Difficulty with modding.

[CravenMadness]

Alright, so I've been playing Dragon Age for a little while now, and since it's an older game I imagine there are a multitude of mods out and available for it. And there are, several great ones from what I've been finding in the available files.

 

However, I seem to be coming up to a brick wall when it comes to actually installing these mods. I have read several forum posts and watched several youtube 'help installing mods' videos, and yet even though I seem to be following the instructions properly, the mods do not show up as installed or functioning for whatever reason. The process -looks- to be very simple, and I feel almost embarrassed that I can't seem to figure this out on my own.

 

I am using the Steam version of Dragon Age: Origins - Ultimate Edition.

Windows 8

C:\Users\(username)\Documents\BioWare\DragonAge\packages\core\override -- is my path to the override folder (I also have available the override folder that comes with the DA mod manager file once unzipped and the dazip folder in place as well in the Mod Manager folder on my desktop)

 

I have tried using the DA Mod Manager, as well as the DAmodder programs to assist, and the mods still do not seem to take effect.

 

I would prefer to use DA Mod Manager, as it seems to be the more useful tool for installing the mods (if I could get it to function properly that is). Currently I erased all my attempted installations of various mods and reinstalled my game so as to hopefully have a clean slate while waiting for any assistance to this topic. On my desktop I have a folder designated to hold the DA mod manager, and a folder designated to hold any mods that I am going to install.

 

As a test, I would like to use the 'Extra Dog Slot' mod, so as to have my hound as a '5th' party member, and because this seems like a fairly straight-forward mod to install as a trouble-shooter. (I will likely have more questions later, such as some files like the 'More Hairstyles' not showing up as a .dazip or how to work with .overrides for mods such as the 'Natural Bodies all in one' mod. But for now, the 'Extra Dog Slot' would be a step in the proper direction I believe.)

 

Appreciation in advance, looking forward to modding my game and enjoying a new experience with your help.

[Thandal]

First thing to do is forget about "managers" and READ THE MOD AUTHORS' INSTRUCTIONS.

They almost always know how to get their mods working. :yes:

 

Second thing is to read this article: Using Dragon Age Mods for Dummies. :laugh:

 

Then you'll understand that "Extra Dog Slot", for example, is packaged as a ".dazip" file so it must be installed with an appropriate programs (like the built-in DAUpdater.exe). But many (most?) other mods are not that type, and don't even need to be "installed" at all. They just need to be placed in the correct location. And you'll know that since NBaio is a ".override" file, it requires the DAO-ModManager (DAMM) to work at all.

 

BTW: Mods that affect the Character Creator (like "More Hairstyles") require much more complicated handling than other mods if you're going to employ more than one. Third thing, see: CharGenMorph Compiler. :thumbsup:

[CravenMadness]

Alright, so that was informative... So far I have rooted out the DAupdater.exe and run that, I believe I have the Extra Dog Slot installed into that program properly, IE : I have brought up the 'content Updater' and have selected the 'dao_extradogslot_1_41-644.dazip' and the status indicates that it is 'installed'.

 

However the information for the mod file indicates that I would have a 'dog whistle' item available to me, and it is nowhere to be found. I have also been led to believe that 'mods' would show up under 'downloaded content' and there is no hint of anything outside the normal DLCs showing there either. I also attempted to bring the dog into my party, and then removed him from my party thinking the dog might need to be active before the 'whistle' object arrived in my inventory, to no luck.

 

Also when I return to the DAUpdater.exe updater program, the file name for the extra dog slot is no longer shown under 'installed'.

 

I have also downloaded the CharGenMorph compiler as suggested, and it seems to be working as intended. I have experimented by downloading 'More Hairstyles' and 'PTs Vibrant Colors' and run the .exe and I 'believe' they have been compiled together into a single file under my \documents\bioware\dragonage\packages\core\override path which is where the mod creators indicated that these should be installed. However upon starting a new character, these new features are unavailable.

 

One of the questions that have come up through this, is if there is a difference between the '\Documents' override file path and the '\steam\steamapps\common\ override file path when placing the files?

 

Edit from original post: I have, since this posting, copied all the files I had for the char-gen upgrades 'More Hairstyles' and 'PTs Vibrant Colors' into the steam\steamapps\common\DragonAge Ultimate Edition\packages\core\override extension and that seems to have activated the mod for me. Perhaps there is something incorrect in using the \Documents\Bioware\DragonAge\packages\core\override path.

 

 

 

Thank you again for your response, as well as your patience. Also the link to the 'Using Dragon Age Mods for Dummies' does not seem to lead to a proper page, only the forum, I have used the forum search function but can not seem to track down any specific thread you were pointing to that would be of assistance.

 

Looking forward to your reply and continued assistance, thank you.

Edited April 14, 2015 by CravenMadness

[Thandal]

Dunno what happened with the link. This is the right page: http://wiki.tesnexus.com/index.php/Using_Dragon_Age_Mods_for_Dummies (Now fixed above.)

 

The ONLY type of mod that will show up in the "Installed Content" list is a ".dazip". This includes all the official DLC. Other types of mods will not be listed at all. (And yes, "Extra Dog Slot" gets installed with the DAUpdater program, as you said you used.)

 

The "Dog Whistle" (icon is a dog's head) will not be in your inventory until you have actually recruited a Mabari hound companion. It will be at-or-near the very bottom of your items.

 

Players with the Stream-install have to learn to adapt all "standard" paths to adjust for the specific way Steam does things.

That's one of the reasons I never use Steam except when I absolutely have to.

[CravenMadness]

Are the mods, once 'installed' via DAUpdater (and shown as 'installed' under status at the right of the updater) supposed to disappear between installing, closing, and re-opening the DAupdater.exe?

 

That seems to be what is happening with me.

 

Again, appreciate you taking this time to assist. I know I may seem a bit dense for not figuring this out. By all rights it seems very straight-forward.

 

I definitely have the char-gen mods working properly now, thanks to your assistance with the compiler. Though I have copies of the mods in both my \documents\bioware extension as well as my \steam\steamapps extensions just for redundancy sake.

Edited April 14, 2015 by CravenMadness

[Thandal]

The DAUpdater is just a utility for placing the various elements of a ".dazip" file in the appropriate locations. NOTHING remains in it.

[CravenMadness]

Ah... I see. So I shouldn't be concerned if there isn't a list of the mods I've 'installed' through the DAUpdater.exe every time I open it up to add in more. That is reassuring.

 

However, I still can not seem to get the extra dog slot to function. I feel that if I could get this one working, I would be able to figure out why the other ones didn't work either.

 

I have the .dazip copied into both of the extensions that lead to an \override file for redundancy sake at the moment. Though still when I go into game to a save file that I know I have the hound in, I am unable to locate the whistle in my inventory.

 

I then found where the DAUploader.exe program put what files it had 'installed' and copied those (leaving the originals in place) to the pair of 'override' extensions ... Hopefully one of those destinations will be catching the mod properly.

[Thandal]

Mods packaged as ".dazip" files NEVER go in the "\override" folder.

More precisely, they will have no effect if they are placed there.

[CravenMadness]

Interesting, alright I will go ahead and delete those from those folders to save clutter. Just want to reiterate again that I appreciate the time you are taking trying to assist me while I fumble around with this. I know you don't have to and that you likely have better things to do with your time.

[CravenMadness]

Well, I believe I have gotten the hang of the char-gen modification things and I -believe- another file I had put in is working as well (more critical cinematic kills) but I still cannot seem to get the .dazips to function properly.