Tutorials for Modding Fallout 4

[mrenfrew]

Ive been modding FO4 for a year now,just plug and play mods.Now I want to install some more complicated mods that require input and tweaking. I always read everything on the mod authors page including comments but sometimes people use unfamiliar abreviations and terms I have to look up individually which takes a long time and doesnt fully explain their function as it relates to modding. I don't know what I need to study to figure out how to work with, for example, wrappers and ba2 files, or loose files. I realize a lot of those who mod know this, I assume they have some computer language based background.So where do I go to learn basic file types, as they relate to modding and how they function without having to take a computer language course?Is it possible to use Complicated mods without knowing exactly how they work? I have done research about this but can't find an easy to understand tutorial or video.Does anyone know of such a tutorial?

[Ethreon]

You don't need IT background to understand modding. What is that you don't know or understand? And you can use complex mods without a need to understand how they work as long as you made sure they work, following install steps and all the stuff MA tells you to.

[mrenfrew]

I realize the quote below is from Skyrim post but but it is the general thought that made me think i was missing something important here.In relation to ENBoost, Am I not supposed to unpack the files? I did install Enboost but had no way of knowing if it was functioning correctly. I do get the the ENB message for the binary download but didnt know if the stuttering patch worked .My FPS dropped to as low as 4 and not understanding how to remove loose files, I started over.I want to make sure I unpack the files correctly.I have been using 7z and winzip, unpacking the files to my fallout 4 folder (where my exe is) or unpacking to desktop then according to mod authors directions,moving the files to where he/she says to.I feel like im missing something.My f4 folder is packed with, I guess, loose files.When I watch tutorials (usually Gopher) thier game folders dont look as disorganize as mine. Here is what Chesko said :

https://www.reddit.com/r/skyrimmods/comments/4ds06c/is_it_okay_to_extract_the_bsas_of_every_mod/

"That said I have wasted quite enough brain cells and time troubleshooting mod issues that stemmed from people doing this:

1. They download My Mod v1.0 and unpack it
2. I update My Mod to v2.0
3. They update to v2.0 and never unpack it
4. They angrily post that the update breaks everything"

Because the loose files take load precedence. So, I advise users to simply not unpack my mods because this happens again. And again. And again. And again. By well-meaning users, I'm sure. I just don't want to deal with it anymore. I don't trust users to handle this correctly.

[Ethreon]

ENBoost and mods are two different animals. No classic mods will ever install in your main game folder, in which you see all the game's system files. Classic mods should remain unpacked if they come with archives, and will always go into /Data. Utilities used to directly change the way the game launches (script extenders) or enb related ones should be unzipped and dropped into the main game folder.

[mrenfrew]

What about wrappers? What are they? How do they differ from other kinds of mods ?Do i do anything special to install these? Im sorry If these are stupid questions,I try googling these things and reading modding sites but it seems like a lot of people expect you to know thse things if youve been modding a while.

[Ethreon]

Wrappers are from enb related tools, and I think they're needed when there's some software in the way of the correct functionality of the enb tool. you'll have to seek definitive descriptions on the enb website.

[mrenfrew]

Thats a relief actually. Only one kind of program that deals with them. I can do that. Thank You so much for your help, I really appreciate it.