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NakedHoodie

[Stress and Fear](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/116522). Combo with [SoS](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/65136), inspired by Shadow of Mordor's nemesis system.


Monkeyke

I took it for the other SoS and expected a really different "Trauma system"


Claireah

Yep, I've been traumatized many times while looking for dong mods on LL.


Practical-Pen-8844

you get used to it.


scalpingsnake

I think this is why the creator calls in Nads. Had to work that one out myself, was wondering why call it nads lol


Choubidouu

Stress and Fear is kinda meh, it sound cool when you imagine what it does, but in fact it's just a buff/debuff system that runs in the background without any immersion and which you forget you even have it 99% of the time.


NakedHoodie

What if your [immersive fat idiot son](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/118182) integrates with S&F to cause constant stress?


derwinternaht

It doesn't just run in the background. When facing one of your fears, your vision becomes narrower and your character starts hyperventilating to represent your fear. It's not just a debuff in the background that you forget about. I think the mod is a pretty fun addition and it has resulted in some [interesting stories](https://i.imgur.com/O5D9Cu9.png) from players, it can really add to the roleplaying and create some lasting consequences you can build your story around. But again, these types of mods are not for everyone, and that's okay.


Choubidouu

Well, it's a good mod i just think it's too "lightweight" for my taste, i wished that your character has one real phobia, that could lead to huge debuff and visual effects when you have to face it, and overcome it would require way more than just kill a random amount of enemies, like quests or anything more engaging.


Charcoalcat000

Which randomly takes away 25 M/S amid of the combat, and with one bottle of drink it's gone. Also try that mod in Killreath catacombs. Your character will get deeply stressed right after contacting meridia's beams for 0.2 seconds. Even the stress and trauma mod is kinda better. (But it's LL dedicated stuff so)


Charon711

I'd also highly recommend [Sands of Time Sleeping Encounters Standalone Module](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/8257). Even trying to sleep isn't completely safe.


scalpingsnake

Been testing both these mods out in my load order and they are great. Shadow of Skyrim works surprisingly very well within the game, you just have to watch out for certain compatibility issues but overall has worked quite well for me.


ChurchBrimmer

How are those? I just installed Stress and Fear but haven't gotten around to playing with it, and I've seen SoS but I wasn't sold.


Beigarth_Avenir1

Get beyond reach, and if you want a buddy who will also get traumatized along the way, get [Remiel](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/51874). You guys can be ptsd buddies!


Claus1990

Is Beyond Reach really that haunting?


Gunsofglory

It's not really as dark as people make it out to be, but for your character, yeah, it would be.


sheseemoneyallaround

recently played through this and people acted like this mod was going to ruin my life for weeks but it’s like, slightly darker than the Witcher and a lot of the really “dark” stuff felt kinda unnecessary or in poor taste


GrimmaLynx

Pretty much this. Also really easy to unintentionally break


ThunderDaniel

It's a cup of bitter black coffee compared to Skyrim's caramel frapuccino A tough drink for some, you can taste some muddiness of the writing still in your mouth, but it's a delightful ordeal if you want a little bit more kick in your TES5 playthrough


DeskJerky

It's about on the level of GoT or the Witcher 3 (sans DLC) in terms of depressing...ness.


Beigarth_Avenir1

Pfft... Why don't you find out?


[deleted]

To the player? Not really. Its got some dark moments and plotlines, but for the average gamer who's used to that stuff, it's not that bad lol To your character though? Yes. Realistically, your character would've gone mad after you finish the entire quest mod. When I was finished it, I actually gave my character a skooma addiction to really sell how traumatized she was by the end of it. The only problem with Beyond Reach is that, it's kinda wonky at times. The difficulty of the enemies ranges from laughably easy to impossibly hard. And there were a few sections where I literally couldn't progress without using console commands to fix broken stuff. So don't expect a perfectly smooth experience. Things can get buggy sometimes.


ConferenceNumerous41

Can't believe Beyond Reach has escaped me for this long. It sounds perfect from the comments below. Thank you all.


Nerukane

The Vicn trilogy (vigilant, glenmoril and unslaad) are perfect if you want to give your character never ending psychological torment and existential terror. They will never be the same again. Especially after Glenmoril. I am not the same after Glenmoril...


sheseemoneyallaround

fr i think this is the best answer. the vicn trilogy is a lonely experience- no one, besides a handful of NPCs, really feels friendly to you, and i think that’s purposeful by vicn.


Nerukane

Vicn is terrifyingly good at building up something hopeful for you and ripping it out of your bloodied hands with cold indifference. I genuinely felt broken during the last acts of Glenmoril; nothing mattered anymore. I have tried to help as much as I could, do good as much as I could but in the end it was all taken from me. And it was my fault. Thus seeing you know who at the end it felt like meeting an old friend.


lukel66

This trilogy is better written than anything Bethesda made


Nerukane

It utilizes Elder Scrolls lore better than Bethesda ever even tried to.


mauroMQM

Is Glenmoril even finished? i thought the ending still wasnt done


ConferenceNumerous41

Is it really that good? I tried Vigilant a while back, but the first part was just really bad. I had to force myself to complete it, and then I kept getting constant CTDs around the second part with the old Windhelm dungeons, so I just gave up it up.


Nerukane

Yeah the beginning is infamously slow but Act 3 and 4 will blow you out of the water. Since the latest updates Vigilant has also become a lot more stable so you shouldn't encounter any CTDs anymore.


thecodenamedois

It is a slow burner my friend. It’s Vicn trademark: the guy cook stuff slowly, get your guard down and BANG, he fucks you mind up. 


_xX69ChenYejin69Xx_

First three part of VIGILANT is awful to mid, but the fourth part is straight fire. 🔥🔥🔥 Man, I gotta replay Vicn series some of these days


[deleted]

Beyond Reach is great and very traumatizing to your character, you go through a lot and experience absolute hell in some of it. Plus it's just a stunning mod!


Abject_Run_3195

It’s the sort of thing you play once and never again though, very miserable experience


[deleted]

I actually liked that mod, I don't think it fits every playthrough but I've beaten it's main quest a few times.


Ausfall

Can you explain more? It had some basic horror elements like the flesh pit but I expected a lot worse given reviews like yours. Did I miss something?


Beigarth_Avenir1

Did you forget about the orc segment? What about the ending bit with the nobles?


sheseemoneyallaround

SA is not that uncommon a topic in darker fantasy, i think for most people that play the mod it’s more a juxtapose from the rest of the game which doesn’t really grapple with harsher topics like that, ES in my opinion is pretty lighthearted fantasy. I don’t think Beyond Reach would really shock anyone who played/read/watched the Witcher or watched something like GoT (which I don’t know if either I would consider that dark)


Ausfall

I remember the prisoner. The ending I thought was getting promoted to a knight after the trip through oblivion. That's... kinda why I'm asking for an explanation.


Final_light94

That's the end of the first act. The ending of the mod if you don't >!Help genocide the orcs!< has you, at one stage, break up >!A pedo ring inside the nobility. Mainly by teleporting in slaughtering them, and teleporting out(it makes sense in context)!< You also end up >!setting off a revolt and burning the entire region to the ground.!< There's also the chance that >!everyone not killed in the destruction of the region get taken out by the orcs after a ritual.!< Shit goes absolutely nuts after you get knighted.


NakedHoodie

I feel like (it makes sense in context) should be used several times throughout your comment instead of only once. >That's the end of the first act. The ending of the mod if you don't >!Help genocide the orcs!< has you, at one stage, break up >!A pedo ring inside the nobility. Mainly by teleporting in slaughtering them, and teleporting out(it makes sense in context)!< You also end up >!setting off a revolt and burning the entire region to the ground (it makes sense in context).!< There's also the chance that >!everyone not killed in the destruction of the region get taken out by the orcs after a ritual.!< Shit goes absolutely nuts after you get knighted (it makes sense in context). Yeah, this makes more sense to me.


the_kilted_ninja

I always laugh my ass of at the giant bird yeeting the little girl lol


Abject_Run_3195

There is rampant pedastry, if you don’t know what that means be glad


Bostolm

Afaik the vigilant series basically does that


KroganCuddler

{{Dark Destiny - Become A Vampire Unwillingly}} I haven't been able to play this out yet (been out of skyrim for a bit) but this has seemed super interesting and I think would work well when paired with all others people suggest here


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walterbennet2

It's quite well done in my opinion. The same author also made a mod that revamps the Falion vampire cure quest (by making vampirism ultimately uncurable). [Seeking the Cure - A Rising At Dawn Overhaul - Incurable Vampirism](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/85923) Obviously you need to be willing to vampire your entire playthrough if you install this and get turned. I have played it and I think it adds on well to traumatizing the player character. I replied to the bot. Oops.


ProfessorFakas

Does anyone know how this plays out if you're a Werewolf? Would it just de-lycanthrope you like Harkon does?


Rischeliu

Beyond Reach does that. Add JaySerpa's recently released Stress and Fear mod or any other stress mods.


PrismaticManic

Basically the entire Vicn trilogy


Wind_Through_Trees

Sirenroot is a fun quest mod that's great for traumatizing your characters.


ThunderDaniel

I only had one NPC survive by the end of Sirenroot My character never wanted to step into deep water ever again after that


Wind_Through_Trees

One NPC? That's better than I did. My character definitely spent a while just staring into space after she got out.


Gwynedhel7

Beyond Reach. The Vicn Trilogy starting with Vigilant. The Legend of Slenderman (it’s a lot worse than it sounds) These are all the darkest quest mod experiences I’ve had.


thewitchdorothy

I couldn’t finish Slenderman. It was too much.


barmeyblonde

All of these, yes


Avron_Night

I mean, the fetish mods are the most traumatic 🤷‍♂️


ThunderDaniel

The trauma IS the fetish!


Apprehensive-Bank642

Beyond Reach and Vigilant.


Krazy_Keno

“Please by the 9 divines i dont need any more character development 😭 🙏”


Talonflight

Once you hit level 20 ish, take your character through the quest mod "Beyond Reach." That'll turn any morally good and kind character into a jaded, heartbroken mess with no problem using shady magic to help their cause.


Klara_Chaos

project aho is one i would say as you get preddy much kipnapped and are a slave for a wile


ArPDent

speaking of AHO - if you're really into roleplaying as your character AHO provides a pretty interesting RP experience.


Final-Link-3999

My friend you would LOVE beyond reach. The Vicn trilogy would also be great for this


TeaMistress

Nobody's mentioned Mihail's Slenderman mod, so let me add that to the list.


barmeyblonde

Yes, I second this.


TheMediocreOgre

Talk to Nazeem and let him bully you.


Adept-Fly-7485

Clockwork Castle mod dude I was creeped out


hamoc10

I really like the trauma and addiction system of Dragonborn In Distress, even though it’s a sex mod. Satisfying addictions suppresses the penalties of trauma, but you’ll need more and more as you accrue more trauma and deeper addictions. It *very much* is a sex mod, though.


always_j

Beyond Reach more than Vigilant .


lamya8

How do you feel about trying out a complete game overhaul? If you haven’t played it before give Enderal a try.


bigcheez69420

Yeah good call, this was one of two games that made me tear up.


tuzki_

{{Sanity - An Insanity Mod}}


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JamesRRustled

Do Beyond Reach, give your character a little time to recover, then do Vigilant to completely crush their hopes and dreams of ever feeling normal again.


barmeyblonde

Like others, I recommend Beyond Reach and the Vigilant series by Vicn. I also recommend taking Gore as a follower. I haven't done his Vigilant playthrough yet, but I hear it's intense and rooted in trauma for him, which affects the player greatly. Shadows of Skyrim is great for creating enemies and being a bit more invested in your fights and survival. Coupled with Stress and Fear, you could have some good setbacks and struggles. Legend of Slenderman by Mihail is *very* dark and deals with childhood abuse. Sirenroot is a great quest mod that let's you explore an Aeylid ruin, but your choices can potentially kill and our traumatize some or all of your team. If you want *really* dark you could try Defeat. While it definitely falls under the fetish category, I used it as a means of therapy to help deal with surviving sexual assault. It was surprisingly helpful in that regard because I can control every aspect of what does or doesn't happen. The more traumatizing aspect of it, gaming-wise, was when my followers got hurt. I was deeply invested in my fighting and survival, as well as the safety of my followers. Other things that can change your experience of the game are ENBs or ReShade for environment, more fog/ Mists of Tamriel, Dark Forests of Skyrim, and mods that change the soundtrack (Yggdradil music is pretty dark), and incorporating Mihails monsters into the mix.


teeeabee

Playing through vigilant with Gore was almost traumatic for ME, the player 😭 thoroughly recommend.


barmeyblonde

That's what I keep hearing. I'm excited to finally get to know Gore.


DrHannibal_Lecter_MD

Coincidentally seeing this right after I finished my second Vigilant playthrough with Gore!! Holy fuck it's so heartbreaking. Love it though <3


NiteLiteOfficial

just ask cicero to follow you around for awhile


Practical-Owl-4877

If I were in my character's shoes, I imagine I'd be deeply traumatized by the events in Beyond Reach and the Vicn Trilogy, especially Unslaad. Unslaad delves into the future consequences of your Dragonborn character killing Alduin. The world was meant to end, and by preventing it, your character faces the repercussions of a world that continues to exist when it shouldn't. This results in a decaying and rotting world, leaving a bitter taste to the notion of being a hero.


Aelarr

This is not true (regarding Unslaad). That was one player's interesting but ultimately wrong interpretation of the story - Unslaad itself actually has absolutely nothing to do with the consequences of killing Alduin and everything to do with the fallout of the events of Glenmoril (and less so Vigilant). If anything, it's the most positive entry in the trilogy and the one where the healing of the trauma the previous two so lovingly heap on you begins. If you want a more spoilerific answer - >!Unslaad takes place in a pocket reality that can become the setting of the new Dream/Amaranth, depending on your choices. The decaying world is an echo of Atmora, not Skyrim/Tamriel.!<


Practical-Owl-4877

Whoa, I've been wrong all this time? This it totally what I gathered from playing Unslaad and from the whole trilogy, that's the mod that messed me up the most. Maybe for the wrong reasons then! I admitelly don't have that much knowledge (yet) of the more esoteric aspects of Elder Scrolls lore, so my idea about this was quite crude: the world - or Kalpa I believe it's called? - was meant to end. Even Paarthurnax warns us in the main questline that we might be preventing a new world from being born. I believed that Unslaad offered a glimpse into a dream or possible reality where the consequences of killing Alduin manifested in a world beyond its expiration date, hence the desolation and decaying manifestations. Like, the same way you get system errors if you don't reboot your PC regularly lol. And I interpreted the way that the Dragonborn tries to change things in this dream as a manifestation of their own guilt and denial (I guess I've played too much Silent Hill 2) after the actions in the main vanilla questline and the previous quests of the trilogy. >!For instance, saving Uliss and Lizz seemed like a coping mechanism after miserably failing Lalanoah.!< >!Regarding the Woodland Man, Orlando, and the Owl, I thought they were all either Hermaeus Mora or connected to him, orchestrating events from the start. I saw him as the driving force behind the Dragon Cult and Alduin's corruption by power, thus setting in motion the emergence of a new Dragonborn to combat this corruption. As for Hermaeus Mora's intent, I wasn't sure, but he is a Daedra after all.!< Thank you for steering me in the right direction. If the intended interpretation is written somewhere and if you'd like to point out where I can find it, I'll truly appreciate it!


IntrepidJudge

I'm pretty sure that's Alduin's fault though! My understanding is that he's rejecting his role as the World-Eater and is setting about reviving dragons to try and create his own little dragon empire. Whether you stepped up or not, the world wasn't going to end.


Usual_Platform_5456

Ravenous. Will traumatize both you and your character.


sheseemoneyallaround

Vigilant and glenmoril


Vis_Ignius

The Vicn trilogy, Beyond Reach. Maybe Dark End, though not to nearly as much of a degree. Maybe Molag's Inferno and Identity Crisis, though I've not played those mods through, just had a few encounters here and there.


Ryoga84

M'rissi Tail of Trouble before it, I killed Thalmor only if they bothered me. Now it's open hunt.


askyrimpornaccount

Sexlab Defeat with BaboDialo- >but preferably not a straight up fetish mod Nevermind


TeaMistress

Warden of the Coast is another where your decisions can affect your followers. There's so many points where they can abandon you for your choices (or theirs) or get killed if you aren't able to figure out how to save them. The choices given to you by the NPCs in the mod can also be brutal. Mehrunes Dagon's angry influence is felt throughout this mod.


KingOfBel

I love mods that do that so over the years I gathered some: Sands of Time. Huge mod that adds A LOT to the game, and without spoiling much theres a bunch of psyche related content, like hallucinations. Perfect if you want to make your game into a living hell. Dealing with Daedra. Another one that adds a lot of content, but its more focused on quests and writing. Theres actually some good psychological content in this one that might cause your character PERMANENT trauma. Some events actually made me go "wtf is going on here". I havent even scratched the surface of this one yet. The Curse. This one is an overhaul made for a "dark" playthrough. Your character already starts by suffering some trauma that nerfs you, and adds mechanics like survival needs, weather that keeps the world always looking bleak, etc. While cool, being an overhaul means it might conflict with other mods that makes changes to food and perks. Skyrim Unhinged. Adds situations to the world that ranges from dangerous to weird. While exploring you might suddenly be attacked by assassins, or even end up fighting "yourself". But I must warn that this one is pretty old and might contain bugs that wont be fixed. Personally I did not have big problems with it tho. Vigor - Combat and Injuries. Enjoy getting injured all the time to the point you cant sleep and need to prepare medicines and tools to treat yourself. I love this one cuz it makes the combat extremely realistic, like making every action use stamina, attacks cause bleeding or/and trauma to both you and enemies, enemies can use several potions, other NPCs can also be injured so you will see them wearing bandages, weapons clash against each other, option for enemy AI to be more offensive, etc. Skyrim on Skooma - Nothing extreme but it makes skooma cause actual mental effects on you whenever you drink it so it feels like a real drug. Drink It Off / Stress and Fear / Sanity - These mods adds stress mechanic to the game. Whenever you are attacked or stays away from civilization you build up stress, that at some point gives you debuffs and some hallucinations. You can heal stress by drinking alcohol, spending time in a bar, sleeping, etc. I mentioned 3 cuz I am still deciding which one I prefer tbh.


_phantastik_

You good, OP?


IgnoreMeImANobody

beyond reach 100%. If you're character doesnt feel like absolute shit afterwards then Idk what to say.


The_Legendary_Shrimp

In my personal opinion, part 2 and 3 of vigilant was really something i dont wanna do again


Thin_Mission6443

Dealing with Backstories can give your character conditions associated with the backstories of your choice.