# Description Skyrim's 20 Step Program aims to be a somewhat easy to implement adaptation of the STEP modifications program for Skyrim AE. Not familiar with the STEP modifications program? Well, you can find out a bit more [here](https://stepmodifications.org/wiki/Main_Page) . Essentially, the goal is to create solid, stable, and tested modding builds (guides) for users to easily achieve a modding experience that doesn't deviate from the original game concepts. Rather than [a guide](https://stepmodifications.org/wiki/SkyrimSE:2.3), in this case, a 'collection' is built. A collection that will serve as the base for your ideas and game. As of publishing (February 2024), Skyrim's 20 Step Program has just over 100 **active** plugins used, out of 255 max, meaning there's plenty of room for you to play and expand. Not that the collection is without features, however. Quite the opposite. Skyrim's 20 step Program has some amazing 'non-stock' features, stuff that is pretty standard at this point, like SkyUI, Race Menu, even Live Another Life *** # Main features Skyrim's 20 Step Program aims to be light and flexible. The goal is to keep the same 'feel' of OG Skyrim while updating things like textures, quests, interactions. Things that we think make the game great but keeping the focus on **everyone** being able to run this list. Skyrim's 20 Step Program isn't aiming to be an 'over the top' collection, graphics, or mod wise. It's nice and light, but playable. If you're after 'over the top', keep your eyes out for Dumrarth. It's coming, and it will absolutely be stunning. *** # Variations from STEP

View content

It wouldn't be that fun of a game if everything was all the same, boring content, right? That's the point of modding. That said, I have made a VERY few changes from the step list. Nothing to take away from the core and meaning of the game, but something to add some flair, some fun to this collection. Here they are - [Riverwood Trader is a mess](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/63631)\ Really. How is this not a part of the core game itself? I mean, you walk in and that's ALL he can talk about. He JUST got robbed!!! - [More Dialogue Options](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/28905)\ This one pretty much speaks for itself - [Gore](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/85298)\ Gore is a follower that is quite fun and lore friendly - [NPCs Take Cover](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/111890)\ No more cheating and hiding behind cover for you! - [I'm a Customer, Damnit!](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/2982)\ This one allows the eating of (prepared) food directly, without having to 'take' and put it in the inventory first. - Misc updates\ A LOT of [that list](https://stepmodifications.org/wiki/SkyrimSE:2.3) looks for things from OG Skyrim. While this is all textural, there are updates that could be used better. My goal was to follow the list as **closely** as possible, while trying to present a bit more of an updated collection

# Before you start

View content

Before you start to download this collection, you want to set yourself up for success. Get your system, and Vortex ready for install . Here's what you need to do this - Inside of Vortex, uninstall **all plugins** and mods - Inside of Steam, uninstall Skyrim AE completely - Once you've uninstalled Skyrim AE, you want to go to the directory you had it stored in, using file explorer, and completely remove **everything**. Steam often leaves behind traces - Once you've cleaned ***that*** directory, go to documents -> my games and remove the Skyrim Special Edition and SKSE directories. - Now that we have a fresh start, it's time to go back to Steam and reinstall the game. Do that. - While Skyrim is re-downloading, it's time to get tools setup. Somewhere outside of Skyrim, setup a modding directory. I personally use A:\mod tools and have Skyrim stored on A:\ , but you do you. You want to manually download and extract the following into their own directories in your modding directory . Do NOT download these through Vortex, you'll want to put them outside of that.\ [SSEEdit](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/164)\ [Bethini](https://www.nexusmods.com/site/mods/631)\ [ENB and ReShade Manager](https://)\ [DynDOLOD \ \ ](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/32382) - Now that you've got all that added outside of Vortex, it's time to setup the game. Once Steam finishes re-installing, launch the game so that it initializes **all** of the CC content and downloads it. It'll take a few minutes, so go ahead and give it a bit of time. - Once Skyrim has fully installed, then you want to configure Vortex. You might think it's time for a backup, but **not yet**. Launch Vortex and create a new profile specifically for Skyrim's 20 Step Program. Ensure that saves and settings are stored separately. - While in Vortex, setup your tools. At the Dashboard (the first page in Vortex), scroll down to tools, and add the tools you just downloaded. Don't pass any 'arguments' to these just yet. Just add the tools, and ensure that 'enable toolbar' is ticked. It's helpful - Now, go back to tools, and add one more tool. A copy of SSEEdit. Exactly as you had it before , except you want to pass -quickautoclean to the parameter's section. This will come in useful later\ \ ***Now, you're almost ready to click that orange button that says 'add to vortex'. Just a few more steps.*** - Open up Vortex, drill down to the 'plugins' section. See the 'flags' dropdown? Choose 'dirty' in there. This will show you a list of plugins which are 'dirty' and should be cleaned. Remember that SSEEdit tool with the parameters? That's where this comes in handy. In the toolbar (you have that enabled, right?) , click on THAT sseedit icon, and start cleaning the plugins that show up in that list. There's quite a few, and unfortunately they have to be done one at a time.\\ - Follow the very same procedure for the following main ESP/ESM files\ \- dawnguard.esm\ \- update.esm\ \- hearthfires.esm\\ - NOW, once all **that** is done..... It's time to make a \*\*\*backup \*\*\*. This is a PERFECT place to do so. Open up your file explorer, head to the directory JUST above your Skyrim AE directory, right click on the Skyrim Directory, and back it up using your favorite tool. Compress it, don't compress it (I do), you do you. \\ - Just **one more step** before you click that button. Head to [this page](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/17230) . From the 'files' section, download step two. Place that in your Skyrim AE directory. Vortex will take care of step 1, you just need to take care of step 2, since the system doesn't place files directly in the Skyrim Directory.

# All that said

View content

Click on 'add to Vortex' (top right). Let Vortex do it's downloading, install it to your friesh profile and you're good to go. Sit back, wait a bit (mine takes about 30 minutes, yours may take considerably longer). Do NOT mess with Vortex. Just step back, have a beer, watch a show or something

# It's done (or is it?)

View content

You've **STILL** got a couple of steps that you should take before you launch the game. 1. Recommended Mods\ I've made a section specifically for these . It's worth the time to take a few minutes and go over each of them. Choose as needed. 2. Cleaning (again)\ Remember the cleaning you did before, with SSEEdit? Well, we've added new mods, so you need to run this one more time. Head over to plugins, select 'dirty' from the dropdown again, and clean the dirty ones. Thankfully, there's only a few that need to be cleaned 3. Verify disabled plugins\ NOT all plugins should be enabled. Some of these are intentionally disabled. Refer to the collection images for a screenshot of what should be disabled 4. Make Plugins Light\ Go into plugins, in the 'flag' dropdown again, choose "can be light". Select all of those, and at the bottom of the page, click on 'make light'... This will free up a few slots for you (not that you need them with this list, of course). 5. Restart Vortex!!!\ Yes, that's correct. You want to ***exit*** Vortex and relaunch it ***before*** trying to launch Skyrim. Even if Vortex can find skse64, you should relaunch Vortex just once.

# Recommended Mods

View content

These are mods that should work, but may (may) break STEP recommendations, or may slow things down a bit. Because of this, they are 'recommended', and not completely installed for you. Go ahead, take a look and make your selection.\*\* DO NOT\*\* automatically just 'install all recommended plugins'. That's not how these should work 1. **ENB Presets**\ You have heavy, light and milk drinker. Use these ONLY if you've [downloaded ENB](http://enbdev.com/download_mod_tesskyrimse.html)!! You'll want to download and extract ENB first, then choose ***one*** of the three. Install it with Vortex, then right click, select 'open in file manager' , select ALL of the files that are there. Copy those, and paste them into your Skyrim AE directory. NOT the data directory, the Skyrim directory 2. **NPCs Names Redistributor**\ It bugs me that Skyrim NPCs just don't have names. What, did they just go to work that day and forget what their name was? This little SKSE plugin (along with my configs) will aleviate this. You won't automatically know their name (and you shouldn't), but once you loot their corpse, pickpocket (you thief, you!) or talk to them, you will 3. **Achievements Mods Enabler**\ It works. That is all. It works. The default libraries require for this to be 'off' in configs, but this mod allows us to bypass that. If you haven't got all the achievements you want, this will help you. It won't get them **for** you (that's cheating), but it will allow you to gain them normally 4. **Photo Mode**\ **Duh, who doesn't like a good screenshot?** 5. **Unofficial Character Behaviors Patch (Nemesis and not)**\ Still working on getting this one tweaked, but even when I do, it'll likely break STEP guidelines, so I made it optional :) 6. **TK Dodge SE**\ For FNIS and Nemesis. Again, still working on getting them integrated into the game, but these will likely break STEP, so, optional. 7. **Archery Gameplay Overhauled**\ **Most definitely breaks STEP, but I find this useful overhaul quite good, so added** 8. **SKYUI Widescreen Fix**\ This is a necessary tool for those of us using UltraWide monitors and SkyUI. You may have to reinstall this mod if you're running 32:9, as I'm only using 21:9 , but it's there and works for both.

# **Disabled Plugins**

View content

List of plugins disabled per STEP (or other reasons) - ELFX Fixes.esp - ELFX Fixes Ragged Flagon Fix.esp - GQJ\_DG\_vampireamuletfix.esp - getsnowy\_ObsidianWeathersPatch.esp - getsnowy\_WnC-Ashes Patch.esp - XPMSE.esp - Facegenforkids.esp (disabled because it is broken) - TKChildren.esp - TKChildren.esm - Enhancedlightsandfx.esp - elfx - exteriors.esp

# Launch It Go on, you can do it now.... You've made it to the very end, launch the game. Report errors and bugs in the bugs tab, and I'll take a look at them as I can. # Bugs I'm NGL. There very well may be bugs. I've already found (and squashed) a few and will keep doing so. If you see them, let me know in the bugs tab (not comments) so I can address them and investigate them.

Media

Revision Stats

Tags