Priority Pyramid: Install Order

Skyrim Modding Priority Pyramid Guide

Purpose of This Document

This document provides a step-by-step guide for organizing and building a large Skyrim modlist using the Priority Pyramid method. The guide breaks mods into clear categories, explains the purpose of each, and suggests example mods for each step. It is designed to ensure stability, avoid conflicts, and help modders create an immersive, functional load order.

Quick Overview: Priority Pyramid Categories

  1. Foundations
  2. Frameworks
  3. Core Overhauls
  4. Graphics
  5. World Building
  6. Weapons/Armor
  7. NPCs/Followers
  8. Quests/New Lands
  9. Immersion Tweaks
  10. Audio
  11. Animations
  12. Combat Overhauls
  13. Magic Overhauls
  14. Economy/Trade
  15. Survival/Needs
  16. HUD/UI
  17. Final Tools (DynDOLOD, Patches, Conflict Resolution)

Detailed Priority Pyramid Outline

1. Foundations

Purpose: Establish game stability with essential fixes and tools to prevent crashes, bugs, and performance issues.
Example Mods:

  • Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Patch (USSEP)
  • Engine Fixes
  • Bug Fixes SSE, Scrambled Bugs
  • Address Library for SKSE Plugins

2. Frameworks

Purpose: Core systems and dependencies that other mods rely on. Install these early to avoid dependency issues.
Example Mods:

  • SKSE (Skyrim Script Extender)
  • SkyUI
  • Dynamic Animation Replacer (DAR) or Open Animation Replacer (OAR)
  • Fuz Ro D-oh

3. Core Overhauls

Purpose: Large gameplay-changing mods, such as perk overhauls, combat, or survival mechanics.
Example Mods:

  • Ordinator (or Vokrii) for perks
  • Wildcat or Valravn for combat
  • Apocalypse – Magic of Skyrim

4. Graphics

Purpose: Visual upgrades for textures, models, lighting, and overall graphical fidelity.
Example Mods:

  • SMIM (Static Mesh Improvement Mod)
  • Noble Skyrim or Skyland for textures
  • ELFX or Lux for lighting

5. World Building

Purpose: Overhauls to the world itself, including cities, villages, and landscapes.
Example Mods:

  • JK’s Skyrim or The Great Cities
  • Blended Roads, Skyrim 3D Trees, Origins of Forest

6. Weapons/Armor

Purpose: Additions and retextures for gear.
Example Mods:

  • Immersive Armors, Immersive Weapons
  • LeanWolf’s Better-Shaped Weapons
  • Cloaks of Skyrim

7. NPCs/Followers

Purpose: Overhaul or add new NPCs and followers.
Example Mods:

  • Bijin NPCs, Pandorable’s NPCs
  • Immersive Citizens
  • Inigo, Lucien, or Interesting NPCs

8. Quests/New Lands

Purpose: Expands Skyrim with new quests, guilds, and lands.
Example Mods:

  • Legacy of the Dragonborn (LOTD)
  • Beyond Skyrim: Bruma
  • Wyrmstooth, Moonpath to Elsweyr

9. Immersion Tweaks

Purpose: Enhance realism with small immersive changes.
Example Mods:

  • Wet and Cold, Footprints
  • Enhanced Blood Textures

10. Audio

Purpose: Overhaul sound effects, music, and ambient audio.
Example Mods:

  • Immersive Sounds – Compendium
  • Audio Overhaul for Skyrim (AOS)
  • Sounds of Skyrim Complete

11. Animations

Purpose: Update or replace character and creature animations.
Example Mods:

  • XPMSSE (XP32 Maximum Skeleton Special Extended)
  • EVG Conditional Idles, Vanargand Animations
  • Nemesis or FNIS for behavior generation

12. Combat Overhauls

Purpose: Enhance combat mechanics.
Example Mods:

  • Wildcat, Ultimate Combat
  • TK Dodge RE, Precision

13. Magic Overhauls

Purpose: Expand or rebalance Skyrim’s magic system.
Example Mods:

  • Apocalypse – Magic of Skyrim
  • Mysticism
  • Triumvirate

14. Economy/Trade

Purpose: Adjust the in-game economy and merchant systems.
Example Mods:

  • Trade and Barter
  • Scarcity – Less Loot Mod

15. Survival/Needs

Purpose: Add survival mechanics like hunger, cold, and fatigue.
Example Mods:

  • Frostfall, Campfire
  • iNeed or Sunhelm

16. HUD/UI

Purpose: Improve the interface and HUD.
Example Mods:

  • SkyUI
  • Immersive HUD (iHUD)
  • moreHUD, A Matter of Time

17. Final Tools (DynDOLOD, Patches, Conflict Resolution)

Purpose: Finalize your load order, resolve conflicts, and generate LODs.
Example Tools:

  • DynDOLOD
  • xEdit (SSEEdit) for conflict resolution
  • Wrye Bash for a Bashed Patch
  • LOOT for sorting

How to Use This Guide

  1. Work through the categories in order, stabilizing each step before moving on.
  2. Use Mod Organizer 2 profiles to test categories individually before combining them into a final load order.
  3. Use tools like ModMapper or spreadsheets to plan ahead and track changes.

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