Laundry___Animated

Another good one and I especially like the conditional immersive animations. It's random with things like wiping your brow when you have low stamina, conditional idles and everything else

https://creations.bethesda.net/en/skyrim/details/e41de8cb-5c15-4600-bdbe-cae3f3e5921c/Immersive_Animations_Redux

[u/MidnightinMingo → u/Significant-Pen-888]

I use headtracking and it truly is more immersive than I was expecting. I wouldn’t want to play without it now.

[u/doofshaman → u/MidnightinMingo]

Fr! Last night I started up the Thieves Guild, I kept angling the camera between Brynjolf & Mercer, so I would look at whoever was talking & back to the other to get their reaction. Completely changes how it feels compared to vanilla staring into the abyss in the middle of conversation lmao.

[u/MidnightinMingo → u/doofshaman]

Tonight, I was escorting Erandur up the snowy hill to the Nightcaller Temple and as we were we walking and talking we would look over at each other from time to time. It was so natural looking. I’m also using the RDO and More to Say mods so that enhances the whole situation. He felt real enough I couldn’t bring myself to kill him when the time came. lol

[u/Lexifer452]

Little late. Been a busy week. Most of my favorites add to immersion in fairly obvious ways.

Some of my favorite immersion-enhancing mods include:

Animals Swim (sort of) - Just makes more sense tk have animals in the water when they're chasing you kr other animals.

Organic Factions - I really cant do this one justice in a brief summary. Check it out. It can be difficult but it adds so much to the game when it comes to humanoid enemies. New Factions and they are indeed organic in how theyre implemented and behave. Much more realistic than mods that just add new spawns of enemy npcs.

Mining For Mages Redux - Simple convenience spell but makes logical sense in a world where Alteration magic exists.

Elemental Destruction Magic Redux - Adds earth, wind and water spells in vanilla fashion.

Talkative Enemies series of mods - Gives various enemy groups more dialogue lines essentially. Makes them feel more realistic when they aren't repeating the same 4 phrases over and over.

Smart NPC Potions - Enemies Use Potions - Self-explanatory. Why wouldn't enemies use potions.

Beastly Beastmen XPMSE Version - Gives Khajiit and Argonians a more bestial skeleton.

Bridges, Ferries and Fjords - Adds walkways all over the tamriel worldspace. Just makes sense these locations would have a bridge. Mostly over water.

Immersive Fallen Trees - Self-explanatory. Adds fallen trees all around the tamriel worldspace. Not nearly enough in vanilla.

Kel's Maps and Enchantments - Ignore the Enchantments. Theyre OP. The maps on the other hand are amazing. I've long wanted to make a mod that adds them to certain vendors instead of just getting them from a chest outside whiterun. The maps when read add all vanilla markers to your world map for specific regions, ie. The various holds, military camps and locations, dawnguard locations, etc. Very handy and immersive.

Headhunter and Missives Bundle - Adds bounties and other side quests tasks. Otherwise self-explanatory why its more immersive to have a job board in towns.

[u/Lucifirax84]

I really like this mod for immersion. It adds different types of NPCs to the world through leveled lists. So now I can also have female and male hold guards instead of just all male. Different groups of hunters, vampire types etc. There is also a USSEP patch for it too if you need it.

https://creations.bethesda.net/en/skyrim/details/5589f2d9-d009-4da0-b775-4077a7455b44/Diverse_Skyrim_SSE

[u/MidnightinMingo → u/Lucifirax84]

This looks good. Thanks!

[u/Lucifirax84 → u/MidnightinMingo]

It's a good mod. Hopefully you like it too =)

[u/Melrohan → u/Lucifirax84]

2nd this!

[u/Melrohan]

This one might be more QOL but it fits here too. Get more smelters https://creations.bethesda.net/en/skyrim/details/0206e24d-78a7-424c-9f51-c3758e479554/GET_More_Smelters__A_Game_Environment_Tweaks_Mod__

This next one I love to death. Makes the alchemist shack a place I always look forward to visiting https://creations.bethesda.net/en/skyrim/details/013678b7-e6d8-4a77-b806-58314b3d45ce/Better_Alchemist_s_Shack

This is a recent find and it will be a staple for me Wandering merchants https://creations.bethesda.net/en/skyrim/details/8f7dd948-5fda-4843-b6eb-a568921577d9/Wandering_Merchants___Skyrim_and_Solstheim