Tomes of Talos ReadMe - HerrSchtevie/Scrolls-of-Schtevie GitHub Wiki

Tomes of Talos (TOT)

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📖 Table of Contents

📌 Introduction

Tomes of Talos is a lore-rich, SFW Skyrim modlist spun from the foundations of Journals of Jyggalag, designed to deliver a stable, immersive, and cohesive experience focused on storytelling, exploration, and visual fidelity. Every addition has been hand-picked to enhance Skyrim's atmosphere without breaking its lore or tone.

📋 Features

  • Two Unique Profiles Included:
    TOT offers two distinct profiles tailored to your preferred experience:

    • Lord's Vision – Cabbage ENB, Full graphics, and all features enabled
    • Performance – Community Shaders, same gameplay experience with optimized graphics for smoother play on lower-end systems

  • Quest Mods:
    TOT includes a massive lineup of lore-rich, fully patched quests that expand Skyrim’s world with new factions, dungeons, and narratives. Major entries include:

    • Legacy of the Dragonborn, The Forgotten City, VIGILANT, Project AHO, Wyrmstooth, Glenmoril, Unslaad, Carved Brink, The Tools of Kagrenac, The Gray Cowl of Nocturnal, Sirenroot, Olenveld, DaCoda, Moon and Star, Legends of Aetherium, Heart of the Reach, Ascend, Sleepwalking into a Nightmare — and many more.

  • Combat:
    Features Elden Rim and Wo Long movesets, full BFCO integration, and a suite of enemy balance and difficulty tweaks. The combat system supports a challenging but fair experience where any playstyle is viable—battlemage, stealth archer, heavy melee, dual wield, and more.

  • City and World Overhauls:
    Fully integrated combinations of JK’s Skyrim, Cities of the North, and The Great Cities series — all patched for terrain, navmesh, AI paths, and visual consistency.

  • Armor & Weapon Add-ons:
    Includes a wide range of high-quality, lore-friendly armors and weapons curated for visual consistency and seamless distribution across leveled lists.

  • Comprehensive NPC Overhauls:
    Nearly every NPC in Skyrim has been visually enhanced using a curated blend of ColdSun’s Visions, Pandorables NPCs, Sons of Nirn, and other top-quality overhaul mods — all seamlessly integrated through a custom EasyNPC merge for maximum compatibility and consistency.

💻 Requirements

📊 My System Specs (Reference Build)

Component Specs
CPU Intel Core i7-12700F
GPU Radeon RX 7900 XT
RAM 64GB DDR4 3200MHz
Storage Samsung 990 EVO PLUS 4TB SSD (PCIe Gen 4x4)

For reference, I run this list on a 32:9 ultrawide monitor (5120 x 1440) with smooth, consistent FPS on the Lord's Vision profile.

📋 Recommended System Specs

🎮 System Requirements for Tomes of Talos - 🛡️ Lord’s Vision Profile 🎮

High Graphics | Full Feature Set | Maximum Visuals

Component 🟡 Minimum (Playable) 🟢 Recommended (Ideal)
CPU Intel Core i5 (10th Gen) / AMD Ryzen 5 (3000 series) Intel Core i7 (12th Gen) / AMD Ryzen 7 (5000 series)
RAM 16GB DDR4 32GB DDR4
Pagefile 40GB 40GB
Storage SATA SSD NVMe M.2 SSD
GPU NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti / AMD RX 6600 XT (8 GB VRAM) NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti / AMD RX 7800 XT (16 GB VRAM)
Disk Space ~245GB Download / ~425GB Installed / ~670GB Total ~245GB Download / ~425GB Installed / ~670GB Total

🎮 System Requirements for Tomes of Talos - 🛡️ Performance Profile 🎮

Optimized for Lower-End Hardware | Reduced Visual Load

Component 🟡 Minimum (Playable) 🟢 Recommended (Ideal)
CPU Intel Core i5-6500 / AMD Ryzen 5 (1st or 2nd Gen) Intel Core i5 (10th Gen) / AMD Ryzen 5 (3000 series)
RAM 16GB DDR4 16–32GB DDR4
Pagefile 40GB 40GB
Storage SATA SSD NVMe M.2 SSD
GPU NVIDIA RTX 2060 (6 GB VRAM) / AMD RX 5600 XT NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti / AMD RX 6600 XT (8 GB VRAM)
Disk Space ~245GB Download / ~425GB Installed / ~670GB Total ~245GB Download / ~425GB Installed / ~670GB Total

The downloads can be removed after successful installation. NOT RECOMMENDED. But if you're short on space, it won't cause issues.

🔥 Installation Instructions

🧱 System Dependencies

Before continuing, make sure these system components are installed — they are required for Wabbajack and Skyrim to function correctly:

If you're unsure whether these are already installed, it's safe to install them again — they will update or repair as needed.

❗ Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you meet the following hard requirements:

  • You must own and install Skyrim Anniversary Edition (AE).
    The Standard Special Edition (SSE) will not work — this modlist requires the full AE version with all Creation Club content.

  • You must have the Creation Kit installed via Steam.
    It is required for the modlist to compile and must be installed on the same drive as your Skyrim AE installation.

    Example: If Skyrim AE is installed on D:\, the Creation Kit must also be installed on D:\.

  • Installation must be on an SSD.
    Installing to an HDD will result in long load times, freezing, and crashes.

🧰 Installation Steps

  1. Download Wabbajack
    Get the latest version of Wabbajack from https://www.wabbajack.org/

  2. Prepare a Clean Skyrim AE Installation
    🎥 All of the steps below are shown in this video:
    GamerPoets – Clean Skyrim Setup Guide

    • Uninstall any existing Skyrim installation via Steam.
    • Navigate to Documents\My Games\Skyrim Special Edition and delete all contents (back up if desired).
    • Reinstall Skyrim Anniversary Edition via Steam.
    • Launch Skyrim AE once through Steam to allow all Creation Club content to download.
      Do not change any settings or start a game — just reach the main menu, download the Creation Kit content via the popup, then close it.
      • Install the Skyrim Special Edition Creation Kit from the Tools section in your Steam Library.
        ✅ Make sure it’s installed on the same drive as Skyrim AE.
        ⚠️ Do not install the regular Skyrim Creation Kit — it is not compatible and will not work with this modlist.
    • Launch the Creation Kit once to initialize its content, allow it to complete downloading, then close it.

  3. Create folders and Defender exceptions

    • In Windows, create a \modlists directory and a \downloaded mods directory if you do not already have them. They do not need to be on the same drive, but each needs to be on a drive with adequate available storage capacity. You do not have to use those exact names.
    • Assuming you are using Windows Defender as your antivirus, open Windows Security -> Virus and Threat Detection -> Manage settings.
    • Scroll all the way down to the Exclusions section. Click Add or remove exclusions.
    • Select and add the two directories mentioned above.
    • (If you're using an antivirus other than Defender, add exclusions in whatever manner your AV requires.)

  4. Launch Wabbajack

    • Open Wabbajack.
    • Click the Modlists Browser tab.
    • In the upper-left corner, enable:
      • ✅ Show Unofficial Lists
    • Use the search bar to find Tomes of Talos.

  5. Select the Modlist

    • Click on Journals of Jyggalag.
    • Choose:
      • A Download Location – where Wabbajack will store mod archives. Select the \downloaded mods directory from step 3. 📦 Requires approximately 245 GB of free space.
      • An Installation Location – where the modlist will be fully installed and run from. Create a \TOT directory in the \modlists folder from step 3. 💾 Requires approximately 425 GB of free space.
        ⚠️ This must be on an SSD for performance and stability. Note that SSDs perform very poorly when over 85-90% capacity. Don't try to cram this onto a drive where it will only barely fit.

  6. Start Installation

    • Click Start to begin the automated installation.
    • Wabbajack will handle the process automatically. If any files fail to download (e.g., Nexus permissions), Wabbajack will prompt you to log in or download manually.

📺 Optional: Watch Biggie’s Wabbajack Install Guide

  1. While Wabbajack is running:
  1. Having Issues? Run Through This Checklist First
    If Wabbajack is refusing to download or install the modlist, double-check the following before requesting support:
  • ❓ Did you completely clean your system of all traces of Skyrim before beginning?
  • ✅ Are you using a fresh install of Skyrim Anniversary Edition?
  • 🔓 Did you launch Skyrim once through Steam to allow all Creation Club content to download?
  • 🧰 Did you install the Skyrim Special Edition Creation Kit via Steam on the same drive as your Skyrim install?
  • 🟢 Did you launch the Skyrim Special Edition Creation Kit once to initialize its required files?
  • 💾 Do you have enough free space on your installation drive?
  • 🌐 Are you logged into NexusMods with a Premium membership?
  • 🔁 Have you retried the download at least 3 times? Sometimes Wabbajack errors are temporary and resolve on their own.

If you’ve gone through the full checklist and are still stuck, feel free to ask for help in the Scrolls of Schtevie Discord

✅ Post-Installation Steps

Once Wabbajack finishes, you're not quite ready to jump in yet — follow these steps carefully to finalize your setup.

1. Open MO2

  • Navigate to your Tomes of Talos installation folder.
  • Launch ModOrganizer.exe (MO2) from that directory.

2. Select Your Profile (and Stick With It)

Tomes of Talos includes two distinct profiles, each preconfigured with its own settings, tool outputs, and game experience.
You can select your profile from the dropdown in the upper-left corner of MO2 (just above the mod pane).

Profile Name Description
Lord’s Vision Cabbage ENB, Full graphics, and all features enabled
Performance Community Shaders, same gameplay experience with reduced graphics for smoother play on lower-end systems

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Once you choose a profile, stick with it.
Do not switch between profiles mid-playthrough. Each profile uses its own:

  • Mod configurations
  • MCM settings
  • Tool outputs (DynDOLOD, TexGen, BodySlide, etc.)
  • Save file directories

Save files are not cross-compatible. Switching profiles mid-playthrough can break your game or result in corrupted saves.

3. Configure JOJ to your preferences

Before diving into your playthrough, take a moment to configure the list to match your setup. Whether you're using ultrawide resolutions or a controller, Tomes of Talos is built to adapt — but it expects you to pick your setup and stick with it.

🖥️ Widescreen & Resolution Support

Tomes of Talos includes full widescreen support with UI presets for all major aspect ratios. These options are found near the bottom of MO2 under the Resolution Presets separator (highlighted in blue).

  • ✅ Always enabled:

    • TOT - Core UI

  • Choose one (and only one) based on your monitor:

    • TOT - 21x9 UI Patch → for ultrawide (21:9)
    • TOT - 32x9 UI Patch → for super ultrawide (32:9)

image

Do not enable multiple resolution patches. Choose the one that fits your monitor setup.

🎮 Controller Support (Optional)

Controller support is fully integrated into TOT — but all related mods are disabled by default so players can opt in manually. To enable controller support:

  1. Scroll to the Controller Support separator in MO2 (highlighted in blue).
  2. Enable all of the following mods:
    • Gamepad++
    • Wheeler - Quick Action Wheel Of Skyrim
    • Wheeler CTD-Fix
    • Dragonborn - Wheeler Reskin
    • Dragonborn - Wheeler Reskin Edge UI Colors
    • Complete Controller Setup
  1. In the right-side plugin pane, locate the following plugins and drag them into the correct plugin groups:
    • Gamepad++ → move to the User Interface group
    • Complete Controller Setup → move to the Master Plugins group

⚠️ Incorrect plugin group assignment can cause controller-related bugs or interface issues.

Once enabled and properly sorted, you’ll have full access to enhanced controller features including radial wheels, custom stances, and a gamepad-friendly UI.

4. Set the Executable and Launch the Game

  • Ensure Tomes of Talos is selected as the modlist in the top-right executable dropdown in MO2.
  • Click Run to start the game.

⚠️ Important Warning: Never Click "Unlock" in MO2

Do not click "Unlock" in Mod Organizer 2 while Tomes of Talos is launching or running.

The game may take several minutes to launch depending on your system specs.
That’s normal. Be patient. If it’s taking forever, your PC might just be a potato in disguise. Don’t take it out on MO2.

MO2 will automatically unlock when the game has fully closed.
Manually clicking "Unlock" can break the virtual file system, sever mod links, or corrupt your entire install.

5. Saving and Loading

  • Skyrim’s default save and load system has long-standing issues that can introduce corruption into your saves over time. This corruption accumulates, eventually rendering saves unstable or unplayable. These are limitations of the Skyrim engine itself, not conflicts with this modlist.

  • To address this, we include Skyrim Save System Overhaul 3 (SSSO3). This mod ensures that saves are only written when the engine can safely create a clean file, greatly reducing the chance of progressive corruption. Refer to our Gameplay Guide for configuration instructions.

  • When SSSO3 displays a “Saving Delayed” message, it means the engine is too busy to make a clean save. To improve your chances of saving safely:

    • Exit dialogues and menus
    • Exit combat
    • Stop moving and look at the ground to reduce load
    • Wait until the game confirms the save has completed
    • If saving is consistently blocked in one spot, move to a quieter nearby area and try again.

  • Loading during play is even riskier than saving. When you reload mid-session, leftover data from the current session mixes with the new one; then, the next time you save, that bad data is baked into your save file from then on.

    • Never quickload.
    • Always exit to desktop and restart Skyrim before loading another save, including when reloading after death.
    • Again, this guidance applies to all Skyrim configurations, not just JOJ.

  • To reduce the number of reloads you’ll need to perform, the list includes the Acheron death alternative mod. While it won’t prevent every death, it will minimize situations where you’re forced to reload. Feel free to use a different death alternative if you prefer.

🛠️ Additional Notes

📚 Additional Guides

⚠️ Disclaimer: These guides were originally written for Journals of Jyggalag and may reference features, mechanics, or mods not present in Tomes of Talos.
However, much of the content — including tool instructions, NPC customization, and gameplay tips — still applies and can be used as a helpful reference when playing TOT.
Use your judgment when following these guides and disregard anything specific to JOJ-exclusive content.

For more information on controller support, NPC management, and running essential tools, check out the following:

  • 🎮 Controller Guide
    Step-by-step instructions for setting up controller support in JOJ.

  • 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Easy NPC Guide
    A complete walkthrough on managing and customizing NPC appearances using EasyNPC.

  • 🛠️ Tool Running Guide
    Learn when and how to run tools like DynDOLOD, TexGen, xLODGen, and more.

  • ⚠️ Rule 11 Modding Guide
    A detailed breakdown of how to add your own mods. This falls under Rule 11 — support is not guaranteed and you’re on your own.

  • 🧭 JOJ Gameplay Guide
    Tips, tricks, and detailed info on systems, progression, and mechanics unique to the modlist.

  • 🧙‍♂️ JOJ Follower Guide
    A full breakdown of included followers, their locations, compatibility notes, and roleplay relevance.

  • 🏠 JOJ Player Home Guide
    Categorized listings of player homes with acquisition info, feature summaries, and locations.

⚖️ Rule 11 – Modlist Modification Disclaimer

By choosing to modify or tweak Tomes of Talos (TOT) in any way — whether by adding mods, changing load order, editing settings, or rebuilding components — you are doing so at your own risk.

🛠️ You have effectively voided your warranty.

While we absolutely encourage learning and modding, please understand that:

  • Myself and the admin team are not obligated to help troubleshoot issues caused by personal edits or changes to the list.
  • We cannot guarantee support for lists that differ from the officially published Wabbajack version.
  • If something breaks because of your changes, it’s your responsibility to fix it.

That said, we understand modding is fun and personal. If you're stuck after making changes, you may post in the 🛡️ Grey Aegis channel on our Discord server. Help is not guaranteed — but if we can (and want to), we may offer guidance.

Thank you for respecting the work that went into TOT, and for being part of the community!

➡️ Here is the in-depth guide to help you out if you really want to modify the list.

📞 Support & Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues:

  • Check your install directory for errors.
  • Ensure all prerequisites are installed correctly.
  • Visit the Wabbajack Discord or Scrolls of Schtevie Discord for assistance.

🤝 Credits & Permissions

  • Biggie Boss: Creator of NGVO graphics overhauls
  • Various mod authors: For quest mods, overhauls, and graphical enhancements.
  • Wabbajack Team: For providing the tools to distribute this list.

📸 Screenshots

TOT_Promo_Compressed TOT_Lakeview_Compressed TOT_Whiterun_Compressed

🔗 Links

❓ FAQ

  • Q: What do I need for this list to install properly?
    A: Anniversary Edition (AE) and Creation Kit are hard requirements. This modlist will not work correctly with Standard Skyrim Special Edition (SSE), and will not download correctly without Creation Kit.

  • Q: Where do I go for support?
    A: Visit the Wabbajack Discord or Scrolls of Schtevie Discord for assistance.

💬 Thank You

Thank you for taking the time to install and experience Tomes of Talos. This project is a passion-driven labor of love built on the shoulders of an incredible modding community.

Whether you're here for the lore, the visuals, the chaos, or the adult content — I truly appreciate you choosing TOT as your journey through Skyrim.

If you enjoyed the list, consider joining the Discord, sharing your screenshots, and helping others in the community. Your feedback, bug reports, and kind words help keep this project alive and growing.

May Order guide you, Champion.

Jyggalag_red_resized

— Herr Schtevie