Hi all,

after a long time of playing TES IV with vanilla body meshes, I'd like to start using some body replacers.

I know nearly nothing, except that mods like "Robert's Male/Female" and "Exnem" seem to be two of the most popular ones, and that there's also something like "HGEC", though I don't understand if this is really a different mod or just an addition or whatever.
That's it, and this is my problem: After some searching through tesnexus and the gamesas forum, I am completely lost and don't know how to get started!

The UESP wiki page about http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Tes4Mod:Body_Mods seems to be rather outdated (e.g. Robert's Male/Female body replacers aren't even listed there).

So I'd be very, very glad if someone could give me a bit of basic hints (or tell me where such information can be found):

- What are the basic differences between, let's say (to keep it simple), just the 3 body mods mentioned above (Robert's, Exnem, HGEC)?
- How can I find the main files/mods (it's a bit hard to distinguish between the basic files and the tons of additions provided by other modders)
- What other replacers or additions (armor, clothing, weapons etc.) do I have to install?
- What incompatibilities do need to be aware of? Especially, what about compatibility with OOO and other overhauls?

Many many thanks in advance!

The replacers all do the same thing: they replace the meshes for the standard characters with "improved" ones. They may replace just the UpperBody and LowerBody meshes, or they may also replace the hands and feet. (There is also a replacement head, but we won't go there yet). There are also replacers for replacers, so you may need to combine mods for a complete character (e.g. take a complete body replacer and just substitute an Upperbody for more bounce)

The body mesh sections are replaced by clothed ones when you put on clothing, so the seams between the pieces have to be compatible, or you'll see gaps or overlaps when you swap outfits, so if you use body replacers, you're also going to need replacers for any armor or clothing that wasn't made for the same body. Many mod armors and clothing is available in versions to match the popular body replacers. The body replacers also have different UV maps from the standard body, so you need compatible body textures, and again the armor/clothing often includes skin, and needs to use the same textures as the body for that. Clothing and armor that shows no skin, and overlaps the edges of the body sections it replaces, doesn't have the compatibility problem, so some standard items don't need to be replaced (Full plate, long dresses etc).

Several body replacers share the same UV maps, or rather their UV maps have been adjusted to fit the same pre-existing textures. This can make a certain amount of mixing and matching possible, if the body seams are the same size and shape. Anything between the section seams can vary, and frequently does. That can mean unlikely changes of shape when clothing is added or removed.

All weapons, shields etc. that do not replace parts of the body won't have any issues. They connect to the skeleton, not the mesh, so they always fit. However you may find weapons swing through over-sized body parts.

Overhauls would only have issues if they provide armors or clothing.

You can check out the images at each mod's download page(s). Just... beware, you know, nudity and all that - if there's any chance of it bothering you.

As far as compatbility goes, with FCOM your best bet would be vanilla male and female, or alternatively, Robert's Male v5 combined with EVE (an HGEC replacer "suite", if you like).* Otherwise, I believe at least a couple of other (female) body types have compatibility with OOO, if nothing else.

Both Robert's Male and EVE are also quite customisable, which is good. But most others are somewhat so, as well. For instance, you can generally opt for underwear or sans, a particular cup size, etc., etc.

I thoroughly recommend installing via BAIN, with OBMM a poor second. But either way, manual installation is not wise, IMO.


* Or, of course, you could use only one, if changing only male *or* female bodies is the important thing, to you. Natch.

HGEC is a female body mesh derived from Exnem's EC. The UV map is the same, meaning textures made for EC will work for HGEC and vice versa. It's not an addition but an alternative to EC. It used to require EC because it was packaged without textures, but Exnem's are included now, making it a standalone mod.


Basically, looks. Look at em pictures, see which body you like best.


By "main files" I'm assuming you mean the files needed to install the body itself?

Exnem's EC - look up "Female EyeCandy Body Replacer" on the Nexus.
HGEC - I'd recommend installing that one with "EVE HGEC Eyecandy Variants Expansion".
Robert's female - you'll want "Roberts Female Body v12 Fixed".
Robert's male - since there's no official release for Robert's male body v5, and I'm guessing due to permission issues, there's no "all-in-one" package for the standard, average version. To set it up as painlessly as possible, I'd say your best bet would be to install "v5 Average Clothing and Armor Replacer Fix" along with all requirements.

*Note that Robert's female includes male textures for Golden Saints and Dark Seducers meant for use with Robert's male.


The only thing you'll need is armor and clothing replacers. If you don't have any and you put on a shirt, for example, your upper body will revert back to the vanilla upper body, so you might get beefy vanilla arms plus mismatched hands. Sometimes clothing and armor replacers are included with the body mod itself, sometimes they're not.

Exnem's EC - not included, look up "Clothing and Armor Replacer for Exnems Complete".
HGEC - included in EVE
Robert's female - included
Robert's male - there is one included in AlienSlof's release, but it's for the v4 muscular variant - different shape and no nails. For v5 average, see "v5 Average Clothing and Armor Replacer Fix".


Again, you'll need replacement meshes for all clothing and armor that show skin.

Exnem's EC - support for OOO, MMM, Fran's and more are available, look up "OOO Armours for Exnem" and stuff by Axil.
HGEC - see EVE's optional files. OOO, MMM, Fran's and more are covered.
Robert's female - support for OOO, MMM and Fran's is available, look up "Roberts Female for Mods".
Robert's male - support for OOO, MMM, Fran's and more for v4 muscular. Look up "Robert Male Muscular". Nothing for v5 average yet, AFAIK. Senchan's replacers work fine if you don't mind the little differences between v4 and v5. They're certainly much less dramatic than between vanilla and v5 anyways.

Of course if you're using an overhaul that doesn't add new clothing or armor like TIE, then you don't need to worry about any of that.


I hope that wasn't too scary.

For men, you might want to search on TESNexus for AMB - All Male Bodies Pack. That's a new one that was updated recently and it seems pretty comprehensive. It's basically Roberts but it looks like the uploader went through and grabbed all the various compilations and put them in one place. I will probably switch to this at some point.

The only problem with this compilation is it includes no armor/clothing replacer. So whenever you equip something you lose the unique bodyshape you chose. Which kind of defies the point IMO.

Another one worth mentioning I think, TGND (The Girl Next Door) by Luchaire and Kalia, female body, comes with all vanilla armour and clothing already converted, and a list of conversions of other popular armours in the description slowly getting bigger (needs more other modders support really). It has seamless neck/wrists/ankles, Luchaire also managed to add a bit of jiggle to certain parts of the meshes as they walk. It only has two variation of cup size based on exnem/hgec a-cup (Standard and Perky) which is not going to change.
Being based on exnem/hgec it is also compatible with any female body textures for the same.

And it comes as a BAIN too

A female body texture has to be installed separately as mentioned any exnem HGEC compatible, including HGEC, Growlf, F-Inev or Ozmo's.
Just ensure the meshes and clothing/armour from TGND end up in your game, adopting body textures from those mentioned.

Hi everybody,

thank you very much!!!!
I am impressed by this amount of information! Even by running through the recent posts very quickly, I already found some very useful hints that clarify a lot!! :twirl:
@Antique Miya: Your compilation is especially helpful! Such an overview was exactly what I was looking for. :foodndrink:
I guess I will now try to dive into BAIN at first (I always ignored it until now), and then have a closer look at Exnem, Robert's and maybe also AMB and TGND.

Just 2 more questions: Does anyone know what the letters "EVE" and "HC" (in "HGEC") stand for?

EVE = Eyecandy Variants Expansion
...
HGEC = Hentai Gentleman's EyeCandy

You're welcome.
Cheers and good luck with BAIN. Once you figure it out you can never go back to manual installs.

True, but that's the case wtih Robert's bodies anyway. This is just a compilation of all the different body types. Once you pick a body type, you need to go grab the clothes and armour for it, just like you would normally. The problem with Roberts Male Body is that the package got split up over time. If you downloaded version 4, you got more options than if you grabbed version 5. I think one of the version 5 packages only had average as an option. This just brings all these options together. Now it would be nice if someone would do the same for the clothing and armour...

Oh yes forgot to mention earlier (not sure if you have found this out already)....

Tomlong did a BAIN of Robertv5, which Alienslof banged up there on tesnexus - Cant link nvde content here but search for.....
"Roberts Male Body v5 Beta"

There are two files, the second BAIN / OMOD is the one, the omod part of this is just omod creation data which will be ignored by Wrye bash so does not affect its use as a BAIN.

But also, if you want the Average seamless body (not included in the v5 complete)....
Search for "Roberts Seamless Male Average Body V5 Beta"
I think there is a problem with the second file here which is supposed to have better hands, for me it works better with v5 without using them (unless they are meant to be better hands for muscular, they are a bit big for the average wrists)

Stock armour and clothing for Average (The stock armour/clothing in v5 is for Muscular body type)...
Not advlt so can link this one.....
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=20328

Stock armour and clothing for Average SI (as above)...
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=21055

Edit: I have not looked at AMB yet so you may find all you require there (maybe more up to date if its newer than my suggestions here) for male as suggested by Andalaybay.