Eh, post was updated before I could finish typing it up...so I suppose this list is null now. I'll post anyway...and again these are essentials for me because they fit so perfectly into the game and feel like a major update or something...

To be honest, "essentials" really depend on the type of playthrough you prefer to take. Immersion mods are my most favorite.

So these is essentially...the essentials for me...

• Alternate Start - Live Another Life
• aMidianBorn Book of Silence - Armors (Not essential but damn...does it really make the armors pop more)
• Cloaks of Skyrim (Adds more loot to the world)
• Convenient Horses (This one speaks for itself)
• Enhanced Light and FX (I cannot stand how lit up some dungeons and the exterior are)
• Footprints
• Frostfall (If you want immersion...this is #1)
• Hold Border Banners
• Hunterborn
• Immersive Armors (Adds a plethora of armor to the world - comes with level list for npcs)
• Immersive HUD
• Immersive Patrols (Gives life to the roads of Skyrim)
• Immersive Weapons (Adds a plethora of weapons to the world - comes with level list for npcs)
• Jaysus Swords (adds a few more weapons to the leveled lists)
• Lanterns of Skyrim (Adds lanterns to roads. Combined with lighting mods its really a must)
• Point the Way (I don't fast travel...this helps; then again...1200+ hours...you eventually just know)
• Race Menu
• Real Shelter (Combined with Frostfall...works beautifully)
• Realistic Needs and Diseases
• SkyUI (Required by most mods)
• Sounds of Skyrim
• Supreme and Volumetric Fog
• Unofficial High Resolution Pack
• Unofficial Skyrim Patch
• Wearable Lanterns
• Winter is Coming Cloaks (adds even more cloaks)
• True Storms (
• Belt Fastened Quivers (So the quivers dont clip through your backpacks from Frostfall)
• Lightning During Storms (Having lightning strike around you on dark night (ELFX) is a...spectacular sight)
• Jaxonz Positioner (I only recently started using this one and it allows you to move and freeze nearly any object in any way you want....for those that like to decorate the way THEY want...this is a must)
• Follower Commentary Overhaul (Because we all get sick of hearing the same dialogue over and over and over and over and over....)

I may have missed some and will add them later when I can check NMM. In fact, I removed roughly 50+ from this list (visuals and textures mainly).

SKSE and SKYUI are a given.

...damn I spent far too much time typing this only to realize too late it wasn't what was wanted.