Larian Studios Forums Divinity - Original Sin Divinity Original Sin - Mods User's Mod folder vs. Steam's Data folder

I can place files in the Steam install's Data folder for D:OS if I want to tweak files for the main campaign, but how does the user's mods folder work?

Documents/Larian Studios/Divinity Original Sin/
Documents/Larian Studios/Divinity Original Sin/Mods/
Documents/Larian Studios/Divinity Original Sin/PlayerProfiles/

Do I need an actual mod, e.g., a level, or can I place just the various text files (ItemCombos.txt, Objects.txt, Equipment.txt, etc) there as well?

I ask because I tried to place them, but they do not register. I tried to create a similar folder structure (<Mod Name>/Stats/Generated/) & place my files there w/o luck.

I feel like I'm missing something really fundamental, but my brain does not want to cooperate.

You can train on cow simulator. Subscribe, relaunch game and go to mods. Game will create all relevant directories. And it will copy mod file as well from Steam internals to mods directory.