Modding The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

There are already a plethora of mods available for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, we give you a rundown of some of our favorites.

Xav de Matos

November 17, 2011 4:30 PM

The swiftness of the modding community cannot be denied, as evidenced by the plethora of quality mods already available for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. In less than two weeks, sources like the fine folks at the Skyrim Nexus have churned out content to enhance, customize, and even change some of the experience offered by developer Bethesda Softworks. Last night, I examined a handful of these mods and have a laundry list of suggestions for you to enhance your PC experience in Skyrim. You can also find a number of the best mods on the Skyrim Filepage on Shacknews.com, saving you from being forced to register elsewhere. First on everyone's list, should be the "No More Blocky Faces", "Detailed Faces" and "Detailed Body" mods. These two mods will make the human-like characters appear much more natural than what is available by default. As for the Detailed Faces V2 and Detailed Bodies mods, each sharpens and enhances some of the duller textures in characters, giving the inhabitants of Skyrim a little more life. Both mods were created by Nexus user Xenius. KenMod's "Display Time on Loading Screen" is a small mod that does wonders for the real-world. I've already lost track of all time while playing Skyrim, so this mod helps keep me connected. It adds a stylish clock to the lower-left corner of each of the game's loading screens with your computer's current time. Also, the latest version includes the competition percentage on your character's progress bar, letting you know how close you are to the next level.

But what day is it?

"Enhanced Night Sky" from CptJoker71 makes evenings in Skyrim even more gorgeous. There are three versions of this mod, allowing you to select the density of stars that inhabit the sky. Also, it won't conflict with the appearance of constellations that are found within the game.

Wish on a star that dragons don't eat you while you sleep

"Interface Hard Coded Key Tweaks" from crazygNexus allows you to use your own remapped keys, rather than the hard coded ones included in the game. In a game that could potentially span hundreds of hours, this is an invaluable addition. There are plenty of other quality mods. Make sure to check out necessary additions like "FXAA Post Process Injector" from Retspadez and "Enhanced Blood Textures" from dDefinder1. Do you have a favorite Skyrim PC mod? Let us know in the comments below!

Xav de Matos

Xav de Matos was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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November 17, 2011 4:30 PM

Xav de Matos posted a new article, Modding The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

There are already a plethora of mods available for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, we give you a rundown of some of our favorites.
- Lung Fu Mo Shi
  
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  November 17, 2011 6:42 PM
  
  Watching the "Detailed Face/Bodies" mod...it's REALLY hard to tell the difference. The biggest improvement, instead of more detailed textures, would be to fix the horrible self shadows.
  - DarkDeus
    
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    November 17, 2011 7:58 PM
    
    It's a pretty noticeable difference in game but yea I really hope they fix the flickering self shadows.
- nevlos
  
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  November 17, 2011 6:44 PM
  
  Do does that card coded key mod let me bind F1 to fireball?
  - [deleted] 814570297
    
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    November 17, 2011 6:56 PM
    
    [deleted]
    - nevlos
      
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      November 17, 2011 7:56 PM
      
      wikki wikki
- Visceral Monkey
  
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  November 17, 2011 8:03 PM
  
  Install this for handling mods and be happier: http://www.skyrimnexus.com/news/article.php?id=28
  - zuff
    
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    November 18, 2011 12:50 AM
    
    Yes I did this earlier and its great
- MacemanInTW
  
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  November 17, 2011 8:32 PM
  
  A plethora?
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mTUmczVdik
  
  I can't help it, this always comes to mind.
  - chilln
    
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    November 17, 2011 9:47 PM
    
    hahahaha love that.
    - MacemanInTW
      
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      November 17, 2011 11:29 PM
      
      I love the movie. Used to watch it all the time.
- Demius
  
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  November 17, 2011 8:49 PM
  
  Well, you told me I have a plethora. And I just would like to know if you know what a plethora is. I would not like to think that a person would tell someone he has a plethora, and then find out that that person has *no idea* what it means to have a plethora.
  - MacemanInTW
    
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    November 17, 2011 9:13 PM
    
    I linked the video right above you. :)
    - Demius
      
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      November 17, 2011 9:41 PM
      
      oh shit how'd I miss that!
- multisync
  
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  November 17, 2011 9:00 PM
  
  I just know there will be a Game of Thrones TC - and it will be incredible
  - bolneze
    
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    November 17, 2011 10:48 PM
    
    that will be awesomeo
  - scottythejock
    
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    November 18, 2011 12:43 AM
    
    It feels so much like it already, I would relish a TC though.
- steve_o
  
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  November 18, 2011 12:46 AM
  
  The FXAA injector needs to be adopted by bethesda themselves it is so good. YOu can turn it on and off in game and the difference is just astounding. Normal looks so bland and undetailed now when I turn it off every now and then to see the change :)
  - bolneze
    
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    November 18, 2011 2:38 AM
    
    which "package" should i be using? like saturation, sharpen, etc
    - steve_o
      
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      November 18, 2011 4:44 AM
      
      I just left it all at default and it looks immense. Most are on by default, I think only vignette and sepia arent. Using them is only worth it for screen shots.
  - zeejay
    
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    November 21, 2011 9:43 AM
    
    Personally i think the defaults look too yellow and over saturated indoors.
    
    These custom settings are much better if you turn of the vignette http://www.skyrimnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=180
- OutlawSundown
  
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  November 18, 2011 2:40 AM
  
  I hope Bethesda gets the mod tools out fairly quickly.