NoMansSky:2.0.0

NoMansSky v2.0.0

Changelog   |   Release Date: Sept ??, 2021

WARNING

This guide is out of date and is NOT supported! It may contain information that is incorrect or not in line with the current state of the game.
Go to the latest supported NoMansSky Guide.

Step NoMansSky Guide

This is the official Step modding guide for No Man's Sky. Its goal is to provide an "enhanced vanilla" look and feel and is built for No Man's Sky on the PC without VR. Other situations by vary.

All of the features are listed on our Nexus Mods page, but here are a few in summary:

• Increased base radiuses and many base improvements
• Improved environmental effects, like clouds and water
• Greatly enhanced player movement
• Balanced environmental hazards to the suit for more favorable gameplay
• Greatly improved cameras, binoculars, and scanners
• Customized and varied ship controls based on weight-class
• Lots of visual and other enhancements via mods

Nomenclature

The following nomenclature is used throughout this guide and should be understood before proceeding.

• 'tick' means 'check': Frequently, the word 'check' or 'checked' can mean 'ensure' in addition to "check mark", so 'check' is not used where it is synonymous with 'tick' to avoid any mistakes that can (and have) happened from this conflation.

System Requirements

We recommend the following hardware configuration for running a Step NoMansSky installation at a resolution of 1920x1080. The minimum requirements will allow most users to install and run the game on High. Our recommended requirements will allow most users to install and run the game on Ultra for most, if not all settings.

Hardware	Minimum	Recommended
Windows OS	Windows 10 64-bit	Windows 10 64-bit
CPU	Intel Core i5-6600K or equivalent	Intel Core i7-4790 or equivalent
System RAM	8 GB	16 GB or higher
GPU	Nvidia GTX 970 4GB	Nvidia GTX 1060 or equivalent or better / 4GB VRAM or higher
Drive Space	~30 GBs	~50 GBs
Monitor Resolution	1920x1080	1920x1080 or higher

• For those wishing to use high quality settings at resolutions higher than 1920x1080, be advised that a more powerful system will likely be required.
• This game will also eat VRAM, so the more VRAM available the better the performance will be as files aren't being offloaded to slower system RAM.

STEP 1

Installations & Setup

Follow the System Setup Guide!

Those who have not completed the System Setup Guide should STOP and do so now BEFORE continuing this guide! This is a perquisite for completing this Guide. Once complete, return here and continue below.
NEW GUIDE FOLLOWERS: Deviate from these instructions at your own risk! Instructions in this guide presume that previous instructions have been followed.

Suggested Folder Structure

For all our Modding Guides Step recommends users create the following folder: Drive:\Modding\ (e.g., C:\Modding\). For supporting No Man's Sky, Step recommends creating a sub-folder within the Modding folder and naming it NoMansSky. Now create the folder structure below:

• ..\Modding\
  • ..\NoMansSky
    • ..\Tools
      • ..\AMUMSS
      • ..\PSArcTool

Game Settings

The following are only recommendations for the in-game settings. Launch the game using Steam and set the following. Other settings are user preference.

Video Options

• Window Mode: Borderless
• Flight Field of View: 85

  This will help prevent the HUD clipping on some ships. Users playing at screen resolutions other than 1920x1080 may have to adjust for their systems.

• Vignette & Scanlines: Disabled

  This is just one part that will help elevate some of the motion sickness effect the game can have.

Graphic Options

• All settings on Ultra
• Anisotropic Filter: 16x
• GTAO: High
• Anit Aliasing: TAA

Mod Organizer - NMS Initialization

FIRST, follow the System Setup Guide. The below instructions describe how to initialize a No Man's Sky instance in Mod Organizer (MO). If MO wass installed as a Portable application, the instructions below will need to be reinterpreted accordingly. Those who already have a MO instance for NMS can skip this initialization:

➕ [Click to show]➖ [Click to hide] Initialization Instructions

1. Launch MO by running its executable (e.g. ..Modding\Tools\Mod Organizer\ModOrganizer.exe)
2. Upon load, click the Instance Manager button on the tool (first button).
3. Click [Create new instance] button.
4. Select No Man's Sky and click [Next].

   If it didn't find the game, users can manually browse to the game's location.

5. Name the instance something like No Man's Sky or keep the default. Click [Next].
6. (optional) change the location of data stored. Step recommends the default location, unless space restraints prevent this. Click [Next].
7. A confirmation window will display with the installation information. Click [Finish].
8. MO is now ready to use with this guide.

Profile Setup

Mod Organizer's profile feature allows the creation of multiple mod-builds. Begin by creating/editing two profiles for use with this guide:

➕ [Click to show]➖ [Click to hide] Profile Setup Instructions

1. Launch MO, choosing the No Man's Sky Instance.
2. On the Default profile, arrange the mods in the left pane in the following order:
   1. DLC: Dawnguard
   2. DLC: HearthFires
   3. DLC: Dragonborn
3. Click the button on the menu bar.
4. Select the Default profile.
5. Ensure the Use profile-specific Game INI Files box is ticked and click [Copy].
6. Name the new profile Step NoMansSky, or anything similar.
7. Ensure the Use profile-specific Game INI Files box is ticked.
8. Close the window by clicking [Close].
9. Select the Step NoMansSky profile from the profile selection down-drop.
   • If users receive a notice saying some INI files were missing and will be copied. This is normal.
   • If an error is displayed about missing "modlist.txt" files, restart MO (or do a system reboot if one hasn't been done yet).

Enable Mods

Mod support for No Man's Sky is disabled by default, thus, users need to enable support after the game is registered with the system. To do this:

1. Navigate to the game's PCBANKS folder (i.e., ..\Steam\steamapps\common\No Man's Sky\GAMEDATA\PCBANKS)
2. Locate the DISABLEMODS.TXT file.
3. Rename this file: ENABLEMODS.TXT

   In fact, this file can be renamed to anything or simply removed from the folder structure. To disable mod support again, simply rename the file back the the original name, or place it back in the PCBANKS folder. Users will have to do this step every time the game updates because Hello Games resets this file every update.

4. If it doesn't exist, create a new folder within PCBANKS and name it MODS.

This completes the initial game setup.

Tools Installation and Setup

Users should install the tools to the location created above (i.e., ..\Modding\NoMansSky\Tools). Install the following tools to that location:

				Mod Name	Baseline	Instructions

				AMUMSS		Detailed Instructions available
Download the latest release from GitHub (AMUMSS.7z) Right-click on the archive, click on Properties On the new window tick the Unblock checkbox at the bottom, then click [Apply] and close the window. If .NET6 Desktop is not installed, download and install it to the system. If AMUMSS is already installed, please ensure the latest version is being used! Extract the archive to the new AMUMSS folder (e.g., ..\Modding\Tools\AMUMSS)

				PSArcTool		Detailed Instructions available
Manually download the file from Nexus Mods. Place the EXE in the new PSArcTool folder (e.g., ..\Modding\Tools\PSArcTool).

AMUMSS

Initialization

AMUMSS will be set up for use below:

1. Run BUILDMOD.bat by double-clicking on it.

   Users should see this at the top of the log:
   

   >>> Checking Path to NMS_FOLDER...
   Path to NMS_FOLDER is >>> GOOD <<<, game files found

2. At the prompts enter [N] and let it run.

   Ignore the No user .lua Mod Script found in ModScript... warning, as this is just an initialization run. If there are other warnings, user should investigate.

3. Close when complete.

➕ [Click to show]➖ [Click to hide] Initialization Troubleshooting

Firewall / Internet Security / Antivirus Software:

1. AMUMSS connects to the internet to check for MBINCompiler updates. To allow this process, users may have to create an exception in their software for: <pathTo>\AMUMSS\MODBUILDER\MBINCompilerDownloader\curl.exe
   To check if this working, users should see the following in their BUILDMOD.bat log when an update is available and downloaded, else only an error message will be displayed:
   

   >>> Added MBINCompiler.x.xx.x.exe to Extras\MBINCompiler_OldVersions folder...
   
   >>> Your new MBINCompiler is version: x.xx.x

    
2. If the CMD window closes immediately (or is blank) when double-clicking BUILDMOD.BAT, it could be security software blocking the program from running. Try creating an exception in the software and rebooting the PC.

NMS PCBANKS Explorer

This is a program that enables the easy exploration of the game's files and other features, however, it must be set up before it can operate. The instructions have been separated into groups to help users follow along easier.

1. Run NMS PCBANKS Explorer.exe
2. At the Would you like to use .\DEFAULT_UNPACKFOLDER as your 'MAIN' Unpack folder? prompt, click [Yes]
3. At the Would you like to use .\DEFAULT_UNPACKFOLDER as your 'Results' folder for Un-packing results? prompt, click [Yes]
4. At the Would you like to use .\DEFAULT_EXMLsaveFOLDER as your 'MAIN' folder for saving EXML files? prompt, click [Yes]
5. At the Would you like to use .\DEFAULT_EXMLsaveFOLDER as your 'Resutls' folder for saving EXML files? prompt, click [Yes]
6. At the Explorer Usage prompt, click [Ok] and allow NMS PCBANKS Explorer to load

➕ [Click to show]➖ [Click to hide] Unpack

1. Once complete, click the Unpack Options menu and select Unpack Latest NMS Files
2. At the Please, choose your unpack folder location... prompt, click [MAIN]

   At this point NMS PCBANKS Explorer will unpack the game files. Please wait for it to complete (1-5 mins).

3. Click [Ok] at the unpack completion prompt and ensure the "Explorer" tab is selected on NMS PCBANKS Explorer

Unpack, Step 1

➕ [Click to show]➖ [Click to hide] Decompile

1. On the Explorer tab, click the [Decompile] button
2. At the Please, choose your unpack folder location... prompt, click [MAIN]
3. At the Please, choose your EXML folder location... prompt, click [MAIN]

   At this point NMS PCBANKS Explorer will decompile all the unpacked game files. Please wait for it to complete (10-30 mins).

4. Click [OK] at any warning prompts of files that couldn't be unpacked.

Decompile, Step 1

➕ [Click to show]➖ [Click to hide] Import EXMLs

1. On the Explorer tab, click the [Import EXML Files] button
2. At the Please, choose... prompt, click [MAIN]
3. Include MODELS and SCENES folders?, click [Yes]
4. Include LANGUAGE folder?, click [No]
5. Read the prompt and click [Ok]

   At this point NMS PCBANKS Explorer will import all the decompiled EXML files, which allows them to be explored. Please wait for it to complete (40-60 mins).

Files are importing

AMUMSS is now set up and ready to use.

STEP 2

NoMansSky Mod List

At this point the modding environment should be fully set up and ready to install mods. Installing individual mods for NMS is done so via Mod Organizer 2. (see: installing mods) When installing mods, keep the following in mind:

• Mods that have no conflicting files are installed via MO, as is. Mods that do have conflicting files are incorporated using AMUMSS and LUA scripts.
• When installing mods using MO, only install the PAK files. (see example below)
• To maintain compatibility, it's important to install mods as described in their respective Detailed Instructions.
• If no Detailed Instructions or Step recommendations are provided for a particular mod, all options are good. Step encourages user customization.
• After installing a mod, enable the mod in MO.
• Since LUA scripts are used, no mods are required besides the Resource Files, so user are free to customize as they like. Yet, all mods are recommended for the intended Guide outcome. Users who deviate from the Guide will have various results.

Install Example

Mod Table Reference

Supported Game Version: NMS:Frontiers v3.6+

			Table Flags	Red vertical bars indicate the mod requires an update and should not be installed. Yellow bars indicate the mod is used with AMUMSS. Blue bars indicate the mod works with supported game version and is okay to install.
			Mod Name	Nexus mod name presented as a link to Nexus for download.
				Link to the mod's wiki page, which includes various information about the mod.
			Baseline	This notes the Step Baseline version or option of the corresponding mod that should be installed, and usually refers to options affecting performance/quality. General suggestions are located in the "Notes" column; see below.
			Instructions	Brief notes that apply to the mod or installation. In some cases, mods with several options will include a suggested option. These suggestions will take the form of: "Step recommends: Option A Main File." In other cases, there may only be one appropriate option, which fits the Step Mandate. These instructions will take the form of: "Install Option A Main File." Users will also see links displayed as: [Expand]. Users should click these links to expand the mod row to reveal detailed instructions for installing the mod.

Animations & Physics

No mods defined.

Models & Textures

No mods defined.

Sounds & Music

No mods defined.

Fixes

				Mod Name	Baseline	Instructions

				Dig Out		Detailed Instructions available
Download the file manually from Nexus Mods Extract the LUA file from the downloaded archive to the ModScript folder in AMUMSS: ..\AMUMSS\ModScript

				Space Station Interior Fix

Gameplay

				Mod Name	Baseline	Instructions

				Better Base Sites		Detailed Instructions available
Download the Main File manually Extract the PAK file from the downloaded archive Drag and drop and PAK file on top of PSArcTool.exe to unpack it Move only the LUA file from the unpacked PAK file to the ModScript folder in AMUMSS: ..\AMUMSS\ModScript

				Better Buildings Scans		Detailed Instructions available
Download the Main File manually from Nexus Mods Extract the LUA file from the downloaded archive to the ModScript folder in AMUMSS: ..\AMUMSS\ModScript Rename the file by removing the " _MOD_ " at the beginning of the file name: _MOD_Better... Better...

				Better Ship Transfer Ranges		Install: Better Ship Teleport Module Range main file

				Gumsks Base Building		Detailed Instructions available
Download both Main Files manually from Nexus Mods Extract the gBase Boundary 2k from the Boundry archive to the ModScript folder in AMUMSS: ..\AMUMSS\ModScript Extract the gBase Items Basic from the Items archive to the ModScript folder in AMUMSS: ..\AMUMSS\ModScript Rename both files by applying a " + " to the beginning of the file names: gBase... +gBase... This ensures these scripts are used before other conflicting scripts.

				Quick Crates		Detailed Instructions available
This is an optional mod, since its goal is fixing an annoyance rather than a bug. It removes the junk (i.e., rust, goo, slime, etc.) from the green drop pods/crates. The material is typically useless and discarded by most players; however, if the material is really needed, it can be found elsewhere.

				Sensible Planetary Charts		Detailed Instructions available
Download the Sensible Planetary Charts LUA ONLY miscellaneous file Extract the LUA file from the archive to the ModScript folder in AMUMSS: ..\AMUMSS\ModScript

Interface

				Mod Name	Baseline	Instructions

				Fast Actions		Step recommends: Fast Actions main file

				Fullscreen Warps

				Gumsks Cameras		Detailed Instructions available
Download the Main File manually Extract the LUA file of choice from the archive to the ModScript folder in AMUMSS: ..\AMUMSS\ModScript Step recommends: gCam Centered Rename the file by applying a " + " to the beginning of the file name: gCam... +gCam... This ensures this script is used before other conflicting scripts.

Lighting & Weather

No mods defined.

Resource Files

				Mod Name	Baseline	Instructions

				Step NoMansSky Resource Files		Detailed Instructions available
Download the guide's Resource Files from Nexus Mods Extract the LUA files from the downloaded archive to the ModScript folder in AMUMSS: ..\AMUMSS\ModScript

STEP 3

Construct Guide Patch

To wrap up, the LUA scripts placed within the ModScript folder must be merged and compressed into a PAK file so it can be used as the Guide's patch. This process is done using AMUMSS.

ModScript Final Reference

Build Patch

Once the ModScript folder is indeed correct, please continue below to build the Guide patch:

1. Open the AMUMSS folder: ..\Modding\NoMansSky\Tools\AMUMSS
2. Run BUILDMOD.bat by double-clicking on it.
3. At Do you want to create a COMBINED mod[Y] or INDIVIDUAL[N] mods?, enter Y
4. At Do you want to use a COMPOSITE combined mod named just like that?, enter N
5. At Do you want to use a NUMERIC suffix[Y] or the current DATE-TIME[N] to differentiate your mod name?, enter Y
6. At Would you like to COPY the created Mod PAKS to your game folder and DELETE [DISABLEMODS.TXT] ?, enter N
7. At Would you like to check your NMS MODS for conflicts?, enter N

   Now AMUMSS will build the patch from the LUA scripts. Please allow it to complete (1-2 mins).

   When complete, the report will show 25 Warnings and 5 Conflicts. This is normal and can be ignored.

8. Close the command window when finished.

Install Patch

1. Open the CreatedModPAKs folder: ..\AMUMSS\CreatedModPAKs
2. Rename the PAK file to: ___StepNoMansSky.pak

   The " ___ " is intentional to force the archive to load last. The TXT file is for reference and can be deleted.

3. Create a new mod in MO named: Step NoMansSky - Patch
4. Copy and paste the new Patch into this new mod: ..\ModOrganizer\No Man's Sky\mods\Step NoMansSky - Patch
5. Ensure this and all mods are enabled.

Go...rule the galaxy!

That is a wrap on this short Guide. Enjoy your enhanced gameplay!

To start the game with mods enabled, run the game's executable from MO's drop-down list.

Credits

Thank you all!

The Step administrators would sincerely like to thank (from the bottoms of our fuzzy little hearts):

• The authors of mods recommended within our Guides
• The authors of mods who granted permission for their mods to be incorporated into the Resource Files
• The core Community for feedback, suggestions and input
• The Beta and Mod Testers for their good humor and rigorous analyses
• The Nexus community
• Hello Games for their games

The following mods had open permissions (or permissions were granted by author) and were merged into the Guide's Resource Files

• Better Landings
• Clean Space Origins
• Exosolar's Abyss | Only part of the changes from this mod are merged.
• Fine LOD

The following mods were used for references:

• Fast Refiners
• Just a little TORCH mod
• Realistic Faster Movement Speed
• Starship Out of Range and Faster Scanner
• Ultimate Flight Mod
• ZRatCraft - Flight Modifications

Step Staff

The following staff are associated with this Guide:

Administrators

• TechAngel85
  • Lead Release Coordinator, Patch Coordinator, Lead Forum Administrator, Mod Author

COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS

Help build Step

Step Modifications can only get bigger and better with help from the community. It is very time consuming for the Step team to ensure that our Guides are consistently maintained at the highest quality possible. We need people to help us identify mods that improve the vanilla game while adhering to our Mandate. We also need ongoing bug reports, reviews, and updates on mods that may cause problems or that stray from the Mandate.

In order to suggest a mod for inclusion, visit the Mods section of the Forums.

Call for Mod Testers

Community members interested in becoming Mod Testers, please contact TechAngel85 via PM on the forums. Once registered, Mod Testers will be given access to Staff forums that houses useful information. For more information about our mod testing process, read through the Mod Testing Guide to get a sense of what's involved.

Call for Forum Moderators

Regular community members interested in becoming moderators, please contact TechAngel85 via PM on the forums. Forum Moderators will be determined based upon level and quality of activity within our community.

Thank you for reading and enjoy the game!