Help with a fresh install with mods.

[N0blesse0blige]

There's a TL;DR version at the bottom. I realize I tend to ramble...

 

Preface:

 

I really hope someone can help on this. I had installed Fallout 3 with a selection of mods but it just becomes a constantly crashing disaster. It would go about ten minutes on average before it'd just abruptly crash for seemingly no reason. I would just be running around in the wasteland doing nothing and it'd explode. I could put up with it for awhile but eventually I ran into a point where it'd finally crash at one particular part. That part was trying to enter Bailey's Crossroads. Ultimately I determined it was due to FWE as it finally worked when I had only that mod disabled. I tried for hours to figure out the issue but I have hardly the time to play, let alone tweaking for days to get something to work. So I've decided to just uninstall everything and start from scratch. Before I install anything though I was hoping someone more knowledgeable could help me with the proper steps in getting the desired mods working, and hopefully limit the constant crashing. So anyway...

 

What I want to be able to play:

 

• Fallout 3 of course.
• All its DLC.
• Fallout Wanderers Edition
• NMC's Texture Pack for Fallout 3
• Mart's Mutant Mod
• Fellout
• Weapon Mod Kits
• Fallout 3 Redesigned - Formerly Project Beauty HD
• Underground Hideout
• DCInteriors Project
• Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch
• MTUI

 

What I have:

• Fallout 3 - GOTY
• Windows 8
• AMD FX-8320 Eight-Core Processor
• 8.00 GB of RAM
• Radeon HD 7950

 

So I know I should start with installing the base game and its DLC. Here's my first question though... Do I let it install to its default path, or can I install it where I want? I ask because I like to organize my files and I had originally installed it in a games directory I created. When I was reading through other issues I kept seeing the question popup as to whether they had it installed in program files or not.

 

Next step I assume is to install some sort of mod manager. I was using Nexus Mod Manager because I would also like to mod New Vegas and Skyrim. I do not know if there is something better however... Should I use Nexus Mod Manager, or is there a better functioning manager?

 

After that I assume it's to downloading and installing the mods. So...Is there a particular order I should use to installing the mods? And are there other mods I need to get the ones I want to function? I know I had to download some FOIP thing to get some the mods before to work together, but I don't know if I should be getting anything else.

 

After mods are installed I think I need to update the load order. What should my load order look like?I used BOSS to arrange my load order before, and for the most part it seemed to be working. There was just the issues of constant crashes and then the problem with Operation Anchorage DLC crash that prompted me to start over and make this post.

 

And finally...Are there any other tools I should be using, or files to edit? I see people talk about tools like FO3edit but I wasn't confident enough to really use them. Is it necessary to really get things working? Also I tried a dozen 'fixes' that changed an .ini file (sorry I can't recall the name now) to make it run multicore and such. None seemed to make any difference.

 

Thank you for reading this if you made it this far. I understand I may be requesting a lot and I tend to write more than necessary, so I appreciate any help anyone could offer. I just really want to enjoy this game with its mods as I have already played through the vanilla a few times.

 

TL;DR:

 

• Want to install FO3/DLC/Mods fresh to maximize work-ability. Desired mods and computer specs bulleted above.
• What steps do I take in making them all work and hopefully not constantly crash my game?
• Do I let the game install in the default path, or can I install it in another directory?
• Should I use Nexus Mod Manager or is another Manager better? Is there a particular order to installing the mods?
• Are there other mods I need to get?
• What should load order look like?
• Are there any tools I should be using (such as FO3edit)?
• Are there any files I should be editing (such as the .ini)?

 

 

 

 

[Aonghus]

Starting with point 2 in your list above:

 

2). Good luck with finding that. If you do, please post on the Nexus and you will instantly become a God.

3). Not only is installing to the non-default path possible, it almost seems to be obligatory in getting Fallout 3 to run on newer systems. (Know this is the case for 7, not sure with 8, as I have avoided it like it was a deathclaw with a toothache.)

4). Yes. You should use a mod manager. Both FOMM and NMM have things to recommend them. In the end, pick one, you won't go wrong with either.

5). Review the readmes for the mods you want to install. They should give you a list of any other mods that are required to make them work. If you still have a question, check the file on the Nexus. Some modders are still bad about not listing all mods required to make their creation run. (Fortunately this is becoming less and less common.)

6). BOSS will provide you with the best answer for that question. For the unrecognized mods, don't forget the "User Rules" feature of BOSS. It provides the ability to create a basic framework to sort unrecognized mods.

7). Some will disagree with me on this (often quite vehemently,) but I view a merged patch and Master Update as essential to getting heavily modded game to run. The Bash series of programs provides similar functionality, but as I do not use them, I cannot offer any advice about them.

8). Yes, you should be tweaking your fallout3.ini file. This site will walk you through step-by-step (as well as providing some nifty pointers on optimizing the graphics.) : http://www.tweakguides.com/Fallout3_1.html.

 

Hope this helps.

[LordDakier]

A few I can think of;

Install FO3 to C:Games rather than program files

Install base game then 1.7 patch and finally DLC.

Install FOMM, dont use NMM.

Install unofficial FO3 patch and its updated version.

Install 4gb memory fix

Change ini file to utilize multiple cores

As stated alway merge patch and master update, but do a master restore before you delete and recreate your merged patch when making changes.

[Aonghus]

Good advice from Dakier (I use FOMM, but am more ambivalent about NMM. I have heard good things about it.) If you have the GOTY edition (through disc or steam,) you are already patched at 1.7, so that step is redundant.

[N0blesse0blige]

Thanks for the responses. I'm working on installing it again and realized last time I never installed the "Large Address Aware Enabler for FO3" which was recommended by NMC in his Texture Pack. So maybe that was contributing to some of my crashes. Anyway, I'm a bit unsure about what a 'merge patch' and 'master update' are. Is there a link I can read about these or could someone provide a summary on what this is about?

 

Edit:

Alright, ran into my first major issue. I'm trying to get the game to run but it's crashing on startup. It's related to MMM as it loads fine when I don't have it checked in FOMM. Think I may have solved this one. I removed 'Mart's Mutant Mod - FWE Master Release + Project Beauty.esp' and it runs again. I'll leave the load order though in case anyone happens to have any other advice.

 

[Removed list as it was old and no longer relevant. See my next post for updated load list.]

Edited September 19, 2013 by N0blesse0blige

[Aonghus]

Mot complete manual for fo3edit available: http://fallout3.nexusmods.com/mods/8629/?. It's by no means exhaustive, but it should get you started.

[AlfredTetzlaff]

Hi,

 

- FO3 Wanderers Edition - Project Beauty.esp

- FO3 Wanderers Edition - Project Beauty (Followers Enhanced).esp

remove those two as well

and IIRC only pick one of those:

- FO3 Wanderers Edition - Optional Restore Tracers.esp

- FO3 Wanderers Edition - Optional Restore Tracers (automatics only).esp

[N0blesse0blige]

Removed the two 'FO3 Wanderers Edition - Project Beauty' per Alfred's suggestion. And I unchecked 'FO3 Wanderers Edition - Optional Restore Tracers.esp' (I'm not sure why it was checked). I also attempted merge patch and master update, and I think I did it right.

 

So I booted up the game to make sure it's all working and it first crashed once I got onto the wasteland, causing me to lose hope that all of this helped any. But I tried again and I think it improved things. For one I was able to enter Bailey's Crossroads, which was causing the game to crash before. I noticed though that it at first caused a (not responding) but I let it go for a few seconds and it loaded it. So that alone is an improvement over what I had before. I also was able to make it to Bailey's Crossroads without any crashes during my trip across the wasteland, another improvement. I am noticing however that the game will occasionally slowdown or stutter, which I never had happen before. I'm beginning to think that those slowdown and stutters were actually crashes before. I can put up with them better than crashes though, so I'd happily make that trade.

 

I think all that's left is to tweak the .ini as Aonghus suggested. I didn't have time this morning and wanted to test what I had before work. I'll probably work on that part this evening or tomorrow. Also I'm going to include my current load order again to see if anyone can spot anything else to change. Thanks again for the help, I'm thinking it helped but I need more time to test.

 

Fallout3.esm

Anchorage.esm

ThePitt.esm

BrokenSteel.esm

PointLookout.esm

Zeta.esm

Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch.esm

CRAFT.esm

CALIBR.esm

FO3 Wanderers Edition - Main File.esm

Mart's Mutant Mod.esm

DCInteriors_ComboEdition.esm

FO3 Wanderers Edition - Alternate Travel.esp

UndergroundHideout.esp

FO3 Wanderers Edition - Main File.esp

FO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC Anchorage.esp

FO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC The Pitt.esp

FO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC Broken Steel.esp

FO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC Point Lookout.esp

FO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC Mothership Zeta.esp

FO3 Wanderers Edition - Followers Enhanced (BrokenSteel).esp

FO3 Wanderers Edition - Optional Restore Tracers (automatics only).esp

WeaponModKits.esp

WeaponModKits - FWE Master Release.esp

WeaponModKits - OperationAnchorage.esp

WeaponModKits - ThePitt.esp

WeaponModKits - BrokenSteel.esp

WeaponModKits - PointLookout.esp

WeaponModKits - Zeta.esp

Mart's Mutant Mod.esp

Mart's Mutant Mod - DLC Anchorage.esp

Mart's Mutant Mod - DLC The Pitt.esp

Mart's Mutant Mod - DLC Broken Steel.esp

Mart's Mutant Mod - DLC Point Lookout.esp

Mart's Mutant Mod - DLC Zeta.esp

Mart's Mutant Mod - FWE Master Release + DLCs.esp

Fellout-pipboylight.esp

Fellout-Full.esp

Fellout-Anchorage.esp

Fellout-BrokenSteel.esp

Fellout-PointLookout.esp

Fellout-Zeta.esp

merged patch.esp

Total active plugins: 43

Total plugins: 52

Edited September 19, 2013 by N0blesse0blige