Hi Guys
Just wanted to ask if there was an best practice / accepted viewpoint on starting a new game and when to load mods ? mods Loaded at the start or to play it 100 % vanilla then upon exiting the cave after the dragon attack to install all the mods.
Or is it a case by case situation ? *ie mods that increase horse speed, change general Tulias etc should be loaded after leaving helgen
thanks

Unless a mod specifies that it has to be enabled at the start of a new game (I'd say this would be the case for most mods that overwrite vanilla scripts) I'd suggest installing small numbers at a time after leaving Helgen Keep.

The Unofficial series are designed to be included from game start. Also, SkyUI and Unread Books Glow.

That is if you are trying mods out for the first time. You want to test ideally one at a time, but if they don't overlap much you could try a few at a time. If you have a cluster of mods that you already know well then those can be loaded when you are ready.

Clean the mods. Read the readmes for things that might say *needs a new game*

Always be prepared to go back to earlier saves if the mod is problematic.

I see the save games as the ongoing record of what mods were doing and where and when. These are the things that will help you out if you get lost. I have a whole routine on how to save and what various vanity shots mean. Like 90 degree angle from behind being any save that is a prep for updating a mod, The overhead is for those few mods that say to clean save, the front view is a save ready to go after updating. Then also making punctuated saves throughout missions and quests.

Myself I like to create at least 5-10 saves with only the must have mods after starting as early in the game as possible.

Wrye bash is the best tool for seeing what masters a save file has.

There is a lot going on at the start of the game. I think it is best practice to always install manageable numbers of mods at a time. A sudden influx of 100+ mods having to initialise at the same time is best avoided.