So I've been a person who plays Skryim in cycles. I play for a long time, play another game, go back to Skyrim. Everytime I've painstakingly tweaked my game, modded it to hell and made it perfect for me, its always been at a time when having an incoming patch is not an issue. But now, as I've just started my new character, I see that patch 1.8 is in beta. What does this mean for my mods when this releases?

What's the usual protocol? Should I just wait for it to come out and start over again, or is it usually safe to play a modded game when the update hits? I'm just nervous about mods like ACE and Empowered Magic that haven't been updated in a little while, I don't want my game to break when I've spent about a full week getting my game perfect.

tl;dr: Keep playing and don't worry about the update, or wait until it hits and everything is calm again to play?

Thanks.

I've had a character since launch day last year who has ridden out every official patch since then without incident. Some of which were during the beta cycles for them. My other two have both survived game patches just fine as well. It usually isn't a problem unless it's a big one like Patch 1.6 that changed a significant record format.

I would not recommend playing a normal game of skyrim with beta patches. Beta patches should be played with no mods at all, except maybe DLCs and Unofficial Patches, and if you choose play with the beta you should create a new character (One that you cna throw away). That way if the patch causes issues with the game, you know that the issue is legitimatly the patch, not mods, and then provide legitimate bug reports to Bethesda.

TL; DR Best to pass the patch over unless you want to actually Beta test the patch, but if you want to play the game, stick with 1.7, and downlaod 1.8 when it is out of beta.

Edit: Also be sure to delete the Skyrim and SkyrimPrefs ini in the documents/My Games/skyrim directory and let skyrim generate new ones (If you decide to beta test that is).

Yes, avoid beta patches when playing, except they fix something critically broken (like CTD on navmeshes).

While the patch is in beta, I would check the beta forum now and then, and when it's gone live, check here again to see if it introduces new, worse bugs or makes certain things not work anymore. Usually that's not the case, so the patch should be installed. You should only remain at an older version if the new one has glaring issues. Generally, older mods work with new patches (but less the other way 'round).