No contest really the 3 mods that just do the most to make skyrim look and work right. http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=19, http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=8655, and http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=3863. Nothing sixy at all about them, but they are a solid base from which to build any custom skyrim experience.

Well, choosing 3 is a bit difficult, but I?l try:
1. http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=12178- a ballanced and lore friendly race overhaul that makes the races special and at the same time is not limiting in any way.
2. http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=13968- well, what to say, the author made a great effort to bring attributes back and so far it seems that it works flawlesly
3. some magic overhaul - there are tons of them, I use my own creation I did not release (yet). Mainly something that adds more spells amd makes them more usefull at higher levels.

I also use some other more or less misc. mods, but those are really important for me

Must have:

Skyui
RCRN
PISE

SkyUI

Balanced Magic

CBBE v3

One that didnt get mentioned and really should get a place in spotlight:

1. Crafting 300, armoury of Tamriel.

I'm gonna put here some highly and unfairly underrated mods

I couldn't live without http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=14933 (10-slot Mark/Recall mod, with multiple followers' support), in substitution for fast-travel. http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=14393 for being able to "mark" a container, and access it anytime and everywhere, and http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=8535, because teleporting behind an archer and bashing him with your shield before he has time to react is simply amazing

Only three, very difficult to choose, but I'd say:

1. An ENB profile of some kind
2. Live Another Life
3. Too hard to choose, about 30 come tied in 3rd place, lol

Due to two threads being merged into one I think some folks do not realize this thread is asking two questions.

Question number one is: "What are your top three favorite mods?"

Question number two is: "What is everyone's top 3 mods in the following brackets? 1. Visuals/Graphics/Sounds. 2. Combat, Magic or Stealth. 3. Immersion. 4. Misc."

So, in short, we are being asked to list between twelve and fifteen mods.

nvm,, accidental double post, see post below

<sup>http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=19


http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=13268</sup>

Unofficial Skyrim Patch

Third Era attributes, even in it's current early stage.

SkyUI

SkyUI, Lockpick Pro (I hate the lockpick mini-game,) Categorized Favorites Menu: Kind of a bland selection, but there you have it.

Question number one is: "What are your top three favorite mods?"

• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=3863 - SkyUI is mod that aims to improve Skyrim's User Interface by making it easier to use with mouse and keyboard, less wasteful of available screen space and nicer to look at.
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=4862 - This mod replaces the single favorites menu with several categorized favorites menus, with subcategories.
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=1175 - The default settings of this plugin will unlock the skill level caps of 100 and push them to 300. This allows you character to potentially reach level 252. You will also get benefits from skills above level 100, up to level 400 including enchantment bonuses. You may also tweaks the settings of this plugin to set your own caps, to modify the experience earning rate of each skill, or to change the number of perks gained at a specific level.

Question number two is: "What is everyone's top 3 mods in the following brackets? 1. Visuals/Graphics/Sounds. 2. Combat, Magic or Stealth. 3. Immersion. 4. Misc."

1. Visuals/Graphics/Sounds

• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=2146 - Landscape re-texture mod.

• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=13268 - This mod enhances Skyrim's water with all new textures, meshes, effects, general fixes, cosmetic fixes, and also new content.
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=193 - This mod serves to make the game's ore veins much more visible,
  especially in darker environments.

2. Combat, Magic or Stealth

• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=14509- Just a simple mod that allows you to choose where you want to get the target for your Thieves Guild job.
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=219 - This mod adds a bar at the top of the screen while picking a lock which shows you the 'sweet spot' of the lock. It also shows the health of the current lockpick. Configurable
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=10906 - a new killmoves mod build from the ground up to cater to the new 1.5 update. Currently, it adds around 25 new/reassigned killmoves against NPC's not already included in the 1.5 patch to virtually all of the combat styles and situations.

3. Immersion

• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=15125 - This mod adds 24 regions that override the "Skyrim" display name: nine for the holds, four for the smaller hold capitals, eight for the villages, one for the throat of the world, one for the sea of ghosts and one for the college of winterhold. The only exception is the exit to Helgen keep, where it still says "Skyrim" for dramatic purposes.
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=13531 - URWL for SKYRIM offers a revamped SKYRIM weather and lighting style with ZERO PERFORMANCE LOSS, with NO EXTERNAL FILES to change, NO INIs to dig through and NO hassle.
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=6770 - Every city guard's outfit design and concept depends on each city's atmosphere and enviroment.

4. Misc

• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=1327 - Makes all quest targets green, all discovered towns blue and all undiscovered towns red.
  
• http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=5739 - Detailed world map with roads and Hold borders.

-Mush-

uh, mush, you can't post links to nvde mods. might wanna take them down.

My top 6 (in no particular order)

Interesting NPCs - http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=8429

Town Guards Armor - http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=2819

Great Swords sheaths and scabards - http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=5624

Natural Skyrim Rain - http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=8395

Quality World Map with Improved Roads - http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=4929

Improved Hjerim (a mod i made because i live in Hjerim and couldnt stand the ugliness any longer !) - http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=16478

I can't name just three! D=

Unofficial Skyrim Patch
SkyUI
PerkUP
Lost Arts of the Blacksmith
Skyrim Monster Mod
Phenderix Magic
Occupy Skyrim
More Craftables
Dragonbone Weapons

Couldn't live without:
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=3863

Wouldn't live without:
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=19
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=11135
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=3222

Best visual mods:
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=7654
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=13049
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=8655

Best Combat/Magic/Stealth, combined with Immersion:
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=4548
iHud - getting another mention because the options to turn off all the information about enemies is brilliant. I thought it would make playing a bit of a pain, but gave it a go and I love it - would recommend to everyone.
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=5485
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=3460
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=15324
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=13396

Miscellaneous:
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=9557
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=9959 and all its descendants
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=4862

Thanks, mod authors!

Edit: added some links

WARZONE, CBBE, and IMAGINATOR.

If I could only choose 1 mod though, that would be IMAGINATOR. That mod saved my poor eye's life haha.

I'd dare to say that there are a few which are so essential they should be taken 'as read' - Unofficial Patch, SkyUI, iHUD, SKSE and SD, maybe a couple of others of a more 'advlt' nature

Apart from those, the three I miss the most when I'm testing stuff out on the semi-vanilla rig downstairs are:-

1) The Levelers Tower - becoming ESSENTIAL due to the number of new characters I've had to roll up recently, thanks for the patches Bethesda

2) Phanderix Magic Evolved - 'Phoenix Volley' and 'Glacial Volley' are the sub-machine guns of Skyrim! and

3) P.I.S.E. - Subtle, but it just adds so much to the feeling of a challenging experience.

1. Life another Life
2. Midas Spells for Skyrim
3. Skyrim Monster Mod

plus a lot of the ones mentioned above

realistic lightning , i love those dark dungons
no helmet mod who need helmets anyway
Vampire overhaul...prince of darkness


a honourary mention are all mods that make characters look better
Callente CBBE, dizmonized UNP, bella better females, apacheskyhair etc
second honourable mention ,all cloting and armour mods from hentai

but to be honest there are so many good mods out there limiting myself to only 3 not fair
So here is my thanks to all modders out there

THANK YOU


ooh and i forgot one important thing a fantasy game without unicorns is not a game , so that unicorn mod on nexus , ( afraid i can't link because i am on a ipad right now)

No Auto-aim
Sounds of Skyrim (Dungeons and Wilds)
Isilmeriel's LOTR Weapons

My list is as following

Skyrim Redone - http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=9286
This changes pretty much the entire experience of Skyrim, new perks, improved combat. This is a must for me, and just waiting for the new version to start a brand new character.

Realistic Lighting With Customization - http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=7654
Makes dungeons dnice and dark. Just like they should be!

Skyrim -Community- Uncapper - http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=1175
A must to fully enjoy the Skyrim Redone mod.

I just learned about this. What a cool idea!

It's really impressive what's out there so far -- there may not be an OOO yet, but if you're willing to spend the time to find, install, and troubleshoot a few dozen mods, you can put together a pretty dynamite game already, and we're only 6 months in.