Fallout3:Unofficial-Essarrbee-1.0.0: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 08:54, March 11, 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
Utilities
Mod Managers
Extenders
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.

Utilities

LOOT

Author: LOOT Team (but mostly WrinklyNinja)
Version: v0.6
Note: Mod Organizer has a sort button that uses LOOT, but this is still required.
Installation: LOOT Installation Video
LOOT

Originally BOSS v3.0, but it is so different that a new name was required.

xEdit

Template:FO3 Note

Template:FNV Note

Author: ElminsterAU
Version: v3.1
Notes: A small STEP mini-guide on conflict resolution is available here.
Installation: Make sure to install directly into the game's root folder. This video can be applied to any xEdit version: TES5Edit Installation
TES5Edit

It would really be impossible to have a heavily modded or stable game without this amazing little tool. Essential for anyone wanting to mod a Bethesda game.

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.

Fallout Mod Manager - FOMM - Fork

Author: Q Timeslip and kaburke
Version: v0.14.11.12
Note: Some information before using:

FOMM works for both games with just one installation.
The older version of FOMM is not supported and should not be used.
Bug reports and feature requests are done on the New Vegas Nexus.

This is a continuation of the FOMM development.

Mod Organizer

Author: Tannin
Version: v1.2.18
Description: 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.
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

Open the Mod Organizer archive.
Extract the Mod Organizer folder to the installation directory.
Template:FO3 Note

Template:FNV Note

Setting Up Mod Organizer

Start MO and click the Profiles button.
1. Now highlight the Default profile, make sure Archive Invalidation is checked, and click [Copy].
  - Ticking Local Savegames will make all saves from the profile from being used by any other profile.
2. Rename the profile to the desired name, and click [Okay], then [Close].
  - Users wishing to setup a base profile should do so now, then copy the base profile again to setup the modded profile. See Gopher's MO video to setup a base profile. Setting Up MO Profiles
  - 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 Mod Organizer Guide. Linking to Nexus
Click the Executables button and set up the programs that will be run from the MO launcher using directions from the Mod Organizer Guide. Third Party Programs
1. Recommended programs to add: LOOT, 4GB Loader (see the Extenders section below), FNVEdit, and Wrye Flash NV. Only add the GECK if necessary.
  - MO LOOT Installation
    . Other programs can be installed similarly.
  - LOOT has one extra instruction to setup
    1. In the Executables menu select LOOT.
      Template:FO3 Note
      
      Template:FNV Note
    2. Click [Modify], then [Close].
Set up optional settings as desired:
1. Click the Settings button. General Settings
2. Choose style, language, mod folders, customize mod categories among other things.
Check that the official DLC is sorted correctly.
1. In the left pane make sure the official DLC are listed as the first mods when sorted by priority. Left Pane: Columns
  
  Template:FO3 Note
  
  Template:FNV Note

Mod Organizer should now be installed and properly set up for modding from this point forward.

Nexus Mod Manager

Wrye Flash

Template:FO3 Note

Template:FNV Note

Author: valda and Sharlikran
Version: Fallout 3 v31.2 and Fallout New Vegas v16.9
Installation: Follow these instructions:

Template:FO3 Note

Template:FNV Note

Sharlikran, valda, and Utommo have started developing Wrye Flash NV again, but they could use some help, so anyone with python experience should consider lending a hand on Wrye Bash/Flash/Flash NV/Smash coding.

Extenders

There is a wide arrange of addition enhancements to Fallout games that do not fit in any category. This section covers those enhancements.

Script Extender

Template:FO3 Note

Template:FNV Note

Author: Ian Patterson, Stephen Abel and Paul Connelly.
Version: Fallout 3 v1.2 beta2 and New Vegas v4.6 beta1
Installation: Follow these instructions:

Template:FO3 Note

Template:FNV Note

Without FOSE, many mods that add incredible features to Fallout 3 cannot be used. This is an essential mod for any gamer.

The value for DefaultHeapInitialAllocMB must be between 200 and <500. 400 seems to be the best value for Fallout New Vegas, but it is recommended to play around with it a bit.

Without NVSE, many mods that add incredible features to New Vegas cannot be used. This is an essential mod for any gamer.

@@ Line 120: / Line 120: @@
 * '''Version''': Fallout 3 v1.2 beta2 and New Vegas v4.6 beta1
 * '''Installation''': Follow these instructions:
-::{{FO3 Note|<pre>Download v1.2beta2.7z.
+::{{FO3 Note|<pre>Download v1.2beta2.7z                                                                                                                                                             Extract the files from the archive into the ''Fallout 3 goty'' folder, NOT into the ''Data'' folder. The src folder and text files are not needed.</pre>}}
-Extract the files from the archive into the ''Fallout 3 goty'' folder, NOT into the ''Data'' folder. The src folder and text files are not needed.</pre>}}
+::{{FNV Note|<pre>Download the v4.6beta1 file.                                                                                                                                              Extract the files from the archive into the ''Fallout New Vegas'' folder, NOT into the Data folder. The src folder and text files are not needed.                                                         In the ''Data'' folder "right click->New->Folder", then name it "NVSE". Only do this if the folder '''DOES NOT''' exist.                                                                            Open up the ''Data/NVSE'' folder and "right click->New->Text Document", then name the file "nvse_config.ini".                                                                                                 Open ''nvse_config.ini'' and add the following:                                                                                                                                                             [Memory]                                                                                                                                                                                                        DefaultHeapInitialAllocMB=400                                                                                                                                                                            Save and close.</pre>}}
 Without ''FOSE'', many mods that add incredible features to ''Fallout 3'' cannot be used. This is an essential mod for any gamer.
-* '''Installation''': Download the v4.6beta1 file. Follow these instructions:
- Extract the files from the archive into the ''Fallout New Vegas'' folder, NOT into the Data folder. The src folder and text files are not needed.
- In the ''Data'' folder "right click->New->Folder", then name it "NVSE". Only do this if the folder '''DOES NOT''' exist.
- Open up the ''Data/NVSE'' folder and "right click->New->Text Document", then name the file "nvse_config.ini".
- Open ''nvse_config.ini'' and add the following:
- [Memory]
- DefaultHeapInitialAllocMB=400
- Save and close.
 The value for <code>DefaultHeapInitialAllocMB</code> must be between 200 and <500. 400 seems to be the best value for Fallout New Vegas, but it is recommended to play around with it a bit.
 Without NVSE, many mods that add incredible features to ''New Vegas'' cannot be used. This is an essential mod for any gamer.