load order pointers

[dissentuk]

does any body know what kind of order mods should go in? weapons overhauls at the top or bottom? exterior cell mods top or bottom?

 

instead of asking specifically how to improve my own load order i though it might be nice if people share what they know about how to load things up and open a discussion to help others, instead of hundreds of whats wrong with my load order threads. thanks

[amcclell]

does any body know what kind of order mods should go in? weapons overhauls at the top or bottom? exterior cell mods top or bottom?

 

instead of asking specifically how to improve my own load order i though it might be nice if people share what they know about how to load things up and open a discussion to help others, instead of hundreds of whats wrong with my load order threads. thanks

 

Short answer: It depends entirely on the mods in question, which is why there isn't a general "Here is the correct load order" thread.

 

Long answer:

-Generally, anything that adds brand new content doesn't matter where it goes in the load order. Exceptions are when that new content is added to pre-existing vendors or containers, in which case:

-Generally, anything that modifies existing content will conflict with other mods that modify the same content - so whichever one you want to use has to be later in the load order.

-Generally, "Total overhaul" mods need to be earlier in the load order, since otherwise they're override pretty much every other mod you're using.

-There are always going to be exceptions to the above rules, since there are about a dozen different ways to modify the same content in FO3, and each way will cause mods to interact in different ways.

 

FO3Edit is a great tool if you really want to understand how load order works. Its entire purpose is basically to highlight mod conflicts and tell you which mods win the conflict based on your load order.

[olafreinhardweyer]

Other than e.g. BOSS I

 

- All mods that add new Perks i put before overhaul mods.

Some change Vanilla perks too, just as the overhaul (eg. FEW)

does, but of course it's the overhaul i am aiming add.

This way i only get the effects of NEW perks added

by the Perk mod.

- I keep all mods that simply add locations and items

BEFORE my overhaul mods.

The overhaul covers so many things that it might

overwrite possible glitches or accidental changes

the little mods do.

- I keep items mods that add items to vendors only

seperate. Next come item mods that actually make

NPCs use those items.

- I order mods that change Locations from North to

South. All my Megaton mods are neatly together

for instance. Mods that add ITEMS to a specific

place belong into this category too.

This sorting helps in FOMM, to instantly see

which mods my be in conflict which each other.

Regrouping of the mods to e.g. get rid of a conflict

is much easier this way. You can also better decide

which mods to activate and which not.

- Mods that make changes beyond the overhal mods

i put below the overhaul mods.

 

does any body know what kind of order mods should go in? weapons overhauls at the top or bottom? exterior cell mods top or bottom?

 

instead of asking specifically how to improve my own load order i though it might be nice if people share what they know about how to load things up and open a discussion to help others, instead of hundreds of whats wrong with my load order threads. thanks

 

Short answer: It depends entirely on the mods in question, which is why there isn't a general "Here is the correct load order" thread.

 

Long answer:

-Generally, anything that adds brand new content doesn't matter where it goes in the load order. Exceptions are when that new content is added to pre-existing vendors or containers, in which case:

-Generally, anything that modifies existing content will conflict with other mods that modify the same content - so whichever one you want to use has to be later in the load order.

-Generally, "Total overhaul" mods need to be earlier in the load order, since otherwise they're override pretty much every other mod you're using.

-There are always going to be exceptions to the above rules, since there are about a dozen different ways to modify the same content in FO3, and each way will cause mods to interact in different ways.

 

FO3Edit is a great tool if you really want to understand how load order works. Its entire purpose is basically to highlight mod conflicts and tell you which mods win the conflict based on your load order.

[dissentuk]

what about when you download a mod that says it must go last in the list. then you download another and i says the same thing. hows a good way to decide?