Hi. Want to start modding this game. Guides on the wiki seem outdated

[dtmwerks]

So...I currently have 0 mods and JUST bought the ultimate edition of DOA. The way I should go about modding is...

 

1) DL NMM

 

2) DL DAMM using NMM

 

3) Dl DAO mods and DAMM will handle the rest? Making sure not to use NMM since it doesn't handle the files.

 

Is it pretty much that simple? I'm pretty slow with this kind of stuff

[Thandal]

Ok, Welcome to the Best CPRG, and the Best Modding Site, in the world!

 

First, as someone who has been playing DA:O since its release in 2009, and who has completed the entire sage, (DA:O with TSP, RtO and WK, DA:A, GoA, WH, and DA2 with TEP, Legacy, and MotA) about two-dozen times, believe me when I say, "Play the first time without any mods at all."

 

Apply the 1.05 patch, but then just play the game!

 

If you enjoy story and characters, you will want to play it again and again.

 

See my post here for an expanded discussion and links to two useful sets of information:

"Good Mods - Opinions", and "How to Use Dragon Age Mods for Dummies".

 

While there are a few mods that I might recommend for the first-time player, none are vital.

If you insist, they are:

Qwinn's Fixpack

DA Rules Fixpack

MRP

ZDF for MRP

DT for MRP

 

All of those are discussed in the "Good Mods" thread. But seriously, they aren't needed and you'll have a much better idea of the kinds of mods you'd like (and what they're doing for you in-game) if you play without them the first time!

 

AFTER THAT FIRST PLAY-THROUGH:

Personally, I don't use NMM (although I have it for testing purposes) because I prefer to manage my mods directly. I want to know exactly what's where, and name it something I choose. That said, with the exception of some complicated (multiple choice or otherwise non-standard) packages, NMM does very well with everything except ".override" mods. For those you absolutely have to employ the DAO-ModManager (DAMM). The two can co-exist just fine, so using one doesn't preclude the other.

 

BTW: NMM will have absolutely no idea what to do with DAMM if you try to download it that way. After all DAMM isn't a mod, it's another mod manager!

 

Happy (modded) Gaming! :thumbsup:

[dtmwerks]

Hmm I think I have 1.05. It should auto update though if I use steam?

 

edit: ohh, the reason I thought I needed NMM first was when I tried to dl DAMM it says download (nmm) or download manually. Guess i'll just download manually.

 

and for the most part I agree I don't need too many if any mods at all during the first playthrough. just SOME things are bugging me already such as

 

no "take all loot" shortcut

successful steal doesn't show what I stole

improved graphics/smoother textures

 

that's about it so far haha. thanks so much for your advice.

 

edit 2: "None of the managers, not even the Nexus Mod Manager (NMM), can handle them all correctly." - so I can't just use DAMM and get started? I need two mod managers?

Edited December 23, 2013 by dtmwerks

[Thandal]

Hmm I think I have 1.05. It should auto update though if I use steam?

 

No, last time I checked neither Steam nor EA/Origin applied the 1.05 patch automatically.

 

edit: ohh, the reason I thought I needed NMM first was when I tried to dl DAMM it says download (nmm) or download manually. Guess i'll just download manually.

 

and for the most part I agree I don't need too many if any mods at all during the first playthrough. just SOME things are bugging me already such as

 

no "take all loot" shortcut

successful steal doesn't show what I stole

The "DA Rules FixPack" has options for both of these.

improved graphics/smoother textures

The most popular texture mod is "JB3Textures". I don't like the result, (too sharp) but that's me...

 

that's about it so far haha. thanks so much for your advice.

 

edit 2: "None of the managers, not even the Nexus Mod Manager (NMM), can handle them all correctly." - so I can't just use DAMM and get started? I need two mod managers?

 

You don't need any managers at all to "get started". All DA mods can be installed individually except for one specific type (a ".override" mod requires DAMM. There aren't many such mods. In fact, only two that I know of...) As the "how to" article I linked tells you, the built-in "DAUpdater" can be used for all ".dazip" mods, and all the others will have their own installation instructions.

[dtmwerks]

Sweet. Thanks again.

 

Dragon age configure menu:

 

DAOrigins.exe v1.05

DAOriginslauncher.exe v1.01

DAoriginsconfig.exe v1.03

 

I just have auto update enabled, never dled from site. Are these up to date?

[Thandal]

Yup, those are the most recent versions of all three file, (as of today, anyway.)

 

NOTE: The DAOriginsLauncher has been deprecated by EA.

It is no longer included in the downloaded install package, and will be removed by any update done through the EA/Origin site.

 

You can still get to (almost) all of what the Launcher used to do by using DAOriginsConfig.exe. I know of only one (useful) thing missing from that interface.

[dtmwerks]

Ok DAMM installed, file paths worked out, read DAMM manual, understanding things finally.

 

Now my first legitimate query I think: navigating bioware social network.

 

I can't even FIND qwinns fixpack unless I google it or go to the link directly provided by you guys. It says it's under DA gameplay mods. So I go to projects -> DA gameplay mods, ordered by downloads. Not there. Order by name. Not there. Search "qwinn". Not there. What am I doing wrong?

 

I mean, obviously it's fine to dl it from the link you guys give me, but I'm not going to be able to find other mods.

 

I suppose it's not the biggest issue, I'm only installing bug fixes mostly, but it still is odd that I can't find it myself on their site...

[Thandal]

Yeah, search, (and pretty much everything else) on the BSN is what it is.

 

Don't think EA/BioWare are putting any more resources into it, and many parts are being shut down. So as you discovered, Google is your friend. :thumbsup: