Skyrim Multiple ESM

Overview

Loading multiple master (.esm) or plugin (.esp) files in Skyrim Creation Kit.

Locate Skyrim Directory

Navigate to the Skyrim installation directory. This will be under steam/steamapps/common/Skyrim, wherever Steam is installed or the drive holding games is mounted. Common directory paths are listed below.

• Linux: $HOME/.steam/steam/steamapps/common/Skyrim
• Linux Mount: /mnt/GameDrive/steam/steamapps/common/Skyrim
• Windows: \Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\Skyrim

Skyrim Editor Configuration

Modify the Creation Kit configuration file, SkyrimEditor.ini.

nano SkyrimEditor.ini

In the General section, enable loading multiple master files with bAllowMultipleMasterFiles and bAllowMultipleMasterLoads.

[General]
bAllowMultipleMasterFiles=1
bAllowMultipleMasterLoads=1

In the Archive section, add additional files to the archive lists SArchiveList, SResourceArchiveList, and SResourceArchiveList2. The following configuration works for all Skyrim DLC’s.

[Archive]
bInvalidateOlderFiles=1
SArchiveList=Skyrim - Textures.bsa, Skyrim - Meshes.bsa, Skyrim - Animations.bsa, Skyrim - Voices.bsa, Skyrim - Interface.bsa, Skyrim - Misc.bsa, Skyrim - Sounds.bsa, Skyrim - VoicesExtra.bsa, Skyrim - Shaders.bsa, Update.bsa, Dawnguard.bsa, Dragonborn.bsa
SInvalidationFile=ArchiveInvalidation.txt
iRetainFilenameOffsetTable=1
iRetainFilenameStringTable=1
iRetainDirectoryStringTable=1
bCheckRuntimeCollisions=0
bUseArchives=1
SResourceArchiveList=Skyrim - Textures.bsa, Skyrim - Meshes.bsa, Skyrim - Animations.bsa, Skyrim - Voices.bsa, Skyrim - Interface.bsa, Skyrim - Misc.bsa, Skyrim - Sounds.bsa, Skyrim - VoicesExtra.bsa, Dawnguard.bsa, Dragonborn.bsa
SResourceArchiveList2=Skyrim - Shaders.bsa, Update.bsa, Dawnguard.bsa, HearthFires.bsa, Dragonborn.bsa

Errors

Localized Strings

When loading an ESP file that depends on multiple ESM files, an assertion and/or warning about string localization errors may present. This means the Skyrim Editor Configurtion has been reset (if previously working), or was not configured correctly for the ESM files being loaded. Verify the configuration.

# Assertion
Assert

File: ..\TES Shared\misc\BGSLocalizedString.cpp

Line: 2871
LOCALIZATION: Error opening or reading strings file.

# Warning
MASTERFILE: LOCALIZATION: Zero Entries or empty block size read from strings file STRINGS/Dragonborn_ENGLISH.STRINGS. Strings will be missing.

References

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