Lately, I have been using the construction set to self-mod my game. Benefits for doing so:

1) You get some experience on your side, plus it's a good learning curve
2) There are no risks of having someone else mess up your system with their mods (i.e. incompatibility issues with patches)
3) Safety. I have heard (through friends) that viruses can be sent via mods so you must be very careful where you get them from (i.e. only through trusted sources). You can guarantee your own safety though by self-modding
4) You can make the game EXACTLY as YOU want it, not someone elses ''ideal''

The above really applies to editing levelled lists, generic companions and modding weapons/armour.

In regards to things that are bigger projects, like creating whole towns or landscapes, then I can see the appeal of mods.

But generally, I just think it's a little lazy to rely on other mods when it's far better to teach yourself. Obviously, it is always good to have a mass of tutorials to rely on, as self-modding is difficult without any resources.

So, 2 questions:

1) Which do you prefer, self-modding or using other peoples' mods?

2) Do you agree that simple edits are better to learn yourself or would you take the lazier approach of just downloading everything (i.e. even simple changes to remove borders in the ini file)?

I do alot of self modding, but i download of mods as well. i love self modidng because i learn so much about the CS and how it works everytime i use it! just yesterday actually i discovered the preview window! been editing my self for a year and just found it... lol

Some folks:

1. Just don't want to pony-up the time investment required because of either the assumed difficulty or time involved (RL factors).

2. Wisely refrain from touching the CS because of the well known addiction which follows.


I heavily self-mod TES. I rely very much on my own as opposed to other user mods. Nothing against the massive amounts of great material out there, but as you said, I know what I want and nothing more. Of all the modding I've done, maybe 10% is available to others.

I guess yes and no would be my answer. How's that for wishy washy

I do some stuff myself. Depending on what it is. I can switch out hairs, adjust horses, switch out ears, use the CS to place stuff and add stuff to the game. Use it to create my own race if I want,etc, etc.

But things like armors, house mods (I probably could do but lack the time), Quest Mods and visual things like vegetation and weather or complete graphic overhauls like QTP3, I prefer to download.

Never once gotten a virus from down loading a mod. I've been dowloading mods for years, starting with Morrowind. Actually never heard of it myself. I'm not saying it doesn't exist but I'm *almost* willing to bet mods get blamed for some stuff they just don't cause and likely was picked up somewhere else. That being said, I'm always careful where I download stuff anyway. It sort of comes with the territory. I also always thank the modder I down loaded things from. If it's something I really like, they always get a nice comment, a thumbs up and a kudos from me because I believe their hard work they share for free should be rewarded and that's what I try to do. If something is a disappointment to me, I don't leave derogatory comments or thumbs down because just because I don't like something doesn't mean it's not right for someone else.

Hope that all made sense

I do some self modding like changing armor weight,weapon stats etc., nothing big though.

Same as above. Nothing big, as I do not know enough about the CS. I like a lot of mods others have created, though. Some of them really enchance the gaming experience.

Nope, I sure don't.

Don't what?

I only do the things that have not already been done, and what I wish to exist. I feel that I can do better at some mods out there, and I seek to improve them.

I like to make my own edits, but I like downloading other mods too. Most of the mods I download fall into three categories:
A} New Quests- There are some truly amazing quest mods out there.

B} New Meshes & Textures- I work two jobs, so my modding & playing time is a bit limited. Because of this, I haven't yet learned how to make my own meshes. The closest I can come to that is to combine things in NifSkope. As such, I have to look elsewhere for cool looking meshes to use in my personal mods.

C} Mods I download to see how they were done- There are a lot of mods out there that add some cool effect or gameplay changes. I download these to see how the changes were done. It's a good way to learn.


That depends on the edit. If it's something I know how to do, I'll do it myself. If I don't know how to do it, I try to figure it out. If I can't figure it out, I'll download a mod that does it and try to see how it does it. If I still can't figure it out, I'll ask for help around here and at TES Alliance. Once I know how to do it, I'll make any additional edits of that type myself.

Wow, your post is, um, a little slanted. Particularly question 2 which directly implies that people who download mods are lazy.

First, I strong disagree with a couple of your "benefits." I've downloaded literally hundreds and hundreds of mods and I've never once gotten a virus. Perhaps your friend's virus is coming from another source?

Second, it's equally easy - and arguably more easy - to mess up your install trying to mod something you don't understand on your own. If you doubt me, just read back through the threads on the modding forum here. Since Oblivion doesn't tolerate multiple installs (like Morrowind) you can't mod in one install, while protecting another install, so if you make a mistake, it directly affects your game.

Besides, if a person learns to install mods using tools like OMM or Wrye Bash, then they can remove mods easily that mess up their install. (And speaking of lazy, consider the number of people who try to install mods but refuse to learn to use those two tools ... )

Third, I have a lot going on in my life. I go to school full-time, I write every day, I work 35 hours a week. There is no way in this lifetime and probably the next I'll ever, ever, ever have enough free time to make a mod like OOO, FCOM, Unique Landscapes, etc. I mean, seriously? Consider how much time and effort (years now, actually) went into mods like MMM and FCOM. No, I'll download the mods and express my gratitude to those that made them.

That said, I've used made my own mods when I have the time and when there isn't a better mod already made. But, no, I won't spend years learning to use a tool that is directly related to one game and one game only. I'd rather spend years learning to use tools like Photoshop or Illustrator, which have a much broader application.

~ Dani ~

You do sound like you take the lazier approach to me lol.

And I doubt MMM and OOO took years to make. I could make something similar in 3-4 months, tops. Also, I agree with the OP that it IS lazy to rely on other peoples mods, when you could quite easily make simple edits on your own! It's not that difficult to get the basics of the CS, only people who can't be bothered seem to have a problem with it.

Closed for flaming. Good job of making "lazy" from one of the cardinal virtues of a programmer into a word meant to disparage your elders and betters.

Members who believe they can do better than established modders who have executed large and carefully planned and executed mods should keep silence until they have actually done so themselves.