So I've finally decided to start using more than just bug fix mods in Skyrim because after 1000s of times playing I've realized that the weapons and armor available aren't that varied. Anyway I've found 2 mods that caught my eye and I was curious which one was the better mod, Heavy Armory by PrivateEye or Immersive Weapons? Immersive Weapons seems to add more content, but Heavy Armory seems to follow lore more closely (I'm pretty big on following lore) so which would you recommend? Also any other mod recommendations would be very much appreciated. I'm looking to add more to the game world though, not completely change it (i.e. no mods that completely overhaul gameplay).
I'd recommend Weapons of The 3rd Era, I really love that mod it adds a lot of great weapons.
I use that and JaySuS Swords, JaySuS has some really good swords and a lot of European stuff while WoT3E has more Morrowind-style weapons. They're both really good mods, highly recommended.
I love Immersive armours - use it all the time both heavy and light. It is lore friendly (mosty now as it has had some other mods not by Hothtrooper addded to it)and I think fits right in. As my main character inevitably is a fighter/ranger then for my pc I tend to use light armour from the range available at the forge or from looting corpses
Weapons and armour combo? Witcher 2 Geralt's light armour with the twin sword combo both swords are faster than the normal greatswords with the silver one as one handed (but scores as 2h when used) as really fast . For balance both have had their damage reduced
Another good mod and just about lore friendly is Isiilmeriel's LOTR weapons collection. It has some good all round weapons(mostly blades) with high damage delivery
Personally I tend to rely on developing my pc's smithing skills so I can forge the weapons and armor, then improve them, but you can always cheat by using the id codes I guess
I don't use Jaysus swords or the Heavy Armory. Why? - Nothing wrong with the mods as far as I can see, but personal preference mostly. I think Skyrim has plenty of weapons already which you can find (especially if you have the Deadly Dragons mod(s)) - for sale/as drops from kills/ or enchanting/making and improving them yourself