This topic is about what you as a PC player did before you started to enjoy the game. It isn't necessarily only about mods you installed and tweaks you did, it's also about how you started to play the game differently.

My first test play with the unmodded game lasted like 150 hours. It was boring, and I didn't feel like a Dragonborn because I felt pampered and everything was too easy. I ran straight to traps etc. as they were just a minor annoyance instead of a threat that could kill me. Also all the markers in Compass made me not use my brain making me bored. I stopped playing before i finished the Main Quest or any of the quest lines.

Then I restarted with a lot of tweaks and mods.
Here's pretty much all the things I had to do before I really started to enjoy the game:


1. Field of View is too low
The default Field of View is something like 65 degrees. This is a low value for a PC game that's played with a widescreen display. The field of views are low like this on console games to increase the game's performance.

To increase Field of View put these to Documents/My Games/Skyrim/Skyrim.ini in the right sections:

[General]fdefaultfov=80[Display]fDefaultWorldFOV=80fDefault1stPersonFOV=80

2. The game's interface is horrible
If you haven't already, install http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=3863 to make the interface better. http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=2730 helps there too.

3. The Markers in Compass take excitement out of exploration and combat (Also Sneak Indicator makes sneaking too easy)
Install http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=3222 to get rid off Quest Arrows, Compass Markers, Crosshair, and Sneak Indicator from the HUD. You can remove some of these by editing Documents/My Games/Skyrim/SkyrimPrefs.ini too. I recommend setting HUD opacity to 33% from Skyrim's options. My HUD looks like http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b148/ActionDragon/Skyrim/HUD.jpg.

4. The game's map screen is horrible
Map tweaks:
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=4929 - Adds roads to map. I recommend the main roads only version.
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=1327 - This is a must. http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b148/ActionDragon/Skyrim/Map.jpg.

Add these to Documents/My Games/Skyrim/Skyrim.ini to make the map screen even better.

[MapMenu]fMapWorldYawRange=3600.0000fMapWorldInitialPitch=90.0000fMapWorldMaxHeight=130000.0000fMapWorldMinHeight=5000.0000fMapWorldZoomSpeed=0.0750fMapLookMouseSpeed=3.0000fMapZoomMouseSpeed=15.0000sMapCloudNIF=0

Gameplay tweaks

1. NPCs are annoying and start talking to you every time you pass by.
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=746 - Reduces the range before NPCs start talking to you.

2. Lockpicking is too easy. You don't need any lockpicking perks at all.
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=7395 - Makes lockpicking harder and the perks worth getting.

3. Nights and Dungeons are well lit, torches are completely useless.
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=7654 - I use http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=11318 (version 0.52) and the Realistic Lighting mod comes with it.

4. Smithing is unbalanced
The next patch is going to fix it, but http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=4429 mod does the job well too.

5. You can stop time in the middle of combat and drink an infinite number of instant healing potions.
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=4429 - This mod includes the ability to remove instant healing effects from potions. Also only one healing potion has an effect at a time.

6. Traps are just a minor annoyance.
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=8998 - Makes traps more dangerous so you've to watch your step.


More mods I recommend
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=5626 - Voice controlled shouts etc. This mod made me feel like a Dragonborn. It also improves combat as you don't have to pause to switch between shouts/racial ability. I also like it that you can call your horse. I use version 1.81 as calling your horse doesn't seem to work well with the most recent version.

There's also http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1352100-wiprelz-pise-plutos-improved-skyrim-experience/ mod to improve AI, make sneaking harder etc. but it's still a work in progress so I don't recommend it to everyone. Also some parts of it conflict with the HBE mod.

If you've a high end computer then I suggest installing the official HD textures pack, this http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=607, and this http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=2674.

Yeah, I played my first character unmodded. ~90ish hours. I liked the game. Sure, it could use some little tweaks (like SkyUI and better map), and I used the console to widen the FOV, but other than that it was good. Don't have a problem with the difficulty (as mentioned in the "waaaa, it's too easy!" threads, I was challenged on Adept, from level 10 to high 40's. Guess I just didn't make an OP build), and I've never had a problem with compass markers in OB/FO3/SK. Or most of the other things you mention.

Yes, I liked the game unmodded
Currently over 700 hours played and 6 mods installed, none massive
I will install more with time as good ones that add more to the game or deal with things I dislike about it come out but I could happily play the game without any mods

I only have two mods, one that stops the NPC Greetings and one that makes all the containers in the game actual containers. No other mods. The game does not require any mods really.

I enjoyed the game unmodded. I enjoy it even more with mods. I do not agree with anything you've said in your original post. I think you are nitpicking. But hey, just my opinion. I could be wrong.

The vanilla game is good, but not great in my opinion. The only tweak i've made so far (not a mod) is turning off the HUD, which improved the experience immensely.

I'm waiting a while before I start trying out mods, so I get a completely overhauled experience rather than exhaust the game now with only a few minor improvements here and there.

I also enjoyed it tremendously and didn't see the need for any modifications.

I only use a mod to get rid of some essential npc's, otherwise the vanilla game is quite enjoyable for a single full playthrough. I see a lot of limitations and most likely I won't have a second modless playthrough. I will search for mods that enhance the side stories, factions, fully fleshed companions with backstories and personal questlines, ect...

CCNA, which mod is that that makes more containers?

Except for a mod for satchels on crafting tables, I play vanilla and absolutely love the game. It's going to be years before there's another TES and there's plenty of time to play with mods. I know it's been over 700 hours and I'm still having a blast. I'm just now beginning to learn the armor/weapons/damage and smithing system in my current game. Each build I've made gave me a chance to explore a perk tree and make the most of the skills in the game so there was/is a lot to learn. Along with the exploration, it's been a wonderful immersive experience. I still remember my first moments out of Helgen though as if it were yesterday. It was a long-anticipated day and worth every minute of the wait. It's still exciting like that.

I played over 400 hours unmodded. I don't get the hate, but whatever, different strokes. Really don't understand the UI hate- it is way better than OB. I guess because I play with a game pad its different for me. I added two mods a day or two ago- ambient sounds and maps with roads- because of the kudos they were receiving here and elsewhere. Generally speaking I have little time for mods but these two seemed like nice little tweaks.

http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1343400-relz-barrels-and-crates/

I can't play unmodded Bethesda games, especially since they started rolling out console ports.

I played Skyrim for about 100 hours before I used my first mod. This was something I could not do in Oblivion. I found vanilla Morrowind and Skyrim to be much more enjoyable than Oblivion.

Even now, I'm only using about 20 mods. And most of them are small tweaks.

The maps are horrible and the followers are dumb, that's the two main things I hate about the game. Didn't do much for modding to enjoy it the first time though, I just changed the FOV because it's really annoying to see only 60 degrees and it irritates me enough in some shooters (MW3 Y U NO LOVE ME).

This time, I could even enjoy the game before I got my first armor mod, other than in OB and MW.

I played my first character with no mods whatsoever as I wanted to experience it as the developers had intended and had one of the best experiences of my 20 years of gaming. After that I dipped my toe into the murky waters of the Skyrim Nexus and am loving what has been created.

You don't need mods to enjoy Skyrim at all but since they are there then why not use them?

I found the time to be right already for a proper playthrough with mods. It's hard to say how much patches and mods are still going to improve the game though.

Edit: I wouldn't call these minor improvements. These changes I've made make a major difference.

Thanks ActionHitman(FIN) for the FOV tip I will change it when I get home. I do enjoy the unmodded Skyrim, but I think I'd enjoy a lot more a fully modded Skyrim with classes, attributes, birthsigns, skill requirements for guilds, real time carriage travel, harder puzzles on doors, spells that were in Morrowind and Oblivion and are missing in Skyrim... a lot of things would (will?) make my Skyrim better. For a first run it's ok but I'm not doing a second unmodded run.

I played the game for a hundred hours before I installed mods, but now I have 21 of them installed. They're all minor mods and about half of them are only graphical/audible tweaks, but I do have a few mods installed to improve follower interactions and add or improve some other small gameplay devices, and I have exactly one that adds a new quest + locations.

By the way, the vanilla inventory screen and the 60 degree FOV never bothered me.

yes i liked the game before mods , it had its flaws and still has
mods only enriched the game and made it possible to personalize it to my own likungs

Yes, I don't care about making a game "hardcoe" so most of my mods are cosmetic and add-ons, not changes to core gameplay.

Only mod that i use is http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=607. I enjoy vanilla game quite a lot .

I recommend RCRN ( real colors real nights ) very good.

Usually when I hear the word hardcoe I think about gamers who powerplay. This means using and also exploiting everything the game has to offer. I don't like powerplaying in an RPG like this, I roleplay and don't for example use the best armor available.

Still the game was so easy in many aspects that I didn't feel like the Dragonborn hero. I needed mods before I got the right feeling. Features like the Enemy Markers in Compass and Traps that are just a minor annoyance throw immersion out the window.

I played for a while on my first character until I got an idea of what I wanted to change. I am now using 180+ mods and my game looks fantastic and plays exactly the way I want. Using a lot of texture mods and mostly cosmetic mods for a much better looking game.

The game is great in Vanilla. Mods simply make it even better.