Just started playing the game. A few n00bie questions

[isamu99]

Hi. I just started playing Fallout 3 for the very first time. It's the Steam GOTY Edition. I'm only a few minutes in and my character just turned 16 and is getting his first G.O.A.T. Test. I have a few questions:

 

1)I've heard a couple suggest running the "Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch" found here at the Nexus site. Is that patch recommended, or is it no longer relevant with the current Steam version?

 

2)I've heard good things about the FOOK 2 mod and I am thinking about installing it, but I'm not sure yet. Would you guys recommend installing FOOK 2 for first time players or just play without any mods first time out?

 

3)Is the Fellout mod included in FOOK 2? If not, should I install Fellout as well? I hear the makes the game look much better.

 

4)I have downloaded the following:

 

A)Fallout 3 Mod Manager

B)Fallout Script Extender

C)Archive Invalidated

D)Fallout 3 Unofficial Patch

 

....which one of these do need to have installed in order to run the FOOK 2 and Fellout mods?

 

5)Any other graphical enhancement mods out there that make the game look 'prettier'? Or are they already included in FOOK 2?

 

6)Last but not least, this is my first Western RPG-like game. I've noticed there are quite a few dialog reply choices. I have, for the most part answered the questions in a nice and respectful way, giving as many "good" answers as I can. Are there any benefits or advantages to replying to NPCs in a nice and respectful way? What about the other way around? If I give rude or impolite answers will there be any benefits later on for doing so?

 

Basically which 'style' of replies do you recommend?

 

Sorry for the litany of questions, just wanna make sure I'm starting off on the right foot with this game. Looking forward to playing it some more and will await your answers :)

[Alastair91]

1) No, you don't need it anymore since you're using Fallout 3 GOTY edition, just download the official 1.7 patch.

 

2) I've personally used FOOK before but... I removed it since there's too many stuff that I dislike than like. It comes down to personal taste, for a new player, I do not recommend FOOK. I use other overhaul mods. Play without any mods in your first game.

 

3)It is not included in FOOK (I'm unsure of the latest FOOK version, someone correct me if I'm wrong), you need to download and use it. Not everyone uses Fellout, I do not think it makes the game look better but it totally destroys the game's atmosphere, I love the green tint. Also comes down to personal taste, if you like the green tint, then don't use Fellout, if you dislike the original green tint, use Fellout.

 

4)You only need A) B) and C). You don't need the unofficial patch, read no 1).

 

5)Most of them aren't included in FOOK. There are plenty, try searching top endorsed files in descending order in each category, you'll find the best ones including graphical enhancements, but here are my favourites:

 

http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=10607 - dynamic weather

http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=5420 - depth of field

http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=555 - atmospheric sun glare

http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=774 - terrain pack

http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=101 - enhance blood texture

 

If you want better sounds, try out my mod. The link is at my signature.

 

6)There are bonuses to "good" and "bad" replies. It depends on the conversation and the character. Having different conversations may even lead/unlock further conversations. If you want to play as a good guy, reply nicely, vise versa for the opposite.

 

Have fun playing Fallout 3!

[Skotte]

Since Fallout 3 Mod Manager (A) already has Archive Invalidated © built-in, I'd recommend A & B

 

Though I do use "Fallout 3 Unofficial Patch" with my GOTY'd Fallout3

[phoneyLogic]

And here comes my opinion, which is kind of different in one or two points.

 

 

1) I don't recommend the unofficial Patch. The official Version 1.7 is in my experience the most stable way to run the game. After all improvements you'll have a better game experience. The game is running way more smooth and there are round about 0 problems to expect. If you install the unofficial Patch you'll install a bunch of problems as well.

 

Imo there is only one advantage of the unofficial Patch: you can target Granades and Rockets which has been pointed to you.

 

With 1.7 you can't target any flying Rocket but you can target Granades as long the enemy is holding it in theyr hands. If you know that, it's more fun to shoot a Grande which is exploding in the Enemies hand rather than directly in your face.

 

 

2) For the first run I wouldn't use any big overhaul Mod. Just some "little changes" here and there, which do not change too much of the games balance. It's actually too easy to level up even without kick as weapons and godlike armors. Don't ruin your gameplay by installing Mods which gives you too much caps, ammo, superpowers ... and so on or whatnot

 

 

3) Just what Heyy_Adrian said, I absolutely agree with.

 

 

4) For the start I suggest only two additional programs:

B)Fallout Script Extender

C)Archive Invalidated

 

Why not FOMM? OK, use FOMM, it solves one or two problems quite nice (UAC).

But maybe do not use FOMM for launching the game in the very first beginning.

Use the default launcher for ticking your mods active, quit and start the game via FOSE.

You still can start using FOMM as launcher any time you want. It's quite recommended if you really have a lot of mods. Start learning building your own load order step by step

 

 

5) There are lots of and Heyy_Adrian posted some of them. Project Beauty comes to mind. Have fun browsing the file base. But for your first Modding experiences, start with some easy to install Mods. I wouldn't recommend you to start with the most complicated Mods available. You may find this Guide helpful:

http://www.fallout3nexus.com/articles/article.php?id=90

 

 

6) And again I have to agree with Adrian. Sometimes it makes fun to play the ashole and sometimes you just answer how you would do it in real life. But you wont get punished for wrong answeres too much

 

 

Remember, this is just an opinion.

E.g. if you enjoy the game more with the unofficial patch, just do it.

 

Have fun playing the game and be welcome 8)

 

Regarding sound Mods I'd suggest this one for the Radio

http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=10900

:D

[isamu99]

Thanks a bunch Tortured it's a appreciated!

 

I think I'll just go with Vanilla for he most part and maybe add the terrain pack and the sound mod.

 

You mention to update to the official 1.7 patch....doesn't steam automatically keep the game updated to the latest version? Plus, how do I find out which version I have? I don't see anything in the steam options.

[phoneyLogic]

Yeah, you are right, steam should be automatically at 1.7

You can check your version in two ways.

1st ingame -> open the menu and check the point with the grafic options

2nd in the game folder -> hover your mouse over the Fallout.exe

 

...

 

I think it is quite difficult to customize the install path of the steam version.

So it should be best to go for the disabeling UAC option of FOMM and to backup your unmodded Data folder somwhere, just in case

[isamu99]

1) No, you don't need it anymore since you're using Fallout 3 GOTY edition, just download the official 1.7 patch.

 

2) I've personally used FOOK before but... I removed it since there's too many stuff that I dislike than like. It comes down to personal taste, for a new player, I do not recommend FOOK. I use other overhaul mods. Play without any mods in your first game.

 

3)It is not included in FOOK (I'm unsure of the latest FOOK version, someone correct me if I'm wrong), you need to download and use it. Not everyone uses Fellout, I do not think it makes the game look better but it totally destroys the game's atmosphere, I love the green tint. Also comes down to personal taste, if you like the green tint, then don't use Fellout, if you dislike the original green tint, use Fellout.

 

4)You only need A) B) and C). You don't need the unofficial patch, read no 1).

 

5)Most of them aren't included in FOOK. There are plenty, try searching top endorsed files in descending order in each category, you'll find the best ones including graphical enhancements, but here are my favourites:

 

http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=10607 - dynamic weather

http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=5420 - depth of field

http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=555 - atmospheric sun glare

http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=774 - terrain pack

http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=101 - enhance blood texture

 

If you want better sounds, try out my mod. The link is at my signature.

 

6)There are bonuses to "good" and "bad" replies. It depends on the conversation and the character. Having different conversations may even lead/unlock further conversations. If you want to play as a good guy, reply nicely, vise versa for the opposite.

 

Have fun playing Fallout 3!

 

Heyy_Adrian thanks for the reply man :) I'm gonna give all your sound mods a try. D/Ling them now.

[isamu99]

OK Guys I went a bit overboard and downloaded a bunch of mods LMFAO! ;D

 

Here's what I've grabbed so far as shown in my FOMM Load order list:

 

Xepha's Dynamic Weather.esm

StreetLights.esm

GalaxyNewsRadio100[M].esp

WeaponModKits.esp

WMKAA12Shotgun.esp

EVE.esp

Xepha's Dynamic Weather - Main.esp

 

Total active plugins: 8

Total plugins: 13

 

In addition, I've got :

 

Heyy Adrian's Better Sounds

Hi-rez Terrain Pack

Hi-rez Rocks Pack

 

 

Now, if any of these mods do not play nice together to your knowledge, please let me know. I may still pick the Project Beauty People mod but not sure yet.

 

I've got FOIP as well just in case but apparently it's just to make sure the major mods like MMM, FOOK2, EVE, and FWE play nice together so I haven't installed any of the plugins.

[isamu99]

So far so good with the mods guys. I've gotten out of the Vault and I'm now in Megaton talking to Moriarty. The High res Terrain, road, and rocks pack is pretty cool.

 

@ Heyy Adrian....

 

If you want better sounds, try out my mod. The link is at my signature.

 

 

.....I've downloaded all five of your sound mods(BSFM-MAIN, BSFM-Heavybreathing, Etc) but I don't know what to do with these folders. These folders are all seperate but where exactly do I place them? Do I simply place them in the Data folder(i.e. copy and paste BSFM_-_Heavybreathing-10863 directly into the data folder)? Or do I have to merge them and then place them into the data\sound folder? I'm confused.

 

Another thing....I will be using the "GNR -- More Where That Came From" music mod. Will your sound mod conflict with his mod in any way? Because I notice they both go into the "sound" folder so I'm just wondering.

 

Last but not least Heyy Adrian, I didn't notice an esp file in your mod...is there supposed to be one or no?

 

Please let me know.

[Alastair91]

Hey there, my mod doesn't conflict with GNR - more where that came from. Sorry about the confusion with the file names, it's my first mod and I haven't really got the time to re-upload all of the files. All of my sound files, just place the "Data" folder from my sound mod into your Fallout 3 "Data" folder. As for the Heavy Breathing, please pick one of them, either the male or female version. All of my sound files do not need .esp files.