Fallout3:Unofficial-Essarrbee-1.0.0: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 08:56, March 7, 2015

Introduction

Fallout has been one of the greatest of RPG franchises since its initial release way back in 1997. Mods have kept the games alive since then with Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas being some of the most lively modding communities around. This guide will cover some of the basic and advanced features that go along with modding Fallout 3 and New Vegas which will save time and headaches.

Getting Started

Since both Fallout 3 (FO3) and Fallout New Vegas (FNV) run on the Gamebryo engine, many of the programs used to mod them will be identical. Any differences between the two will be denoted with game specific instructions.

Game specific information will appear throughout the guide like so: Template:FO3 Note Template:FNV Note

Every section of the guide will cover a different area of modding Fallout games, from different mod managers to complex mods that have difficult installations. having a clean installation of a game is the first section, so that the Fallout game directory is pristine and ready for modding.

Installation
Mod Managers
Utilities
Selected Mods
Troubleshooting

Installation

Installing Fallout games is most commonly done with Steam. There is another version of FO3 and that will be covered.

Before installing either game it is important to remember that Fallout (and really any game that is going to be modded) should be installed outside of the Program Files or Program Files (x86) folder to avoid Windows UAC restrictions. Some mods may not operate correctly if they are installed in that folder. This also means that Steam should probably not be installed inside those folders. To move Steam follow the directions here.

Mod Managers

It is hard enough to mod, but doing it without a mod manager is masochistic. There are a few different mod managers and each one offers different levels of complexity for modding Fallout. No matter what a mod manager should be used by anyone that is using more than ten or so mods.

Mod Organizer

Author: Tannin
Version: v1.2.18
Note: There is some information to be aware of when installing Mod Organizer:

The Skyrim Nexus version is the latest version. The other nexus sites are not updated.
For more information, see the Mod Organizer Guide.
Official STEP Mod Organizer Video Series by Gamer Poets.

Installation: To use MO for multiple games it must have multiple installs in different locations. It is recommended to put each install of MO into the game directory of each game that it will be installed for. MO Install Video
Works for Skyrim/FNV/FO3/Oblivion

Template:FO3 Note Template:FNV Note

One of the most versatile mod managers available is Mod Organizer. It is the mod manager available that will keep the installation directory clean of any mod that is installed in the Data folder. It accomplishes this by using a virtual directory and running all the modding utilities and launching the game through Mod Organizer.

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 Before installing either game it is important to remember that Fallout (and really any game that is going to be modded) should be installed outside of the Program Files or Program Files (x86) folder to avoid Windows UAC restrictions. Some mods may not operate correctly if they are installed in that folder. This also means that Steam should probably not be installed inside those folders. To move Steam follow the directions [https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7418-YUBN-8129 here].
+=== Mod Managers ===
+It is hard enough to mod, but doing it without a mod manager is masochistic. There are a few different mod managers and each one offers different levels of complexity for modding Fallout. No matter what a mod manager should be used by anyone that is using more than ten or so mods.
+==== [http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/1334/? Mod Organizer] ====
+* '''Author''': Tannin
+* '''Version''': v1.2.18
+* '''Note''': There is some information to be aware of when installing Mod Organizer:
+:::* The Skyrim Nexus version is the latest version. The other nexus sites are not updated.
+:::* For more information, see the [[Guide:Mod_Organizer|Mod Organizer Guide]].
+:::* [http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlN8weLk86XhKKC5c-XgOcOqR5VjPuHCl Official STEP Mod Organizer Video Series] by Gamer Poets.
+* '''Installation''': To use MO for multiple games it must have multiple installs in different locations. It is recommended to put each install of MO into the game directory of each game that it will be installed for. {{Video|I-yJ_9uBUBQ|MO Install Video|Works for Skyrim/FNV/FO3/Oblivion}}
+{{FO3 Note|
+# Open the Mod Organizer archive.
+# Extract the Mod Organizer folder to the installation directory.
+#* For ''Fallout 3'' it should go into .../Steam/steamapps/common/Fallout 3 goty.
+== Setting up Mod Organizer ==
+Now that all the programs necessary to mod ''Fallout 3'' are installed, it is time to set them up for installing mods and running ''Fallout 3'' with Mod Organizer. First, in case this has not already been done while following the earlier instructions in this guide, launch the game at least once by double clicking on ''Fallout launcher.exe'' in the ''Fallout 3 goty'' folder so the game configuration settings and some important registry values are set.
+# Start MO and click the Profiles button[[File:profiles MO.png]].
+## Now highlight the Default profile, make sure Archive Invalidation is checked, and click [Copy].
+## Name this new profile ''Vanilla Fallout''. This profile will include only the files present when the game is initially installed by Steam.
+## Now highlight the ''Vanilla Fallout'' profile and click [Copy].
+## Rename the new profile to the desired name (''Clear and Present Danger'' would be a good choice), and click [Okay], then [Close].
+##* This procedure can be repeated for copying any profile in the future.
+# Setup MO to download mods from the Nexus, follow the directions provided on the [http://wiki.step-project.com/Guide:Mod_Organizer#tab=Downloading_Mods Mod Organizer Guide], {{Video|3wETBPey1Ck|Linking to Nexus}}
+# Click the Executables button[[File:Gear MO.png]] and set up the programs that will be run from the MO launcher using directions from the [http://wiki.step-project.com/Guide:Mod_Organizer#tab=Third_Party_Programs Mod Organizer Guide], {{Video|SpeC9OSO3OI|Third Party Programs}}
+#* For this guide add: LOOT, FOMM - Fork, FO3Edit, Wrye Flash. Only add the GECK if you plan to create new mods.
+#** {{Video|mzsb3hvbbr4|MO LOOT Installation}}. Other programs can be installed similarly.
+#** LOOT has one extra instruction to setup
+#**# In the Executables menu select LOOT.
+#**# Next to the ''Arguments'' text box, type "--game=Fallout3", without quotations.
+#**# Click [Modify], then [Close].
+# Set up optional settings as desired:
+## Click the Settings button[[File:Wrench MO.png]], {{Video|XpNPIZzIX8c|General Settings}}.
+## Choose style, language, mod folders, customize mod categories among other things.
+## Select the ''Plugins'' tab, then highlight ''BSA Extractor''
+## In the right hand window of the ''Tools'' box, change ''enabled'' to ''true'' if it isn't already set to this value
+## This will cause MO to prompt when installing BSAs to ask whether they should be extracted.
+## There is a limit on how many BSAs can be used unextracted as discussed below.
+# Check that the official DLC is sorted correctly.
+## In the left pane make sure the official DLC are listed as the first mods when sorted by priority, {{Video|__14CIMBXgQ?|Left Pane: Columns}}.
+##* New users should have something that looks like the image [[:File:FNV Non-MO.png|here]].<add new figure for Fallout 3>
+##* Users updating from older versions of MO may have to drag the DLC into place. Put them at the top as shown in the image [[:File:FNV Non-MO.png|here]], but the rest of the mods will be listed underneath.
+##* Fallout may or may not show as a mod in the left pane.
+Mod Organizer should now be installed and properly set up for modding from this point forward.
+=== BSAs and Mod Organizer ===
+Bethesda Software Archives (BSA) can be used to store mod files in an attempt to reduce file sizes. The added benefit is the reducing in file system fragmentation caused by having many loose, small files. The main problem with BSAs is, if there are loose files that need to be overwritten by a mod that is packaged in a BSA, then the BSA must be extracted. This is due to loose files always 'winning' when the game loads the "Data" folder. Enter Mod Organizer. Using the 'Hide' feature of MO, it is easy to remove the loose file without much extra work from the user. This means that BSAs would only need to be extracted if the textures in the BSA need to be optimized.
+There is a limit to how many characters are allowed by the game engine when loading BSAs. If the names of all the BSAs being loaded are more than 254 characters, the game will not load or if there are just to many files in the data folder directory, thrashing can take place which causes the game not to load either. This creates an issue that either causes users to rename BSAs or extract some of them to remain under the 255 character limit. THe recommendation is that the vanilla Fallout 3 BSAs and the BSA in the Updated Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch be left unextracted, but all mod BSAs should be extracted. Typically Fallout 3 can at best allow one additional unextracted BSA in addition to the vanilla BSAs.
+As part of the process in the last subsection the BSA extractor plugin in MO should be enabled; make sure this is true.
+So, how does MO even know what files are in a BSA? Simple, just go to the ''Archives'' tab on the right pane of MO and tick the checkbox for every BSA and any mod that overwrites a file will have an icon next to it on the left pane. If the BSA's file is the preferred file then just hide the file from the mod that overwrites it. Greyed out BSAs will be checked no matter what due to their plugin requiring that BSA to load, but it can still be extracted.
+The other option is to just extract all the BSAs from mods and put everything in the correct order in the left pane. Some people say one way is correct and some say the other is correct. If the advice is all or nothing, it is best to ignore it. Life is not black and white, it is gray. Extract when necessary. A good rule of thumb is to extract smaller BSAs and leave larger ones unextracted. Leave the Bethesda Fallout and DLC BSAs and any [[User:Kelmych/Fallout3#UPDATED_Unofficial_Fallout_3_Patch|UPDATED Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch]] BSAs unextracted. It is also recommendation that the [[User:Kelmych/Fallout3#DCInteriors_Project|DCInteriors Project]] BSA be left unextracted. This set of unextracted BSAs is likely as many as can be safely left unextracted with MO; adding additional ones will probably cause a problem.
+}}
+{{FNV Note|
+# Open the Mod Organizer archive.
+# Extract the Mod Organizer folder to the installation directory.
+#* For ''Fallout New Vegas'' it should go into .../Steam/steamapps/common/Fallout New Vegas.
+===== Setting up Mod Organizer =====
+Now that all the programs necessary to mod ''New Vegas'' are installed, it is time to set them up for installing mods and running ''New Vegas'' with Mod Organizer.
+# Start MO and click the Profiles button[[File:profiles MO.png]].
+## Now highlight the Default profile, make sure Archive Invalidation is checked, and click [Copy].
+## Rename the profile to the desired name (''Fear and Loathing'' would be a good choice), and click [Okay], then [Close].
+##* This procedure can be repeated for copying any profile in the future.
+# Setup MO to download mods from the Nexus, follow the directions provided on the [http://wiki.step-project.com/Guide:Mod_Organizer#tab=Downloading_Mods Mod Organizer Guide]. {{Video|nk7wY9le6mo|Linking to Nexus}}
+# Click the Executables button[[File:Gear MO.png]] and set up the programs that will be run from the MO launcher using directions from the [http://wiki.step-project.com/Guide:Mod_Organizer#tab=Third_Party_Programs Mod Organizer Guide]. {{Video|SpeC9OSO3OI|Third Party Programs}}
+## For this guide add: LOOT, FOMM - Fork, 4GB Loader (see the Extenders section below), FNVEdit, and Wrye Flash NV. Only add the GECK if necessary.
+##* {{Video|Rz6xR1Q1zuE|MO LOOT Installation}}. Other programs can be installed similarly.
+##* LOOT has one extra instruction to setup
+##*# In the Executables menu select LOOT.
+##*# Next to the ''Arguments'' text box, type "--game=FalloutNV", without quotations.
+##*# Click [Modify], then [Close].
+# Set up optional settings as desired:
+## Click the Settings button[[File:Wrench MO.png]]. {{Video|XpNPIZzIX8c|General Settings}}
+## Choose style, language, mod folders, customize mod categories among other things.
+# Check that the official DLC is sorted correctly.
+## In the left pane make sure the official DLC are listed as the first mods when sorted by priority. {{Video|__14CIMBXgQ?|Left Pane: Columns}}
+##* New users should have something that looks like the image [[:File:FNV Non-MO.png|here]].
+##* Users updating from older versions of MO may have to drag the DLC into place. Put them at the top as shown in the image [[:File:FNV Non-MO.png|here]], but the rest of the mods will be listed underneath.
+##*FalloutNV may or may not show as a mod in the left pane.
+Mod Organizer should now be installed and properly set up for modding from this point forward.}}
+One of the most versatile mod managers available is Mod Organizer. It is the mod manager available that will keep the installation directory clean of any mod that is installed in the Data folder. It accomplishes this by using a virtual directory and running all the modding utilities and launching the game through Mod Organizer.
+===== Fallout Mod Manager =====
+===== Wrye Flash =====
+===== Nexus Mod Manager =====