Bigger XPMSSE Skeleton Collision Bounds
⚪ Last updated 2024⚠️ Install Order · 6 steps
Install in this order, then this mod last — most mods fail to load without their framework and dependencies in place.
Preview
🔍 Analysis
- 👍 1.9% endorsement rate — high engagement, a strong quality signal
- 🏆 #21 of 23 Combat mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
So, when testing my mod Skyrim Directional Combat, I found that a lot of the animations looked really messy because characters got way too close. Way closer than realistic, because your arms phase into their body and looks pretty bad. This also made the "enemies swarm you" problem worse because the enemies would compact themselves into this tiny space trying to reach you, arms and legs phasing into each other the whole time.
This is the case with pretty much all combat mods. When trying to fix this, I spent a ton of time trying to write an SKSE plugin to dynamically scale the collision box based on animation. That took way more work than I wanted so instead I just went into the XPMSSE skeleton nif and made the collision bounds bigger. That's it. That's the entire mod. This is done for humanoids, draugr, and falmer
Obviously this might be more problematic since it could be easier to get stuck in doorways or other stuff but at least fights look more like fights. I seriously doubt this will ever get updated.
This is an example of the problem space
https://youtu.be/R7HxBguN8ro?t=16
Credit to XPMSSE skeleton.
Original mod:
XPMSSE by Groovtama
https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/1988
Bigger XPMSSE Skeleton Collision Bounds is a lightweight mod that enlarges the collision bounds on the XPMSSE skeleton for humanoids, draugr, and falmer, preventing characters from phasing into each other during combat. It's a simple fix for messy melee animations, with 263 endorsements and 14,198 downloads, last updated in May 2024.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Community-approved with 263 endorsements and over 14k downloads
- Fixes a real problem: enemies no longer compact into a tiny space, making fights look more realistic
- Lightweight and easy to install—just replace the skeleton file
⚠️ Cons
- May cause you to get stuck in doorways or tight spaces due to larger collision bounds
- Author states it will likely never be updated, so potential future compatibility issues with new mods
- Only affects humanoids, draugr, and falmer—other creature types remain unchanged
For Skyrim players who use combat overhauls and are tired of seeing enemies clip through each other during melee. If you're a modder or player who values realistic fight spacing over perfect navigation in tight areas, this is for you. Skip if you rarely notice clipping or if you frequently navigate narrow dungeons and hate getting stuck.
💡 Beginner Tips
- Make sure you have XPMSSE installed first, as this mod replaces its skeleton file.
- If you use a mod manager, let it overwrite the original skeleton file when prompted.
- Test in a narrow corridor to see if the larger collision bounds cause any navigation issues for your playstyle.
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- Skyrim Mods
- Author
- machinegod420
- Version
- 1.1
- Downloads
- 14,198
- Endorsements
- 263
- Category
- Combat
- Created
- 5/20/2024
- Updated
- 5/24/2024
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