The dll did help, actually. So I def appreciate that. I was curious about load order bc it appeared to be working without anything else.
Hopefully it helps more people than just me. Cheers!

CK loadorder based on change time of files, but in SE add loadorder option to c:\Users\<YouUsername>\AppData\Local\Skyrim Special Edition\loadorder.txt i finde that in someone in internet(wiki or something, not remember), and this works.

Edit: NVM, I've got it working.

Hello, I bought the original Skyrim in 2011, steam won't accept the code anymore. So, I got the SE version from here. Then I bought the AE upgrade. I don't see the creation kit anywhere. There's an issue with MO2, it says in the warnings... form 43 or lower plugin detected. I'm still searching on what that means. Thanks for reading my post. On a side note, the tech support on GoG has A LOT to be desired...

The GOG version doesn't come with the Creation Kit, you have to modify the Steam version.

I have copied the DLL from "SteamVR Performance Test" into the installation folder of the Skyrim Special Edition ... but the Creation Kit does not start without Steam (for me). Since then just does nothing.

Did you do all the other stuff in this post first?
https://www.gog.com/forum/elder_scrolls_series/skyrim_creation_kit/post16

With the "SSE CreationKit Fixes" and the "SSE Creation Kit Fixes Update" ... but it does nothing. The CK starts just with Steam, not without (for me). I don't have changed the "CreationKit.exe", i just have the "sseck_loader.exe".

I've found a version of the Steam .dll file that works with this. Or at least, it did for me. The one that comes with SteamVR or whatever seems to change overtime. I've stuck this one on Drive for anyone that wants it.

Edit: Ok I figured it out, thanks for the instructions Uhuru!

For those only getting a quick popup that you can't even read while trying to launch from MO, just open the CK normally (not through MO) and you'll be able to read the popup - it will most likely say you need Steam. You don't need steam but you do need a Steam_api64 in GOG game folder. I copied the one from my Steam Skyrim and then it worked.

Ok. I got this part:

"1 Shut down Steam
2 Temporarily rename your Steam Game Folder, anything will do, but an easy edit makes sense like
Skyrim Special Edition
3 Start Steam, now you don't have the game installed (Steam's Dumb), and find the Creation Kit on the Skyrim Special Edition Store Page and Install it
4 Find "Skyrim Special Edition" Folder open it, and Archive all the files. name is irrelevant but I choose a useful name
The Elder Scrolls V – Skyrim – Special Edition – Creation Kit v1.6.659.0.8 (Steam).7Z
5 Move that Archive to where you keep modding tools downloads (NOT YOUR GAME YET)
6 Delete the Skyrim Special Edition Folder, and if you have the game on Steam Revert Temp folder Rename
7 Shut down Steam (For good)

Right now you have an offline copy of Steam CK (A Steam Backup), but useless for GOG.
It's Modding Time

You need four mod files from two different mods, and if you've used the CK before, you should be using 3 of them on Steam already.
SSE CreationKit Fixes=20061 @ Skyrim - SE - Nexus - Mods And Community
Here their are two files and we need both of them

CK64Fixes Release 3.2-20061-3-2-1616560054.zip
FaceFXWrapper 0.4-20061-0-4-1631087053.zip

SSE Creation Kit Fixes Update=71371 @ Skyrim - SE - Nexus - Mods And Community
Again their are two files and we need both of them

SSE Creation Kit Fixes Update-71371-33-1658698845.zip
The all important DRM free EXE was removed from Nexus by Bethesda Softworks
While rest of info in this post is accurate, see my reaction to this BS by BS (BullShit by Bethesda Softworks)."

Now here is where I get confused about the rest of the set up.
Do I extract from the archive I just made in the game folder or the data folder?
Do I put it in my load order?
What about the creation kit fixes and the creation kit update from the Nexus?
What about the steam_api64.dll?
Do I need all the downloads from:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1L_5zIrNksrW_cK2pKIKs1b-pAdGd6mDB..?

I've read this several times and it's pretty precise up until "While rest of info in this post is accurate, see my reaction to this BS by BS (BullShit by Bethesda Softworks)".

If you're still feeling helpful I could use some clarity on this.

got it. but I guess you could just use the unofficial creation kit patch. I used the instructions on this thread. Just look it up on the Nexus.

Do I just download the creatoin kit and then put it and this dll in the folder together to work without all the rest of the steps or what?

Any new CreationKit version for Skyrim GOG v1.6.1179 (0.1.3905696)