very helpful video for installation by PredCaliber: here
1.
If you want the same look as in my pictures and videos then install these recommended mods first in this install order:
And let always overwrite if NMM asks! (say NO to update and YES to install normally) --> Nexus Mod Manager - Tutorial: english / deutsch
FPS<< stands for performance hungry mods!
FPS<< stands for very performance hungry mods!
Ruins Clutter Improved by raiserfx
Cinematic Fire Effects 2 HD by Ichibu (my preference, Cinematic Fire FX Legacy) >>FPS<<
SkyFalls and SkyMills - Animated Distant Waterfalls and WindMills by SjoertJansen
Static Mesh Improvement Mod - SMIM by Brumbek
Skyrim HD - 2K Textures - Skyrim HD v1_5 FULL - Landscape, Dungeons, Towns, Misc by NebuLa >>FPS<<
Skyrim HD - 2K Textures - Skyrim HD v1_6 FULL - Riften >>FPS<< (use LITE instead of FULL for better FPS and stability!)
OR use Serious HD Retexture Skyrim by Z4G4 instead of Skyrim HD
Vivid Landscapes - Dungeons and Ruins by Aron (also install SMIM Compatibility patch and if using ELFX also Enhanced Lights and FX Compatibility patch!)
Vivid Landscapes - Volcanic Area by Aron (optional)
aMidianBorn Caves by CaBaL OR Hectrol CAVES DELUXE HighRes Retex by hectrol
Detailed Rugs by raiserfx
Skyrim Flora Overhaul by vurt >>FPS<< (i'm using V171b, newer ones require also iMaxGrassTypesPerTexure=6 or 7 in skyrim.ini)
Lush Trees and Grass by SparrowPrince >>FPS<< (optional. needs basic version of SFO to be compatible!)
Grass on Steroids by Skyrimaguas (SFO is needed to get GoS to work! and set iMinGrassSize to around 75 in Skyrim.ini)
Natural Grass Texture Floor by emd (optional, but my favorite)
TreesHD_Skyrim_Variation by namotep >>FPS<< (use 2048x512 instead of 4096x1024 for better FPS)
High Definition Ivy - 2K by Josh Ezzell (optional, but recommended)
Realistic Water Two by isoku (my preference, also install Realistic Water Two - ENB Textures from his optionals!)
Watercolor for ENB and Realistic Water Two by paganmetalf (strongly recommended if you are using RW2 and RealVision ENB!)
optional landscape textures from Pure Waters by Laast (specific landscape textures (HD) for water areas)
AOF Detailed Mountains by AnOldFriend (my preference) OR Vivid Landscapes - Rocking Stones and Mountains Parallax by Aron
Vivid Landscapes - Cliffs and Creeks by Aron (also install Rocking Stones and Mountains Parallax - Compatibility Patch if you use his rocks!)
Moss Rocks by SparrowPrince (also install Rocking Stones and Mountains Parallax - Compatibility Patch if you use his rocks!)
Vivid Landscapes - Tundra Moss Revised by Aron (also use it's SMIM compatibility patch)
Dust Effects by HHaleyy OR Finer Dust by CptJoker
Realistic Smoke and Embers by isoku (my preference) OR Better embers by Dragonborn77
instead of all the landscape related mods you can also try the new Vivid Landscapes - All in One by Aron
Bethesda HighRes Texture Packs:
for better performance and stability when using hd textures from my list, deactivate HighResTexturePack from Bethesda. Use Bethesda Hi-Res DLC Optimized by Vano89 instead and disable in Skyrim launcher HighResTexturePack01.esp, HighResTexturePack02.esp, HighResTexturePack03.esp (if you have them)!
2.
install these mods in this order:
Project Reality - Climates Of Tamriel V3.1 by JJC71
Supreme Storms for Climates of Tamriel 3_1 by MannyGT (optional, but recommended)
Climates of Tamriel - Weather Patch by prod80
Now decide to go on with Realistic Lighting Overhaul or Enhanced Lights and FX.
These videos will help you with your decision: Video 1, Video 2
Option A:
Realistic Lighting Overhaul 4.0.8.02 by The Realistic Lighting Team
my preference for realism!
Option B or C (NOVA):
Enhanced Lights and FX 0.4.2 by anamorfus (do not forget to install the SMIM Meshes from ELFX optionals too!)
my preference for atmosphere (B) or fantasy (C)!
Important!
Climates of Tamriel:
install with all on default without extra modules as shown here and also Dawnguard and Dragonborn Patch if you have this DLCs active
Climates of Tamriel - Weather Patch
install as shown here and here. ONLY activate Supreme Storms like second screenshot if you are using Supreme Storms!!!
for the night level decide by yourself, i'm recommending level 3.
you can also use the Fog-Edition but it's performance heavy and do not forget to check your loadorder, weather patch isn't recognized by BOSS atm. load after any other Climates of Tamriel plugin which is part of the main mod.
Supreme Storms CoT version by MannyGT
If you're also using Supreme Storms CoT version by MannyGT there is a compatibility plugin available in the files of Climates of Tamriel - Weather Patch as well. Load after Supreme Storms CoT version.
Load order when using Climates of Tamriel and Supreme Storms
ClimatesOfTamriel.esm
...
ClimatesOfTamriel-Dawnguard-Patch.esp //if you have Dawnguard DLC
ClimatesOfTamriel-Dragonborn-Patch.esp //if you have Dragonborn DLC
Supreme Storms - Cot Version.esp
CoT-WeatherPatch.esp
CoT-WeatherPatch_DB.esp //if you have Dragonborn DLC (optional)
CoT-WeatherPatch_Snow-xx.esp //Snow brightness adjustment (optional)
CoT-WeatherPatch_SupStorms.esp //Supreme Storms patch (optional)
CoT-WeatherPatch_ESS.esp //Expanded Snow Systems patch (optional)
CoT-WeatherPatch_NLx.esp //Night level darkness plugin (optional)
...
Realistic Lighting Overhaul:
install Realistic Lighting Overhaul 4_0_8_02 NMM-BAINWizard Installer and activate all modules except Adaptive Interiors Vanilla Weathers and Realistic Lighting Weathers! As shown here and here
Enhanced Lights and FX:
install core + enhancer interior. you are free to use exterior module also. install as shown here and here.
and if you have Dawnguard or Dragonborn DLCs active also install Enhanced Lights and FX 0.4.2 Dawnguard and Dragonborn
NOVA versions:
these versions are intended to be more fantasy than all others, stronger colors, contrasts, sunsprites, flares, ...
but if you want only the effects and default colors set "#define SATURATION 0.92" in effect.txt to normalize colors.
if using Nova with SweetFX addon you can change saturation in SweetFX_settings.txt.
set "#define USE_TONEMAP 1" and change saturation by altering "#define Saturation"