For those who don't know, there is a 1-page, quick-reference catalog of 600+ lore-friendly mods that enhance gameplay at http://SkyrimGEMS.com.

I sifted through thousands of hi-res textures, ENB configurations, Breezehome basemants and Lydia makeovers to find those rare GEMS that improve how the game works - combat, magic, archery, sneaking, lockpicking, looting, lighting, traps, crafting, cooking, alchemy, enchanting, traveling, character stats, perks, skills, leveling rates, carry weights, behavioral AI, and more... (over 50 categories). Only mods that add realism, immersion or new roleplaying opportunities are considered GEMS.

GEMS does not recommend one mod over another but it does group mods with similar purpose or function together so it will be faster and easier for people to choose the best collection of mods to achieve their personal preference of gameplay and realism.

I also hope this list will shine a brighter light on the many great gameplay mods that people have either missed or overlooked. I've spent countless hours looking through mods and I'm STILL finding GEMS that I never knew existed.

If you think a mod should be added to the list, feel free to recommend it. NOTE: The mods on Skyrim GEMS do not enhance graphics or add new content. These are mods that improve game mechanics, improve immersion, enhance realism, or add new ways to role-play.

It was a lot of work. I hope you find GEMS useful.

*EDIT - clarified selection criteria

Until you can fix the link, here's the correct one:
http://www.skyrimgems.com/



Posting images directly into threads here doesn't work.

excellent list !

a lot great mods and well sorted in categories :greatwork

also very nice website!

Below are the gameplay mods that I've added to http://SkyrimGEMS.com in the past week:

• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/25516/ - Lets you wear up to two rings. Only one ring is displayed on character but enchantments from both rings will work. (Category 310 - Gameplay)
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/9222 - Legionnaires spawn with a variety of different armor (Category 730 - NPC Enhancements)
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/10185 - Stormcloaks spawn with a variety of different armor (Category 730 - NPC Enhancements)
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/16089 - Makes bears, wolves, skeevers, mudcrabs, slaughterfish and horkers non-aggressive. (They will attack if you approach them) (Category 750 - Wildlife Overhaul)
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/26017 - Makes empty wine bottles smash to pieces when hit. (Category 400 - Realism)
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/6802 - Enables a bartering dialogue with most NPCs. (Will not sell current outfit or main weapon) Most NPCs have a very small amount of gold. (Category 730 - NPC Enhancements)
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/18180 - Priests' robes match their faith - priests of Kynareth wear green, priests of Dibella wear red, priests of Arkay wear gray, priests of Talos wear brown and priests of Mara wear tan. (Category 730 - NPC Enhancements)
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/23311 - Appropriately applies a wide variety of body types to NPCs. (e.g. beggars can be very skinny, nobles might be fatter). Does not affect player's character. (Category 730 - NPC Enhancements)
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/25968 - Adds a unique companion with excellent voice-acting who is quest-aware and will comment on your quests. Great back story. (an optional file removes special vomit attack) (Category 700 - Followers)
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/8906 - Salt is no longer needed to cook meat. (Still needed for stews and other recipes) (Category 920 - Cooking)
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/19538 - Removes all perk prerequisites. Skip right to the perk you want. (Skill level requirements unchanged). Replaces "No Perk Prerequisites" (Category 230 - Race | Class | Skills)
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/7901 - Removes smoke from menu and loading screen (known to have issues when using ENB). Simply replaces file with a blank FX file.. (Category 100 - UI)
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/5770 - Makes interface display the list of shouts in the Dragon Language. e.g. "Unrelenting Force" is changed to "Fus Ro Dah" (or "Fus Ro Dah - Force") (Category 100 - UI)
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/25869 - Enemies are leveled but much more difficult. To compensate, enemies don't attack on sight. Loot is unleveled but rare items are VERY rare and VERY expensive. Eating meat gives bonus to weapon dmg, Sweets give bonus to Magicka regen rate. Requires DawnGuard. (Category 300 - Gameplay Overhaul)
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/25879 - Adds an empty bottle to your inventory after you drink alcohol. Empty bottles reweighted from 0.5 to 0.1 (Category 400 - Realism)
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/25422 - Adds craftable, placeable, automated, heuristic, centralized storage. Place anywhere. (Category 120 - UI - Timesavers)
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/17353 - Gives you stances that enhance your magic. Adds innovative mechanics that enhance gameplay. Those who have used it LOVE it. (Category 330 - Magic)
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/25782 - Modifies movement speeds based on the type of weapon that a player has equipped. (e.g. 2H = slower straffing) and adjusts all movement speeds for people and horses to be more realistic. (Category 600 - Speed)
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/25794/ - Adjust the Base Damage, Speed, Stagger Chance, Max Range or Reach of any weapon using a spell. (Category 340 - Combat)
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/11450 - Enhanced dialogue and AI. Sits when player sits. Not counted as a follower. Must complete "Glory of the Dead", the final quest in the Companions questline. (Category 700 - Followers)
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/25360 - A companion with highly customized armor, custom voice.and a backstory that adds personality. (Category 700 - Followers)
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/19348 - Adds a unique companion with heightened AI and a vibrant personality. More complex interaction with hundreds of lines of fully voiced dialogue. Does not count toward Follower count. (Category 700 - Followers)

I only miss a compatible list in there.
Other than that you really do have a nice list of mods going on.

I would recommend you have a look at http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/8451 for possible inclusion. Also, the link on your page for Empowered Magic seems to be broken.

Nevermind, I read the OP. No graphic or texture enhancement mods.

Very cool Wanted to say "Thanks!" again for adding my Skyrim player voice mod to the list!

This is a very helpful list, thanks for putting it together!

Lots of new survival and realism mods I wasn't aware of.

fantastic list! I SO wanted a STEP for gameplay mods. you could label them like STEP does so you could recommend the very best as essentials etc.

A couple of great gameplay mods I've tried that would seem to fit with your list:

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=11123

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=15998

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=89703769

It is a good list. I've bookmarked it and stuff for use when I make my next build (which will probably be when the next DLC is announced).

Is there any requirements a mod must meet to make the list?

Like levels of:
Cleanliness versus dirty edits
Compatibility and size of mod footprint
Papyrus log activity/script tidiness versus sloppiness
Availability of the mod author or ease of installation

Or is this just a list of mods that you deem cool?

Deployable Traps is under 400 - Realism.

I will soon be adding mods for DawnGuard, Hearthfire, vampires and werewolves.

given all the different overhaul mods, there needs to be about about a dozen different STEP guides for gameplay mods, depending on which overhaul you want to use. The purpose of GEMS is to make it easier for people to choose which mods to include in their mod list. The next step that needs to happen in the community is a way for people to easily share their stable mod list and then allow people to rate them, comment on them and extend them with additional mods. Unfortunately, it's not an easy task because a stable install is dependent on the particular version of every mod installed. A different version of one mod can render the entire guide unstable.

If I had the time, I may have developed a web application to do that but I hear the STEP Team is already doing it.

I include any mod that would appeal to gamers who like realism. If it's lore-friendly, improves immersion, enhances realism and/or adds to roleplay and if the comments indicate that it's working well, I include it.

is deployable traps available at the nexus?

Thanks for the suggestion. Mod added.

...and thanks for the heads up on the broken link. Fixed.

yes... http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/9463

The STEP team is working on a mod database that will store compatibility information.

I went straight to the encumbrance mods on there hoping there might be something that gives you a realistic carrying capacity.

There was a couple of potentials, but they're not being worked on anymore

Below are the gameplay mods that I've added to http://SkyrimGEMS.com since 10/27/2012:

• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/26393 - TOP MOD! A companion with 4000 lines of custom dialogue, detailed backstory and personality, custom quest and possible romance. Disposition system (your actions affect her disposition to you). Spar with her. She can craft, cook, mine and even shop for you. You can be her Follower. Has her own horse. (Category 700 - Followers)
  
• http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=105424370 - A new approach to learning spells. Learn primarily through practice and teachers. (Category 330 - Magic)
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/26207 - Fast travel to 15 locations in a horse-led wagon home with bed, cooking spit, alchemy station, mannequin, weapon rack, storage and travel map. (Category 640 - Fast Travel)
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/6546 - Lets you use one quiver for all of your arrows. Only affects player. (Category 350 - Arrows)
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/26228 - Due to issues with some of the more popular needs mods, this might be the new sheriff in town for Basic Needs requirements: (Based largely on Total Realism - Basic Needs) 5-6 stages of Hunger/Thirst/Fatigue/Inebration. Diseases get progressively worse. Food loot reduced or often stale. Refill water in rivers or taverns. (boil river water or risk disease). Hunger/Thirst/Fatigue rate configurable in-game. (Category 420 - Basic Needs)
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/26108 - Makes GrainMills and WindMills functional - Use ingredients to produce flour, fish oil, bone meal, powdered tusk, fire salts, frost salts, Void salts, glow dust and ectoplasm. (Category 410 - Roleplaying)
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/26217 - An overhaul using 13 (optional) modules - Unleveled encounters, modified level progression, more varied races, harder encounters with better AI, stronger NPCs and followers, new travelers and NPCs, and more. (Category 300 - Gameplay Overhaul)
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/26173 - Removes lockpicking experience when you break lockpicks. (Category 250 - Character Leveling)
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/25859 - An .esp viewer and conflict detector that can improve stability by automatically finding and removing dirty edits and replacing disabled objects with disabled objects. Recommend anyone who plays with mods to clean their master files as explained in the video. (Utilities Page)

Too bad Autodidact is SW only.

that one seems cool.

Just wondering, who are you to say what the top gameplay enchancing mods are? Aren't these all just opinions?

Did you look at the list?