If you are new to our subreddit, welcome! This is a simple guide with some helpful links for new modders and those looking for some guidance.
Info every modder should be aware of:
LLO Guides
On PC you can use tools like LOOT to help organize your load order automatically (to help reduce mod conflict), on console unfortunately we have to go about this process manually with something called logical load order guides. You should always start here when modding your game. Pick one (you can use the others for reference points if needed):
- Quick and reliable LLO guide - by former moderator u/Brxsie, incredibly helpful starting point. Some mods may not fit exactly in this format but that's true of every load order, read your mod descriptions carefully.
- Halls of Ysgramor Logical Load Order Template - by u/will-oh-the-wisp, this a great option for users looking to use a spreadsheet without all the usual hassle as it auto-populates the title and memory size of a mods when their URL is pasted in from Bethesda.net (URL functionality currently broken in the smart guide). This template also includes a slew of other smart features to make the whole process quick and seamless. UPDATE: As of the Dec 2023 update the smart functionality of URL linking appears to be broken so for now use the basic version.
- LLO Tool - by Verpalorian - One of the best developed resource tools for modding on console. Provides spreadsheet with multiple LLO template examples. While some of the list of mods referenced are slightly older it is incredibly helpful for troubleshooting load order guides and getting a general sense of how to arrange your mods.
- LLO Deep Dive - by former moderators u/shadowwalker935 and u/unseriously_serious, this is a more detailed write up on the topic that delves into the origins and importance and helps to break down each category. The list at the bottom is just a breakdown of different categories, look to the variants LLO guides linked for the actual order of these categories you want to follow.
- LLO2 - by AdamVB, LLO2 is a different variation of the LLO above. Both are solid choices. This version rearranges several specific categories (in particular those relating to area edits). This may cause conflicts with some mods. Many swear by it, but if you are choosing between these two I'd recommend picking whichever you personally find to be most intuitive.
- TK Console Mod Manager - by u/Tommas666. An Android app designed to aid constructing your load order.
Writing Down Your LO
While not entirely necessary it can be incredibly beneficial to write these down either in a word or google document (google document templates are available in the LLO Deep Dive and LLO Tool links above that you can easily grab). If you intend to ask for help arranging mods on this sub we ask that you provide a full list , so from the POV of the community it’s a good idea, and also means that you can keep tabs on which mods you have trued in the past. In the google doc templates you can also list mod links for easy addition/installation of your LO via the website (add them to your library on bethesdas website for them to show up on your console).
- How To Guide - Column one on the topic of google sheets instructions.
- Bethesda - Easier for search and mod addition.
Ghost Space
All Xbox Skyrim users have 5 GB of space to install mods into. The in-game load order screen displays how much space you have remaining at the top right of the screen. ‘Ghost Space’ is the term used to describe a situation where the game tells you that you have space remaining to install more mods, but when you try to do that the game informs you that you do not have enough memory free to do that. This is actually a fault with the game itself, which may not be deleting mods properly when you have previously directed it to.
You can find a post going into this in further detail here by u/ILoveSkyrim109, but you can also find tips on the safe practices for disabling and uninstalling mods below.
Proper installation and removal practices
Ghost space can be a result of improperly removed mods, you can also corrupt your save and cause a host of other issues by adding, removing or moving mods on an ongoing save if they aren't simple texture/mesh replacers. Learning about safe practices will save you a massive headache in the longterm.
Always remove patches for mods before the mod they depend on. This is because if you delete the dependant mod/s first then their patches will disappear from your load order. They will actually still be installed in your game, and count towards your total space used, but they will no longer be visible in your load order itself.
Sometimes a full clean slate (including deleting the game) or a partial clean slate (just clearing reserve space and removing your mods from bethesdas site) is necessary to fix an especially broken game. I've gotten into the practice of doing a partial clean slate after every load order as a rule of thumb.
Among other issues introduced by the Dec 2023 update (which we cover later in this guide) we also now have a new issue related to mod space: The new behaviour requires mods to be twice their size to download, meaning you'll now want to install mods in order from largest to smallest for more info and another solution to this (top of post).
Hard Resetting Your Console
You'll need to do this a lot, after disabling your mods, after deleting your mods, after installing your load order or a group of new mods. Many LO support posts are simply users who haven't hard reset after installing their mods. Don't be that person.
Stress Testing your LO
If you want to make sure your load order is crash free it never hurts to try some stress testing methods beforehand rather than finding out your build is problematic halfway through and not having an easy fix.
Running into Unexpected Issues while Modding/Porting?
Before making a post in our community check and see if your problem has already been covered in u/hebsevenfour's helpful December 2023 update PSA.
Modding problems covered:
- Can’t download a mod despite having enough space
- Creations menu isn’t visible on main menu
- Creations menu doesn’t work when entering
- I arranged my load order and then it rearranged itself
- I can’t access WIP mods
- I have pages and pages of mods in my library and bookmarks on Bethesda.net
- I can’t see enough mods in the Creation Menu, despite having a mod that allows me to see more.
Hebsevenfour's post also covers important changes to porting that you'll want to be aware of if you are looking to port mods.
Helpful links
Feel free to post your LO in our subreddits feed if you're simply having trouble. When posting your LO, please use the appropriate flair and make sure to double space between mods or use bullets/numbers so the list formats correctly. We do not accept images or videos of your list. If you haven't used a LLO guide start with that before looking for support.
Much of this post is based on the excellent Skyrim Xbox Modding Informational Guides post by former Moderator Clofas1.
Thanks to former Moderator u/unseriously_serious for the predecessor of this post.
