Essential mods are: FOOK2 > FallOut Overhaul Kit. Gives weapons REAL names instead of Ultra-Generic-Please-Don't-Sue-Us names, as well as improved textures across the board, makes followers less retarded and makes you have to give them ammo and a plethora of CUSTOMISABLE gameplay tweaks. NMCs Textures > Install after other mods, but wow does this make a hell of a difference. Vanilla FO3 is utterly unplayable. Have a look at the images, you will not be disappointed. MMM > Marts Mutant Mod. Considered one of THE best if not THE best mod ever made for Fallout 3. Now, I will admit, I have not personally used it so I cannot give my opinion, but I will be using it on my next playthough. Fellout > Again, imo 100% Essential. Removes the hideous green tinting all over the place and makes Nights actually Dark (as you would expect in a freaking Post Apocalyptic world) and brutal. Weapon Mod Kits > The mod so amazing they had to nick it for New Vegas. Nuf Said. :D Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch > Does what it says on the Tin. The Broken Steel patch is bugged on Rivet City though, you'll need to patch it with this. CASM > One Billion percent essential. Gamebryo has always had funky autosaves, but FO3's issues are REALLY bad. This replaces that entirely and fixes those issues. DC interiors > As mentioned an outstanding mod. You already mentioned "There is more where that came from." GNR mod which is another excellent mod. After that it really is a matter of personal taste. I personally have the HD Audio mod, a Quicker Entrance to Underworld mod, a high Quality Moon mod, an autoaim Fix mod, Level Cap remover, Faster Pipboy light and a Sprint Mod. I never did like Wanderers Edition myself, but each to their own. :) Don't forget to get FOSE (FallOut Script Extended) and FOMM (Fallout Mod Manager), both of which are needed for most mods anyway!