does the main game benefit from the graphical improvements?

[moarage]

Hi I'm kinda new to the series, so naturally I want to play vanilla first, which makes me wonder, does vanilla also benefit from the mod?

otherwise would you recommend a beginner to start right away with playing the mod?

[Caesar Clivus]

No vanilla does not benefit from installing SS.

[Ichon]

Hi I'm kinda new to the series, so naturally I want to play vanilla first, which makes me wonder, does vanilla also benefit from the mod?

otherwise would you recommend a beginner to start right away with playing the mod?

The AI submods can affect vanilla if you put them in that vanilla directory but otherwise nothing as far as I know.
If you never played TW game before than maybe start with vanilla. It depends on where you are coming from. If you come from wargaming or RTS background than go right into SS and mods. If you only played FPS and RPG with occasional Starcraft game then maybe start with vanilla. I'd recommend mods straight away though... it'll take a couple campaigns to learn but you'll get benefit of larger map, better graphics and lots of other improvements compared to vanilla.

[The Source]

i would go straight to SS 5.1 on easy/easy and one you get that repetiviness feel, move onto the latest version of SS