Wrye Bash and BOSS- Any advantages for the problem free mod user?

[z3nb4st4rd]

I have successfully used OBMM to heavily modify Oblivion for over a year now. I am running over 200 Mods ( all of which I consider crucial). I haven't encountered any problems that an examination of the load order in OBMM could not solve. Many of the comments and postings I have run across mention Wrye Bash and BOSS as though they are indespensible. If someone can be bothered, please explain in a nut shell what I might be missing in not looking into these tools. I don't want to fix something that isn't broken but if it would improve performance or load times, or if it would make it easier to roll in some of the overhaul mods on top of what I am already running, it would be nice to know.

 

Thanks,

z3n b4st4rd

[bben46]

I don't consider either one actually essential. They can be helpful in some circumstances. Like OBMM, they are tools, and have their strong points and weak points.

 

BOSS is a one trick pony. All it does is set your load order based on a database of several thousand mods. It does this very well, as long as your mods are in the database. It appends those it does not recognize onto the end of the list and suggests using a manual ordering program, such as OBMM to place them. It also makes some suggestions for combining some mods - using Wrye Bash.

 

Wrye Bash is more of a Swiss army knife, like OBMM, but It has a different set of tools. Some tools do the same thing as OBMM, but in a different way, with different features. while others do completely different things - such as the bashed patch feature that makes it easier to combine similar mods into a single mod, freeing up slots in your load order. Wrye Bash is not a replacement for OBMM, It is a complement. And they work well together.

 

Wrye Bash is more difficult for a non geek to work with and I recommend OBMM for them. Many of them use OBMM exclusively for the load order function and have never tried to use any of the other tools it provides. They are not candidates for Wrye Bash.

 

BOSS is a good starting point for someone who has installed a bunch of mods with no clue as to the load order. But if your load order works, It will not help, and may mess it up. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.)

[Megatarius]

I'm one of the above described people who only uses OBMM for load order.

 

However, I use Wrye Bash for one thing: you can copy a character face from one save game to another.