Rusty player needing help with... This, I don't even.

[MonsterTamerBilly]

Haven't touched Fallout 3 since 2009, and I got pretty surprised to see that there's mods being updated and developed yet after five years, so I felt like trying it again, wipe the dust from my old Fallout 3 GOTY and have a good time... Or so was the plan, since three weeks ago @____@

 

I got too used to let BOSS do the hard work with load orders, but you know there's something seriously wrong when, once used to manage this game, the load order becomes a friggin mess in comparison to recommended LOs. So I try it myself, and... *sigh* I forgot I had to deal with install orders too. Had to delete the whole Steam folder to ensure mint condition on my next tryout...

 

Aaaaand I sheepishly believed that FWE and FOOK2 could work together. They can't. Found this on an offhand comment buried in some old locked topic from two years ago. Thanks for the misleading Top 10 Mods list, PCGamer, making it sound like they all worked together... ù~u;;

 

Delete everything, reinstall everything, study guides again to ensure I didn't made some screwup.... Game still CTDs before Bethesda's logo even come up. FFFFFFFFFFFFF...!!! *about to pull an Egoraptor tantrum*

 

So now I'm on my way to the third retry and I still don't know what I'm doing wrong. I'm seriously losing my temper over this issue. Please help... Q.Q

 

What I want: installing "the works", as in, the usual FWE with DarnUI, WMK and MMM, throw in some graphic shining like Fellout and NMC Performance Pack, because this rig here is a dino that keeps lagging with Skyrim... Also another reason I'm coming back to F3... Maybe some F3R but I'm unsure if that'll screw up the models from Ties That Bind, which was also another BIG reason for me to come back to this game once I saw some Let's Play recently. And after that is done, which I'm pretty sure is where I'm stuck since... *sigh* Q~Q Anyway, after that, install two of my all-time fave mods from back then, Underground Hideout and Coyote N.A.P.A.. That's it. Only this handful of mods. Maybe something else if you guys want to throw in a suggestion, but by the time I wasn't planning to uninstall <=> reinstall that much, so if that alone works I'm happy.

 

What I need: just a few pointers in how-to. I know the groundwork, FOMM, FOSE, some masterlist orders... Also learned how not to trust BOSS for this game, gah >XP What I really need is mostly what should I install first, and some load order help, because three times in a row, right...? Something in there is angry at me and I don't even comprehend the nature of its attack, Ness! Q~Q

 

Ok, end of walltext, sorry for the long read.

Edited June 8, 2014 by Billy MT

[M48A5]

Billy- Hi.

 

First, equipment specifications and install path. With this information, we will be able to get a better idea of what mods you can run. There are a couple of posts you should read before going too far.

 

http://forums.bethsoft.com/topic/1465357-installing-fallout-3-with-windows-78-and-xp/

 

http://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?/topic/652876-fallout-3-modding-and-you/

[MonsterTamerBilly]

Oh sorry. My rigs a Windows 7 SP1 64-bit runner, with AMD E350 Processor, 4Gb RAM, with an AMD Radeon HD 6670 card. Can't upgrade it yet, RL restrictions still lingering for a long future .w.;;

 

Also the install path is the vanilla Steam one, C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Fallout 3 GOTY

 

The game runs fine without mods, but you know... it's the mods that are the reason I'm playing it again '~';

Edited June 8, 2014 by Billy MT

[M48A5]

A check online indicated you have an AMD CPU at 1.6 GHz with a lower end GPU. You can try adding mods, but go slow and test in the game after you add each one. You should uninstall the game, delete all files and folders and then install the game outside of "Program Files" and outside of any steam folders. This will get you out of the Windows User Access Control and allow you to easily mod the game.

 

If you want to try one of the NMC texture packs, go for the smallest one and if it works, you can try a larger one. Before you add any mods, run the vanilla game to make sure your rig can run it. Then go through the tutorial and exit the vault.

Make a save and start adding your mods, one at a time. Checking in the game to make sure it works before you add another.

 

Good Luck.

[MonsterTamerBilly]

That doesn't really answer my question, sorry to say '~';; Least now I could narrow down the problem. But it's like I was guessing, it's the FOIP patches. There's so many overwrites going on that I dunno what I should install first. The mods' descriptions aren't helping there as well.

[BlackRampage]

Post your load order.

 

The FOIP patches are also a little outdated by now. Most mods they support have been updated to newer versions in the meantime. If you plan on using the FOIP patches anyway (alternatives have been made by now though) make sure to install the exact version of the mods the patches support.

 

Maybe some F3R but I'm unsure if that'll screw up the models from Ties That Bind

 

Unlikely. Project Beauty only alters vanilla faces. But since it's better to be safe then sorry; install Ties that bind after Project Beauty/ F3 Redesigned.

 

Thanks for the misleading Top 10 Mods list, PCGamer

 

Heh, that top 10 list is ancient by now :tongue:

[MonsterTamerBilly]

Load order gonna have to wait. Reinstalling everything again... For the FOURTH TIME... Q~Q FOIP was causing CTD even after uninstallation, how come? Couldn't pinpoint cause, nor could FO3Edit, so... Here we go again...

 

Decided to go easy this time, I'll ditch the graphic mods for now. Which'll narrow it down to FWE, MMM, WMK, Underground Hideout, Coyote N.A.P.A., Ties That Bind, and The Institute (forgot to mention it in the first post). No comments about crashes between those, so I'm hoping now is the last time.

 

There's a post on the top of the FOIP comments directing to your patch batch, BlackRampage, here's hope it solves my problem. I'm gonna give it a shot. Based on the mods I mentioned, I only need the FWE-MMM patch, then? None needed for WMK compatibility?

[BlackRampage]

There's a post on the top of the FOIP comments directing to your patch batch, BlackRampage, here's hope it solves my problem. I'm gonna give it a shot. Based on the mods I mentioned, I only need the FWE-MMM patch, then?

 

Nah, get the FWE-MMM-Project Beauty patch instead.

 

 

None needed for WMK compatibility?

 

Get the WMK-FWE patch from the FOIP page for that.

 

If you're reinstalling everything anyway: Get the Updated unofficial FO3 patch before you do anything else and let it's .exe do it's magic.

[bben46]

First, you need to get the vanilla version working With NO mods - NONE - no add on programs, Nothing but right out of the box vanilla. and make a save once it runs - this sets up a basic ini file based on your hardware.

 

As you are using steam, allow it to apply any patches - and launch it from steam and NOT from any shortcuts. If you can't get that to work, run the steam validate game cache - here is a tutorial on steam troubleshooting. http://www.howtogeek.com/116225/6-steam-troubleshooting-tips/

[MonsterTamerBilly]

Everything's working smoothly now as far as I got, outside of the vault, but I don't think I'll have other problems if I got that far. Thanks for the suggestions, M48A5 and BlackRapage! :D

 

 

First, you need to get the vanilla version working With NO mods - NONE - no add on programs, Nothing but right out of the box vanilla. and make a save once it runs - this sets up a basic ini file based on your hardware.

 

As you are using steam, allow it to apply any patches - and launch it from steam and NOT from any shortcuts.

 

Well uh... Like I mentioned in the first post :x That was the nº.1 thing I did. Problem was really with FOIP and all those overwritings without a hierarchy. Black's patch was simpler, up-to-date, and got the job done better.

Edited June 10, 2014 by Billy MT