Wrye Bash question

[Wolfstorm321]

Hi. I have a question about Wrye Bash flags. I want to know what is the difference between esmifying a ESP and putting a ESM flag in a ESP.

I have a 8.7mb plugin (made in the CK) and was thinking about esmifying it in Wrye Bash, or through a script in xEdit, due to its large size.

However, I'm not sure if a ESM can be updated in the middle of a playthrough, or if it requires a new playthrough in order to be updated. Some mods which relies in a master file (eg, Forgotten Dungeons) requires a new playthrough to be updated, but I didn't found any information about this requirement as being a rule to every mod.

Would the update of a ESM file during a playthrough cause save file corruption?

Would putting a ESM flag in the ESP be a better solution for updates? What is the difference between the two methods?

[HeyYou]

Setting the flag still leaves the extension for the file as .esp., so, any dependencies shouldn't whine about it. Hopefully.

Any particular reason you want to do that? Thinking about making other mods dependent on that one?

[Wolfstorm321]

I'm just worried about the reference limit. File got too big. 

Would flagging as esm make the game load faster? 

[HeyYou]

Reference Limit? If there is a hard limit, I doubt very much whether esm, or esp will make a difference.....

Flagging as esm only makes it load earlier in the load order, how quickly things load depends on the hardware  you are running the game on.

[fredlaus]

I have also some trouble in this area. When and not creating a master - .ESM - or flagging an esm?

I have created a superlarge mod - Hammerfell WIP - on which I create dependent mods for smaller areas. Actually I lack the knowlege to adminster the mod - I create and solve problems on the go.

"AFK" (?) has a nice tutorial on "how to" here on TESALLIANCE somewhere - for beginners but has been useful for me.