Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and general Elder Scrolls discussion

I love finding content I've never seen in a decade old game. (not just the new stuff)

I never knew about the Windhelm 'Butcher'epilogue...

I like how the Wild Horses add-on allows any follower to buy a horse.

I was going to ask Serana to buy a horse, but she, er, brought her own.

Thought this was Dark Souls at first. Holy crap.

Are you still on the fence? I can give you some pointers if you like.

I hope you are playing on PC, otherwise my advice may not apply.

Starting with the genre: Skyrim is a Open World Sandbox Fantasy game with some RPG elements. It has it's strengths, but storytelling isn't one of them. If you are looking for good stories, like in ME or Dragon Age, Skyrim may not be for you. Some of the quests are okay, but they won't keep you hooked for very long. I've always found, that Skyrim is at it's best when you make your own story.

It should be noted that most of the time Skyrim plays like an FPS game; you have to aim before swinging a sword/casting a spell/releasing an arrow. If you like shooters, combat in Skyrim isn't all that bad.

Then there's that exploring and crafting aspect. While technically not necessary, it is a big part of the game. I've always liked it, but YMMV.

I recently upgraded my SE to AE, and can wholeheartedly recommend the AE version. I believe the SE+AE combo costs about $50 atm, which, IMHO isn't much for the amount of the game you're getting. And the new survival mode should make things interesting, haven't tried it yet though.

Finally the mammoth in the room: modding. Skyrim has always needed mods, that's just the kind of game it is. I currently use about 30+ mods, mostly quality of life and graphics mods. You'll find that, that is considered a vanilla experience. At the very least you are going to need those Unofficial Patches.

How's that for starters?

I've been playing Hogwarts Legacy and here's an old mod that was inspired by that universe. At the time I knew nothing about the Harry Potter universe so I did not make the connection. Anyway for those who want a real school of magic in Skyrim unlike the College of Winterhold.
Here's the mod: www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/6551

Ok, kids, I am embarking on the endeavor of preparing my Skyrim for some playtime this summer as I am waiting for Starfield to drop.

My plan was to start with STEP and then go from there with the addition of some immersive lootable armor and weapon mods.

Has anyone done a STEP install before and/or has any tips or recommendations for lore friendly non-gameplay-changing additional mods that are really worth it?