Question about load order and existing games/saves.

[NeverwinterPinata]

First, I apologize if this has been covered before. I have been searching for an answer to this question for quite some time, and I have yet to find an answer, which is why I've resorted to creating this topic.

 

Here is my question: Is it safe to rearange the load order and then load an existing game/save after adding a new mod? Or should new mods always be at the bottom of the load order for an existing game/save?

 

Thank you for reading, and good fortune to you in your current and future endeavors.

[KarmaPowered]

I wouldn't recommend moving mods around once you've started a game.

 

The engine *should* be able to sort the mess out somehow, yes, but nothing guarantees you that it does so without errors, which may remain obfuscated to you.

 

Do not forget that some mods that rely on OBSE also can have "co-saves". These are binary files with an ".obse" extension that store data indexed on the current position of mods in your load order. If you move mods around, you may destroy the structure of such files. The result may not be pretty after the reload.

 

The safest way to move a mod around would be to create a "safe savegame" :

 

1/ uninstall the mod that you want to move

2/ load the game without the mod

3/ create a new save

4/ switch the mod to the new position

5/ load the save created at 3/

6/ play

 

Again, no guarantee that it will work 100%, but if you really have to, this is probably what you should do.

 

Adding new mods to the bottom of your load order, to test them out, is a good idea, yes, but it's not always possible.

 

 

PS : NWN forever!

Edited February 11, 2015 by KarmaPowered

[NeverwinterPinata]

I wouldn't recommend moving mods around once you've started a game.

 

The engine *should* be able to sort the mess out somehow, yes, but nothing guarantees you that it does so without errors, which may remain obfuscated to you.

 

Do not forget that some mods that rely on OBSE also can have "co-saves". These are binary files with an ".obse" extension that store data indexed on the current position of mods in your load order. If you move mods around, you may destroy the structure of such files. The result may not be pretty after the reload.

 

The safest way to move a mod around would be to create a "safe savegame" :

 

1/ uninstall the mod that you want to move

2/ load the game without the mod

3/ create a new save

4/ switch the mod to the new position

5/ load the save created at 3/

6/ play

 

Again, no guarantee that it will work 100%, but if you really have to, this is probably what you should do.

 

Adding new mods to the bottom of your load order, to test them out, is a good idea, yes, but it's not always possible.

 

 

PS : NWN forever!

Thank you very much for the reply, KarmaPowered! That's what I was afraid of, but I suppose as long as the new mods are just new equipment mods or the like -- ones that don't affect leveled lists or change gameplay whatsoever -- they shouldn't do any harm to my save for just being at the bottom of my load order. (Right?)

[KarmaPowered]

No, it shouldn't.

 

Prior removal, I would also unequip anything that was added by the mod, from your PC and NPCs (EDIT: and check that my bashed patch didn't reference the mod for some reason, that would make your game crash on load).

Edited February 11, 2015 by KarmaPowered

[NeverwinterPinata]

No, it shouldn't.

 

Prior removal, I would also unequip anything that was added by the mod, from your PC and NPCs (EDIT: and check that my bashed patch didn't reference the mod for some reason, that would make your game crash on load).

I don't plan on removing any mods, but I will remember your advice if it ever comes to that. Thank you once again.

 

P.S. NWN, BG and D&D in general forever!