Creating Merge Profiles
In this step, you will be using a program called zMerge to reduce the overall ESP count. Earlier in the guide, you set up a plugin for MO2 called Merge Plugin Hide which will be used to automate moving merged plugins to the Optional directory for their respective mods. To make your life easier in the long run, I strongly suggest creating a merge profile for every merge in this guide, and keeping them. You will have to update merges in the future as included mods get updated, and not having to hunt for masters every time will greatly increase the likelihood that you hold on to a little of your sanity. Additionally, before starting, you can save yourself some time by creating a blank profile as the base for all of your merges. This can be accomplished by following these steps:
- Click the Configure Profiles icon at the top of the main Mod Organizer window. The icon looks like an ID card.
- Select "Legacy Of The Dragonborn - Special Edition" then click Copy.
- Type "Blank for Merges" in the text box and hit OK.
- Switch to your newly created profile, right click on the list of mods, and select All → Disable all mods.
Prepare Merge - Mod Organizer 2 Plugin
As you create your new merges, you will follow basically the same process for creating each merge profile, while using the "Blank for Merges" profile as the base. Once you have created a merge profile, run the following steps to prepare the merge:
- Select your main profile where all your mods are enabled. Run
Prepare Merge
from the plugin menu and select this as the base profile for merge preparation by clicking onLoad active profile as base
. The virtual file system of this profile will be used to generate the plugin-to-mod mapping. Then close the window. - Change to a
new profile
for creating the merge. - Run
Prepare Merge
again and select the plugins you want to merge by pressing the copy to clipboard button on the merge table, then hitting the Import entries from clipboard button on Prepare Merge. - Finally, click the
Prepare merge in active profile
button and close the window. - The mods that contain those plugins will be enabled and the plugins placed at the end of the load order. Additionally, masters of the active plugins will be enabled as well until there are no missing masters left.
- Run zMerge to generate the merge as usual.
Building Merges
Once you have successfully arranged the merge profile, it's time to actually create the merge.
- Ensure that the correct merge profile is active.
- Open zEdit and select zMerge from the drop-down menu.
- Press Start Session.
- Press the Create Merge button.
- Under the Detail tab, fill in the name and filename of the merge (specified below).
- Select the Clobber merge method.
- Under the Plugins tab, select the plugins to include in the merge (not their masters).
- Under the Load Order tab make sure Use game load order is checked.
- Press the Build button to create your merge.
- When the message "Merge successfully created" appears, you can close zMerge by clicking the X in the top right corner.
- Switch back to your main game profile, place the new merged mod where the instructions tell you to, and activate the merge.
- Run Merge Plugins Hide and disable all the plugins relevant to the merge you just completed.
Animals Merged
- Merge Name
[Merge] Animals Merged
- File Name
Animals Merged.esp
- Placement
- Directly after
Winterhold City Overhauls - Conflict Resolution
zz_HorseOverhaul.esp KrittaKittyHorsesForSSE.esp KrittaKittyHorsesWhiteFrost.esp ORM-Arvak.esp SIC - Skytest Integration.esp CrittersAintSnitches.esp CrittersAintSnitches-SkyTEST-RA&P Patch.esp SkyTEST Less Fear SSE Patch.esp NoPotionBanditFaction.esp OMEGA Lexy LOTD Animals Merged Consistency Patch.esp
CCOR Patches Merged
- Merge Name
[Merge] CCOR Patches Merged
- File Name
CCOR Patches Merged.esp
- Placement
- Directly after
[Merge] Animals Merged
CC-Fishing_CCOR_Patch.esp CCOR_Campfire_Patch.esp PrvtI_HeavyArmory_CCOR_AMB_Patch.esp CCOR_JSwords_Patch.esp Cloaks_CCOR_Patch.esp 1nivWICCloaks_COS_CCOR_Patch.esp Dr_Bandolier_CCOR_Patch.esp CCOR Bandolier patch fixes.esp CCOR_Ordinator.esp ISC - CCOR Patch.esp OMEGA MLU CCOR Patch.esp Mostly HA inconsistency patch.esp SL01AmuletsSkyrim_CCOR_Patch.esp DawnguardArsenal_CCOR_Patch.esp GemlingQueen_CCOR_Patch.esp CCOR Merged Consistency Patch.esp
Faces Merged
- Merge Name
[Merge] Faces Merged
- File Name
Faces Merged.esp
- Placement
- Directly after
[Merge] CCOR Patches Merged
Beards.esp KS Hairdo's.esp Improved Eyes Skyrim.esp NB-Scars.esp
Farmhouse Chimneys Patches Merged
- Merge Name
[Merge] Farmhouse Chimneys Patches Merged
- File Name
Farmhouse Chimneys Patches Merged.esp
- Placement
- Directly after
[Merge] Faces Merged
FarmhouseChimneysFalskaar.esp FarmhouseChimneysHelgenReborn.esp FarmhouseChimneysWyrmstooth.esp ClefJ Winterhold - Farmhouse Chimneys.esp
Landscape Fixes For Grass Patches Merged
- Merge Name
[Merge] Landscape Fixes For Grass Patches Merged
- File Name
Landscape Fixes For Grass Patches Merged.esp
- Placement
- Directly after
[Merge] Farmhouse Chimneys Patches Merged
Landscape For Grass Mods - ETaC Darkwater Crossing PATCH.esp Landscape For Grass Mods - ETaC Riverwood PATCH.esp Landscape For Grass mods - Helgen Reborn Patch.esp Landscape For Grass Mods - Moon and Star PATCH.esp Landscape Fixes For Grass mods - Alternate start Locations.esp RelicHunter_Grass_Patch.esp Landscape For Grass Mods -Immersive Citizens PATCH.esp Landscape For Grass Mods - Military Camps.esp Landscape and Water Fixes - Patch - LFfGM.esp Grass Patch - Fishing.esp Grass Patch - Saints and Seducers.esp
Miscellaneous Merged
- Merge Name
[Merge] Miscellaneous Merged
- File Name
Miscellaneous Merged.esp
- Placement
- Directly after
[Merge] Landscape Fixes For Grass Patches Merged
Raven Rock - Fix Exit on Horseback.esp CT_AskToShowRoom.esp GoOnAhead.esp Cinematic Dragon Soul Absorbtion.esp True Scholar.esp YOT - True Scholar.esp PumpingIron.esp Don'tTalkWithYourMouthFull.esp dD-No Spinning Death Animation Merged.esp Frostfall Vampire Fix.esp Miscellaneous Merge Consistency Patch.esp
MLU Patches Merged
- Merge Name
[Merge] MLU Patches Merged
- File Name
MLU Patches Merged.esp
- Placement
- Directly after
[Merge] Miscellaneous Merged
JKs Mistveil Keep - MLU patch.esp JKs New Gnisis Cornerclub - MLU patch.esp OMEGA Apocalypse Patch.esp OMEGA Imperious Patch.esp OMEGA Ordinator Patch.esp MLU - Summermyst.esp OMEGA MLU Summermyst SRCEO Patch.esp MLU_RoyalArmory_patch.esp OMEGA MLU LOTD ISC Patch.esp OMEGA ZIA MLU ISC Patch.esp imp_helm_legend_WACCF_AMB_Patch.esp OMEGA MLU Improved Closefaced Helmets.esp OMEGA SRCEO MLU Patch.esp OMEGA SRCEO WACCF MLU Patch.esp MLU - Inigo.esp OMEGA - Lore Weapon Expansion.esp OMEGA MLU AMB Patch.esp OMEGA SRCEO Releveled and Revamped.esp SIC - MLU Integration.esp MLU - DUI patch.esp MLU Consistency Patch.esp
NPC Plugin Chooser
Before we build the NPC Retexture Merge we first need to lay some groundwork by running NPC Plugin Chooser:
- In MO2 create an empty mod called NPC Appearance Output and activate it.
- Place NPC Appearance Output after [Merge] MLU Patches Merged in the left pane on MO2.
- Copy your Blank for Merges profile to create a new NPC Retexture Profile in MO2.
- Navigate to the newly created NPC Retexture Profile and use Prepare Merge to load all the required plugins for the [Merge] NPC Retexture Merge SSE listed below.
- Make sure NPC plugin Chooser is set up per the pre-requisites page of this guide.
- Run NPC Plugin Chooser.
- Delete NPC Appearance.esp found in the overwrite folder.
Dark face Issue Reporter
Once NPC Plugin Chooser is finished it a good idea to run the Dark Face Issue Report before we actually build the New NPC Retexture Merge.
- Download this DarkFaceIssueReporterIgnore.ini file
- Extract the content of the archive and place the ini file in SSEEdit/Edit Scripts
- Edit the darkfaceissuereporter.ini as follows:
CreateDebugLogFile=True
CreateConsoleCommandBatchFile=True
CreateDarkFaceCollector=True - While on the NPC Retexture Profile, ensure NPC Appearance Output is active in the Left Pane of MO2.
- Open SSEEdit and load all plugins.
- In the left pane, highlight only the base ESMs, Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Patch.esp and 3DNPC.esp
- Right-click any of those plugins, and choose "Apply script."
- From the dropdown menu, select DarkFaceIssueReporter and choose OK
- Select option 2, Run only for selected files or records
- Once the script has finished running, scroll to the bottom of the left pane and expand DarkFaceCollector.esp. If no DarkFaceCollector.esp appears, the ini wasn't edited or saved properly
- Expand the Non-Player Character (NPC) row if there is one. Any NPC listed has Dark Face, and you will need to troubleshoot what you did wrong.
- If the Dark Face Issue Report returns clean (only the File Header is listed), you can delete darkfacecollector.esp
- You can now build the merge.
Fixing NPCs with Dark Face Bug
- Is NPC Appearance Output active in your left pane? If not, activate it.
- Are all NPCs shown from Interesting NPCs? If so, you forgot to merge the hotfix with the main file and so the main file is not active on your merge profile. Manually activate the main Interesting NPCs file.
- Did you get an NPC Appearance.esp file during the NPC Plugin Chooser step? If not, there was a problem with NPC Plugin Chooser. Come to the Installation Help channel on the discord for support.
- Check that the mods from page 4 of the guide are all in the correct order in your left pane on both your main and merge profiles.
- If you still have NPCs in your darkfacecollector.esp, take a screenshot (just the top of the list is fine if it's very long) and post it in the Installation Help channel of the discord for support.
NPC Retexture Merge SSE
- Merge Name
[Merge] NPC Retexture Merge SSE
- File Name
NPC Retexture Merge SSE.esp
- Placement
- Directly after
NPC Appearance Output
Diversity - A Character Overhaul.esp DiversityVanilla-CFTO-Patch.esp DiversityVanilla-SRCEO-Patch.esp WICO - Immersive Character.esp WICO - Immersive Dawnguard.esp WICO - Immersive People.esp Northbourne NPCs of Falkreath Hold.esp Northbourne NPCs of Haafingar .esp Northbourne NPCs of Hjaalmarch.esp Metalsabers Beautiful Orcs of Skyrim.esp Northbourne NPCs of the Rift.esp Northbourne NPCs of Whiterun Hold.esp Northbourne NPCs of Winterhold.esp NbNpcs - USSEP Fixes AIO.esp NbNpcs - CFTO Patch AIO.esp IB - All-in-One.esp ElegantElvenFollowers.esp AringothReplacer.esp FHH_LEGENDARY_VE_USSEP.esp MarvelousMageFollowers.esp PAN_NPCs_Males.esp PAN_NPCs_Males2.esp The Ordinary Women.esp KaliliesNPCs.esp Fresh Faces - USSEP.esp PAN_NPCs.esp PAN_NPCs_DG.esp PAN_NPCs_DB.esp Bijin Warmaidens.esp Bijin Wives.esp Bijin NPCs.esp Bijin_CWBattleRikke_Patch.esp PAN_BlackBriar.esp PAN_Frea.esp PAN_Initiates.esp PAN_LethalLadies.esp PAN_Serana.esp PAN_Valerica.esp PAN_Shieldsisters.esp PAN_WarriorWomen.esp PAN_Sovngarde.esp eeekie's Balimund Replacer.esp eeekie's cicero.esp eeekie's Esbern.esp eeekie's Fralia.esp eeekie's Heimskr.esp eeekie's Igmund.esp eeekie's Kodlak.esp eeekie's Madanach.esp eeekie's Siddgeir Replacer.esp eeekie's Teldryn Sero.esp eeekie's Temba.esp eeekie's Young Idgrod replacer.esp Idgrod Replacer.esp TolfdirV2.esp eeekie's Delphine Redux.esp Cuyima 3DNPC - Redone.esp 3DNPC Visual Overhaul.esp NPC Retexture Merge Consistency Patch.esp
- leave the NPC Appearance Output active and Delete the texture and meshes folders from [Merge] NPC Retexture Merge SSE, if they are present.
OMEGA CACO Patches Merged
- Merge Name
[Merge] OMEGA CACO Patches Merged
- File Name
OMEGA CACO Patches Merged.esp
- Placement
- Directly after
[Merge] NPC Retexture Merge SSE
CACO_USSEP_Patch.esp OMEGA AOS CACO Patch.esp CACO_Falskaar_Patch.esp CACO_GrayCowl_Patch.esp Inigo_CACO_Patch.esp CACO_Moonpath_Patch.esp OMEGA MLU CACO Patch.esp Predator Vision_CACO_Patch.esp Sacrosanct_CACO_Patch.esp SkyTEST_ CACO_Patch.esp OMEGA SRCEO CACO Patch.esp CACO_Ordinator_Patch.esp CACO_Wyrmstooth_Patch.esp Qw_CACO_RDO Patch.esp Qw_CACO_3DNPC Patch.esp OMEGA Lexy LOTD CACO Consistency Patch.esp
Pre Bash Merge
- Merge Name
[Merge] Pre Bash Merged
- File Name
Pre Bash Merged.esp
- Placement
- Directly after
[Merge] OMEGA CACO Patches Merged
OMEGA - True Soldiers.esp Lethal Traps.esp OMEGA CE.esp OMEGA CE Immersive Sounds Compendium.esp TMBVanillaArmorandClothes.esp Missive - Experience Patch.esp More DBM Shipping Crates.esp LOTD shipment crates patch.esp Even More LOTD Crates - Falskaar.esp Even More LOTD Crates - ForgottenCity.esp Even More LOTD Crates - MoonAndStar.esp Even More LOTD Crates - Moonpath.esp Even More LOTD Crates - GrayCowlMannyGT.esp Even More LOTD Crates - Wyrmstooth.esp RUSTIC SOULGEMS - Unsorted - ESL - GIST.esp 3DNPC Imperious Patch.esp GDOS - Splendid Mechanized Dwemer Door.esp GDOS - Glorious Solitude Door - Rotation Fix.esp SolitudeTempleFrescoesBig.esp Pre Bash - Consistency Patch.esp
Remove Startup Quests and Notifications Merged
- Merge Name
[Merge] Remove Startup Quests and Notifications Merged
- File Name
No_Quest_Startups.esp
- Placement
- Directly after
[Merge] Pre Bash Merged
BG_Fairy_Note.esp CW_Spell.esp DD_Spell.esp Frostfall_Message_and_Quest.esp ICAIO_Spell.esp Mooonlight_Tales_Difficulty.esp Sunhelm_Quest.esp Wildcat_Quest_and_Spell.esp
RS Children Patches Merged
- Merge Name
[Merge] RS Children Patches Merged
- File Name
RS Children Patches Merged.esp
- Placement
- Directly after
[Merge] Remove Startup Quests and Notifications Merged
RSC 3DNPC Patch.esp RSC BoS Patch.esp RSC Falskaar Patch.esp RSC Forgotten City Patch.esp RSC HR Patch.esp RSC MoonAndStar Patch.esp ETaC - Darkwater Crossing RSC Patch.esp ETaC - Dawnstar RSC Patch.esp ETaC - Kynesgrove RSC Patch.esp ETaC - Riverwood RSC Patch.esp RSC Solitude Docks Patch.esp RSC WT Patch.esp
Snazzy Patches Merged
- Merge Name
[Merge] Snazzy Overhaul Patches Merged
- File Name
Snazzy Overhaul Patches Merged.esp
- Placement
- Directly after
[Merge] RS Children Patches Merged
SFCO - USSEP Patch.esp OCW_SFCO_FEPatch.esp SFCO - 3DNPC Patch.esp SFCO - Alternate Start Patch.esp SFCO - Blue Palace Terrace Patch.esp SFCO - Falskaar Patch.esp SFCO - Helgen Reborn Patch.esp SFCO - Immersive Citizens Patch.esp SFCO - Landscape and Water Fixes Patch.esp SFCO - LotD Patch.esp SFCO - OCW Patch.esp SFCO - Vanilla Player Homes Addon.esp SFCO - Wyrmstooth Patch.esp SFCO - ETaC Darkwater Crossing Patch.esp SFCO - ETaC Dawnstar Patch.esp SFCO - ETaC Kynesgrove Patch.esp SFCO - ETaC Riverwood Patch.esp SFCO - M'rissi patch.esp SFCO - Royal Armory Patch.esp SFCO - Tools of Kagrenac Patch.esp SFCO - Immersion Patch.esp GG's Thieves Guild HQ - SFCO patch.esp Great Town of Ivarstead - SFCO Patch.esp Great Town of Shor's Stone - SFCO Patch.esp JKs Haelgas Bunkhouse - SFCO Patch.esp JKs Elgrims Elixirs - SFCO Patch.esp JKs Mistveil Keep - SFCO Patch.esp JKs Bee and Barb - SFCO Patch.esp JKs Temple of Mara - SFCO Patch.esp JKs Angelines Aromatics - SFCO Patch.esp JKs Belethors General Goods - SFCO Patch.esp JKs Bannered Mare - SFCO Patch.esp JKs Dragonsreach - SFCO Patch.esp JKs Drunken Huntsman - SFCO Patch.esp JKs High Hrothgar - SFCO patch.esp JKs Castle Dour - SFCO patch.esp JKs Radiant Raiment - SFCO Patch.esp JKs Temple of the Divines - SFCO patch.esp JKs Winking Skeever - Fishing - SFCO patch.esp JKs Winking Skeever - Immersive Citizens - SFCO patch.esp JKs Winking Skeever - 3DNPC - SFCO Patch.esp JKs Winking Skeever - Chair CR Patch SFCO.esp JKs Candlehearth Hall - 3DNPC - SFCO Patch.esp JKs New Gnisis Cornerclub - SFCO Patch.esp JKs Palace of the Kings - SFCO Patch.esp JKs Temple of Talos - SFCO patch.esp JKs Sadris Used Wares - SFCO Patch.esp JKs White Phial - SFCO Patch.esp ClefJ Winterhold - Snazzy.esp Snazzy Patches Merge - Consistency Patch.esp
Weapons Armours Merged
- Merge Name
[Merge] Weapons Armours Merged
- File Name
Weapons Armours Merged.esp
- Placement
- Directly after
[Merge] Snazzy Overhaul Patches Merged
Faction Crossbows.esp Faction Crossbows_CCOR_Patch.esp GG's Thieves Guild HQ - Faction Crossbows patch.esp JKs Castle Dour - DX Faction Crossbows patch.esp JKs Palace of the Kings - DX Faction Crossbows patch.esp Faction Crossbows - Consistency Patch.esp Armor of Intrigue.esp Armor of Intrigue Consistency Patch.esp Leveled Lists - Intrigue.esp BosmerArmorMATY743.esp Bosmer Armour Consistency Patch.esp Crimson Ranger Armor.esp Crimson Ranger Armour Consistency Patch.esp Leveled Lists - Crimson.esp LunarGuardArmor.esp LustmordVampireArmor.esp SDA Lustmord Patch.esp WT_LVA_Immersive_Start.esp Lustmord Vampire Armor - Consistency Patch.esp Lustmord Vampire Armor Consistency additions.esp Krev The Skinner's Mantle by Hothtrooper44.esp Mantle of The Silver Hand Consistency Patch.esp Leveled Lists - Silver Hand.esp Nordic Wanderer.esp Nordic Wanderer Beast Races.esp Nordic Wanderer - Consistency Patch.esp Northgirl.esp NorthGirl Armor - Consistency Patch.esp Northgirl Consistency Additions.esp RogueArmorHD.esp Rogue Armor HD - Consistency Patch.esp ScoutArmor.esp Scout Armor - Consistency Patch.esp Scout Armor Consistency Additions.esp SeasonedTravellerbyXtudo.esp El_WayfarersCoatSSE.esp El_WayfarersCoatSSE_CCOR_Patch.esp Wayfarers Coat SSE - Consistency Patch.esp Wayfarers Coat SSE Consistency Additions.esp witchplate.esp Witchplate Consistency Patch.esp Leveled Lists - Witchplate.esp TalosHousecarl.esp TalosHousecarl - Consistency Patch.esp TalosHousecarl Consistency Additions.esp Sithis Armour.esp Sithis_Armor_Requirement_Patch.esp Leveled Lists - CR.esp
World Encounter Addon Patches Merged
- Merge Name
[Merge] World Encounter Addon Patches Merged
- File Name
World Encounter Addon Patches Merged.esp
- Placement
- Directly after
[Merge] Weapons Armours Merged
Gray Cowl of Nocturnal - Delayed Start.esp Gray Cowl of Nocturnal - Unofficial Patch.esp Falskaar - Boat Location.esp Falskaar - Unique Region Names.esp Falskaar - Bug Fixes.esp Moonpath Music - Sky and Lighting fix - merged.esp
YOT - Your Own Thoughts Merged
- Merge Name
[Merge] YOT - Your Own Thoughts Merged
- File Name
YOT - Your Own Thoughts Merged.esp
- Placement
- Directly after
[Merge] World Encounter Addon Patches Merged
YOT - Your Own Thoughts.esp YOT - Frostfall Module.esp YOT - Moonlight Tales Overhaul.esp YOT - OCW.esp YOT - Apocalypse.esp YOT - Falskaar.esp YOT - Fishing.esp YOT - Forceful Tongue.esp YOT - Helgen Reborn.esp YOT - Imperious.esp YOT - Lock Overhaul.esp YOT - Interesting NPCs.esp YOT - Ordinator.esp YOT - Sacrosanct.esp YOT - Saints & Seducers.esp YOT - Survival Mode.esp YOT - Andromeda.esp YOT - Immersive Sounds.esp YOT - Summermyst.esp YOT - Wildcat.esp YOT - Gray Fox.esp YOT - LOTD.esp YOT - Wyrmstooth.esp YOT - Your Own Thoughts Consistency Patch.esp
Check your Load Order
Important: You may need to switch to the Vanilla profile and back or restart MO2 for the loadorder.txt file to update properly. If you experience any issues with the bot please @Robotic#1111 in Discord
Now would be great time to check your Load Order. On Discord we have a bot that will validate your load order for you. It does this by comparing your load order against a master list. To use it, go to the #loadorder-bot
channel and type !loadorder
and upload your load order (in the same message). Your load order can be found at MO2/profiles/Legacy of the Dragonborn - Special Edition/loadorder.txt
It will respond with a text file containing what you need to change. Missed deletions and merge plugins will have explanations listed in the file.