Skyrim Mods Cont. - Ponies, Squeaky Noises, and Dangerous Cheese.

Mods are great for enhancing gameplay in Skyrim, of course.  For anyone playing Skyrim I would seriously recommend spending some time poking around the Steam Workshop as there are hundreds of awesome mods by incredibly creative people.  And if you're an aspiring game designer, its also a great way to get your talent out there whether it be in design or level building.  The possibilities are multitudinous, up to and including making the game world completely batshit nuts.  You would not believe how detailed some people get - I had a friend in college who wrote a mod for Morrowind that imported all the books from Arena and Daggerfall so he could collect them again.  Clearly they can feed into ones' obsessive habits in hilarious ways.  Speaking of hilarious, there was a distinct lack of silliness in my last post.  NO LONGER.  Here are some of my favorite mods for humorous times and awesome screenshots.

Fall of the Space Core - This mod is different from the others in that it was designed and published by Valve, not a random user, as a celebration of the collaboration between Bethesda and Steam to make the Skyrim Workshop.  This little guy will be amusingly familiar to those of us who played Portal 2, and can be found falling to the earth near Whiterun with a jubilant cry of "Spaaaaaaaaaaace!"  He's now sitting next to my bed in my airship house and whenever I go in there I hear him chattering about how awesome space is.  Its hilarious and precious.  There's a little easter egg that I wasn't aware of at first, but once you gain access to the Atronach Forge in the Mages College you can use your little friend to make yourself a "Dohvacore Helmet".

Roflcopters.  Roflcopters for days.

My Little Pony Race/Companion/Horse & Dragon Mods - The second link goes to the Skyrim Nexus, so I never did install that one.  But I have seen some of the Youtube videos and Oh My God.  It replaces all the dragons in the game with giant flying ponies.  How this never became a meme I will never know.  The first one looks pretty funny too, but I'll admit I haven't installed it either.  Why am I recommending it, then?  Hilarity, that's why.  I am admittedly not a Brony, or whatever the lady equivalent is since I can't keep up with the kids' slang these days.  I did give the show a fair shot, but its too high-pitched and colorful for me.  Some of the episodes were cute, but its just not my thing.  I was incredibly judgey in my younger days, but after I made myself write out a formal apology to my Aunt and Uncle for bagging on Harry Potter I try not to hate on things without giving them a chance.  In this case, I almost had a seizure.  But I can see why people like it.  Anyways, ZOMG Pony Dragons!

Squeaky Toy Weapons - Haven't we all had fantasies of bludgeoning our enemies to death with neon-colored inflatable weapons?  Just me?  Well, then.  Installing this mod gives you the option to craft weapons that are loud in every sense of the word.  The colors are bright enough, but on a muted Skyrim landscape its even worse, and they also make a squeaking sound when you swing them.  Imagine the dialogue!
"Ah, great warrior!  Noble Dragonborn!  We beseech you to venture into the caves of Inevitable Dismemberment and vanquish the mighty Demon Lord Skrivven the Unbegotten and Foul.  By the Nine, save us from his sulfurous breath and stultifying monologues!"
"Right, no problem guys.  See this thing here?" I say, unsheathing my Hammer of Magenta Frostbite, "I am all over this.  Lord Whats-His-Tits will either die of irritation or embarrassment.  You don't mind if I look his corpse, right?"
"Um, of course not great Dohvakiin.  How did that thing fit into your scabbard?  WITCHCRAFT!  TALOS WORSHIP!"

Exploding Chickens - Exactly what it sounds like.  With this mod installed, every chicken upon the moment of its death will burst into a giant fireball.  Tiny passive landmines.

Project P.E.W & Thu'um/Fus Arrows - The author of the first mod says he takes no responsibility for your sanity and with good reason.  It replaces the twang of a bowstring with a high pitched "Pew Pew" sound.  Another great pranking mod - if your roommate plays just wait until his desktop is alone and unlocked and install away!  If you can get their Steam password.  There is that.  My little brother did this to me once and replaced my wallpaper with a picture of Nicholas Cage.  I thought I had a very specific and odd virus.  The second mod puts the power of "Unrelenting Force" into arrows you can craft.  With it you can shoot a guard from many yards away and he goes flying across the village square with everyone pearl-clutching and shouting behind him.  Brilliant.

Call of Madness Shout - An extra shout provided by the wardrobaly challenged Sheogorath!  Yeah the cut is dapper, but those colors are all wrong for you, sir.  In any case, the first two words of the shout are not that exciting.  The first one functions like the Wabbajack staff, turning enemies into other things like sweetrolls or more powerful enemies.  Or bunnies.  The second word summons Sheogorath himself to fight with you, which can be fun.  But the third - oh the third word.  The third word summons a rain of cheese from the heavens, each wheel of which explodes when it hits the ground.  You have not lived until you have seen exploding cheese rain, I tell you.

Finally, if you really want to take leave of your sanity, download the Kenny Loggins music mod, which will replace all combat music in the game with "Danger Zone".  You're welcome.