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Creating Merge Profiles

You may be looking up at that Plugin Count meter in MO2 and thinking to yourself, "Self... that is a LOT of plugins. Can Skyrim even RUN that many?"

Yes. Yes, it can... if you are careful and understand the file restrictions. Though the Guide isn't in much danger of going over the 254 ESM/ESP combined plugin limit, we do want to take the overall number down just a little bit. We will be using zMerge to help us do that.

To make things simpler, we're going to start with making a Blank Merge Profile in MO2.

  1. Click the Configure Profiles icon at the top of the main Mod Organizer window. The icon looks like an ID card.
  2. Select "Legacy Of The Dragonborn - Special Edition" then click Copy.
  3. Type "Blank for Merges" in the text box and hit OK.
  4. Switch to your newly created profile, right click on the list of mods, and select All → Disable all mods.

We suggest (though it is not a requirement) that you create a new Merge Profile for each of the merges you are going to create. These merges are going to be updated in the future, and having each one readily available for editing will speed up that process significantly.

In addition to each merge, you will also be making use of the MO2 Plugin called Merge Plugin Hide. This handy little plugin will automate moving merged plugins to the Optional directory for their respective mods, preventing TWO COPIES of the same information from being present in the game.

Former Staff-Member "Wartortle" walks you through your first merge.
Watch

Prepare Merge - Mod Organizer 2 Plugin

Though the contents of each merge are different, the same process is used for creating each merge profile, using the "Blank for Merges" profile as the base.

As each Merge comes up, create a new Profile for that Merge and then:

  1. In your MAIN LOTD PROFILE, make sure that all mods are enabled and all plugins active in the right and left panes.
    • Run Prepare Merge from the plugin menu
    • Select this as the base profile for merge preparation by clicking on Load active profile as base.
    • The virtual file system of this profile will be used to generate the plugin-to-mod mapping.
    • Close the window.
  2. Switch to your Merge Profile for the merge you are creating.
  3. Run Prepare Merge
  4. On the Merge page, highlight all of the plugins in the merge table under the merge you’re creating, then press Ctrl + C, or right click and select Copy.
  5. In the Prepare Merge Window,  hit the Import entries from clipboard button.
  6. Click the Prepare merge in active profile button.
  7. 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.

The Merge is now ready to be created.

Building Merges

With the Merge now prepared and ready to be created, follow the instructions below to create the Merge.

  1. VERIFY YOU ARE IN THE CORRECT MERGE PROFILE.
  2. Run zEdit from the MO2 Executable Drop-Down menu.
  3. Select "zMerge" from the drop-down menu that appears.
  4. Press "Start Session".
  5. In the new window, press the "Create Merge" button.
  6. In the "Detail" Tab, fill in the name and filename of the merge you are creating.
    1. Make sure you copy these over correctly, especially the file name. Other files will be using these as Masters and will expect the same spellings. These names are shown at the top of each merge's list of mods.
  7. Select the "Clobber" merge method.
  8. In the "Plugins" tab, ONLY SELECT the plugins that will be merged.
    1. DO NOT select any of the Master files. ONLY the files listed in the Merge should be selected.
  9. In the "Load Order" Tab, ensure that Game Load Order is checked.
  10. Press the "Build" button to create the Merge.

zMerge will now go to work. Depending on the Merge, this may be nearly instant or take a few seconds. You will see a message that reads "Merge Successfully Created" when the work is complete. You can close zMerge by clicking on the X in the top right corner.

  1. Once done, swap back to the Main LOTD Profile.
  2. Click and drag your new Merged Mod to the position indicated in the merge's instructions.
  3. Activate the Merge.
  4. In the Plugins Menu of MO2, run Merge Plugins Hide.
  5. RIGHT-CLICK on the merge you just created and select "Disable Plugins".
ID-10-T Check

Make sure the o in optional in Merge plugin hide settings is lowercase.

Rebuilding Merges

Notice

If you are rebuilding the NPC Retexture Merge you will need to run Dark Face Issue Reporter before rebuilding in zMerge

From time to time, you may have to rebuild a merge you can do this by:

  1. Use 'Merge Plugins Hide' and enable all plugins.
  2. Follow the changelog to Add/Remove/Update what mods are mentioned.
  3. Use Prepare Merge as previously detailed.
  4. Run Dark Face Issue Reporter if you are rebuilding the NPC Retexture Merge.
  5. Start zMerge like you would when first creating the merge but instead of clicking 'Create Merge', Hit the Edit Button next to the title of the merge you are regenerating.
  6. Under the Plugins tab, deselect all merge plugins and then reselect them again to refresh zMerge's internal load order. Make sure 'Use Game Load Order' is still checked on that tab. (You can even uncheck and recheck that if you want.)
  7. Hit 'Build' Repeat for all merges that need it.
  8. After all are regenerated, Use 'Merge Plugins Hide' to disable all merged plugins again.
  9. Right-click and "enable all" plugins in the right pane.
  10. Run LOOT.
  11. Continue enabling Finishing Line stuff, with care to regenerate any other mods that are listed.
  12. Avoid arrows to the knee, and hopefully enjoy your updated Lexy LOTD Skyrim.

Animals Merged

  • Merge Name
  • [Merge] Animals Merged
  • File Name
  • Animals Merged.esp
  • Placement
  • Directly after Lexy's LOTD - Conflict Resolution - FOMOD
Durnehviir God of Death - Remastered.esp
zz_HorseOverhaul.esp
KrittaKittyHorsesForSSE.esp
KrittaKittyHorsesWhiteFrost.esp
ORM-Arvak.esp
SkyTEST Redux - USSEP Patch.esp
SkyTEST Redux - USMP - Crime Report Patch.esp
SkyTEST Redux Creature Extension.esp
SkyTEST Redux - Skyrim Immersive Creatures Patch.esp
CC Fishing - SkyTEST-Redux Patch.esp
Falskaar - SkyTEST-Redux Patch.esp
Wyrmstooth - SkyTEST-Redux Patch.esp
Interesting NPCs - SkyTEST Redux Consistency Patch.esp
Inigo - SkyTEST Redux Consistency Patch.esp
SkyTEST Redux - Simplest Horse Patch.esp
SkyTEST Redux Less Fear Patch.esp
NoPotionBanditFaction - SkyTEST Redux.esp
UniqueBarbas.esp
Lexy LOTD Animals Merged Consistency Patch.esp

Lexy’s LOTD Consistency Patches Merged

  • Merge Name
  • [Merge] Lexy's LOTD Consistency Patches Merged
  • File Name
  • Lexy's LOTD Consistency Patches Merged.esp
  • Placement
  • Directly after [Merge] Animals Merged
AetheriumSwordsandArmor - Consistency Patch.esp
Amulets of Skyrim - Consistency Patch.esp
ArtifactsOfBoethiah - Consistency Patch.esp
Cloaks of Skyrim - Consistency Patch.esp
DarkBrotherhoodRobesConsistencyPatch.esp
Falskaar - Consistency Patch.esp
Forgotten City - Consistency Patch.esp
Gray Fox Cowl - Consistency Patch.esp
Helgen Reborn - Consistency Patch.esp
Heritage Enemies 2 - Consistency Patch.esp
ImRevelation's Bug Patch.esp
Inigo - Consistency Patch.esp
Interesting NPCs - Consistency Patch.esp
Konahrik's Accoutrements - Consistency Patch.esp
Lore Weapon Expansion SE - Consistency Patch.esp
Missives - Consistency Patch.esp
MoonAndStar_MAS - Consistency Patch.esp
Moonpath - Consistency Patch.esp
NFF - Consistency Patch.esp
Ordinator - Consistency Patch.esp
Silver Weapons - Consistency Patch.esp
Skyrim Immersive Creatures - Consistency Patch.esp
SkyrimSewers - Consistency Patch.esp
Skyrims Unique Treasures - Consistency Patch.esp
Song of the Green - Consistency Patch.esp
Lexy's LOTD SE - Sound Consistency Patch.esp
Survival and Difficulty - Consistency Patch.esp
Teldryn Serious - Consistency Patch.esp
ToK - Consistency Patch.esp
Warmonger Armoury - Consistency Patch.esp
Wyrmstooth - Consistency Patch.esp
WZOblivionArtifacts - Consistency Patch.esp
WZOblivionArtifacts - InvisHeadFix.esp

Dark Face Issue Reporter

Notice

Please make sure you’re using SSEEdit64 when running Dark Face Issue Reporter. If you have the free CC-Content installed as separate mods, make sure you activate them in the left pane of MO2 along with the Cleaned ESMs mod

New to Dark Face Issue Reporter? There's a great introduction video available by former Staff-Member "Wartortle"!
Watch

NPC Retexturing is, honestly, one of the hardest parts of Skryim modding... especially if you are mixing and matching different NPCs from different Mods, like we are. So, before we build the NPC Retexture Merge, we are going to run the Dark Face Issue Reporter to make sure everything is OK.

  1. Make sure you have Downloaded the  Dark Face Issue Reporter Ignore ini file from Lexy's Wonderful House of Invaluable Patches.
  2. Extract the content of the archive and place the INI file in SSEEdit/Edit Scripts.
  3. Edit darkfaceissuereporter.ini as follows:
    • CreateDebugLogFile=True
    • CreateConsoleCommandBatchFile=True
    • CreateDarkFaceCollector=True
    • DarkFaceCollectorFilename=darkfacecollector.esp
  4. Create and set up your NPC Retexture Merge SSE Profile now by following the Prepare Merge section on this page, but do not run zMerge yet.
  5. While still on the NPC Retexture Profile, Open xEdit and load the plugins already selected.
  6. In the left pane, highlight only:
    • The Game's base ESMs (7 files)
    • Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Patch.esp
    • 3DNPC.esp
    • LegacyoftheDragonborn.esm
  7. Right-click any of those plugins, and choose "Apply script".
  8. From the drop-down menu, select DarkFaceIssueReporter and choose OK.
  9. Select Option 2: Run only for selected files or records
  10. 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.
  11. Expand the Non-Player Character (NPC) row if there is one.
    • Any NPC listed has Dark Face, and you will need to troubleshoot what went wrong.
    • Always delete DarkFaceCollector.esp if you saved it, before running Dark Face Issue Reporter again.
    • Additional help can be gotten on Discord in the #install-help-desk channel
  12. If the Dark Face Issue Report returns clean (only the File Header is listed), you can delete darkfacecollector.esp
  13. You can now build the NPC Retexture Merge.
New to Dark Face Issue Reporter? There's a great introduction video available by Wartortle!
Watch

Fixing NPCs with Dark Face Bug

  1. Is NPC Retexture Merge Consistency Patch active in your left pane?
    1. If not, activate it.
  2. Are all NPCs shown from Interesting NPCs?
    1. If so, you forgot to merge the hotfix with the main file and so the main file is not active on your merge profile.
    2. Manually activate the main Interesting NPCs file.
  3. Check that the mods from page 5 of the guide are all in the correct order in your left pane on both your main and merge profiles.
  4. If you still have NPCs in your darkfacecollector.esp, expand darkfacecollector.esp and select the first NPC listed. In the right side of xEdit scroll down so “Head Parts” are showing. Take a screenshot of the entire window (just the top of the list is fine if it's very long) and post it in the #install-help-desk channel of the Discord for support.

NPC Face Data Handling

Please note that before you generate this merge, we need to disable NPC Face Data Handling

  1. Click the Data Tab
  2. Expand NPC Face Data
  3. Uncheck Handle NPC Face Data
  4. Click OK
  5. Now you can actually build the merge.

NPC Retexture Merge SSE

  • Merge Name
  • [Merge] NPC Retexture Merge SSE
  • File Name
  • NPC Retexture Merge SSE.esp
  • Placement
  • Directly after [Merge] Lexy's LOTD Consistency Patches Merged
Diversity - A Character Overhaul.esp
DiversityVanilla-CFTO-Patch.esp
DiversityVanilla-SRCEO-Patch.esp
WICO - Immersive Character.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
IFDL_BijinWarmaidensAIO_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
NPC Retextures - OWL Patch.esp
Special Instructions

  • Delete the textures and meshes folders from [Merge] NPC Retexture Merge SSE, if they are present.

Weapons Armours Merged

  • Merge Name
  • [Merge] Weapons Armours Merged
  • File Name
  • Weapons Armours Merged.esp
  • Placement
  • Directly after [Merge] NPC Retexture Merge SSE
faction crossbows_ccor_patch.esp
GG's Thieves Guild HQ - Faction Crossbows patch.esp
JKs Palace of the Kings - DX Faction Crossbows patch.esp
JKs Castle Dour - DX Faction Crossbows patch.esp
Faction Crossbows - Consistency Patch.esp
LustmordVampireArmor.esp
SDA Lustmord Patch.esp
WT_LVA_Immersive_Start.esp
Lustmord Vampire Armor - Consistency Patch.esp
Nordic Wanderer.esp
Nordic Wanderer Beast Races.esp
Nordic Wanderer - Consistency Patch.esp
Northgirl.esp
NorthGirl Armour - Consistency Patch.esp
ScoutArmor.esp
Scout Armor - Consistency Patch.esp
TalosHousecarl.esp
TalosHousecarl - Consistency Patch.esp
SeasonedTravellerbyXtudo.esp
El_WayfarersCoatSSE.esp
el_wayfarerscoatsse_ccor_patch.esp
Wayfarers Coat SSE - Consistency Patch.esp
WARNING

Verify that you have run Merge Plugins Hide on all merges before going past this point!

Check your Load Order

NOTE

You may need to switch to the Vanilla profile and back or restart MO2 for the loadorder.txt file to update properly.

Unhide Merges with Merge Plugins Hide first before Re-Installing mods to fix your Loadorder.

If you experience any issues with the bot please @Olivia in Discord

Now would be great time to check your Load Order and verify that everything is present and accounted for.

On Discord, there is a bot that will validate your load order. 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.

Unhide Merges with Merge Plugins. Hide first before reinstalling mods to fix your Loadorder.

If you encounter that the Bot is not working, ping @Evertiro on Discord

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