Merge pull request #89 from foreverphoenix/tpf-dev

TPF 4.0 Beta 6

Author: foreverphoenix

content/skyrim-se/appendix/changelog.md

@@ -6,6 +6,78 @@ description: >
   For all versions since the Github release (3.2 and later).
 ---
 
+## Release 4.0 Beta 6
+
+> 29/01/2021
+
+With this update, **Alternate Start - Live Another Life** (aka AS LAL), got the boot. Gonna be honest here, I've been meaning to remove that mod for a long, long time. Unfortunately, there never was a simple alternative to it that just puts you in a quiet place to go through MCM settings and character creation before the vanilla start. And, spoiler alert, there still isn't.
+
+However, I discovered that the vanilla start - once a buggy mess in modded games - works perfectly fine in TPF. This is due to the fact that most mods no longer instantly fire all their scripts as soon as you start the game and we have very mods that run many scripts anyway. The overall stability of SSE and the decoupling of framerate and physics are helping here as well.
+
+Without AS LAL, everyone is forced to go through the vanilla intro which makes balancing far easier for us. There is simply no way we can balance every single one of AS LAL's starting points so that it's a fair start for a new playthrough. I always recommended the vanilla start anyway. Additionally, AS LAL touches so many parts of Skyrim that it's essentially patching hell. Now we are rid of that, too.
+
+The downside is that there is no quiet mod configuration spot before you are thrown into the game anymore. You will probably have to take a breather after escaping Helgen or later in Riverwood for the MCM stuff. I miss the convenience of the AS LAL cell but it's a small part of the mod and doesn't justify keeping the rest.
+
+**Website structure:** As you may have noticed, I moved around some pages and added a new (WIP) Wabbajack page. The purpose of this is to have a clear distinction of guide sections for manual and for WJ users.
+
+#### Introduction
+
+- Temporarily removed link to mod spreadsheet (very outdated, will get to it).
+- Added link to the new [playlist](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj_QypS-aCNNyUBLpYsFAeCJk1Zq0xnmV) with music tracks added by mods in TPF.
+- Expanded the Wabbajack section and added a FLOWCHART to make it obvious which sections WJ users need to follow.
+
+#### Initial Setup
+
+- **Mod Organizer 2:** Rewrote the Separator section to have DIY instructions (users make their own separators).
+- **ESM Cleaning:** Actually fixed Dawnguard manual cleaning instructions (could have sworn I already did this).
+- **ESM Cleaning:** Added note to uncheck SSEEdit Backups so that they don't clutter up your Overwrite.
+
+*For Beta Testers: Re-cleaning Dawnguard.esm is not necessary. The problem was that I had custom Filter profiles that I thought were default. Users didn't have them though, so I had to rewrite the instructions without using a filter.*
+
+#### Mod Installation
+
+- **Instructions:** Added paragraph on creating new separators for each new page in the mod installation section.
+- **Essential Mods:** Removed Alternate Start - Live Another Life (praise the Nine).
+- **Fixes:** Updated FOMOD instructions for Landscape Fixes for Grass Mods (no longer selecting the AS LAL patch).
+- **Tweaks:** Removed Multiple Floors Sandboxing (added to ACC).
+- **Graphics Baseline:** Fixed file names in additional instructions for aMidianBorn Book of Silence.
+- **Graphics Baseline:** Added instructions to delete the scripts folder from aMidianBorn Book of Silence.
+- **Landscape:** Updated FOMOD instructions for Rorikstead Basalt Cliffs Patches (no longer installing the AS LAL patch).
+- **Dungeons:** Added instructions to Underground to fix the shiny mud in Helgen.
+- **Apparel & Weapons:** Fixed download instructions for Sunhallowed and Bloodcursed Arrows (Optional Files > Main Files).
+- **Miscellaneous:** Removed Bounty Previews (late note from Beta 1, will be re-added very soon).
+
+#### Finalisation
+
+- **Wrapping Up:** Added instructions to create a new separator before installing the CRP.
+- **Wrapping Up:** Removed sandboxcylinderheight.esp from list of plugins to ESL-ify (added to ACC).
+- **Nemesis:** Added instructions to add a PATCHER OUTPUT separator.
+- **DynDOLOD:** Added instructions to click "Advanced" in the window that comes up when *not* generating 3D tree LOD.
+- **Occlusion:** Improved instructions for generating Occlusion (minor rephrasing).
+- **First Launch:** Updated for the removal of Alternate Start.
+- **Clean-Up:** Moved instructions to check MO2 for errors here.
+
+#### New Game
+
+- This section was completely removed.
+- Most of the FINAL STEPS page was redundant except for the MO2 error check which was moved to Clean-up instead.
+- The MOD CONFIGURATION page is now a top-level page.
+- The GAMEPLAY GUIDE page is now a top-level page.
+
+#### Wabbajack
+
+- Added this new top-level page with instructions for the Wabbajack version of TPF.
+
+#### Mod Configuration
+
+- **Mod Configuration:** This is now a top-level page.
+- **Mod Configuration:** Temporarily removed the (fairly pointless) instructions for GIST. Will add proper ones in the future.
+
+#### Gameplay Guide
+
+- **Gameplay Guide:** This is now a top-level page.
+- **Gameplay Guide:** Added a far too detailed section about the music mods added in TPF.
+
 ## Release 4.0 Beta 5
 
 > 26/01/2021

content/skyrim-se/finalisation/_index.md

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 title: "Finalisation"
-weight: 11
+weight: 4
 type: docs
 description: >
   Final steps to wrap up the installaion.

content/skyrim-se/finalisation/cleanup.md

@@ -12,8 +12,6 @@ As mentioned before, the ***Overwrite*** folder in Mod Organizer 2 catches all f
 
 If you delete these, they’ll just be regenerated the next time you launch the game, but we don’t want them to clutter up the ***Overwrite*** either. The best solution is to keep these files with the mods they belong to, inside their mod folders. This way they will also be removed and regenerated when the mod is updated.
 
-### Open in Explorer
-
 * Right-click the ***Overwrite*** and select **Open in Explorer**.
 * Navigate to `SKSE\Plugins` which contains files for Keyboard Shortcuts Fix and Fuz Ro D’oh.
 
@@ -38,12 +36,26 @@ If you delete these, they’ll just be regenerated the next time you launch the
 * Close all Explorer windows and return to Mod Organizer 2.
 * Double-click the ***Overwrite*** and delete any left-over files.
 
-## What now?
+## MO2 Notifications
+
+Before you can finally start your playthrough, there's one final check. In Mod Organizer 2, go to **View** >> **Notifications**. If this is greyed out, you are good to go! If not there are multiple different warnings you might encounter:
+
+- **Missing Masters:** One of your plugins is missing a master file. It is marked with an exclamation mark in your load order. This is most likely due to skipping a mod that was not optional or selecting the wrong option in a FOMOD installer. Go back to the mod’s instructions in the guide and double-check everything.
+- **Form 43 Plugin:** You forgot to re-save one or several plugins in the Creation Kit. Re-save them now.
+- **Outdated SKSE Plugin:** Check the plugin's mod page to see if there is a new version.
+
+> If you have warnings in MO2 and are not certain what to do about them, please join us on Discord and ask there in the appropriate channels.
+
+## New Game
 
 **Congratulations, you have completed The Phoenix Flavour!**
 
-I hope you had a great time, found the instructions easy to follow, and didn’t run into any frustrating issues. Your game is now thoroughly overhauled and you learned plenty about modding in the meantime.
+I hope you had a great time, found the instructions easy to follow, and didn’t run into any frustrating issues. Your game is now thoroughly overhauled and you learned plenty about modding over the course of the guide.
+
+However, we are not quite done.
+
+You can now start your own playthrough by running the SKSE through Mod Organizer 2 as usual and selecting **NEW** in the main menu to start the vanilla intro. After completing the intro quest (after leaving Helgen), continue with the [Mod Configuration](/skyrim-se/new-game/mod-configuration/) page. **This is mandatory.**
 
-The final section, **New Game**, will help you get started with your next playthrough. It contains recommended changes to the Mod Configuration Menus.
+Also feel free to consult the [Gameplay Guide](/skyrim-se/new-game/gameplay-guide/) for additional information on how to play with the TPF setup.
 
-**Happy modding!**
+**Happy ~~modding~~ playing!**

content/skyrim-se/finalisation/dyndolod.md

@@ -79,8 +79,10 @@ TexGen is a component of DynDOLOD, used to generate textures based on your mod s
 > Continue here for both 2D or 3D LOD.
 
 * Launch **DynDOLOD** through Mod Organizer 2.
-* A window will come up, click **OK**.
-* You can see a list of all worldspaces at the top. Right-click inside and **Select all**.
+* In the DynDOLOD Help window, click **OK**.
+* If you are not generating 3D tree LOD, there will be a window where you have to click **Advanced**.
+* In the **Advanced** window, you can see a list of all worldspaces at the top.
+* Right-click inside and **Select all**.
 * Under **Load rules for** check both **Candles** and **FXGlow**.
 * Select one of the presets:
   * **Low** if you already struggle with performance.

content/skyrim-se/finalisation/first-launch.md

@@ -15,10 +15,11 @@ Once arrived at this point it is important to test your setup in order to make s
 ## Start a test game
 
 * In Mod Organizer 2, select **SKSE** in the exectuables drop-down and hit **Run**.
-* In the main menu, select **New** to start your test save.
-* After the initial loading screen you will find yourself in the AS LAL cell where you can customise your (testing) character.
-* When you’re done, talk to the Statue of Mara and select the **I am camping in the woods** option.
-* Go to the bed in the back in the cell and interact with it to "sleep".
+* In the main menu, open the console by pressing the tilde key (above TAB, next to 1).
+* Type in `coc riverwood` and hit Enter.
+* After the loading screen, you'll find yourself in Riverwood with a test character.
+
+**Before you continue, wait for all messages in the upper left corner to run through**.
 
 ## Immersive HUD
 
@@ -44,9 +45,8 @@ While the default Depth of Field effect is fairly ugly, you will have noticed th
 
 ## Testing Suggestions
 
-* You will spawn near Helgen in an area you likely know well. Take some time to look around.
-* Activate the ENBSeries FPS counter if you installed ENB (default hotkey: Numpad *). Otherwise use the Steam overlay or something similar.
-* It is often convenient to use the console in order to enable godmode (`tgm`) and disable enemy AI (`tcai`) for testing purposes.
+* Activate the ENBSeries FPS counter (**F7**) to monitor your frame rate.
+* It may be convenient to use the console in order to enable godmode (`tgm`) and disable enemy AI (`tcai`) for testing purposes.
 * Travel around Skyrim and visit your favourite locations (open the console and type `tmm 1` to enable all map markers).
 * Especially intense areas where you frame rate might drop are:
   * the southern forest, especially when looking down at Falkreath,

content/skyrim-se/finalisation/nemesis.md

@@ -6,12 +6,19 @@ description: >
   Generating Nemesis.
 ---
 
-## Create Nemesis Output Folder
+## Nemesis Setup
 
 **Nemesis Unlimited Behavior Engine** is a tool used to add custom animations to Skyrim. It is an open-source replacement and upgrade for FNIS, and required for several animation-related mods in TPF.
 
 Nemesis will generate a number of files specifically for your setup. In order to simplify the file management, we will set up an output folder ahead of time.
 
+### New Separator
+
+- Create a **PATCHER OUTPUT** in Mod Organizer 2.
+- It should be at the bottom of your mod order, below the CRP.
+
+### Nemesis Output Folder
+
 - In Mod Organizer 2, click the tools icon above your mod order and select **Create empty mod** (see picture below).
 - Rename the new mod folder to **Nemesis Output**.
 - Drag the new empty mod (displayed in grey italics) below the **PATCHER OUTPUT** separator and activate it.

content/skyrim-se/finalisation/occlusion.md

@@ -31,8 +31,7 @@ While SSELODGen is primarily made to regenerate terrain LOD, we are only going t
 
 - Run **SSELODGen** through Mod Organizer 2.
 - In the worldspaces window, check **Tamriel "Skyrim"** and **DLC2SolstheimWorld "Solstheim"**.
-- Uncheck **Terrain LOD**.
-- Check **Occlusion**.
+- Uncheck all options except for **Occlusion**.
 - Set **Quality** to **3**.
 - Set **Height** to **100**.
 - Click **Generate** and wait for the process to complete.

content/skyrim-se/finalisation/wrapping-up.md

@@ -8,8 +8,9 @@ description: >
 
 ## Conflict Resolution Patch
 
-* Download the [Conflict Resolution Patch](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/14223?tab=files) from the guide’s Nexus page.
-* Install it as usual and place it last below the **FINAL PATCHES** separator.
+- Create a **FINAL PATCH** separator in Mod Organizer 2.
+- Download the [Conflict Resolution Patch](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/14223?tab=files) from the guide’s Nexus page.
+- Install it as usual, place it last below the **FINAL PATCH** separator, and activate it.
 
 ## Load Order TXT
 
@@ -42,8 +43,6 @@ MO2 has inbuilt functionality that checks for plugins with Form 43 (Skyrim LE pl
 
 ## Flag Plugins as ESL
 
-### Example Plugin
-
 While at this point many installed plugins are already flagged as ESL (ESP-Lite) and we are not exceeding the maximum of 255 ESP+ESM plugins, there are several more plugins that may easily be flagged as ESL in order to save plugin slots. This completely removes the need to merge some plugins.
 
 * Run **SSEEdit** through Mod Organizer 2.
@@ -76,7 +75,6 @@ You will now need to repeat the process for a handful of other mods, most of whi
 * No NPC Greetings.esp
 * Don'tTalkWithYourMouthFull.esp
 * Followers Don't Draw Weapons.esp
-* sandboxcylinderheight.esp
 * Random Encounter Tweaks.esp
 * dD-No Spinning Death Animation Merged.esp
 * SparklesSE.esp

content/skyrim-se/new-game/gameplay-guide.md renamed to content/skyrim-se/gameplay-guide/_index.md

@@ -1,14 +1,23 @@
 ---
 title: "Gameplay Guide"
-weight: 4
+weight: 7
 type: docs
 description: >
   How to play The Phoenix Flavour.
 ---
 
+## The TL;DR
+
+*TL;DR - too long; didn't read.*
+
+- Like in vanilla, you are limited to **one follower** at a time.
+- Leveling is **slower** than in vanilla but you receive more perk points as you level up.
+- Combat is **more difficult** than in vanilla. The recommended difficulty is **Adept** but you are free to increase or lower it anytime.
+- Yes, there is **new music** from three different composers including Jeremy Soule.
+
 ## Perks & Leveling
 
-- [Mysticism - A Magic Overhaul](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/2783)
+- [Mysticism - A Magic Overhaul](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/27839)
 - [Adamant - A Perk Overhaul](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/30191)
 - [Skyrim Uncapper - Adamant Arena](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/35366)
 
@@ -26,7 +35,7 @@ The speed at which you level up (which is determined by how quickly you gain ski
 
 This makes sense in multiple ways: The leveled loot and encounter system of vanilla Skyrim will progress you very quickly through loot tiers and enemy variants until it spits you out north of level 35, having seen the vast majority of what the game has to offer. By slowing down progression before that happens, you spend more time in that part of the game where leveling up constantly unlocks new enemy types and gear variants as you play. This part of the game is also where many of the unique quests unlock, Daedric quests among them. You’ll be collecting your first artifacts and catch glimpses of what you will become.
 
-In order to keep your own progression interesting, you will be awarded a bonus perk point at regular intervals when leveling up.
+In order to keep your own progression interesting, you will be awarded a bonus perk point at regular intervals when leveling up. **Leveling up in TPF is significantly slower than in Vanilla.**
 
 ### Legendary Skills
 
@@ -130,7 +139,7 @@ For consistency, crafting the Gilded Elven Cuirass also requires Smithing 60 as
 
 ## Combat Styles
 
-- [Mysticism - A Magic Overhaul](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/2783)
+- [Mysticism - A Magic Overhaul](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/27839)
 - [Adamant - A Perk Overhaul](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/30191)
 
 ### Sneak Archer
@@ -202,4 +211,35 @@ In Adamant, a perk from the Restoration tree directly affects divine blessings.
 There are two unique effects in Skyrim as blessings granted by Mara and Dibella respectively upon completing quests in their honor. These quests are [The Book of Love](https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:The_Book_of_Love) for Mara (which in TPF occurs only after completing [Spread the Love](https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Spread_the_Love)) and [The Heart of Dibella](https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:The_Heart_of_Dibella) for (you guessed it) Dibella.
 
 - **Agent of Mara:** Magic Resistance is increased by 10% (Vanilla: 15%).
-- **Agent of Dibella:** Skills improve 10% faster (Vanilla: deal more damage to members of the opposite sex).
+- **Agent of Dibella:** Skills improve 10% faster (Vanilla: deal more damage to members of the opposite sex).
+
+## New Music
+
+While it is highly unusual for me to be adding new content like music tracks, there are some incredibly high quality music mods out there that I loved to play with. If you played a lot of Skyrim, you ARE going to notice the new tracks so they stick out in a sense but not negatively so. I found it rather refreshing to have a new track to listen to every once in a while and none of them stray too far from the atmosphere created by Jeremy Soule's original soundtrack.
+
+All included music mods contain tracks written specifically for Skyrim. I created a playlist which contains all new music tracks added to Skyrim by mods in TPF which you can find [here](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj_QypS-aCNNyUBLpYsFAeCJk1Zq0xnmV). Separate links can be found below.
+
+**The Northerner Diaries**
+
+Speaking of Jeremy Soule, the composer was working on a project called "Northerner Symphony" shortly after the release of Skyrim which was [crowdfunded on Kickstarter](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/499808045/from-the-composer-of-skyrim-soule-symphony-no-1/description) but never saw the light of day. However, several years after the original project was supposed to be completed Soule released the "Northerner Diaries" album containing "sketches" recorded with a virtual orchestra.
+
+Eight tracks from the "Northerner Diaries" album were added to Skyrim in the mod [The Northerner Diaries - Immersive Edition](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/28108) where author took great care to exclude tracks that didn't fit.
+
+You can find the full album on [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMAs_C_7Gp4). My personal favourite is the first track, Njól, with that beautiful piano melody.
+
+**Musical Lore by Nir Shor**
+
+Also included are three tracks by the composer Nir Shor ([Musical Lore](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/3200)).
+
+- [Dawns with Fire](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDeXX8mCngc)
+- [Stonewall District](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTHWeX285LU)
+- [Restless Whispers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Pe2zVegBT4)
+
+**OrganicView's Music**
+
+And finally I am partial to the tracks composed by OrganicView which are split into four mods: one each for exploration, combat, towns, and taverns.
+
+- [Still - Skyrim Inspired Music](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/19401) - listen to all tracks on [YouTube](https://youtu.be/dgfz2ZGEU-E)
+- [Melodies of Civilisation - Skyrim Fan-Made Music](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/30014) - listen to all tracks on [YouTube](https://youtu.be/OyZrAv14DiM)
+- [Hun Lovaas - Skyrim Fan-Made Combat Music](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/16123) - listen to all tracks on [YouTube](https://youtu.be/x7Ge_c2Txdw)
+- [Around the Fire - Skyrim Fan-Made Music](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/36144) - listen to all tracks on [YouTube](https://youtu.be/rBptKrAIOj4)