STEP 2.2.9 guide questions

[xeel]

Hello,

 

Just recentely found this compillation. Great job! Can't wait to try it.

 

Yesterday I tried to install the mods following the 2.2.9 guide and found myself with doubts about some steps decribed there. Since the process takes at least several hours (and much more to test it) I decided to post the questions I've been having to avoid any misunderstanding before flushing my weekend to the toilet. It's been some time since I tried to install mods manually for any title of the TES series (got too lazy with Morrowind and Oblivion all-in-one installers) so I appologize if some of my questions sound dumb.

 

1. The guide says: "To achieve the best results, “Loose files†(non-BSA) versions of mods should be used when available. If a "loose files" version is not available, simply use the BSA version. DO NOT extract BSAs unless specifically instructed to do so in the installation instructions!". Many of the listed mods contain both ESP and BSA files. And the latest MO (1.2.18) does not ask anything about BSA extraction when using default MO's mod installation method, it just extracts everything to the mod's temp directory. To be more precise, for example Appropriately Attired Jarls mod cantains Appropriately Attired Jarls Redux.bsa, Appropriately Attired Jarls Redux.bsl and Appropriately Attired Jarls Redux.esp. The question is: Should I prefer manual installation mode and avoid *.bsa completely? Or the part about "BSA extraction" refers to something different and I can install mods using the default "automatic" method?

 

2. Brawl Bugs Patch installation instactions say: Only use the "Compatibility Edition" main file. Not necessary for Extended users that are installing Enhanced Blood Textures. In my case I'm trying to install the STEP Extended. So when I open the contents/documentation of the Brawl Bugs Patch and Enhanced Blood Textures I see that they do completely different things: Brawl Bugs Patch corrects scripts, Enhanced Blood Textures is more about textures. Also the Brawl Bugs Patch is part of the Core Baseline. So, should I ignore Brawl Bugs Patch completely in case I do want to install Enhanced Blood Textures, or should I install it partially (only scripts, no esp or textures)?

 

3. High Quality 3D Map comments say: STEP recommends the HQ3DMap - Meshes Hi-Res and HQ3DMap - Normals Original main files. Do not install any of the textures. The part abount not installing textures refer to other main packages or the "textures" folder contained in the Q3DMap - Normals Original?

 

Right now I'm about half done with test installs/downloads; as I follow the process I'll probably have more questions =)

 

Thanks and Best Regards

[TechAngel85]

Do no extract BSAs. Just install the mods.

 

Enhanced Blood Textures comes with the Brawl Bug so there is no reason to install it separately.

 

Normals are within the textures folder so you're installing it correctly.

[xeel]

Thanks for the reply.

 

Do no extract BSAs. Just install the mods.

Though again, should I install mods manually ignoring the contained BSAs (1), or should I install them as they go with all their contents (2)? I ask this because by "extraction" we could understand the BSAs' contents extraction, since these are nothing more than packages containing mod resources. What do you mean by "mods"?

 

And another question in case option 1 is the correct one: Should I ignore the BSLs as well?

 

Just to be clear. When I talk about manual/automatic install and extraction I'm talking about this window:

 

 

 

Regards

Edited March 6, 2015 by xeel

[GrantSP]

Confusion over the term 'extraction' is perhaps the cause of your misunderstanding.

 

A mod may contain a plugin (*.esp or *.esm) and assets (textures, meshes, sounds, menus, etc.). These assets are either packaged in the mod as loose files or archived into a *.bsa file.

 

The sentence: DO NOT extract BSAs unless specifically instructed to do so in the installation instructions!" simply means, install the mod, the plugin and the bsa, and do not take any further action on that *.bsa file.

 

When instructed to "extract *.bsa file" you are then asked to 'unpack' that *.bsa into its component parts. ie. textures, meshes, sounds, menus, etc.

So if a mod contains only a plugin and a bsa file, just install them both and nothing else needs to be done to it.

The instruction to 'not extract BSA files' is not telling you to remove those *.bsa files and only have the *.esp/m files.

 

Apologies if that isn't what you were asking, but that is what I got from this comment:

It's been some time since I tried to install mods manually for any title of the TES series (got too lazy with Morrowind and Oblivion all-in-one installers) so I appologize (sic) if some of my questions sound dumb.

 

so I assumed the concept of mod contents may not be immediately apparent.

[xeel]

Thanks, Jarl. Yes, the problem was related to the meaning of the term "extraction".

[Nozzer66]

His name's GrantSP, xeel. :) jarl's just a title, like yours is currently Prisoner. :)

[xeel]

My apologies, GrantSP =)