Synergy - Skills and Perks Reimagined

Synergy is one of my largest mods to date, which I've spent over three years developing. It is my attempt at overhauling the entire perk system, and by extension, most of the gameplay of Skyrim to be more interesting, more dynamic, and more interconnected. It is designed to elevate most of the game mechanics already in the vanilla game, and only adding supplemental systems that can interact with the vanilla ones. It adds over 190 completely new perks to the game, and replaces all vanilla perks while removing all perk ranks for a grand total of

439

This mod requires a new game.

The leveling system has been reimagined to prevent the common complaints of Skyrim's vanilla system, like accidentally leveling unnecessary skills, the ease of becoming a jack-of-all-trades, and the dreaded inevitability of the Stealth-Archer.

With Synergy, no player begins with any knowledge or ability in any skills. Crafting benches can't be used, weapons and armor are useless, spells can't be cast, stealth is impossible, and experience can't be gained. All skills start at level one, and no race has any skill advantage over any other.

Instead, player's start with 3 perk points, which can be used to 'unlock' up to 3 skills at the start of the game. This is done by taking a skill's associated Aspiring perk, ie Aspiring Armsman, Aspiring Burglar, Aspiring Bard, etc. The Aspiring perks revert most changes to the player's ability in the associated skill back to beginning vanilla, allowing them to be used and for experience to be gained. This gives the player the ability to choose a pseudo starting-class, and, yes, I came up with this idea well before it was shown in the Starfield showcase.

However, once you level up and reach Level 2, you won't immediately be able to use your perk point to take any more Aspiring perks. You will first need to find an associated Skill Book before you can unlock more skills. For the crafting skills, Smithing, Alchemy, and Enchanting, you can also go through the training provided by Alvor, Adrianne, Orgnar, Arcadia, and Farengar to unlock the associated Aspiring perks.

The leveling has also been tweaked slightly, so that maxing out all 18 skills brings your character to Level 100. The Experience mod is also compatible if you prefer that method of leveling. However, if you aren't using an alternative start mod you should only install it after the intro, since discovering Helgen levels you up to Level 2 before you get a chance to use your first 3 perks.

The perks for all skills have been redesigned to be more dynamic, more interesting, more complimentary, and allow for more freedom in play-styles early on without becoming excessively overpowered. Also, the m