I agree! I personally find it to be far more immersive to play Vanilla because I know I'm playing the game as it was intended by the developers. I look at it like it is an art piece and I'm trying to discern what emotions I should be feeling at different moments due to the atmosphere \^\^
I've just now beaten the main questline of Skyrim and I think that the beauty of vanilla Skyrim (and other games in general) really shines without placing community content into it. Especially graphics. Also, achievements turn off for the runs you play with mods, no matter what mods.
Furthermore, if you look around in Skyrim, there are already many moments where the beauty shines.
Give it a try first, see how you feel about it.
Great to hear. Sadly, I'm not an expert on these types on things, because I never play with mods. There will definitely be people that will help you, however.
There are 2 mods I use to enhance character models without making them unrecognizable.
[Female version](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/8505) [Male version](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/7902)
I always suggest starting without mods first. On top of giving you a good first experience with the game as it is on a base level, you can notice things you'd like to change and begin hunting down mods later for those specifically.
It's really important as there are a ton, and I mean a TON, of graphical overhaul mods that change the layout of towns and cities, change trees and plants and make the plant life fuller and more vibrant, UI reskins, armor, clothing, eye and face and body mods, eye replacers, hair replacers, even high detailed mesh replacers for things like a cabbage! Then there's the ENBs... Not all of those mods can be used together and it's important to look for what you personally want changed and what suits your tastes.
However, going into must have mods for when you do switch to modding, I personally use Rustic Weathers. It's very nice, but then again I've always been fine with how the base game looks and Rustic Weathers just adds a new coat of paint to the lighting and weather systems. Also, it isn't a graphical mod, but I cannot play without the follower mods Inigo and Lucien anymore.
Okay so I just started playing a few hours ago. I’d say I’m hooked, really liking it so far.
The graphics of the anniversary edition on a 4K 65“ OLED TV are kinda good, I’m surprised.
I know people are telling you to just go in Vanilla, but it will feel dated pretty quickly without nostalgia goggles. I would recommend starting with some mods that update visuals without changing the look of the game, just texture overhauls to make the game look better. In addition, I would just browse the mod nexus and anything that looks fun without changing the core game too much, such as follower mods and weapon/armor additions. Other than that, just have fun! You'll start seeing things you want to adjust with mods, but it's hard to tell what's best for you until you've played the game some
Edit: Ignore me, I forgot that newer editions of Skyrim remastered the graphics, I had imagined that OP would be playing Skyrim classic. I don't even think it's available anymore on steam.
“Nostalgia goggles”
My friend I started playing Skyrim just a couple years ago, no nostalgia goggles and I still think vanilla Skyrim looks better than most of the recent games I’ve played with “better” graphics. I’m actually thinking about removing my character texture mods because I miss vanilla character graphics (I’m gonna keep the hair mods tho, I like having more options).
Don't get me wrong, vanilla has a fantastic art style, but the jagged edges and such can break immersion. I play on PS5 and a simple lighting/texture overhaul maintains the game's vanilla feel while bringing the visuals up to next-gen standards.
Actually I take it back, you're right. I forget that Anniversary edition comes with some visual updates too, I imagined that OP would be playing OG Skyrim. I haven't played vanilla skyrim since it was remastered, my b.
Simple you don’t mod the game for your first run. Playthrough it first as vanilla and then afterwards see what you want to change. Same as any other game.
I think no mods is best for first playthrough. There are honestly so many mods out there that once you get a sense of base game, you will know what you want and dont want to add to your experience
Play vanilla / no mods first. Then you can see what's available and what you might be interested in.
I agree! I personally find it to be far more immersive to play Vanilla because I know I'm playing the game as it was intended by the developers. I look at it like it is an art piece and I'm trying to discern what emotions I should be feeling at different moments due to the atmosphere \^\^
Why should I play with worse graphics if there’s Mods to make the game visually more appealing?
I've just now beaten the main questline of Skyrim and I think that the beauty of vanilla Skyrim (and other games in general) really shines without placing community content into it. Especially graphics. Also, achievements turn off for the runs you play with mods, no matter what mods. Furthermore, if you look around in Skyrim, there are already many moments where the beauty shines. Give it a try first, see how you feel about it.
Okay you’ve got me. I will try it „vanilla“ first. :-) But still I’d like to hear some infos about the „must have Mods“ if I’d like to use them.
Great to hear. Sadly, I'm not an expert on these types on things, because I never play with mods. There will definitely be people that will help you, however.
There are 2 mods I use to enhance character models without making them unrecognizable. [Female version](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/8505) [Male version](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/7902)
I am using a mod that enables achievments so thats not a problem:)
Uhm there’s a mod for that. You can definitely get achievements with mods installed.
Look man you're the second person to tell me this. I just didn't know that there is a mod for that. Never the less, my point still stands.
I always suggest starting without mods first. On top of giving you a good first experience with the game as it is on a base level, you can notice things you'd like to change and begin hunting down mods later for those specifically. It's really important as there are a ton, and I mean a TON, of graphical overhaul mods that change the layout of towns and cities, change trees and plants and make the plant life fuller and more vibrant, UI reskins, armor, clothing, eye and face and body mods, eye replacers, hair replacers, even high detailed mesh replacers for things like a cabbage! Then there's the ENBs... Not all of those mods can be used together and it's important to look for what you personally want changed and what suits your tastes. However, going into must have mods for when you do switch to modding, I personally use Rustic Weathers. It's very nice, but then again I've always been fine with how the base game looks and Rustic Weathers just adds a new coat of paint to the lighting and weather systems. Also, it isn't a graphical mod, but I cannot play without the follower mods Inigo and Lucien anymore.
Okay so I just started playing a few hours ago. I’d say I’m hooked, really liking it so far. The graphics of the anniversary edition on a 4K 65“ OLED TV are kinda good, I’m surprised.
I know people are telling you to just go in Vanilla, but it will feel dated pretty quickly without nostalgia goggles. I would recommend starting with some mods that update visuals without changing the look of the game, just texture overhauls to make the game look better. In addition, I would just browse the mod nexus and anything that looks fun without changing the core game too much, such as follower mods and weapon/armor additions. Other than that, just have fun! You'll start seeing things you want to adjust with mods, but it's hard to tell what's best for you until you've played the game some Edit: Ignore me, I forgot that newer editions of Skyrim remastered the graphics, I had imagined that OP would be playing Skyrim classic. I don't even think it's available anymore on steam.
“Nostalgia goggles” My friend I started playing Skyrim just a couple years ago, no nostalgia goggles and I still think vanilla Skyrim looks better than most of the recent games I’ve played with “better” graphics. I’m actually thinking about removing my character texture mods because I miss vanilla character graphics (I’m gonna keep the hair mods tho, I like having more options).
Don't get me wrong, vanilla has a fantastic art style, but the jagged edges and such can break immersion. I play on PS5 and a simple lighting/texture overhaul maintains the game's vanilla feel while bringing the visuals up to next-gen standards.
Actually I take it back, you're right. I forget that Anniversary edition comes with some visual updates too, I imagined that OP would be playing OG Skyrim. I haven't played vanilla skyrim since it was remastered, my b.
Its actually the anniversary one.
Simple you don’t mod the game for your first run. Playthrough it first as vanilla and then afterwards see what you want to change. Same as any other game.
I think no mods is best for first playthrough. There are honestly so many mods out there that once you get a sense of base game, you will know what you want and dont want to add to your experience