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Modlist Support: Waking Dreams
Important
Apostasy requires the four free AE mods (Fishing, Rare Curios, Survival Mode, and Saints and Seducers) included in the Skyrim Anniversary Edition update from November 2021.
Warning
You must update Skyrim to the latest version (1.6.1170) on Steam to install this list.
Apostasy is a Wabbajack modlist for Skyrim SE that offers a modern, action-oriented combat system, custom tailored gameplay, and a consistent, high-fidelity graphics overhaul. Apostasy aims to deliver a cohesive and refined experience, enhancing both visuals and mechanics.
A full list of the mods used in this modlist can be viewed here.
You can find a summary of all relevant gameplay changes on the Gameplay Guide as well.
The listed specs are the best idea of a baseline that I can provide at the current moment, based on feedback I have gotten from testers and my own experiences. In the future this will be updated depending on feedback received. Your PC may run the list better or worse due a variety of reasons, I will not provide troubleshooting or support for hardware related issues.
Warning
For complete clarity, my specs while building the list were a 5800X, 2080, and 32GB of RAM. This PC ran the list @ 50-60FPS on 1440p (16:9).
My current specs are a 7800X3D, 3080, and 32GB of RAM with some BIOS tweaks (ReBar and PBO mostly). This PC runs the list @ stable (locked) 61FPS on 1440p (16:9).
Downloads Size: ~160 GB
Install Size: ~190 GB
Temporary Files: ~40 GB (on OS drive)
TOTAL: ~350 GB
The Install Size listed on the Wabbajack Gallery is wrong and does not properly account of the size saved by compressing files during the installation.
Wabbajack typically requires around 30-40 GB of space on your main OS drive for temporary and working files during the installation, this space is not counted towards the total install space of the list for sake of this guide, however Wabbajack roughly accounts for it in the UI.
Apostasy heavily employs BSAs in order to keep the list's size down and improve performance. However, this means that the installation process may take longer than some other lists and you may run into issues with Wabbajack crashing if you allocate too many system resources to it. It also can potentially inflate the amount of temporary file space required by Wabbajack but this still needs to be tested and confirmed.
If you are struggling with issues of Wabbajack crashing during the installation process, please read the Problems with Installation section of this ReadMe.
If you would prefer to follow along with a video guide, you can watch the Installation Guide by clicking the image below.
Installing Apostasy is relatively easy and, if you have Nexus Premium, will be a simple waiting game. If you are updating the modlist, you can safely skip to the updating section.
These steps are only required for installing the modlist for the first time. Additionally, many of these steps may be covered in other modlist installs, for new users I suggest reading through here regardless.
Warning
If you already have Visual C++ installed, please make sure you install it again and use the Repair option to get the latest version of the redistributables. Do NOT skip this step or MO2 and the game may fail to launch.
Warning
Larger Skyrim modlists require a significant amount of memory, running out of memory will result in crashes and other potential issues. Due to Apostasy's size and number of files, this step is NOT optional. I do not care how much RAM or VRAM you have, please do this step.
To set up a Pagefile:
Win Key + Rsysdm.cpl ,3 and hit ENTERSettings...Change...Automatically Manage if it is checkedCustom Size:4096040960Set.OK.Apply.OK.Tip
Your pagefile does not need to be on the same drive as your Wabbajack install or Steam install.
Skyrim is a very old game (originally released in 2011) that is built on the Creation Engine, a engine based off of the Gamebryo engine that was originally used for Morrowind (released in 2002).
Through lots of experience and trial-and-error, we have discovered that increasing the window's pagefile can fix certain types of Skyrim crashes, the two most common examples being Unhandled native exception occurred at 0x7FF6ADC8DDDA and Unhandled native exception occurred at 0x0.
But why is this? Skyrim appears to use system memory in very unexpected ways, for example it will frequently dip into the pagefile memory despite there being available RAM. Skyrim heavily favors high speed, low latency RAM (the best you can get as of writing this is 6000MHz and CL30 for DDR5).
Important
For NVIDIA users, it is recommended to boost the size of the shader cache. These settings have been shown to improve stability, while it may not be entirely necessary, it is still recommended.
To do this:
NVIDIA Control PanelManage 3D SettingsDriver Default to the right of Shader Cache Size and select 10 GBApply in the bottom right hand cornerWarning
If you have your Steam Library in Program Files, read this article by LostDragonist. Locations such as Desktop, Documents, Downloads, OneDrive, etc. will cause issues with installing and playing the list.
Enable Steam Overlay while in-game.Warning
The English Steam version of Skyrim SE is the only supported version.
I understand that this may be frustrating for non-English speaking users or users with the GOG/Bethesda.net versions, but due to the core file differences between the different versions, I am only able to support one game version.
To change your Skyrim SE's language:
PropertiesLanguageEnglishWarning
Do NOT skip this step or your install may fail!
From the 1.6.1130 update and onwards, Steam now ships Skyrim with its own version of the free CC files. However these files do not have the same hashes as the files that are downloaded from the in-game Creation Club menu for AE users. In order to work around this issue and make the list as accessible as possible, the list is compiled using the file hashes from the in-game CC downloads.
To download Bethesda's version of Rare Curios:
D:SteamLibrarysteamappscommonSkyrim Special Editiondataccbgssse037-curios.bsaccbgssse037-curios.eslRare CuriosRare Curios and press DownloadImportant
Once you have completed the pre-installation section, follow these steps to install Wabbajack:
Create an empty folder named Wabbajack on the root of your drive, such as C:Wabbajack for example.
- DO NOT place it in Program Files, User folders (such as Desktop, Documents, Downloads, OneDrive, etc.), in your Skyrim's Steam folder, or in any folders related to the modlist itself (the downloads or install folder).
- The
Wabbajackfolder does not need to be on an SSD, but it makes installing faster. You can set this location to be on an HDD for the sake of saving space.
Download the latest version of Wabbajack and place the Wabbajack.exe file inside the Wabbajack folder you created in Step 1.
Double-click the Wabbajack.exe file that is now inside your Wabbajack folder to set up the program.
Important
The list requires Wabbajack version 3.6.1.0 or later. Installing the modlist on older versions of Wabbajack will prevent the installation from being completed.
Caution
A legal copy of Skyrim Special Edition is required. Pirated copies of the game will cause the installation to fail and even if you manage to somehow get around Wabbajack's built-in piracy prevention measures, SKSE does not work with the cracked exes.
Downloading and installing Apostasy can take a while depending on your internet connection, PC specs, and if you have Nexus Premium. Without Premium, you will need to manually click the Slow Download button for each mod.
To install Apostasy, complete the following steps.
Browse ModlistsModlist Installation Location to a folder such as C:Apostasy.
- DO NOT place it in Program Files, User folders (such as Desktop, Documents, Downloads, OneDrive, etc.), or in your Skyrim's Steam folder
- The
Resource Download Locationdoes not need to be on an SSD, but it makes installing faster. You can set this location to an HDD for the sake of saving space.
Resource Download Location folder.It is possible that you may encounter an error with Wabbajack when installing. Some common issues are listed below.
Big files can fail to download due to connection issues or website issues. You can either run Wabbajack again or download the missing file manually. If you decide to manually download the file, make sure to place the file(s) inside the folder you set as the Resource Download Location.
This issue can also occur with files sources from Google Drive, MEGA, Patreon, and other sites. If you are failing on a non-nexus file, then read the Problematic Files section.
Either buy the game or re-read the Pre-Installation section.
Windows 10/11 may automatically quarantine a key file which is needed for Mod Organizer. You can fix this by adding an exclusion for Mod Organizer in windows defender.
Please make sure you are following the steps outlined in the Installing Rare Curios Files section
This error means you failed to follow this Readme. Go back and follow the steps outlines in the Changing the Game Language section
Wabbajack will sometimes have issues extracting files if they use special characters. If you encounter this issue in a Wabbajack log, please try the steps down below:
Win Key + R.intl.cpl and hit ENTER.Change system locale....English (United Kingdom).Beta: Use Unicode UTF-8 for worldwide language supportOKIf you find yourself struggling to run Wabbajack without it crashing, freezing up, or blue-screening your PC, please try lowering Wabbajack's resource usage with these steps:
Edit Resource Usage Settings and Close Wabbajack button.MaxTasks number for each category to half of what it is currently set to.Ctrl+S on your keyboard to save the file.[!TIP] It is suggested to have a program installed on your PC that can open
.jsonfiles, like Notepad++ or Visual Studio Code
Wabbajack frequently has trouble downloading mods hosted on sites other than Nexus. These files are listed below for your convenience. You will need to manually download these files and place them in the Resource Download Location that is made in the Downloading and Installing Apostasy section.
Google Drive Files:
MEGA Files:
Patreon Files: (These are free to download)
Apostasy uses a Wabbajack feature called Stock Game to keep your Skyrim installation clean. All the files that you need to run the list are in a folder called Stock Game. You don’t need to copy anything at all.
Warning
Antivirus programs are notorious for false flagging MO2's Virtual File System, which can and will cause crashes and other problems. Antivirus programs like BitDefender, Norton, and Webroot are especially aggressive, and you will very likely need to fully remove them from your PC in order to actually launch the game through MO2. It is 2024, Windows Defender and being smart online is more than adequate to protect yourself from malicious software.
If you use Windows Defender, it is advised that you set up an exception for the modlist.
[Path to Modlist]ModOrganizer.exe)[Path to Modlist]modsProject New Reign - Nemesis Unlimited Behavior EngineNemesis_EngineNemesis Unlimited Behavior Engine.exe)[Path to Modlist]toolsSynthesisSynthesis.exe)Windows Scaling can prevent games from displaying correctly, and will often result in the game appearing "zoomed in". To fix this, find the SkyrimSE.exe located in your [Path to Modlist]Stock Game and follow the steps in the images below:
Your installation did not complete. Rerun Wabbajack and make sure to tick the Overwrite Installation box. If the error persists after a reinstall, then delete the [Path to Modlist]mods folder, and rerun Wabbajack again.
Report it in the #apostasy-support channel of the discord. There are several reasons why this might happen, and 99.9% of them are a corrupt installation.
Skyrim is a notoriously buggy game and cramming thousands of mods into it is not gauranteed to always produce the most stable experience possible. Especially in heavier lists where you may be pushing the limitations of your hardware as a result of Skyrim's old and unoptimized rendering pipeline.
If you find yourself crashing, then please share your crashlogs in the appropriate #support channel on the discord server.
In order to get the best possible response please ensure that:
!crashlog command in chat).This issue is caused by Large Reference Workarounds done by DynDOLOD NG Due to importance of the mod, it cannot be removed from the modlist.
Follow the steps below for a temporary experimental fix to prevent these crashes:
[Your Apostasy Install Location}profilesApostasySkyrimPrefs.iniuLargeRefLODGridSize =9 to uLargeRefLODGridSize =5Ctrl+S on your keyboard to save your changesThis will reduce the quality of certain large objects at far away distances, however the difference is very minor and you will be unlikely to even notice it. Changing these settings may even improve performance.
Warning
Gamepads may need additional setup in order to work as intended. Please refer to the Configuration page.
Tip
You can review default keybinds in game by pressing F11!
Warning
Before starting the list, read over the Configuration, FAQ, and Gameplay pages.
Head over to your modlist installation folder (e.g. C:Apostasy), locate an executable named ModOrganizer.exe, and launch it. Your first launch of Mod Organizer 2 may take several minutes due to GitHub repository downloads, so please be patient.
Set up your CPU Affinity by following the instructions below. Please do not skip this step
This section is also covered in the Configuration Guide.
Skyrim Priority is a mod that can greatly improve performance, improving FPS and preventing stutters by optimizing Skyrim's CPU Priority and Core Affinity. CPU Affinity is a Mod Organizer 2 plugin that automates the manual setup of Skyrim Priority. However, when improperly configured it can lead to worse performance than if it had not been present.
Due to Wabbajack limitations, the mod must be manually adjusted on the end-user's system. In order to do this follow the instructions below:
Click the Puzzle Piece button at the top of MO2 and select Set CPU Affinity and press OK on the pop-up box.
That's it, it's really that simple. Please, please, please do this before launching the game and whenever you update the modlist.
Launch the "Play" Executable in MO2. The game may take several minutes to load on your first launch. Please be patient and DO NOT click the Unlock button on the MO2 prompt.
a. I REPEAT, DO NOT CLICK THE UNLOCK BUTTON! YOU WILL BREAK YOUR GAME!
Select the New Game button.
Create your lovely character.
(OPTIONAL) Refer to the different MCM options listed on the Configuration to adjust any MCM settings you'd like.
Pick your class and talk to the little Dragon sitting on a lantern. If no specified start is chosen, then you will have the default start in the Helgen Inn.
Simply open the door next to him and step into the black void gazing at you :)
Versioning for the list will adhere to the following format: MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH.
MAJOR: Any release with a number change here will be considered a major update as at least 1 area of the list was massively overhauled. These updates with NEVER be save safe.MINOR: Any release with a number change here will be considered a minor update, these updates will usually not be save safe, unless otherwise specified.PATCH: Any release with a number change here will be considered a patch, these updates should be save safe and will be used primarily for bugfixes.HOTFIX. These list "updates" will be used if the list needs to be recompiled for any reason. There will be no changes in these "updates" as they are purely for maintenance.Updating is like installing the list. Simply make sure your paths are the same and tick the overwrite installation button. Please keep in mind any mods you have added will be deleted when updating. To make sure that Wabbajack does not delete your added mods upon updating, prefix your mods with [NoDelete].
Important
Saves can be continued across Save-Safe updates. Updates will be indicated whether or not they are Save-Safe on the Changelog. It is suggested that you backup your saves before updating if you plan on continuing them.
Tip
RaceMenu presets can be placed in the [NoDelete] RaceMenu Presets mod under the Stock List [NoDelete]'s separator of MO2 if you want to ensure they are saved after an update.
Simply delete the Apostasy folder. Congratulations, you have uninstalled Apostasy.
Please check the FAQ first if you have any issues.
Tip
If you encounter any bugs or issues while playing the list, the Waking Dreams support server is preferred and will have the fastest turn around time for support. Alternatively, you can leave an issue report on the Github Issues Page.
