Can anyone recommend an alternative mod that does something similar to the mod Requiem and has better writing, or doesn't add so much written content? I'd really like to mix the gameplay of Skyrim up on my second playthrough. Some things I am looking for:

-Delevel-scaled world

-New content

-Change in gameplay

Edit: You know what, my original post here was probably going to devolve into a flame war, so I've cut it down to the essential part. If anyone has recommendations, I would really appreciate it.

Hunting in Skyrim, Frostfall, iNeed, Asis, SkyRe. Lots of choice and lots of possibilities.

I saw your original post, and from the limited time I spent playing requiem I didn't notice anything that initially put you off. I didn't play for that long (maybe up to level 10 or so), so it might be worth trying requiem for a bit longer.

I appreciate what Requiem tried to do but I just couldn't get in to playing Skyrim as a weakling simulator. An arrow to the gut hurts more than a greatsword? Makes no sense. It's less about becoming stronger and more about becoming slightly less weak.

OP, I suggest the following:

Skyre's delever module for an unleveled environment

Duel - Combat Realism or Deadly Combat for better combat

SPERG for an enhanced perk selection

After playing Requiem I'm done with massive overhauls. From now on I'm just picking and choosing individual things I want.

I will look each of these up. Thanks!

I think I'll give Requiem a pass, but I do appreciate your answer. I wish I could ask questions like the original more often without upsetting some people. :/

The difficulty in Requiem did seem nuts. On the easiest difficulty setting I was getting one or two-shotted in the starting keep. I assumed it would get easier as I leveled, but if that doesn't change, I won't waste my time. I hate playing the game when I have to rely on quick save like that. I am leaning toward your idea about massive overhauls. Every time I've tried one for Skyrim, there would be one part that would ruin it for me, and then you can't really uninstall most of them without borking something. (Also, thanks for the recs)

I too have tried to give Requiem a chance several times but just give up since it feels more cheap and frustrating than anything.

I think there is still a point to using a single massive overhaul mod, since it will be cohesive and likely much more stable than trying to mix and match lots of separate mods. The focus just isn't there as much as it was for Oblivion.

Just remove Requiem's changes to level lists (especially actors) and you won't be that slaughtered at low levels. Deleveling the world sounds nice on the paper, but doesn't play out as nice in the game. Especially if it mostly relies on making all enemy types available at level 1. It makes more sense to achieve that via altering the encounter zones (no clue if or how Requiem does this) and changing just entire locations and their spawns with it.

Try Skyrim unleashed.

Wanted to say that I'm going with SkyRe, and Frostfall and iNeed look super interesting since I am planning on RPing and immersing myself this game.