Okay, so, I’ve been messing around with Skyrim Special Edition again. As usual, I wanted to change things up a bit, especially the economy. It’s way too easy to get rich in this game, right? You end up with piles of gold and nothing to spend it on. It’s just not realistic or fun after a while.
So, I started digging around for some mods that could spice up the economy, make it a little tougher, you know? Make gold actually mean something again. I found a bunch of different ones, some small tweaks, others that were complete overhauls. I ended up trying out a few different combinations, and I want to share what I found worked best for me.
First Attempts: Small Tweaks
At first, I just wanted some minor adjustments. I installed a mod called “Sovngarde Font” just to change the font. Then I stumbled upon this “Scaling bounties” mod. It sounded interesting.
- Sovngarde Font: Okay, this one wasn’t really about the economy, but it made the game feel a bit fresher, so I kept it. It’s the little things, right?
- Scaling Bounties: This one was kind of a letdown. It just made the rewards for bounties scale with your level, which didn’t really address the core issue of the economy being too easy. I wanted gold to be harder to come by, not just get more gold for the same tasks as I leveled up.
Diving Deeper: Economy Overhaul
After those initial experiments, I decided to go for a full-blown economy overhaul. I found this mod just called “Skyrim Economy Overhaul” and gave it a shot. I figured, hey, the name says it all, right?
This one changed a lot of things. It made the prices of goods fluctuate more, made it harder to sell stuff for high prices, and generally made it tougher to accumulate wealth. It definitely made things more challenging, which was what I wanted. I felt it did a good job overall.
The Perfect Balance: Trade Routes
But then, I discovered what I think is the real gem: “Trade Routes: Regional Economy.” This mod adds a whole new layer to the economy by making prices different in each hold, based on what goods are produced or needed there. It just made so much sense! Suddenly, hauling goods between holds became a viable way to make money, and it felt way more immersive than just looting dungeons.
So, here’s what my final setup looked like:
- Skyrim Economy Overhaul: I kept this one because it provided a solid foundation for a more challenging economy.
- Trade Routes: Regional Economy: This was the star of the show, adding regional price differences and making trading a real part of the game.
- Sovngarde Font: Still rocking this font mod, because why not?
With these mods together, the game felt completely different. I actually had to think about where to buy and sell things, plan my routes, and manage my money carefully. It wasn’t just about mindlessly looting and selling anymore. It was about being a smart merchant, taking advantage of supply and demand. The modlist is the best for me now.
Anyway, that’s my experience with tweaking the Skyrim economy. It took some trial and error, but I’m really happy with the results. If you’re looking for a more challenging and immersive experience, I highly recommend giving these mods a try. Trust me, it makes the game so much more rewarding when you finally become a wealthy merchant through hard work and smart trading. It just feels good, man.
