I am giving thought to buying it. I have been researching the options of playing Skyrim without Steam, and my understanding is that you only have to log onto Steam when you first install the game (and you have to go through the acrobatics to make sure it does not try downloading the entire game rather than installing from the disc).

What I have read is that afterward you can simply start the game through TESV.exe. So I should be able to delete Steam after that first install and patching. I know you need the regular launcher to change mods, but right now there are no mods in .esp format anyway, as there is no construction set. Besides, once a CS does come out, I expect one of the first things we see will be a utility like OBMM that lets you sort your mod order. I know there is already SKSE, which like OBSE, also skips the game's launcher and uses its own. Since the UI fixes and the TESVAL performance fix use SKSE, I see this as the only way to go any way.

So has anyone else tried simply deleting Steam after the first install? I know you can play in offline mode. It seems to me that just blowing away the entire thing would be much the same thing, but of course with the added bonus of removing malware from your computer.

Nice one... ...

One thing I've learned is...It's not Oblivion...And you have to be forgiving...

Also I've learned that I hate change and that I'm not so forgiving...Although I suspect I knew this anyways... ...

But still...Looking forward to seeing what you make of it... ...

Can't help you with the PC stuff...Sorry...*Pouts*...

Got it working without Steam. It was a little tricky though, because I had to back up the TESV.exe file after the initial install off the disc, before patching. It seems that Bethesda caught on that people were launching the game straight from the executable, and changed it in one of the patches so it too started the steam launcher. Then I had to replace the updated TESV.exe with the original. After that I moved the skyrim folder, uninstalled Steam, and it runs just fine.

You can't delete Steam, but you can go offline from Steam which means you get no updates or anything unless you want them.

I loaded the game, went offline from Steam, and now just use the .EXE from the disk each time - and my game is totally unpatched, if I want the patches I have to reconnect with Steam to do it. Just haven't wanted to do that yet.


EDIT: GAAAAH !!! You can get rid of Steam ???? WOO HOO !!!!! I wonder how that will work with the Creation Kit?

You have just made my day !!!!!

Once the Creation Kit comes out, I'll go search the deepest reaches of the internet. I have played several games that require steam without having to install it, it's this certain file that you have to replace.
Think one of the downsides is that you will have a problem patching.
I also hate steam with a passion, but my computer is ancient so I can't play Skyrim on it.

I have found manual patches out there, so that should not be a problem. You just have to get creative in looking for them. The biggest issue I see is changing the video options in the launcher, things like screen resolution, AA, AF, etc... But I think you can get at all of that through the .ini files. Or I could use the Nvidia Control Panel to override the game's settings.

I am not sure about how the Construction Set. I know they want it integrated into Steamworks. So there is a good chance I will not be able to use it this way. Unless someone comes up with a workaround to use it locally.

Right now though, I guess my biggest issue is that the old .exe is only using 2gb of memory space. The patched .exe uses 4gb. Trouble is, now I cannot find the LAA patch to take the old .exe up to 4gb. Granted, it is not a huge problem. I did a test last night and turned the FPS counter on. It never dropped under 60. That was only in the area around Falkreath though. I understand there are some cities where you take a massive FPS drop.

There is a mod out on Nexus that makes Skyrim LAA without the update. I used that until I got the patch.

If it it is the one I am thinking of, it has been taken down. My guess is after threats by Bethesda. Or maybe because PC Gamer was hotlinking to it (and probably killing the Nexus servers).

I did find this which also works though.

Hi guys,

since Bethesda does not endorce running Skyrim without steam, we'd prefer you not discuss this.

thanks in advance,

Alex.