Snakestone's recommended town mods

Town and City mod guide

First off the big mods:
JKs Towns and Cities overhauls - http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/users/1305814/?tb=mods&pUp=1
These are amazing overhauls that add more clutter to the major 5 cities in Skyrim. Aswell he did the small towns that add more clutter and some buildings. These mods are more hard on FPS but if you have frames to spare id suggest it.
Personally I suggest JKs Whiterun, JKs Windhelm, JKs Skaal Village and JKs Markarth.
Oh and JKs Whiterun outskirts mod, it works with ETaCs Whiterun Exterior mod.

Dawn of series - http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/users/6315097/?tb=mods&pUp=1
Like JKs, Dawn of overhauls the 5 major holds in Skyrim. Unlike JKs these are less on clutter but still fills the towns. Dawn of adds NPCs to the major cities in the way of vendors. Dawn of is more perfromance friendly than JK.
Personally id suggest Dawn of Solitude and Dawn of Riften.

The best part of the two above is you can actually use them both with the right patches. If your frames can handle it, id suggest you get both.

ETaC - http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/13608/?
ETaC is the mod to go to when you want to expand the smaller settlments in Skyrim. This mod will add more clutter, buildings and NPCs. Its lighter on frames than JKs small town mods. ETaC helps make the towns of Skyrim feel bigger and full of life.
Id suggest installing the complete version of ETaC to get all the town mods in one esp. Aswell id suggest the optional Solstheim, Orc Strongholds, Whiterun Exterior and Dragon Bridge-South add ons. These optional 4 esps will add alot more to the world of Skyrim.
Be sure to install the proper patches too.



Mods that add more to the already existing towns of Skyrim:
Solitude Reborn - http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/63685/?
The best mod to overhaul the city of Solitude. This mod adds a whole new district to Solitude, adds more buildings and NPCs in the already existing areas of the town and even adds an exterior entrance to the city. This exterior is a big stairway leading up to the city with buildings and NPCs around it.
The best part if Solitude Reborn is compatible with JKs, Dawn of, Skyrim Sewers and most Solitude mods you can think of. Just get the proper patches.

Books of Skyrim - http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/55607/?
Adds a book store to Solitude. This mod is recommended to use with Solitude Reborn as it fills a space left open for said mod. Ontop of adding the only book store to Skyrim the child NPC added by the game runs around Solitude with the others and even has a RSChildren Patch.


Solitude Exterior Addon - http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/37063/?
This mod adds a little huddle of buildings to the cliffside near the farm outside of Solitude. It adds new NPCs, shop and even a new playerhome right outside Solitude. This mod helps add the feel of a bigger city as you make your way to Solitude.


Solitude Docks District - http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/22821/?
This mod adds a massive living dock/slums to the opposite side of the vanilla docks. While I recommend this mod I must warn you that is poorly optimize and may cause instability. This mod also seems to cause NPC pathing issues with Solitude Reborn. To fix this you must load Solitude Reborn after Solitude Dock District. Also if you use Solitude Exterior Addon, you must load Solitude Dock District AFTER it.
This mod also causes a world seam inside Solitude. A kind anon made a patch for it back in 2015 when I found the issue. If you use Dock District I HIGHLY suggest you get the fix for it: Solitude Docks District Seam Fix - https://mega.nz/#F!vw5wRYyI!K5QR3cCIepJT7fDTMI9Smw


Solitude Public Bathhouse - http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/18811/?
Another mod suggested to be used with Solitude Reborn, if you dont use it you will have an empty space infront of the Blue Palace. This mod adds a Bathhouse to the city of Solitude. It acts like a shop/home mod but with other NPCs living inside. If you use Gallery of The Dragonborn you cannot use this.


The Honey Spirit - http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/58822/?
A small store mod that works perfectly with JK, Dawn of and Solitude Reborn. This isnt a must have mod but I recommend it. Its a good place to buy booze and read the diary of a socially akward dunmer.


Better Docks - http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/14087/?
Better Docks is a small mod that adds more clutter and boats to the vanilla docks of Skyrim. Along with this it adds generic respawning NPCs named "Dock Worker" who will work at the docks during the day and head to the nearest Inn at night. I suggest the REGs version of Better Docks for compatibility with ETaC and the quest mod Sea of Ghosts.


 SKY CITY Markarth Rising - http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/58366/?
A slight overhaul mod that adds new buildings and NPCs to the mountain-side that Markarth is located in. This makes the mod 100% compatible with JK and Dawn of Markarth. These new buildings and structures are connected via dwemer lifts built into the mountains. Most of the new buildings can be entered and you will find new shops high in the sky of Markarth. It also has an exterior option that add unenterable buildings outside of Markarth. I personally use it just to add clutter outside the town.


 Windhelm Exterior Altered - Windhelm Exterior Altered Optional - http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/50977/?
Adds a small dock on the opposite side of the Windhelm bridge. Helps make Windhelm seem more important.

Whiterun Expansion Redone - http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/80269/?
A massive mod that adds to the side of Whiterun, right next to the farms added by CRF. This mod adds new npcs, shops and inns aswell as connecting itself to the main city. This mod is highly recommended too add a slums like area outside Whiterun. Something to show that the walls of the city have collapsed over time.


Shezrie's Old Hroldan Town - http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/71875/?
This mod adds a town around the Old Hroldan Inn. The town has custom voices and even quests. The town itself is very cluttered and close and gives that major city feeling.


Expanded Winterhold Destruction Ruins - http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/30554/?
Adds the ruins of the Great Collapse around Winterhold. Compatible with ETaC and even adds some, very boring, quests.



Quest mods that add towns:
Moon and Star - http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/52397/?
Adds a small dunmer village that has its own quests and a shop.


Helegen Reborn - http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/35841/?
Rebuild Helgen



Mods that adds new towns:

Legendary Cities - http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/47989/?
Adds 10 new towns to the world of Skyrim based on the lore of Arena. Some of them even have quests and custom dialog, while not voiced.


Garvostead - http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/71836/?
While Garvostead doesn't look like much at first, its a nice little town at an important crossroad that even comes with its own jail.


Helsmyrr Village - http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/64442/?
Adds a very comfy town in the Rift.


Laintar Dale - https://mega.nz/#!4wgQTQwA!Gzsv8q3pW8eUvF3ZdCI15nMs-AinXfuKncLfozzQ2Gg
Adds a small village based on the lore of Arena.
DO NOT DOWNLOAD OAKWOOD. ITS A CTD MACHINE.


SeaPoint Settlment - http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/56084/?
Adds a small comfy town in the corner of Skyrim across from that edgy vampire castle. This town has custom music, shops and player home. Aswell once a week a ship shows up with custom vendors.