What is the load order?

What is the Load Order?

In the world of game modding, one of the most important and often-confusing topics is the load order of mods. Mod load order refers to the order in which your game loads different mods, or files, from your computer or network into the game world. The load order can significantly affect the functionality and compatibility of the mods, which can sometimes lead to unforeseen problems and bugs. Therefore, it’s crucial to understand the importance of load order and how to manage it.

Load Order in Simple Terms

To break it down simply, mods are typically listed in a configuration file, called the plugins file, or similar. These files dictate the order in which your game loads different mods, which helps to avoid conflicts between them. Essentially, a high priority load means the mod will take effect first and modify the game in specific ways.

In Skyrim, the game uses load order.txt to store and configure the load order. Each line of the file specifies the location of a plugins file, where mods are stored and loaded from the hard drive during game runtime.

Load Order Limits

Game-specific limitations dictate the maximum number of active plugins your game can run concurrently. Skyrim and its associated game versions impose a limit on 255 full plugins (ESM) and no ESL ( Light-Plugin flag) plugins for some specific settings. This indicates the game prioritizes processing certain types before others due to internal performance considerations, although actual restrictions also apply (dependent on in-game setup parameters).

However, there exists other factors governing the scope where mod-related issues rise while loading large numbers:

– In certain cases, conflicts due to data overlap with numerous active loaded plugins would ensue since the internal resource manager runs out for proper execution for each script & animation to be in perfect harmony alongside the active & available elements within such contexts, though this shouldn’t always stop you to take steps within your hand because some minor adjustments along other considerations here can often overcome limitations – but sometimes those little bugs might even prove hard without proper adjustment which makes certain things.

How Can I Create Load Order Optimization?

Mod users have often asked us whether it truly matters; their main source of info – this forum – was based upon research and testing made clear through sharing knowledge (so please report any anomalies by mentioning you found error then providing.