We all know when the save file reaches a certain size it becomes unstable, but it seems like each progressive character breaks down faster and faster; and it all started after 1.3.10. I only have a few patches/mods installed, and I have attempted removing them all and the problems persist (I have no DLL based modifications like SKSE or ScriptDragon)



I've restarted 3 times now...


First character lasted 160 hours. I abused the game quite a bit, made no real attempt to protect it from bloating - tossing items on the floor, experimenting with conjured bows and leaving arrows all over the place, etc, after 150-160 hours the save file was up to 15Mb and it started crashing a lot slightly before the 1.3.10 patch, certain cells and interiors appeared to be buggy and entering them would freeze/crash/load screen forever. After the 1.3.10 patch it started crashing too much to play so I essentially did a new game+, starting over but using the console to reset my character to what they were using IncPCS

Save file size: 15.8Mb


Second character lasted 30 hours. I had a suspicion the crashing was due to the 1.3.10 patch so i reverted to 1.3.7 shortly after creating the toon. This time I took careful measures to avoid save bloating. However, very quickly cells started to become corrupted, often forcing me to COC out of an interior because I found myself stuck on the 2nd level of a dungeon with the first layer corrupted and thus unable to exit the dungeon. At around 15 hours the ENTIRE college of mages became corrupted, entering the courtyard worked, but if you tried to leave again it'd crash. I decided to give it some time and went persue some other quests and give it 30 days to see if it'd fix itself. I came back 15 hours later and nope... same bug. At this point I decided to start over again so that I could get my buddy J'zhargo to adventure with; having lost him and all my possessions in the hall of attainment.

Save file size: 5.7Mb


Third character lasted under 2 hours. I updated to 1.3.10 since perhaps this was a sign the instability wasn't due to the patch. The first crash occurred only a MINUTE after getting the controls; shortly after Alduin popped his head into the tower after you escape the chopping block. once I was clear, I went straight to the college so I could grab J'zhargo and get adventuring. I started the mages guild quest line, but couldn't enter Saarthal the first 2 attempts, with it freezing on the loading screen. Eventually I got it to let me in and I secured the orb (With 3 crashes between)... but then I couldn't exit the dungeon because the first layer of Saarthal was apparently corrupted and would sit on the load screen forever, again...

Save file size: 4.2Mb (Whut?)



So, I put it to you guys... is it REALLY the save file that is becoming critically bloated at 150 hours, or is the new patch more unstable and causing corruption, and everyone is suddenly hitting the corruption wall and putting it down to save bloating? - Has anyone else started over only to find their game is ALREADY showing corruption?

I understand what you mean about save game bloating, my save games are a little over 15 Mb as well, however, after a quick re install of Skyrim (bad fps indoors) I am back to stable gaming. I have taken it upon myself to download this mod http://www.skyrimnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=3084 to help with the dead bodies that just tend to lay around for ever and ever, I'm not sure that it helps with the ash piles though but I could be wrong on that. It should help reduce save game bloating, but likely won't prevent it...I guess anything helps there.

Right but my point is that my attempts to start over are met with failiure within a few hours. Long before save bloating sets in

I think it is due to the new patch, I am crashing all the time now after 160 hours of game play. I was fine before, I have a gazillion mods on a super computer. So I tried taking all the mods off, and still same problem. I tried restarting and didn't even make it past the first scene just after making my character. So I bumped down the graphics. Tried re-installing. Still crashing all the time. So annoying. I got my blog and everything going and I cant do it for awhile until they fix this and all my friends and co-workers want to see what I have coming next. Come on bethesda this is really annoying. I spent hard earned cash for the game, no really. I got bills out of the yin yang so coming up with video game cash is not an easy thing to do. I love the game and with 167 hours of game time, I dont want to give up playing so please fix this soon, or give me some tips on how to get it to run without worrying about it crashing all of the time.

Since the newest patch I had zero issues my save file is growing but not very fast total its 6.1 and I have had zero CTD's this character level 15.

Adding my 2 cents, this is a serious problem after all.

FIrst character: played from launch, went through the patches up to 1.3.10. (Only used the magic resistance fix mod after the 1.2 patch.)
At 18mb save file size (aprox 300 hours played) the game became unplayable due to CTD locked areas, similar to what's mentioned above.

Second character: started fresh on a re-installed, up to date 1.3.10 game, (no mods.)
At 4.7mb, 23 hours played, too early to say I guess, but no CTDs yet. yet... taking it slow, hoping for some miraculous January patch.