A Sinking Feeling
⚪ Last updated 2021⚠️ Install Order · 2 steps
Install in this order, then this mod last — most mods fail to load without their framework and dependencies in place.
Preview
🔍 Analysis
- 👍 1.4% endorsement rate — high engagement, a strong quality signal
- 🏆 #162 of 213 Immersion mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
A Sinking Feeling
About
He vaulted over the gunwale, landing on the deck below with his golden cloak billowing behind him. The white roses drew back, as men always did at the sight of Victarion Greyjoy armed and armored, his face hidden behind his kraken helm. They were clutching swords and spears and axes, but nine of every ten wore no armor, and the tenth had only a shirt of sewn scales. These are no ironmen, Victarion thought. They still fear drowning.
- George R. R. Martin - A Feast for Crows
No longer can you swim in heavy plate; now your armour, equipment, or carried items drag you down while swimming. Options exist for formulas based on equipped armour weight class, total equipment weight, or encumbrance percentage.
Video of the mod in action.
Formulas
Equipped armour (Default option): the armour class of each equipped item (+1 so Light armour is affected as well, so Light = 1, Medium = 2, Heavy = 3) is added up for a value of 0 - 27 then multiplied by a tenth of the down-pull multiplier (See MCM).
Total Equipment Weight: the weight of each equipped item is added up, the total doubled, then multiplied by a hundredth of the down-pull multiplier.
Total Equipment Weight (Necro Edit): the weight of each equipped item is added up, the total doubled, then multiplied by a hundredth of the down-pull multiplier. Weight over 135 is only counted for 10% to lessen the gap between the heaviest and lightest heavy armours.
Encumbrance Percentage: the actor's encumbrance percentage (carrying 120 of 300 = 40% or 0. 4) is multiplied by triple the down-pull multiplier.
Worst Case Scenario: calculates results from all formulas, and uses the highest value.
The default down-pull multiplier value of 100 acts somewhat the same across all formulas. Encumbrance is a bit different, as while it's possible, and quite easy, to have values of 0 for equipped armour and total equipment weight, the same cannot be said of encumbrance. It also can vary greatly from character to character, while armour class and weight are static across the board. For a happy medium between the frustration of realism and frustration-free video game-ness, I recommend the default values, and not wearing heavy armour whilst swimming, but the options are there for those who desire them.
Enable debug logging, and check MWSE for the exact values being used.
Requirements
MGE XE with MWSE @ Nexus Mods (Make sure you run MWSE-Update.exe)
A Sinking Feeling is an immersion mod for Skyrim that makes swimming realistic by causing heavy armor and carried items to drag you down. It offers three configurable formulas based on armor weight class, total equipment weight, or encumbrance percentage. With 92 endorsements and over 6,700 downloads, it's a niche but appreciated tweak for players seeking more challenging survival mechanics.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Adds a fresh layer of challenge for survivalists who want every piece of gear to matter.
- Three different formulas mean you can tailor the effect to your playstyle, whether you're a tank or a hoarder.
- Solid community backing with 92 endorsements and over 6,700 downloads—clearly a mod people appreciate.
⚠️ Cons
- Last updated in 2021—might have compatibility issues with newer Skyrim versions or other mods.
- The mod only affects swimming, so if you're looking for broader immersion changes, this is a one-trick pony.
For Skyrim players who want a more punishing survival experience and feel that swimming in full Daedric armor is absurd. Also great for roleplayers who want to think twice before crossing a river. Skip if you prefer fast travel and don't care about realistic physics.
💡 Beginner Tips
- Check the mod's settings in-game (Mod Configuration Menu) to pick the formula that feels right—start with encumbrance percentage for a balanced challenge.
- If you use other immersion mods like Frostfall or iNeed, test swimming early to ensure they don't conflict.
- Since the mod hasn't been updated since 2021, verify it works with your Skyrim version (Special Edition or Anniversary Edition) before relying on it.
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- Morrowind Mods
- Author
- Celediel
- Version
- 1.3.1
- Downloads
- 6,714
- Endorsements
- 92
- Category
- Immersion
- Created
- 8/8/2021
- Updated
- 8/18/2021
🔧 How to Install Morrowind Mods
Download from Nexus.
📖 Full step-by-step install guide for Morrowind →
Visit the official mod page for specific installation instructions for this mod.
🎮 Need cheat codes or console commands? Check ur gaming wiki for Morrowind commands, item IDs, and more.
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