Skyrim Creation Kit Explained

Eurogamer talks about the Skyrim Creation Kit.  Mods made from the Creation Kit will be hosted on Steam's Steam Workshop (second link) for download.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-03-12-skyrim-the-creation-kit-experience

http://steamcommunity.com/workshop/browse?appid=72850

Here's how to get started.
http://www.creationkit.com/

This is the key mapping layout for the Creation Kit.
http://www.creationkit.com/Creation_Kit_Keyboard_Mapping

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Skyrim "Creation Kit" and Bug Fixes Coming February 2012

Sometime next month Bethesda will release their Creation Kit to totally open up the PC version of the game to modders.  They also will allow mods to be uploaded to Steam where they can be rated and downloaded by other PC players.
http://kotaku.com/5864312/starting-month-you-will-get-the-tools-to-reinvent-skyrim-on-pc

At the same time, a whole list of bugs will be fixed.  Here is a list.
http://kotaku.com/5877738/skyrims-creation-kit-is-nearly-ready

No word on the promised expansion packs, to be exclusive on the xBox for the first month.  Most people expect the sketchy areas of Morrowind and Oblivion seen from Skyrim are there because there will be DLC that uses those areas.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/329254/meaty-skyrim-dlc-packs-inbound/

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Oblivion Spell Mod Rewritten for Skyrim

This spell mod was really popular for Oblivion PC players.  Now it's been rewritten for Skyrim. Thanks, Kotaku!
http://kotaku.com/5875474/a-popular-oblivion-mod-comes-to-skyrim

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Skyrim: Miscellaneous Item Codes for Modding

A list of codes that can be used in console commands if you are playing on a PC.
http://www.ign.com/wikis/the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim/Item%20Codes#Perks


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Skyrim Mod Articles (PCs)

The Skyrim Mod Forge is doing a weekly series on various Skyrim mods.  It's worth checking out if you are looking for mods to improve your PC version of the game.  The link below is to article 1.  Further articles appear in the Related Articles bar above this one so you can read on.
http://www.dualshockers.com/2011/11/23/the-skyrim-mod-forge-–-episode-1-–-large-address-and-steady-growth/

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Skyrim: Glowing Ore Veins Mod

Download location and description of a mod that makes the ore veins in the game glow.
http://www.skyrimnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=193

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Skyrim Horse Mods

If you are finding your horse controls lacking, there are two mods currently available that make your horse come when you whistle or that make your horse run from combat.  Here is the link to Horse Whistle.
http://www.skyrimnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=1767

Here's Cowardly Horses.  There are a ton of mods that change your horse's appearance but I was interested in improving control of the horse when I browsed SkyrimNexus.com.
http://www.skyrimnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=1522

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Skyrim: Let the Modding Begin UPDATED WAY TOO OFTEN

All the previous Elder Scrolls games have been modded extensively on the PC.  If you are comfortable tinkering with the settings or using cheats (and don't mind that achievements will be disabled), you can start your own modding with this Kotaku posting.
http://kotaku.com/5860367/your-guide-to-getting-skyrim-looking-and-playing-better

Rock Paper Shotgun talks more about mods in some detail.  Heed the warnings, though.
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/11/16/skyrim-i-want-more-pretties/

Here's a direct link to all the console commands that can be used for cheats.
http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Console_Commands_%28Skyrim%29

Need unlimited dragons?
http://kotaku.com/5861699/unlimited-dragons-in-skyrim-sure-why-not

By the way, if you are afraid of spiders, here's how to handle all those in the game. Thanks, Kotaku!
http://kotaku.com/5860258/skyrim-now-with-more-bears

UPDATE:  An analysis of the game's innards.
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2011/11/21/elder_scrolls_v_skyrim_performance_iq_review/1

UPDATE #2:  PC Gamer's best mods list to date (Nov. 25, 2011)
http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/11/25/skyrim-mods-the-20-best-so-far

UPDATE #3:  Skyrim Nexus is mod central for the game.
http://www.skyrimnexus.com/

UPDATE #4:  Bethesda plans to release the developer kit and support mods via Steam.
http://kotaku.com/5864312/starting-month-you-will-get-the-tools-to-reinvent-skyrim-on-pc

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Skyrim: Maps UPDATED ALL OVER AGAIN

UPDATE:  A pretty good series of maps.
http://www.realsg.com/2011/11/guide-skyrim-complete-locations-map.html

UPDATE #2:  Annotated map meant to be printed out but clicking any general location brings up a good detailed view of that area.
http://www.gamebanshee.com/skyrim/mapofskyrim.php

UPDATE #3:  An iPhone interactive map.
http://www.dragonshoutapp.com/

This map can't be enlarged to see more detail.
http://gamersdungeon.blogspot.com/2011/11/your-guide-to-skyrim-tips-and-hints.html#skyrimmap

UPDATE #2 - a map mod called UberMap that turns the map into a Google Maps view.  Kotaku has video of how it looks and a link to the SkyrimNexus site hosting the download.
http://kotaku.com/5859945/skyrim-now-has-google-street-view

Prima also sells some sort of online interactive map.  I'm waiting for the uesp.net version myself.
http://www.meoacademy.org/games/elder-scrolls-v-skyrim/primaguides/243

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Deus Ex: Human Revolution

The debug menu has been enabled in Deus Ex via a mod.  Details and the download point here.
http://forums.eidosgames.com/showthread.php?t=121245

Rock, Paper, Shotgun has written a very interesting essay on the game.  Video games are thought-provoking?  Who'd a thunk it?
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/09/06/deus-ex-human-revolution-is-about-drm/

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The Morrowind Makeover Project UPDATED

Kotaku reports a huge makeover mod that adds a nice layer of polish to The Elder Scrolls: Morrowind.  It's a big 4gig download but if you are trying to make the time pass quicker until The Elder Scrolls V:  Skyrim comes out, it's worth a look at the YouTube videos and other info linked to here.
http://kotaku.com/5723930/the-elder-scrolls-fans-give-morrowind-a-makeover

The mod compendium website has lots of further info about where/how to download the files to update your Morrowind game.
http://morrowind2011.wordpress.com/

Here are videos of the result.
http://www.youtube.com/user/warwon

UPDATE: Apparently the person assembling the compendium of mods didn't ask permission of all the folks whose work was included and the mod is pulled for now.
http://kotaku.com/5727233/morrowind-mod-put-to-the-sword

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Addons Specifically for Hunters

WOW Insider has a few boss mods and threat/damage meters they recommend for hunters as well as PAWN and Power Auras.
http://www.wow.com/2010/07/08/scattered-shots-hunter-addons/

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DK Tank Gear, UI, Mods, Macros and PAWN Scales

Today must be Death Knight Day as I have three new good articles for death knights.

First, Pwnwear's site has updated the DK tanking gear list there with the new Ruby Sanctum items that are known.
http://pwnwear.com/forum/tank-gear-list-t142.html#p394

Secondly, Skeleton Jack has changed his UI around and posted a long article about what he uses, why, and why he has discarded certain items.  If you need UI or mod ideas, it's worth a read.
http://www.skeletonjack.com/2010/06/27/skeleton-jacks-mods-and-death-knight-uis/

Thirdly, and most importantly, Skeleton Jack has listed specs and PAWN scale tags for the Frost and Unholy Death Knight flavors.
http://www.skeletonjack.com/2010/06/26/frost-and-unholy-specs-and-ape-weights-and-scales-for-3-3-5/

UPDATE:  Skeleton Jack has added an article about macros that DKs will find very useful.
http://www.skeletonjack.com/2010/06/29/you-need-death-knight-macros/

UPDATE #2 by Skeleton Jack-an article about Tell Me When.
http://www.skeletonjack.com/2010/07/01/tell-me-when-and-invaluable-mod-for-death-knights/

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Break Out the Earplugs

Have you been watching sports news and seeing clips of the noisy long horns called vuvuselas that the South Africans blow like crazy at the soccer games?  Do you want one in WOW?  Do you have a Death Knight?  Today's your lucky day.  Frost is the New Black explains how to add the racket to your game by replacing the regular sound of a DK's Horn of Winter with the sound of a crazed soccer fan's horn.
http://frostisthenewblack.wordpress.com/2010/06/18/have-your-own-vuvuzela-in-game/

For those without ear plugs, using Control S will mute game sound effects.  Pushing Control S again turns them back on.  Control M turns music on/off.  One of these should work, depending on whether the vuvuzela noise is considered music or sound.

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Healers, Mouseovers and the Razer Gaming Mouse

Although it reads like a commercial for Razer's Naga mouse, this article does explain how to use this mouse in combination with a mouse over macro if you are a healer.
http://www.wow.com/2010/06/10/the-magical-alchemy-of-mouseovers-plus-a-razer-naga/

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Comparing Deus Vox Encounters to Big Wigs (Boss Mods)

Lodur compares Deus Vox Encounters to Big Wigs and finds he prefers DVE due to the audio cues there.  If you are in the market for a boss mod, you will want to read the first half of this article.
http://www.worldofmatticus.com/2010/06/04/lodurs-week-in-review/

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Mod Reviews: eAlign, Baud Mark and CloseUp

Short reviews of three small mods:  eAlign puts a grid over your screen.  I have no idea why one would want to do this, but there you go.

Baud Mark makes the raid marking icons appear around your cursor when you push a hot key.  This gets rid of the bar in the middle of your screen (always a good thing).

CloseUp allows you to rotate and zoom on character models, pets, etc.
http://outdps.com/2010/05/03/addons-and-mods-ealign-baud-mark-and-closeup/

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Addons Roundup

WOW Insider lists addons that are helpful for priests, mages, or warlocks.
http://www.wow.com/2010/04/15/addon-spotlight-priest-mage-warlock-addons/

Addons for priest healers
http://www.wow.com/2010/08/05/addon-spotlight-helpers-for-priest-healers/

OutDPS talks about addons and mods that help with DoT and Proc Timers (the writer is a hunter).
http://outdps.com/2010/04/15/addons-and-mods-dotproc-timing/

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EPEEN Joke Goes Live

Hardy-har-har.
http://dreambound-druid.blogspot.com/2010/04/real-deal-epeen-mod.html

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Managing Friends Lists and Nameplates

If you have unwieldy friends lists and are looking for tools to manage them, you'll want to read No Stock UI's article about addons to manage these lists.
http://www.nostockui.com/2010/02/friend-list-management-in-world-of-warcraft-can-too-facebook-sort-of/

If you hate the standard nameplates and need something more transparent and less bulky, Dreambound has some suggestions.
http://dreambound-druid.blogspot.com/2010/02/nameplate-mods.html

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