Downgrade Fallout 4 or run the 1.10.984 version?

[Leboa24]

I have decided to come back to fallout 4 after about a year or so since I last did a playthrough. I never updated the game when the new update came out as it was breaking everything and I left it be. However, I usually do a clean install whenever I come back to a game and did so this time as well, thus my fallout is updated to 1.10.984. I'm someone who usually plays pretty close to the 255 plugin limit with a overall modlist close to 350ish general mods. This includes all the usual f4se mods such as looksmenu and place and many other main staples. Should I downgrade to 1.10.163 and find the use the files on nexus for that? Or should I simply try to use all the updated files with the new update and see how it goes? As I said i've been out of the main f4 nexus for awhile and don't know if the issue is fixed and the new update is playable (let alone if all the mods are updated to it) or should i play it safe and go with the downgraded version of everything. I would appreciate any advice or news regarding this as I'd love to build my new playthrough but just don't know the status of all the mod pages and such.  

[363rdChemicalCompany]

Depending on my playthrough I run between 280 to 360 mods,

Am I still locked on game version .163.

And the arguments for that were strong back when I decided to lock it down ( via never updating and setting my .acf file to "read only")

 

But as modders have mostly caught up with .984 the areguments agasint it are, perhaps, not as overwhelming as before.

Still some of my mods including some of my main must-haves, only work on  .163, so this is where I am right now still.

Also the worst feature of  .984, spamming the user right on vault exit with all sorts of goofy and terribly unbalanced CC quests that were added for free to the game can now be prevented or managed:

Disablement :

https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/82345

Postponement:

https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/82311

 

A couple decent new mods have come out in the .984 BA2 format ( thought there is a conversion app on Nexus, for BA2 files, you can use if you run .163, no guarantees though. I gave it a try once and had issues, but that does not mean you will).

I would also check the status of your favorite must-have  mods to see if they are unupdated. That could sway you either way.

I still prefer .163, but perhaps the case is not as overwhelming anymore, as it still was, say, late last year.

 

[Leboa24]

Thanks for your input @363rdChemicalCompany, really appreciate it. I think I'm going to stick with your process, I can always update and upgrade later I suppose. But yeah it seems like that seems to be the stable choice for now, especially since there doesn't seem to be any major f4se dependant major mods coming, I think I'll keep my old load order of mods and stick it through with the 163. Glad there are others out there with the same mindset, just wanted to make sure I wasn't being a 'stuck in the past' kinda guy. But will use your suggestions if I do decide to make the switch. Again thanks for taking the time to bring me up to speed.

[363rdChemicalCompany]

3 hours ago, Leboa24 said:

Thanks for your input @363rdChemicalCompany, really appreciate it. I think I'm going to stick with your process, I can always update and upgrade later I suppose. But yeah it seems like that seems to be the stable choice for now, especially since there doesn't seem to be any major f4se dependant major mods coming, I think I'll keep my old load order of mods and stick it through with the 163. Glad there are others out there with the same mindset, just wanted to make sure I wasn't being a 'stuck in the past' kinda guy. But will use your suggestions if I do decide to make the switch. Again thanks for taking the time to bring me up to speed.

Thank you for the kind words.

BTW CBBE recently has been updated to .984 but some users still report issues with this updated version.

My current load order is SO stable, offers 4 times the vanilla map size, 2-3 times the quests, 3-4 times the NPCs, With female NPCs being much more attractive than in Vanilla, Locations such as Diamond City expanded, made more plausible full of NPCs, Game Armor and weapons updated to make them a bit more realistic w/o turning the place into COD. A complete suite of working AAF mods, so the hotties I rescue will show their gratitude in all ways.. (also a realism mod IMO)

So yeah, I am happy with my set-up and see little reason to risk it.

Maybe in a couple of years there will be some major .984 mods that would get me to switch but not now.

[Weightaholic]

Hmmm.  I never upgraded, and having read what it adds, can't see any pressing reason to.  Most of my mods are pretty simple though I do have a habit of updating NPC faces occasionally, so that appears would be a problem.

Unless you see any pressing need to upgrade I would say why bother?

[subaverage]

A reason for using the updated version might be Creation Club content or some day a mod that you absolutely want to have that only runs on next-gen is made. I believe there is a way to use the CC content on pre next-gen FO4, but you won't get new content (if some is made) easily. I don't miss anything from CC so I stay on .163 as long as I can and proceed acc. to "never touch a running system". But anyways in my eyes thinking about using the update begins with checking whether your "core" mods are updated, yet. This means everything depending on F4SE and possibly even body replacers. If so, you could give it a try. An advantage is that Steam should believe that you updated your game as long as you don't verify game file integrity even when you downgrade. If you downgrade you need this: https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/81859. (I just saw that you already have version 984. So I had to edit my post a bit. One still should read before writing)

Additon:

If you want to use the CK on a downgraded FO4 you need the downgraded version of the CK, too. You find some tutorials in the net how to get it from Steam or other websites.

Edited Tuesday at 12:48 PM by subaverage

[fraquar]

Yeah, anyone that reinstalls through Steam - they will be on .984 - by default from here until they decide to do another update.

GOG users - they will be on .163 by default.   They don't offer the .984 upgrade (for obvious reasons).

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You be you.   

If you see mods that are .163 only that you deem absolutely essential to requirements (with no alternative - or any hope on the horizon of an "upgrade") - then you'd consider a downgrade and all that comes with that.

There is no easy answer - especially if you plan on modding the bejesus out of the game.   The mods that are the most important to you will dictate the choice you make in most cases.

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GOG users have it easy.   They'd need to see tha absolute killer mod they couldn't live without only available on .984 to even consider upgrading.    To do that they'd need to install/reinstall Steam and either load it up from their library or purchase it.   I have it on Steam and I haven't had Steam installed in years.  I'm not the 100-200+ game library guy on Steam - I'm an 8 game guy and 6 of those were already available on GOG.   Easy choice to move platforms.

Edited Tuesday at 12:23 AM by fraquar