BMS Legacy

All information beyond this point is on the outdated side. While yes, it can still be used by those of you more interested in reading the nitty gritty, note that it is incomplete and I am not actively focusing my limited time on supporting it. One day, I would like to filter through this information and create pages with descriptions for mods included in BMS and how to better utilize and edit the modlist for those of you keen on modifying and expanding it based on your one personal tastes. Between my more limited time and growing pressures to finish BMS, I am not in a position to take this up now however.

Modifying and expanding BMS for your own personal use is still greatly encouraged (it will expand your BGS modding knowledge and promote growth on this subject), just know I do not have any up-to-date documentation to aid you. If you do have questions regarding this, my Discord is the place to ask.

BMS Structure

The very basis of BMS relies on, what I am referring to as, modules. Modules are groups of mods that modify the same aspect of the game and are designed to be standalone mini-modlists. Of course, it is impossible to completely remove conflicts between mods in separate modules so when using multiple, we will have to do some patching. For the most part though, every module, should be able to stand independently when no other modules are present. The only exception is the very first module coined “Essentials” which serves as a stable and bug-free foundation for every other Module. In all, there are currently five planned modules:

Essentials – Completed
Audio – Completed
Graphics & Visuals – In Progress
Gameplay Changes – Road map
Gameplay Additions – Road map

Each of these modules is then further grouped into branching categories and subcategories for further organization and uniformity. At the base of each subcategory, the mods are organized in the following manner:

Included – Mods that are officially supported by BMS. These are the ones in my load order and the ones that have the official Ai Cave seal of approval. They are the starting point for everyone using BMS and Journeymen will want to stay exclusively in this section.
Not Included – These are mods are also very good and for one reason or another (most likely because of compatibility or redundancy) they didn’t make it into BMS. If you’re an Evoker or Wizard, especially pay attention to these as you may prefer them in your own modlist.
Not Recommended – These are mods that you seriously want to think over before adding to your modlist. Even though these mods are popular, they have conflicts, bugs or other issues that CANNOT allow me to recommend them for the vast majority of users. Be very careful with these. If you’re a Wizard, this section may be of interest to you. If not, you’d do well to read through it anyway and familiarize yourself with them anyway. It will help you get to know the modding landscape and what is and isn’t ‘safe’.

Using BMS

One of the very first things that you should decide before proceeding forward with BMS is how you intend to use the wealth of information that lay ahead of you. My goal with BMS is not to tell you with absolute certainty what mods you should and should not install (that is ultimately your decision), it’s to aid and assist you in creating a stable, well designed, load order that fits your needs and the specifications of your machine. So to start, let’s see what you, yes YOU, need!

Choose a title that best fits you:

Journeyman – A Journeyman doesn’t know many, if any, of the mods that are available for Skyrim or just wants to follow step-by-step instructions to create a modlist that is guaranteed to work. As such, a Journeyman only installs “Included” mods and only makes decisions when told to do so.
Evoker – Evokers uses their knowledge of mods they’ve used in the past to deviate from “Included” mods but only when they feel confident in doing so. As such, Evokers understand that such deviations could lead to ramifications and they are prepared to troubleshoot and adjust those on their own. Evokers also pay attention to the “Not Included” sections as those could include mods they prefer.
Wizard – You’re a wizard Harry! At least when it comes to mods. Wizards are those that could honestly make due without BMS because of their extensive knowledge of Skyrim mods but prefer the convenience of having a quality, curated list. As a Wizard, you’re interested in all the “Included”, “Not Included” and “Not Recommended” mods because you want to know exactly why I made the choices I did in BMS and how you can apply those to your own list.

Ready to Begin?

Now that you’ve selected a title for yourself and know how you’ll be utilizing BMS, you’re ready to get started! Please start with Clean Install section and move on to General Info if you’re just getting started. For your convenience, every module currently completed is listed just after those two sections.