Fallout Mod Manager ot Nexus Mod Manager?

[Deleted5003181User]

It says it all,which one works better with mods and games? Do both work well FNVEdit? LOOT? I would like to know,because I've been trying to restart New Vegas ( for the 4th) And for some reason,I've been having HORRIBLE luck with getting mods to work well together!

 

Mostly EVE-PN-YUP One mod requires the DLC to me loose,and the other requires it them to be merged.

 

A logical answer would be appreciated!

 

[dubiousintent]

...

Mostly EVE-PN-YUP One mod requires the DLC to me loose,and the other requires it them to be merged.

 

A logical answer would be appreciated!

This has nothing to do with the mod manager you use, and everything to do with reading (and correctly interpreting) the descriptions on the download pages. Some mods (like PN) have separate sets of "optional" files: for those who have only some of the DLC and some for those with all the DLC. The latter are often supported with a "merged plugin" file to reduce the number ESP files. (Because FNV has a limit of around 140 total ESM and ESP files in the "Data" folder before it CTDs.) If you do not have all the DLC, then you usually will have to forego using the "merged" versions (though you can create your own merges, within limits). You have to choose the correct optional files that suit your situation, because the mod has a specific filename for it's "master". Some managers (like Wrye Flash) will let you change the name(s) of the "masters", but not all will. Sometimes that means you have to forego a mod. The EVE-PN-YUP combo can be accomplished, though perhaps not with a single package.

 

As for FNVEdit and LOOT, they do not care about the mod manager you use. Perhaps you are thinking about having them integrated into the mod manager interface? (Which means the mod manager simply knows they exist and where, and provides a link to call them.) Assuming either of those managers has the ability to integrate other tools, they should work fine. I know that "Mod Organizer" supports them, and "Wrye Flash" (which I use) as well.

 

The choice of mod manager is pretty much personal preference. But objectively, FOMOD/FOMM is older and not actively supported; NMM is still Beta and has issues still being sorted out (mostly because it is trying to support every game on the Nexus); Mod Organizer is well supported and seems to be quite popular though some people take issue with how they technically achieve some of their "magic"; and Wrye Flash has more granularity of control, but scares people off because it seems complex: though the "Wrye Bash Pictorial Guide" will show them how to get started easily. (WB and WF are the same tool but are customized to read their respective different game file structures. They function the same way.) The biggest drawback is that sometimes you have to "re-package" a mod distributed only in a package designed for one of the other managers like FOMOD/FOMM, but that is true of all managers. While you can use multiple mod managers, it is not a good idea as then they don't "know" about all the mods installed by the other managers. But it's reasonably safe if you try to stick with one and only use the others when absolutely necessary and understand the resulting limitations.

 

-Dubious-

Edited March 12, 2016 by dubiousintent

[Deleted5003181User]

 

...

Mostly EVE-PN-YUP One mod requires the DLC to me loose,and the other requires it them to be merged.

 

A logical answer would be appreciated!

This has nothing to do with the mod manager you use, and everything to do with reading (and correctly interpreting) the descriptions on the download pages. Some mods (like PN) have separate sets of "optional" files: for those who have only some of the DLC and some for those with all the DLC. The latter are often supported with a "merged plugin" file to reduce the number ESP files. (Because FNV has a limit of around 140 total ESM and ESP files in the "Data" folder before it CTDs.) If you do not have all the DLC, then you usually will have to forego using the "merged" versions (though you can create your own merges, within limits). You have to choose the correct optional files that suit your situation, because the mod has a specific filename for it's "master". Some managers (like Wrye Flash) will let you change the name(s) of the "masters", but not all will. Sometimes that means you have to forego a mod. The EVE-PN-YUP combo can be accomplished, though perhaps not with a single package.

 

As for FNVEdit and LOOT, they do not care about the mod manager you use. Perhaps you are thinking about having them integrated into the mod manager interface? (Which means the mod manager simply knows they exist and where, and provides a link to call them.) Assuming either of those managers has the ability to integrate other tools, they should work fine. I know that "Mod Organizer" supports them, and "Wrye Flash" (which I use) as well.

 

The choice of mod manager is pretty much personal preference. But objectively, FOMOD/FOMM is older and not actively supported; NMM is still Beta and has issues still being sorted out (mostly because it is trying to support every game on the Nexus); Mod Organizer is well supported and seems to be quite popular though some people take issue with how they technically achieve some of their "magic"; and Wrye Flash has more granularity of control, but scares people off because it seems complex: though the "Wrye Bash Pictorial Guide" will show them how to get started easily. (WB and WF are the same tool but are customized to read their respective different game file structures. They function the same way.) The biggest drawback is that sometimes you have to "re-package" a mod distributed only in a package designed for one of the other managers like FOMOD/FOMM, but that is true of all managers. While you can use multiple mod managers, it is not a good idea as then they don't "know" about all the mods installed by the other managers. But it's reasonably safe if you try to stick with one and only use the others when absolutely necessary and understand the resulting limitations.

 

-Dubious-

 

 

I'll probably return to NMM. I originally went to FOMM because I read that some mods required it to be used to install.

 

And I guess that FNVEdit just doesn't like my game then,because it refuses to allow me to actually edit anything! It just says "editing is disabled". I've tried clean installs of both it and New Vegas itself,but to no avail.

 

If you know anything about FNVEdit,and would like to help me,I'll reply.

 

-Paladin

[dubiousintent]

Let me guess: you have Steam games installed in the default "C:\Program Files" folder tree? If so, please read the "Installing Games on Windows Vista+" article in the my signature.

 

FNVEdit "write mode" is probably disabled because you don't have permissions for either the file in question or the Data folder (most likely the latter, due to the above).

 

You can unpack and install FOMM packages with regular archive tools. You just lose the "wizard" portion, which may mean some elements won't work as expected until you figure out what the wizard was doing. This usually occurs when the mod has to use different versions of some files to accommodate other mods (i.e. DarnUI). In that instance, you may want to install with FOMM.

 

-Dubious-

Edited March 13, 2016 by dubiousintent

[Deleted5003181User]

I have it installed in "C:\then something x86/Steam/Steam apps/common/Fallout New Vegas.

 

I'm also running on Windows 10. If you want,I could come up with the list of more I'm using.

 

-Paladin

Edited March 13, 2016 by Guest

[dubiousintent]

Yeah, that's the default "C:\Program Files(x86)" folder tree, which means you have the 64-bit version of the Windows OS. Read that article, and move your Steam games (or at least FNV) out of that tree. It's the single leading cause of weird problems for games.

 

The good news is that with the 64-bit OS you can take advantage of more than 4GB of RAM if you have it installed, by using the FNV4GB launcher. That will let the game use much more of the 4GB memory a 32-bit game like FNV is limited to, which will cut down on CTDs due to running out of memory. That is explained in the "2-4GB game memory limits" article in my sig. The FNV4GB launcher gets around you having to make any changes yourself, but it's useful to know about for other games.

 

-Dubious-

Edited March 13, 2016 by dubiousintent

[Deleted5003181User]

Ok, I read the article about moving the Steam games. And moving my entire Steam library to

"D:\Games" won't delete any of my games? It's just changing the directory?

 

I do use FNV4GB,and a plethora of other mods ( stutter remover,YUP etc.) that help stable the game. I've done a clean install New Vegas,so now I need to move Steam,then install my ENB,etc.

 

I won't have to worry about FOMM or NMM having trouble finding New Vegas will I?

 

-Paladin

[bben46]

 

 

The good news is that with the 64-bit OS you can take advantage of more than 4GB of RAM if you have it installed, by using the FNV4GB launcher. That will let the game use much more of the 4GB memory a 32-bit game like FNV is limited to, which will cut down on CTDs due to running out of memory.

The game can still only use the first 4G of ram - no magic can change that. What the 4G enabler does is allow other things to be moved into any ram above the first 4g freeing up more of that first 4g to be used by the game - You will still see only about 3.5G usable though. But with Windows, an antivirus, a browser and some other programs that will be running in the background, without the 4G enabler you will likely see much less than 3G depending on how much stuff you do have. So the 4G enabler is a very helpful addition - Be sure to actually read the installation instructions or you can easily install it wrong.

[dubiousintent]

Ok, I read the article about moving the Steam games. And moving my entire Steam library to

"D:\Games" won't delete any of my games? It's just changing the directory?

 

I do use FNV4GB,and a plethora of other mods ( stutter remover,YUP etc.) that help stable the game. I've done a clean install New Vegas,so now I need to move Steam,then install my ENB,etc.

 

I won't have to worry about FOMM or NMM having trouble finding New Vegas will I?

 

-Paladin

If you follow the instructions on the Steam link in that article, you will be "re-installing" the Steam games to your "D:\Games" tree. That will update your registry entries so the various mod managers (FOMM/NMM) can find it. It is always a good idea to reboot between the "uninstall" and "re-install" steps to finalize the changes to the registry.

 

Do not try to just copy the games from the old tree to the new one, as that won't update the registry and will cause it's own problems. DATA/Mod files can be copied, but do not just copy the game itself. You can make a backup of the current game tree, uninstall and re-install the game, and then restore your backup to the new tree location. But that has a possibility of leaving some INI file with the wrong information. A "verify files" in the new location should take care of that. If you have customized your INI files, make backups and then compare them for differences after verification. Then test that "just plain vanilla" works before adding mods again.

 

You may need to tell the mod managers to update their settings or even re-install them if they happen to store that "game path" information in their own INI or data files.

 

Your "save games" reside in your "C:\Users\<youraccountname>\Documents\My Games\<etc.>" tree. Some games also store them in the Steam Cloud. So they should be "safe", but it is always a good idea to back them up somewhere before performing this kind of "surgery". As long as the game stores your save files in the "Users Account" path, it doesn't matter where the game itself is installed.

 

-Dubious-

Edited March 14, 2016 by dubiousintent

[Deleted5003181User]

So I just need to be careful when moving the directory? And I won't have to re-download any of my games? And doing this will be better for modding?