A few problems using mods

[Deleted1076201User]

I'd like to list a few problems I've had with installing mods and would like some help dealing with these.

 

1) Jargon: modders often tend to forget that we don't ALL know what an "OBMM" is, and the installation instructions quickly degenerate into gibberish that no-one who hasn't used mods before will understand.

 

2) Just tell us where it goes. I don't need to know why it goes there, I just need to know EXACTLY where it goes: modders also forget this. If someone DOESN'T KNOW what the heck to do with ONE file how are they going to know where the "respective folders" that the other files should go in are?

 

3) Read this: okay, if you'll translate it for me. It's ridiculous how often people who CAN mod forget that people who can't won't understand half of the stuff they're talking about.

 

So, please if anybody knows how to install mods properly (with and without OBMM) explain it to me. Properly. Explain it as though I know NOTHING about modding at all and as though I will NOT understand ANY modding jargon.

 

And if you can, show me where I can learn how to mod things myself. If not, doesn't matter.

[bben46]

Try this link

http://thestormravenlibrary.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=113

[Deleted1076201User]

Tried reading your guide: problem is it says where files go, but it's rarely as simple as "put the meshes in the meshes folder and the textures in the textures folder" because unless it's a REALLY simple mod it almost always comes with its own two folders named meshes and textures and these almost always have subfolders, so what do I do with those?

[bben46]

For most mods it's as simple as copy the textures folder from the mod into the Data folder of the game (Oblivion\data).

 

It will automatically place the textures folder in the existing data\textures folder or, if the textures folder does not exist yet, create it and put the content there. When it asks if you want to overwrite always answer yes, it does not overwrite anything it actually appends the new stuff into the folder without doing anything to the existing stuff.

 

Do the same with the Meshes folder and any other folders from the mod that need to be installed.

 

When a mod install instruction says 'drop the mod into the data folder' this is what they mean. Usually if you copy the entire contents of the unzipped mod directly into the data folder it accomplishes the same thing - However, you will also clutter up your data folder with unneeded pictures, read me files and other documentation if you do this.

 

Best: keep all of your downloaded zip files in a separate folder just for that game. Have a separate download folder for each game (Oblivion, Fallout3, New Vegas etc)Then create a new subfolder for each mod inside that folder. Move the newly downloaded mod into that folder to work with it (this helps keep the mods organized) Unzip the mod inside of that folder. Then just copy over the parts you need into the data folder. This way you also have a backup copy of every mod for future reference. And you can use that same archive if you want to use either the Bain installer from Wrye Bash or the OMOD installer from OBMM to install the mods.

[Deleted1076201User]

Won't that overwrite the folder and all its contents, including some necessary ones that weren't included with the mod?

 

Edit: my bad. Auto-skipped about two paragraphs. XD

 

Although, would it be worthwhile to uninstall and reinstall Oblivion, seeing as the program folder is cluttered with mod folders right now?

Edited December 20, 2010 by Guest

[Rogem]

Won't that overwrite the folder and all its contents, including some necessary ones that weren't included with the mod?

 

Edit: my bad. Auto-skipped about two paragraphs. XD

 

Although, would it be worthwhile to uninstall and reinstall Oblivion, seeing as the program folder is cluttered with mod folders right now?

 

Don't think so, because programs usually remove just the files they came with, not the possible added files (mods in TES, for example).

[bben46]

The uninstaller does not remove any mods or saves. If you want to revert to a vanilla state - clean data folder with only the stuff installed from the game disk. - does not remove the save games unless you want to.

Bben's Oblivion Revert to Vanilla game

http://www.tesnexus.com/articles/article.php?id=340

 

If you still want to completely reinstall Here is a link to my complete uninstall/reinstall procedure located in the articles section of the Nexus

http://www.tesnexus.com/articles/article.php?id=240

 

It allows you to preserve any saves and mods, or remove them completely - your choice.

[Deleted1076201User]

Thanks. Few more questions:

 

1. What does OBSE do and how do I extract it so as not to end up with it not showing when I try to find it in the folder I extracted it to?

 

2. I've mostly played Oblivion on my Xbox and have grown a preference for pads rather than mouses and keyboards. How do I get my PC (it runs on Windows XP) to allow me to use my Xbox pad if at all possible?

 

3. Supposing I can't get these mods working and decide to just keep p;aying the Xbox version and then decided to transfer my save over from my Xbox to my PC in order to use console commands to change my character's appearance and then transfer the save back (a lot of work but I've weathered worse) would that corrupt the save in any way?

[LFact]

Thanks. Few more questions:

 

1. What does OBSE do and how do I extract it so as not to end up with it not showing when I try to find it in the folder I extracted it to?

 

 

OBSE = Oblivion Script Extender. It adds script functions. For mod makers, using OBSE allows them to do almost anything they want, including normally impossible things.

OBSE files should be at game directory(where you installed the game), and to run it with game, launch the game via OBSE loader.(unless you're steam user.... OBSE loader for Steam is in dll form, so just launch the game normally..)

[Deleted1076201User]

I would but when I extract it, it doesn't show up in the folder I extracted it to. And although I can find a folder cold OBSE it only has a folder in it called "Plugins" and that has a system file ("thumbs") and a .dll file called "weOCPS". Is that all I need?

 

Also, just in case using OBSE doesn't fix this, I tried installing a mod and it didn't work, even though I put the textures and meshes folders (and another folder called "omod conversion data") in the data folder and it didn't work. I tried installing another mod to make sure it wasn't just an isolated issue and it still didn't work, although with the second mod I had to also add an Oblivion Plugin Data file and seeing as all the other files of that type were in the data folder I placed it in the data folder.

Edited December 21, 2010 by Guest