CTDs wasn't my issue when using Automatic Variants... No... I got a MAMMOTH in Riverwood where a cow should've been! The only way to resolve the issue was to completely remove AV from the game. I had just installed Skyrim Scaling Stopper, but playing with that mod without AV -- no issues whatsoever. Either AV was borked, it just didn't play nice with Skyrim Scaling Stopper, or Bashed Patch or the AV .ESP generator messed something up somewhere. Regardless, I need Skyrim Scaling Stopper more than AV, so it was an easy choice. Today, as I've just started using SkyTEST, I'm grateful that AV was not used for texture variants.

That was not caused by AV, then. AV does not place new animals or anything like that. ASIS does, somewhat, with Increased Spawns.

You know, the problem is probably that people are not starting fresh games. However, that issue is mostly Bethesda, not any of the patchers such as AV or ASIS. Also, starting clean is required for actual testing of anything or there is no way to tell what is truly causing a problem, if a problem happens.

I use Skytest with AV and have since I started using both of them, and no problems at all (again, aside from things I know such as trying to change midgame and getting skating animals, but that's Bethesda, not the patchers).

By the way, there is a bug tracker for AV. For example, it is known that AV cannot handle Extended Colors, probably because of the thousands of variations from Extended Colors and AV does similar functions (plus Java limitations). However, any mod that is not desired to be included can be unchecked prior to running the patcher (similar to how Bashed Patch looks for active mods, not inactive mods). Some people do this for ASIS for mods such as dragon buffs, although ASIS also has a file that can be configured for records to exclude. I find it much simpler to just uncheck a mod I don't want to include, at least for now.

I've had a few issues with AV that made past saves currupt (may have been my doing) but I still consider my Skyrim to be in "Beta". Basically i am playing around with mods and see how they work and if they work the way i want and will make the game play how i want. If they do then i keep them, if not I toss them. If it kills my save then oh well its not a serious play through. I will eventually build another computer stronger than my current gaming computer and will actually play skyrim on it and use this one for testing mods.

Doubts...

...Should I install this after or before Real Wildlife mod ???

What′s the difference between both (under A.I. point of view) ?

I've heard Real Wildlife is kind of buggy...is that right ?

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They are both Animal Mods but each mod alters different Stuff, i would say RWS is a much more complete mod since it has much more to offer than SkyTEST, while SkyTEST is just the best damn Animal Behavior Mod which its main focus.

I havent encountered many issues with RWS, the only thing i noticed are some minor issues with Factions.