Me personally i would not be able to even start making mods until i graduate boot camp and i don't leave until april so around 3 months after that and then even after that i only get like a 10 day leave so it's going to be awhile but im not going to lie this topic i posted has got me interested. I am someone who knows a fair amount about computers i could no more but i'm no idiot around a computer so how does one make a mod ?
To add to @CCNA's response:
Similar to making a movie or building a house, there are different skillsets required for making mods. Depending on what you're trying to accomplish, there's:
- animation - kf files, similar requirements to modeling
- modelling - building meshes, the actual objects in the game (requires nifskope + blender/3ds max/maya)
- texturing - putting the "skin" on a mesh, usually dds files (gimp or photoshop + nvidia dds plugin)
- scripting - programming AI, special events, adding dynamic options to the game (built-in, but there's also script dragon and skse)
- creation kit - makes use of all of the above to add things to the game, can also edit records (db entries) to change existing game elements
Everything in the game is stored in files (an esm or an esp), which are essentially databases. The game reads these when it loads, and when required, loads models, textures and animations which are either stored as loose files, or can be collected into an archive (BSA). Some modding is done purely by editing esm or esp records, some involves making animation, models, or textures, and then editing records to add them to the game.
The Creation Kit is all about editing the game databases. Other tools (listed above) are used to create or modify specific content such as models or textures.
The above is a simplification, but it's meant as an overview that gives a basic idea of how it all works.