load order for followers?

[firsTraveler]

Where should new follower .exp files be put in the load order? Particularly should they be before or after new weapon and armor .esp files. I'm going to use AFT and I know that has to go after the followers.

 

Thanks

[ripple]

Use BOSS to handle your load order management.

[firsTraveler]

BOSS is good for a first sort, but don't trust it. It doesn't recognize too many mods and it orders others incorrectly.

[jordangamer007]

Hey ripple try giving a different answer besides "use boss". Are you a robot or something?

[ripple]

Hey ripple try giving a different answer besides "use boss". Are you a robot or something?

No, I am not a robot. What a dumb question.

 

Did you reply to a thread over a month old just to ask me that question?

 

AFT is recognized by BOSS, use BOSS to set the load order of AFT.

[myztikrice]

Depending on your mod configuration using BOSS will not sort AFT properly at all. I'm not sure if it's you, but in about 80% of topics is some generic 'use BOSS' answer that never helps anyone.

[rhowington]

AFT needs to be loaded as far down the list as possible. This is what my load order looks like:

 

Follower Trap Safety.esp=1

ethereal_elven_overhaul.esp=1

OBISDB.esp=1

OBIS.esp=1

TimingIsEverything.esp=1

SkyFalls Plus SkyMills - All DLC.esp=1

SkyMills - Animated Distant Mills.esp=1

Convenient Horses.esp=1

WATER.esp=1

WATER Plants.esp=1

WATER DB Waves.esp=1

WATER DG.esp=1

AmazingFollowerTweaks.esp=1

Bashed Patch, 0.esp=1

 

My followers are directly above Follower Trap Safety. For me this is a very stable load order.

[ripple]

BOSS is a community project, and relies on user contributions to grow its database. It's primary function is to provide a load order 'template' (integral for heavily modded load orders). It boggles me why even some purportedly 'experienced' users would suggest that BOSS is 'useless' because its template cannot conform to every single mod combinations, or randomly pull out baseless stats like '80%' to characterize how 'useless' BOSS is (in which case, I'd have to humbly state that 98.5% of mod users would disagree with such a claim).

 

It probably would have helped if the OP had provided a list of mods, or better, a list of mods not recognized by BOSS, so that we can make specific suggestions rather than have to resort psychic powers and divine meditation. Since s/he didn't, BOSS is an indispensable -starting point- in the process of learning how to manage load orders, including the eventuality of leatning how to manage mods it does not recognize. If you disagree that BOSS is a good starting point for managing load orders, I'd certainly like to be educated on the alternatives.

Edited October 14, 2013 by ripple

[myztikrice]

Your suggestions are not 'use BOSS as a starting point', they are just 'use BOSS.'

[Jeir]

Standalone followers can go pretty much anywhere above AFT. If I remember correctly, when I had it installed, BOSS put Atvir somewhere in the middle of my mod list, and it worked fine. Sorry, 'use BOSS' is probably the best thing for standalone/new followers, as for the most part, it's right about placing mods. =)

 

But, regardless of where BOSS puts them, any follower makeover mods need to go below mods such as AFT/UFO, and also below mods such as Ethereal Elven Overhaul, Enhanced Character Edit/Character Making Extender, SkyRe_Races, and anything similar to these (BOSS tends to put them below AFT/UFO). Otherwise, the aforementioned mods will overwrite the data in the makeover mods and you'll end up with mismatching head tone (the dark/light head bug), and the new appearance simply not being there.

 

I have to move my follower makeover mods pretty much every time I run BOSS, as it always puts them where they shouldn't be. Today, I tried putting the makeover mods below AFT, but above EEO/CME/SkyRe_Races, and I got an elf with the light face bug and no warpaint. Moved all the makeover mods below EEO etc., and he was fixed.