Skyrim Belongs to the Nords - Bandit Edition (SBtN-BE) is a refined SSE version of the old mod Skyband, which is available for the Legendary Edition.

Unlike the main SBtN mod, SBtN-BE doesn't actually add any new NPCs, but rather just changes which ones will spawn. Instead of mages and a diverse variety of races, the vast majority of all bandits that will spawn are now Nords using melee or ranged weaponry.

SBtN-BE is not supposed to replace the main SBtN mod, but simply serves as additional content. You can also use this mod perfectly fine without having SBtN installed.




"Hmm, wizards, now that's power. Bet they got that secret magic, can turn wood to gold. Yeah. Wish I could turn wood to gold."
– Common bandit saying

In the vanilla game, the whole idea with magic is ruined by the fact that it is so common it doesn't even feel special anymore. If you know how to cast spells, you should really stand out from the majority of the people you encounter.

SBtN-BE modifies the leveled lists for all bandits that will spawn. It doesn't make any sense that in the vanilla game, every single bandit camp has at least one resident mage. Aside from the occasional Orc brute, the bandits of Skyrim are now almost exclusively human non-mages, with Nords being the most common race.

Bandits are bandits for a reason. They are brutal, stupid and uneducated. They don't have any knowledge of magic, which things in the game also implies. There is probably some poor little mage somewhere in Skyrim who joined some forgotten bandit camp, but your average bandit does NOT know magic. Axes, swords, hammers, daggers and bows are what you should expect to face.

If you really like to fight mages though, you don't need to worry, since there still are plenty of mage lairs, Forsworn, Draugr, Falmer and other unconventional creatures hidden around the lands.


Balancing

SBtN-BE is supposed to make bandit encounters feel more realistic and put emphasis on that despite Skyrim being a magical land, there are very many "normal" people as well. Additionally, magic becomes a lot more interesting when it suddenly isn't so common. While not necessarily making the game any harder, this mod is directed towards players who want a more immersive and realistic experience in Skyrim.

The original Skyband mod was developed as a direct opposite of OBIS, a mod which added more unrealistic mage bandits. OBIS made the bandits feel like they came from Harry Potter. Skyband made the bandits feel like Skyrim's equivalent of a real criminal gang. In conclusion, OBIS was probably more interesting, but Skyband was more realistic.

Notice: Some people have previously assumed there are no female bandits, which is incorrect. They still do exist.


Installation

Using Vortex is the recommended method.


Requirements

All you need is SSE. As stated above though, you are recommended to use this alongside SBtN, but that isn't an actual requirement.


Compatibility

SBtN-BE should be compatible with most mods except from mods that change the leveled lists for bandits.