Like ModularCocoon, you’ve also probably seen Modsetti’s mod author interviews here on the site, alongside her Modder-Turned-Devs campaign that’s currently live and still welcoming applications (a big thank you to everyone who has engaged with this so far btw). If you’ve ever watched one of our videos on YouTube, you’ve definitely heard her voice (she’s a professional voice actor as well, don’t you know!) or seen her in our TikToks.
So, let’s get to know her!
Hey Sarah! Thanks for doing this intro interview so the community can get to know you better. Could you introduce yourself and tell people more about your role?
Hi everyone! Great to meet you all. I'm Sarah, the newest addition to the content team.
My role as a Content Creator is, essentially, creating loads of content about modding! ModularCocoon and I look after our social media, making reels etc, but we also work on projects like videos with Shaska, chatting with the community for blog interviews, our Modder-Turned-Devs campaign that SlugGirl mentioned in the intro, and other really exciting projects that are in their early stages.
My work history is super eclectic. I started my own entertainment company at 18, then somehow became a Christmas tree decoration specialist for a minute (still waiting for that random skill to be useful again!), before finding my way into marketing. I was also a radio presenter for a bit somewhere in between all that.
Now I get to mix all the things I enjoy - making cool content about mods, connecting with our community, and coming up with new ideas.
Outside of work, I love theatre and musicals - I've been in a few amateur productions, with my most recent role being Frenchie in Grease. I'm also really into crafting with air-dry clay and art in general, although I don't get to do it as much as I'd like. I’m a huge fan of Chapell Roan, my partner and I are trying to watch at least one movie a week this year (we’re keeping track and everything), and I’m a massive fan of Lidl’s Flavour of the Week. One of my favourite things is my Friday Lidl shop! It’s the little things.
Show snaps - Frenchie (left), and WW2 nurse (right)
I've heard on the grapevine that before joining, you worked as a voice actor and also streamed on Twitch. Could you tell us more about that?
As a kid, I wanted to be an actor thanks to my love for Sharpay Evans. Performing arts was always a big part of my life. I went through a proper Critical Role phase in lockdown then I was just like… what if I gave voice acting a go? So I did just that, I started auditioning and worked on fan projects and audio dramas, eventually landing a role as Aelfwyn Lancarl in a Skyrim mod called "The Fairheart." It was very surreal hearing my voice in a game for the first time! Last year, I landed my first official game role as an NPC with about 3 lines. I can’t share the name of the game yet, but maybe you’ll hear me someday!
Nowadays, my marketing experience has given me a bit of a foot in the door for adverts, so I’m doing that mostly, though I’m eager to return to more creative projects.
In terms of streaming, after my stint as a radio presenter, I decided to give it a go, because I wanted something radio-like but more relaxed. My close friend rubiks2209, who’s been streaming for years, encouraged me to try it out. I started with playing Coral Island, which I was obsessed with for months.
I built up a lovely little community and reached affiliate, focusing on chill games like Dress to Impress and Life is Strange, and even took part in Stream for Starlight. I also started a “Sleepover Sunday” stream, where I did my skincare routine in my PJs while playing cute indie games.
Could you walk us through what a typical day looks like for you?
My brain is always buzzing with new stuff to do for content. I’ll usually spend the mornings looking after social media, creating, editing, and keeping up to date with what’s happening in different game communities where I can.
After that, anything could happen! Usually recording videos, voiceovers, writing and researching, and chatting with users for interviews. Recently I’ve been enjoying watching back some of the C3 streams, plus I’m working on an exciting project to help make modding more accessible that has taken up a good chunk of time!
What first drew you to Marketing and Content?
I think at its core I really like to give people a voice. I’m a very glass-half-full type of person, a huge fan of positive news and just generally making people happy, and I think there’s so much amazing stuff out there that needs more love. Combined with the fact that I was constantly on Tumblr growing up (I’ll admit it - I was a Superwholockian and was there for the Mishapocalypse), I taught myself how to design/edit for fandom stuff mainly, learnt how to build community while running my entertainment company, and grew from there!
I’ve kind of grown up on the internet which is crazy to say, so I have always made content. Starting with a blogspot for Stardoll lookbooks; cosplay timelapses; Vines; vlogging amdram shows; all sorts just for fun, so making content is pretty natural to me.
What’s your gaming history? Any favourites from your childhood or ones you’re loving at the moment?
I’m gonna take this opportunity to shout out the OG, the one that started it all, Bratz Rock Angelz. That smoothie sequence changed my LIFE.
In all seriousness though, my childhood favourites are definitely games like Animal Crossing Wild World, Cooking Mama, Club Penguin (Card Jitsu specifically), and the one game to rule them all, The Sims. I have loved The Sims since forever, and with the amount of packs EA are coming out with (shout out to Businesses and Hobbies), I see no sign of my obsession stopping.
Some other notable favourites though are Baldur’s Gate 3, Bioshock Infinite and Skyrim. They are truly some of the best.
Did you use Nexus Mods before joining the team?
Yes! I've been an active Nexus Mods user since 2015/2016 when I first got into modding Skyrim. Back then, I was running what little my HP laptop could handle and spent hours watching YouTube mod showcases, dreaming of what my game could be.
Over the years though I've returned to Nexus Mods periodically for different games - Stardew Valley, The Witcher 3, and Baldur's Gate 3. Actually, when Baldur's Gate 3 was released, I immediately returned to modding. One of my favourites for that game has to be the Bladesong Garment - the perfect Act 3 outfit for my Tav, which I paired with the orphic hammer, naturally.
My Tav in the Bladesong Garment
I have some good memories of playing Helgen Reborn. I got completely immersed in that quest line back in the day. I also love lore-friendly mods like Sons of Nirn which makes Jarl Balgruuf look so cool, and practical ones like Use Those Blankets which just makes so much sense.
Are there any games you’re modding at the moment? Any standout mods you’d recommend or just love having in your load order?
Admittedly, my most played game of all time, and what I'm addicted to at the moment, is the Sims 4, which sadly doesn't have quite as large a modding community on Nexus (Simmers, please hear my call). There are still several mods on the site I can't play without though: Nintendo Switch, Better Computer Games, and the Weather Realism Overhaul always make it into my mod folder.
I’m always on and off Skyrim too! I'm super excited for the Elf NPCs overhaul. The attention to detail is incredible, and I love that it's making characters more character-y rather than just a copy-and-paste NPC.
A recent TS4 lookbook set in Nordhaven
You also made your first mod a few months ago. Can you tell us more about what led you to create it and how the process went?
I’ve made personal retextures before but I’ve never been a super technical modder, so I wanted to understand more about what went into the process! It’s for sure always been something on my bucket list, so when I started working for Nexus Mods, the time had definitely come.
ModularCocoon was exploring changing notes and writing books for his first mod, and showed me how easy it was! So, I got to thinking about what an easy mod would be to just replace something or rename something but also be lore-friendly and immersive. I always thought the food offerings in the inns of Skyrim were particularly sad, so, Flavours of the Hold was born!
To anyone considering giving modding a go, honestly, the creation kit makes modding so much less daunting than you’d think. I loved coming up with ideas for the Bannered Mare menu, then once it was set, it was easy to take existing items and duplicate them, then rename them.
The trickiest part was actually creating the menu. In the creation kit, there is an option to essentially insert an image into the text section of a note, and this is how ModularCocoon created the Thanksgiving-Themed Dark Brotherhood note. So I tried this, but the image was just too small for what I wanted.
So I had the idea of just changing the texture of the note! This is probably super simple for more experienced modders but was such a struggle for me, as I was learning to navigate NifSkope and opted to try and replace the texture wherever I found the option to (at this point I had strayed far from tutorials).
And so I’m happy to report, somehow I managed it in the end! I’m still not sure how. But that’s what modding’s all about, right?
Flavours of the Hold
Can we expect more mods from you in the future?
Definitely! I’m looking to expand Flavours of the Hold to other areas so if anyone has any menu requests please do send them my way! I’ll also be learning to mark as ESL. My next step will be to learn blender and create unique models for the foods. I’ve started the famous donut tutorial, so we’re halfway there.
After that, I’d really like to try modding other games like Baldur’s Gate 3 in particular, looking to make some unique armour sets. I’m intrigued by inZOI, it’ll be interesting to see what is possible with modding considering the in-game tools include being able to make your own textures and a “3D printer” that allows you to upload a picture and create objects in-game.
What drew you to the role here at Nexus Mods?
Before working here, I was managing marketing campaigns for the leisure industry, which was fine for a bit but not the most thrilling job. So, I wanted to move to a subject matter that I cared about more, and I’ve always wanted to work in the gaming industry. Then this job popped up!
This role is an amalgamation of everything I’ve ever done - I can use my performance skills when on camera, marketing and editing experience, plus having a subject matter that you’re passionate about helps so much too!
Now that you’re settled in, how are you finding it?
I love that there's so much variation! It comes naturally with modding of course, but truly anything is possible! One day someone will put Baldur's Gate 3 in Stardew Valley, the next everyone from Cyberpunk suddenly has feet for hands. The communities that I've spoken to have been so welcoming too. I'm loving trying different things and developing ideas, I keep on mentioning it but I’m so hyped for some of the content we’ve got planned coming later in the year.
Also, shout out to SlugGirl, ModularCocoon and Shaska for hyping up my ideas and just being the best team all around, even though I killed Crumpet Mondays (I’m a bagel gal).
Finally, is there anything you’d like to say to the community?
I didn’t expect this question to be the hardest of all! Haha. Not anything in particular apart from thank you for all of your support and love, please do follow us on Instagram, Bluesky, X/Twitter, Facebook and TikTok. And see you about!
A big thanks to Sarah for doing this interview and for all her hard work as part of the Content Team too!
17 comments
As I have been downloading mods from Nexus Skyrim since 2012, I am pleased to be hearing about what brought others to modding.
Please continue 'spot lighting' the Nexus Team!
-ModSetting