Feedback Report - Managing Mods

[HalfLazy]

So, I've tested Vortex for a few days now, here's a general feedback about it.

Note: I'll try to be clear as possible, considering the language gap, in doubt ask and I'll try more precise statements.

 

This test is related to a FRESH copy of Fallout 4, No import from MO or NMM (I'll do this test using Skyrim when finished this)

Mostly this test, as Topic title say, is related to the management of the Mods, So Download, order, dependancy rules (around 215 mods)

The test in GAME to see if it's all right were limited, so I'll update this report when I'll have some more datas about.

 

Also, I fully understand that this is a limited alpha, so the focus is about Fixing things and not to add fancy stuff, but I'll add my impression anyway to give a more complete feedback.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS ISN'T A DISCUSSION, is a feedback, if you have a different opinion good for you, but here isn't the place where discuss that.

This Feedbacks are both for the community and (mostly) to the staff working on Vortex

 

Generally:

As general feeling Vortex feels fresh AND light, I like the UI but I think (obviously) that there's some space for further improvement (like more shortcuts and struff) [it's normale, it's an alpha pre-release]

 

The idea of Hardlinks is a good one, I had my doubt about (fan of virtual folders of MO), but so far it's working well, it's light and fast as promised.

I could enable/disable like 215 mod archivies (not files) in some seconds

 

So Vortex feels simple but powerful when you take some confidence with it. The point is just to learn how to use it efficently, about that some extra Info buttons would be great.

Obviously there are some things that need some fix and improvement (that's the point of this alpha).

 

The learning curve:

Is a bit weird.

If you have NO experience about modding (use mod, create mods, basic rules on load order management) you'll need a tutorial (If I'm not wrong Gopher it's on that)

 

If you have light experience (like a basic NMM user, that slams all the mods together then whine that the game CTD) Vortex helps you with the notification tab (but if you couldn't understand the importance of the load order you'll probably made a mess anyway)

note that the notification tab has some problem about updating itself when you solve a problem

 

If you have a medium experience (like a medium MO user) you'll fall in some old habits (like me, trying to move the Mods by drag, or creating empty data folders to put order in the Mods Tab) but nothing that gives you trouble, I imagine that it's only to get used to.

 

If you're a "more than competent" mod-user (You solved 3-4 catastrophic mess, know about Loot and how to override it, used NMM and MO, etc) the point it's only to understand the new logic about Vortex that ISN'T neither from NMM or MO (as example: you don't have a use for the right button of the mouse)

 

So, about that, the problem isn't Vortex, is people with old habit (either using another Mod manager or not being able to use one wisely).

 

 

The Tabs:

Not a big fan of that, I must admit, but this is just personal tastes so:

 

General

Dashboard -> mostly similar to Win10 start menù, It feels like something missing, maybe a bit of more customization (like the pre-decided sized of the windows) and some extra elements (like utilities, extra shortcuts, a "notes" widget) [Obviously this is just to give examples]

 

Profiles -> I've noticed the possibility to Change the Profile images, and I like that but I have three note to do:

the first, is that I'd like to change the "profile image" as selection space (Select the profile), instead of a pop-up to change the profile image (maybe could be send to the edit tab?)

the second, Not sure it this should work like that, but Changing the image of the enabled profile doesn't change the header of Vortex (Top left, near the play button and "go premium"), in case, it should be a nice addition in the future

Third, It would also nice having the possibility to switch skin of Vortex with the profile automatically (this is just aestetics)

 

Download -> The bug about the downloads stuck in "pending" after "download.urls is not a function" is already known, I've noticed just the missing of a filter abut "pending" downloads AND that if you click on the "view all download" I had an empty line over all the list blocked at 0% (Colud be related with the "in pending" issues or with the "not resume") unfortunately I don't know when it's poped-up, I just noticed by chance.

 

Games -> Nothing to say about that, except that I see it better as a Sub tab of the Profile Tab, but this is just personal taste.

 

Extentions -> Not digged much on it, but if it does what I Think is pretty nice BUT, I'll move it to the Setting tabs with a big message "don't mess up with that"

 

Settings -> Nothing to say about, it's simple, clear and (thanks god) with lot of information buttons :tongue:

 

Mods:

NOTE: Again I use Fallout 4 as testing game, Fresh install, 215 download (some added manually some downloaded by Vortex itself)

 

 

Mods -> I have to admit that I miss somehow the order of NMM (tree folders) and MO (Empty folders and Categories), but luckily Vortex give better feedbacks if something is messing around, so having a bit of disorder is a small price for that.

 

The archivie could be ordered and filtered pretty nicely but not manually, this could give a little problem if you'd like to strick together a sub group (like a Mod, it's update and the AE patch, for example)

I know it's possible to create a sub-category in the categories menù, but so far I'm not really confortable with that (MAYBE it's just a matter of habit, again)

 

There's no use of the right button and this is felt like "lack of options" in the Standard windows user, again: you'll need to look a bit around and you'll find all, but it feels somehow weird.

 

Another thing I've noticed is the first-feeling "How the hell I rename things in here?", this before discover (by accident) that a double click oped the Metadata tab

 

So, generally, There's a new setmoves that is a bit distant from what Windows users are used to, not much, but it makes Vortex felt like alien/strange, In my opinion could be solved with a right-click menù with some shortcuts ("Open Data", "rename", etc.)

 

Next thing is the dependancy rules, I like it, really great thing, BUT, it's a bit difficult to use the Drag'n'drop if you must set a rule between two distant files (again, 215 mods list, and yes, I know that I could simply Rename and filter the mod, but sometime isn't convinient), I know that IF there's a conflict you could use the Red Lighting, but sometime could be useful setting things differently and manually easily, so maybe, leaving the Drag'n'drop available (I like it) and add a secondary way of selection from a list?

 

Again: I know that the focus is about fixing, but, one suggestion for a new features: Merging Folders IN Vortex (you get ModAMainFiles, ModAUpdate, ModABodyslides, ModAPatchAE, you Merge the first with the second [selecting which is overwritting the other, for files and Metadata], the result with the third and so on). I know that could be done outside Vortex but this way you'll have more order.

 

Mods -> Data sub-tab -> I love it, Link, modify, update, override, personal notes, just perfect

 

 

Plugins -> simple and neat, but still the same problem about No right-click things (that could be useful as a hint to see the "override load order" sub Tab)

Anyway there's a problem with this tab (in my opinion) and as we can see in this forum, way more people get confused about the possibility of this.

My suggestion is to add a LOT more info data (like in the setting tab) on the various elements explaining how they could define their load order rules (also change the icon "Manage dependancies" to "Load Order Rules")

It will be useful also to could track the Mods that is actually in charge for a specific Esp/Esm (like "Z_Horizon.esp", Deployed by "Horizon v1.4.8") (debug purposes, etc.)

The Edits to the load order (like "Global priority") sometimes doesn't show up when you use "short now" until you close vortex and open it again

 

 

SaveGames -> Not tested yet, as said, I was focusing on the Mod management

 

 

Notification Tab -> Really good, just some minor problem, and some extras suggestions like:

Possibility to Directly open the conflict menu from the notification (instead of an highlight that most of the times couldn't show all the conflict in one screen) AND/OR a filter for the folder with pending conflicts

Dismiss all notification button, Simple and neat, obviously only for the dismissable message (also "Close" is a way better word :tongue:)

Limit the size of the Notification tab (Managing big amount of files make it very long), Normally it isn't a problem (if downloading 4-5 files or updating) but with big install yes...

When the notification tab get oversized the Right side of Vortex become difficult to use (for example, If I'm downloading 30 files it keep repoen itsel and adding thing, so I must stop what I'm doing, dismiss all, and start again until the tab become annoying again)

A "Quiet mode" would be great too (the notification tab doesn't open itself but simply shows an alert with the number of notification, like a little number on it)

 

When "missing masters" get notified with >1 missings the message don't get updated correctly when you solve the error (you must close Vortex and open it again)

 

 

Other things (various):

In the future could be also useful this:

Possibility to Backup the main files of Vortex (like the Dependency Rules, load order etc.) in something like a TXT format [Debug purposes, asking help, simply paranoia]
Support for "*" and "?" character in the Name filter box

 

 

Simple doubt:
Vortex will always require to open it when online or it's just for the limited alpha?

 

 

 

Ok, said so: sorry for the wall of text, I've tried to be clear as possible.

Let me know if there are some questions or doubts or simply not understandable statements.

 

The add of suggestions it's not meant to be a part of the discussion, just an extra about How I'll feel better with Vortex, so, as can you imagine is quite arbitrary.

No need to respon to those suggestions (why is best this way / what would be better that other way / etc)

 

Bye

[VaultBoyAM]

Dashboard -> Game panels should be more of an overview about the game and your mod stats, currently it's just a link to the modding tools for the game, which should just be in the mods tab.

Mod sub tab -> Shouldn't be an overlay, especially one that hides the most important buttons in the mods tab.

Overall -> Context menus are a part of nearly every OS, even mobile OS. It's simply quick and convenient to have everything related to some thing be as close as a right click on that thing.

Vortex won't need to be online once we're done with the limited alpha.

Edited February 4, 2018 by VaultBoyAM

[HalfLazy]

Update:

Tested for a while in a new Game (again Fallout 4, 250+ Mods)

 

Save Game Tab -> Nope, dosen't work... My guess is that this features is not yet enabled

 

Load order Re-arranged without problem.

 

 

Now I'll try a fresh install of X-com 2

[ousnius]

The savegame tab works for me on SSE.

[HalfLazy]

The savegame tab works for me on SSE.

 

Cannot try with Skyrim SE, but with Fallout 4 I can't see them.

 

Did you do something? or they were simply here? Profile savegame? something?

[masternetra]

 

The savegame tab works for me on SSE.

 

Cannot try with Skyrim SE, but with Fallout 4 I can't see them.

 

Did you do something? or they were simply here? Profile savegame? something?

 

Yea the savegame tab was bugged for the fallout games, it's fixed in today's release. Can't import from NMM on New Vegas at least. I dunno about skyrim or oblivion, etc.

Edited February 6, 2018 by masternetra

[HalfLazy]

Yep, now work, tnx for the info.