STEP Patches when using partial STEP Install

[Malachor]

Hi All,

 

A quick query regarding the STEP Patches.  If only installing a selection of mods listed in the STEP 2.2.9 Guide (29 to be exact in my case as they're ones I can't live without, but also because I want to actually PLAY the game this time round as opposed to spending months diagnosing mod issues/reading/learning/posting help topics etc.) do I install the STEP Combined Patch or just download the mods within it i.e. more salt please, no spinning death animation etc. and load them in manually?  If the former, do I add bash tags prior to rebuilding my bashed patch, if so which ones? I should point out I have all DLC's apart from Hearthfire.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Mal.

[TechAngel85]

As long as you installed SMIM as we instructed, then use the Combined Patch. Your Bash Patch will not need to be rebuilt using only this patch.

[Malachor]

Many thanks for the prompt and concise response :)

[Malachor]

Hello :)

 

I just tried installing the STEP Combined Patch but I'm unsure how to proceed because the detailed instructions don't seem to reflect the options presented to me.  Namely:

 

• Launch LOOT through Mod Organizer. (Done)
• Click Sort Plugins. (Done)
• Select the plugin requiring lower loading (when a plugin is loaded lower than another plugin, it wins the conflict). (What plugin do I select? Is it STEP Combined Plugin.esp? There are many present, including STEP Combined PluginHF.esp which MO flags as a problem - I don't use Hearthfire, so I just unchecked this in the plugins tab)
• Toward top right, tick the Show only conflicting plugins box. The list of plugins will be much shorter as only conflicting plugins are shown. (Done)
• Drag and drop the conflicting plugin into the Load After window. (Which conflicting plugin, there's about 20!)
• Click Apply. The load order will be dynamically reordered applying the rule just created. (Not done)
• Click Apply again to accept the new load order. (Not done)

I should point out that my modding process is done, so I'm adding this patch AFTER everything else has been added for my partial STEP.  Also, there are a few non STEP mods in there such as Immersive Weapons/Armors, Unread Books Glow, Glowing Ore Veins and Better Dynamic Snow; does this have an effect on this patch/bashed patch?

 

Sorry if I'm being a numpty.  Sometimes I need basic, step-by-step instructions and if something doesn't follow 'exactly' as described in a guide, I worry it'll cause issues with my game long term.  I just want a playthrough which I'm hoping to start tomorrow with a good load of beer as it's my first night to myself in a month!

 

Regards

 

Mal.

Edited August 1, 2014 by Malachor

[EssArrBee]

If you follow the simple questions on the STEP Patches wiki page you can't pick the wrong the patch to use. There are also instructions for the LOOT meta rules to change the priority so it loads after everything that it conflicts with. Very simple install procedures are provided if you do exactly what they say.

 

Adding in new mods means you need to rerun the Bashed Patch and any SkyProc Patchers if you are using those mods. 

[Malachor]

Hi,

 

Thanks for the response.

 

I can confirm that is the page I was using prior to posting along with https://wiki.step-project.com/LOOT/Meta_Rule_Instructions however my previous post still applies unfortunately.  The steps outlined didn't provide enough information for me to feel entirely comfortable with the install procedure; especially the bit about "Select the plugin requiring lower loading" - as it doesn't state 'what' plugin, or if this is entirely generic based on what plugins you have installed. Does it mean to select one or all of the plugins listed in the conflicting plugins pane (there's about 20 listed for me)? It states to "drag and drop the conflicting plugin" but when you don't know what plugin(s) you should be moving, especially when you have 20+ it makes it very difficult to feel comfortable with proceeding given that you could potentially bork the game before you start.

 

Apologies if I'm making this sound more complicated than it actually is.  I'm happy with the priority bit; that's not an issue, it's just the bits beforehand as its not specific enough for my overly logical mindset.

 

If its easier to simply download the mods within the combind patch i.e. more salt please, no spinning death etc. and install them manually, I'll do that, so long as it doesn't affect my ability to play game with stability.  As previously mentioned, my modding process was complete prior to attempting to install the combind patch (I did testing with speedmult 1500/tlc/god mode for 15 mins and had no crashes) so I wanted to make sure I did it right.

 

Thanks again for your help all.

 

Mal.

[EssArrBee]

Anywhere you see a LOOT rule, it refers to the plugin listed in the yellow lines. Then it also says which type of instruction is needed. So in the case of the combined plugin you are using which should be the STEP Combined Plugin.esp, you only follow the Priority Change. Then you have something like Realistic Water Two.esp and the instructions say to load after. That means load the RWT.esp after the plugins listed. So, "Select the plugin requiring lower loading" would be the plugin that has to load after the others, or RWT.esp in this example.

[Malachor]

Hi,

 

Thanks again for the response :)

 

Ok, so in my case, am I right in assuming I do the following (given that my modding process is 100% complete):

 

• Install the combined patch as a mod from with MO
• Uncheck STEP Combined PluginHF.esp in the 'plugins' tab because I don't use Hearthfire
• Run LOOT and sort plugins
• Highlight STEP Combined Plugin.esp and change priority to 986000
• Disable SMIM-FurnitureChestSnowFix.esp, SMIM-DragonbornTernFix.esp, SMIM-DungeonsCliffsIceSkirts.esp, SMIM-ShackRoofFixes.esp, & SMIM-ShackRoofFixesDragonborn.esp
• That's it?

I in the above example, you mentioned RW2; I don't use that but I do use W.A.T.E.R so I don't know if that applies to me and I'll be honest I still don't understand the use of "load after" or what plugin(s) I must drag and drop because there are lots listed and I just don't know which is supposed to be loaded after what, where, how etc.  That's why I downloaded LOOT as I want it to manage all that for me.  All I want is to install the combined patch and get it working with my current (and tested working) list of mods but it seems like its just too convoluted.

 

If the above steps I posted are not correct, please let me know as I'd rather just install the mods within it manually rather than do something wrong with the load order bit and chance breaking my game in the long run.  If it's of any use, I've included a screenshot of my "show only conflicting plugins" page within LOOT so you can see what I mean:

 

 

Here's my MO:

 

 

(https://postimg.org/image/nx1i5own7/ if you can't see the picture closely enough)

 

Thanks again.  Sorry I'm bugging you - just want to get this right.

 

Regards

 

Mal.

Edited August 2, 2014 by Malachor

[Malachor]

Don't worry I've installed the mods within the combined patch manually, run LOOT and all is well.  No errors or warnings.  I've rebuilt my bashed patch and copied the data from the overwrite folder to my bashed patch mod in the left hand pane of MO. 

 

Sorry I just couldn't get my head around the instructions as they're not specific enough for me, however I appreciate both the fact they're available for noobs like me and the time/effort you've spent creating them; as well as for the help I've received this far.  My sincere thanks.

 

Regards

 

 

Mal.