Starting on Solstheim - Level and Encounter Zone Tweaks
⚪ Last updated 2024⚠️ Install Order · 5 steps
Install in this order, then this mod last — most mods fail to load without their framework and dependencies in place.
Preview

🔍 Analysis
- 👍 0.5% endorsement rate
- 🏆 #66 of 127 Gameplay mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
Description
Solstheim is one of my favorite locations in Skyrim. I've often wanted to start my game in Raven Rock and then make my way to the mainland later.
Unfortunately, Dragonborn was designed as a late-game DLC. You get immolated by Ash Spawn the moment you step out of the city. Or, you get swarmed by Ash Hoppers and reduced to a skeleton.
I wanted Solstheim's world to be explorable at early levels, similar to the Skyrim mainland. That's where this mod comes in:
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[]At early levels (under 20) - this mod will adjust the world of Solstheim to the player's level.
[
]At higher levels (over 20) - the game remains completely untouched by this mod.Hostile Creatures
Most creatures in Solstheim had a minimum level of 20. This meant that even if you were Lv1, you would still get attacked by Lv20-Lv25 enemies.
I've added new tiers of low-level enemies which scale with the player, to fill this gap. This lets you keep exploring the world even at the start of the game.
At higher levels, this mod will not change a thing. You will see the usual high-level challenging creatures.
Enemy Camps & Dungeons
At early levels, many outside encounters and a select few dungeons will now have easier enemies.
Again, there are no changes at higher levels, so you will see the usual high-level enemies. Most quest related dungeons still remain high-level. You will have to progress through the game before attempting them.
Important Note ⚠
Solstheim is still a dangerous place. If you see a lurker, spriggan, netch, or other weird beastie at Lv1, RUN!
If you're dragged into a supernatural plane of existence, slam that book shut and get out of there like a sane Dragonborn!
Doing anything else would be like trying to take on a giant camp with your fists.
Requirements & Compatibility
In order to actually start your game on Solstheim, you will obviously need an alternate start mod like SUR or ASLAL.
I also recommend these mods for more consistent gameplay, but they are not mandatory:
- Encounter Zones Unlocked
Compatibility Warning ⚠
Difficulty overhauls, Encounter Zone (EZ) overhauls, and deleveling mods can overwrite parts of this mod. This will replace any changes related to dungeon enemy levels, and probably make them more difficult once again. If you want to keep easier dungeons at low levels, let this mod have higher priority in your load order.
The following mods wi
Starting on Solstheim - Level and Encounter Zone Tweaks is a gameplay mod by kundrun that adjusts leveling and encounter zones to allow players to begin their playthrough on Solstheim. With 96 endorsements and over 21,000 downloads, it's a niche but popular choice for players seeking a fresh start location.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Solid download-to-endorsement ratio (21k downloads, 96 endorsements) shows it's being used.
- Fills a specific niche for players who want a Solstheim start without overhauling the whole game.
- Last updated in early 2024, so it's relatively recent for a mod of this type.
⚠️ Cons
- Only 96 endorsements means it's not widely vetted by the community.
- Limited to level and encounter zone tweaks—if you want a full Solstheim start experience, you'll need other mods.
- Potential compatibility issues with other mods that alter leveling or encounter zones.
For Skyrim players who want to start their adventure on Solstheim without using a full alternate start mod. If you're tired of the same old Helgen intro and want a different challenge, this is for you. Skip if you're looking for a complete overhaul—this only tweaks leveling and zones.
💡 Beginner Tips
- Make sure to load this mod after any other mods that change encounter zones to avoid conflicts.
- If you're using a mod manager, let it handle the file placement to keep your load order clean.
- Consider pairing with a mod that adds a boat or travel option to Solstheim early on, since this mod doesn't add a way to get there.
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- Skyrim Mods
- Author
- kundrun
- Version
- 1.2.0
- Downloads
- 21,308
- Endorsements
- 96
- Category
- Gameplay
- Created
- 1/3/2024
- Updated
- 2/2/2024
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