New to modding - Is this worth my time and effort?

[bce5150]

I played FO3 on PS3 about 3 years ago... I loved it, and it's probably the only game I truly loved in the 3 years I owned my playstation.... Anyway, I'm buying a gaming PC soon (I want to run Red Orchestra 2, Skyrim, and ARMA 3 on high graphics) so I started looking into PC gaming. Arriving on this forum is like a religious experience. The vision you guys have of creating a better game through modding is nothing short of artistic brilliance. Really, you guys should be getting paid by Bethesda. However, I'm really skeptical to try all this for myself because I've never modded a game in my two decades of playing video games...

 

I've only played the vanilla game with no cheats or mods or anything.... It was fun but really not the best game in the world. I want to EXPERIENCE the grim struggle of life in the wasteland. I want to be starving and scared. To me, constant CTDs and stuff like that would really kill the experience.... and I'm wondering if it's even worth my time to try and mod the heck out of this game?

 

I've spent almost 10 days of free time pouring through these forums, video tutorials, wikis and what not.... However, I still remain totally lost :( Keep in mind I've never written a line of code in my life or installed a mod for anything. I'm an intelligent guy but this stuff is honestly mind boggling. :psyduck: I had an easier time with calculus... I've been on forums before I know n00bs are sometimes frowned upon because I'm sure you guys have discussed all this stuff a couple years back... but I've used the search button and tons of time and I just really need your help.

 

1) Should I buy Fallout 3 GOTY on Steam or in a retail box? If I get it on Steam will it automatically patch the newest version? If I get retail box do I need to download official patch? Is it worth getting the box just so I can reinstall it easily if I mess up my mods? If I get Fo3 on steam do I need to change the folder location for modding?

 

2) I've spent a lot of time looking at the mods available (really cool stuff BTW) and I've come to the conclusion that I need, at the minimum : FWE & MMM & 100 new songs on GNR. Ideally I would also like Apocalypse Armory, Fo3 Remastered (I know the guy working on that is active here so if you could help me out that would be great), DC interiors, Fo3 Reanimated, Unofficial patch, darned UI, Fellout, NMC texture, enhanced weather, and some other stuff. Plus some little additions (I gather that these are less hard to install) like the player hideout, coyote armor, ghost armor, finger of God, etc. Would strictly content add-ons like Mothership Zeta Crew and Alton, IL put me at any risk of CTDs? I almost don't want to bother with some things just because I'm so scared of crashes and what not

 

3) Can you help me compile a list of EVERYTHING I need to do to get this modded version of the game running as smoothly as possible? Once I install fo3 I need to get an official patch? Then I need FOSE... then I need FOMM... what about BOSS? Can I rely on these tools to sort out my load order? Does BOSS literally sort the load order or does it give you a recommendation? Do I need archive invalidated invalidated or is the version in FOMM good enough? Do I need to create any folders within the data folder for textures or whatever? Does the order of the files in the data folder matter if I'm using FOMM to sort it?

 

So....

 

Install game

Patch game

get FOSE

put mods in data folder

sort load order using BOSS/FOMM

turn on archive invalidated in FOMM

download Fo3 EDIT, make master patch, put it end of load order

 

Is that it???

 

4) Compatibility patches? Are these incorporated into Fo3 remastered or Fo3 fix or something like that? What is the best one for me to be able to run FWE, MMM, and Apocalypse Armory at the same time?

 

I don't even have my new computer yet so I won't be attempting this for a couple months probably.... but it would just be really awesome if you guys could help me so that the first time I turn on Fallout 3 it is the ultimate comprehensive modded experience

:thumbsup:

Edited November 17, 2011 by bce5150

[MrMiggins]

I played FO3 on PS3 about 3 years ago... I loved it, and it's probably the only game I truly loved in the 3 years I owned my playstation.... Anyway, I'm buying a gaming PC soon (I want to run Red Orchestra 2, Skyrim, and ARMA 3 on high graphics) so I started looking into PC gaming. Arriving on this forum is like a religious experience. The vision you guys have of creating a better game through modding is nothing short of artistic brilliance. Really, you guys should be getting paid by Bethesda. However, I'm really skeptical to try all this for myself because I've never modded a game in my two decades of playing video games...

 

I've only played the vanilla game with no cheats or mods or anything.... It was fun but really not the best game in the world. I want to EXPERIENCE the grim struggle of life in the wasteland. I want to be starving and scared. To me, constant CTDs and stuff like that would really kill the experience.... and I'm wondering if it's even worth my time to try and mod the heck out of this game?

 

I've spent almost 10 days of free time pouring through these forums, video tutorials, wikis and what not.... However, I still remain totally lost :( Keep in mind I've never written a line of code in my life or installed a mod for anything. I'm an intelligent guy but this stuff is honestly mind boggling. :psyduck: I had an easier time with calculus... I've been on forums before I know n00bs are sometimes frowned upon because I'm sure you guys have discussed all this stuff a couple years back... but I've used the search button and tons of time and I just really need your help.

 

1) Should I buy Fallout 3 GOTY on Steam or in a retail box? If I get it on Steam will it automatically patch the newest version? If I get retail box do I need to download official patch? Is it worth getting the box just so I can reinstall it easily if I mess up my mods? If I get Fo3 on steam do I need to change the folder location for modding?

 

2) I've spent a lot of time looking at the mods available (really cool stuff BTW) and I've come to the conclusion that I need, at the minimum : FWE & MMM & 100 new songs on GNR. Ideally I would also like Apocalypse Armory, Fo3 Remastered (I know the guy working on that is active here so if you could help me out that would be great), DC interiors, Fo3 Reanimated, Unofficial patch, darned UI, Fellout, NMC texture, enhanced weather, and some other stuff. Plus some little additions (I gather that these are less hard to install) like the player hideout, coyote armor, ghost armor, finger of God, etc. Would strictly content add-ons like Mothership Zeta Crew and Alton, IL put me at any risk of CTDs? I almost don't want to bother with some things just because I'm so scared of crashes and what not

 

3) Can you help me compile a list of EVERYTHING I need to do to get this modded version of the game running as smoothly as possible? Once I install fo3 I need to get an official patch? Then I need FOSE... then I need FOMM... what about BOSS? Can I rely on these tools to sort out my load order? Does BOSS literally sort the load order or does it give you a recommendation? Do I need archive invalidated invalidated or is the version in FOMM good enough? Do I need to create any folders within the data folder for textures or whatever? Does the order of the files in the data folder matter if I'm using FOMM to sort it?

 

So....

 

Install game

Patch game

get FOSE

put mods in data folder

sort load order using BOSS/FOMM

turn on archive invalidated in FOMM

download Fo3 EDIT, make master patch, put it end of load order

 

Is that it???

 

4) Compatibility patches? Are these incorporated into Fo3 remastered or Fo3 fix or something like that? What is the best one for me to be able to run FWE, MMM, and Apocalypse Armory at the same time?

 

I don't even have my new computer yet so I won't be attempting this for a couple months probably.... but it would just be really awesome if you guys could help me so that the first time I turn on Fallout 3 it is the ultimate comprehensive modded experience

:thumbsup:

[vforvic]

Boy I know I'm going to get long on this one and I'll still miss stuff. If you are asking is it worth it to use Mods I say yes. If you are asking is it worth it to make mods I would have to honestly say no...or maybe yes or maybe no. I love modding, but honestly I would have a hard time justifying it to someone. It is very very time consuming and equally frustrating at times. The only reward you get is personal satisfaction on a job well done. Especially considering the amount of effort that goes into modding. So my answer is yes or no or maybe. :) I guess it depends on how my current mod is going at that time.

 

On number 1) When I pay money for a piece of software I want something physically in my hand so I rarely use Steam. Plus if I buy something I want to be able to sell it if needed or desired. Still, I do completely understand the appeal of Steam for many. I think its up to you and how you feel about such things. Either way works fine for modding.

 

Number 2) You can install as many mods as you can get to work together. I have had tons of mods in my load order and they all worked fine. The trick is to install one or two at a time and test. Do not install 100 mods and start up FO3 and expect it to work correctly. It might, but if it does not then you are never going to be able to figure out which mod or mods are causing the issue. Plus if you install 100 mods right off the bat you will have no idea whether it was worth it or not because you won't have a baseline from which to work.

 

Number 3) Don't worry about creating folders. The mods take care of this for you. The order of files in the Data folder do not matter at all.

Install Game

Patch Game

Install FOSE

Install FOMM with AI on

Use FOMM Package Manager to Install the Mods. Do not do manual installs.

Use the Package Manager and it will make things so much better for you.

Sort with BOSS/FOMM

Manually sort the ones that BOSS cannot identify

Just keep in mind that what is below in the load order overwrites what is above.

Install FO3Edit along with its manual and absorb what it says and do it.

Having said all that I rarely use BOSS or use FO3Edit to patch my game although they do a great job. But I like to tinker and mess with things so I do most stuff myself. It's how I learn I guess.

 

Number 4) Compatibility Patches, if they are needed, are normally done by the modders of the respective Mods...if they are done. Sometimes the modder may just say there is an incompatibility between their mod and mod x so don't run them together or be aware of this issue. Other times one or the other will release a patch. In either case you will normally see this listed on the mods main page or readme file.

 

If you start installing many mods then your going to get CTD on occasion or other issues that you will have to work through. In the end you can make it all work together though. Modding and getting modded games to work smoothly is an art as much as a science.

[Jeoshua]

There are those of us trying to reduce that headache for others by making stuff for everyone else.

 

Is modding hard? Yes. It requires that you learn the ins and outs of the Gamebryo engine, several modding tools, abiding by the terms of service on the Nexus, and many other factors. It's hard to keep straight.

 

Is modding fun? If you like writing code, debugging software, and waking up in the middle of the night with crazy ideas that just... might... work... then yes. Otherwise no.

 

Is USING mods fun/easy? Yes. For the most part. But the more mods you install, the greater the chance that they will step on each others toes. If you stick with tried-and-true ones you can find patches that make them work well together.

 

And not to plug my own work, but...

[ElderMalaclypse]

One thing to keep in mind now as far as FO3 and modding is concerned is that there are a lot fewer people playing and downloading mods right now. With Skyrim just having been released many gamers have moved on to that or NV. The download numbers are way, way down so it may not feel as if you are getting the response you wanted for your mod. You will most likely have to be satisfied with your accomplishment rather than the number of downloads or endorsments.

 

I would personally recommend buying the physical disks rather than using Steam, I suppose I'm a bit old school that way. I totally agree with vforvic on this subject. I truely cannot see the appeal of Steam and don't understand why people go that route without a clear advantage from it, which I don't see.

 

There is actually an upper limit on the number of mods you can install, I believe it is 255. I would not recommend installing that many unless you are proficient in a FO3 tool such as WryeFlash or FO3Edit because you will have to use one of these to correct conflicts and create merged patches. There are ways to combine smaller mods together or ghost .esps but again, you need a FO3 tool to accomplish these things.

 

I find modding a lot of fun and rewarding but it can be difficult. You must be able to figure things out on your own, use the vanilla game or other mods as examples and learnign tools, and be profieciant at searching message boards and the GECK page for answers and tips.

[SariDecember]

I highly recommend modding your game. Just compare some screenshots of a vanilla game with the ones from a heavily modded game. Besides the gigantic improvement of the visuals, it can also enhance the game experience. You'll get the twist how modding works real quick so after a few rounds of trial and error you'll be able to install pretty much everything you want.

 

As for doing mods yourself it really takes up some conviction because, as stated above you'll have to get familiar with programs like blender, nifskope, photoshop, the GECK etc and depensing on what you're up to. Be warned though that this could get really addicting once you're skills increase because you'll find yourself tweaking every little thing in the game that you think could have done better. I've seen a lot of threads where people admit that they spend more time modding than actually playing the game!

 

If you should plan to do mods yourself I would suggest you get the retail version. I got FO3 on retail and found it quite comfortable to install it to whatever directory you want it too, which comes in handy when it comes to modding. I found it to be really annoying to expand to the 13th subfolder of the steam folder to get to my NV data folders.

 

Just check it out and jump right into it, maybe the "appetite" for doing mods yourself comes with the inspiration by mods you enjoy. There's a tutorial for almost everything out there, some good ones in the Nexus wiki!

 

Have fun and maybe I'll download a mod done by you one day!? ;)

 

Greeetz *SariD

[bce5150]

Hey guys thanks for the replies!

 

Sorry I didn't make it clear in the original post, but I am -not- looking to make mods. I just want to reap the benefits of all your hard work and time so I can play the ultimate fallout 3 experience! :whistling: I'm actually holding off on Skyrim because I thought Oblivion for Ps3 was kinda lame... I'm going to play Fo3 for a while then jump onto Skyrim when someone releases an overhaul on some mechanics.

 

 

Likewise I am super excited to play FWE and I think this is actually the best time to play Fallout 3! I don't mind the community dying because it's a single player game. Although I do understand that you guys, as modders, like to receive positive feedback from people who got enjoyment due to your sacrifice of time. That's why I'm here to tell you how much respect I have for you all... But personally, I don't have the time to mod myself... my life is too full of drinking, guitar, and games already lol. ;D

 

Anyway, I'm still looking into computers (which I don't know too much about either) but if anyone has another helpful hint for a n00b it would be great. Or any recommendations for essential mods... So far I'm pretty much set on FWE & MMM. Again, thanks for all the help!

Edited November 17, 2011 by bce5150

[Jeoshua]

There is actually an upper limit on the number of mods you can install, I believe it is 255.

 

Close:

 

Mods have an offset byte at the beginning of their FormIDs.

 

0x00 - Fallout3.esm

0x01 or 0xFE - Unused (Fallout3.exe, never seen in game)

0xFF - Reserved for the loaded save file.

 

So 0xFF - 0x03 = 0xFC or 252 available offsets total.

 

Tested and confirmed. Just thought I'd put this information out there into the Nexus.

Edited November 17, 2011 by Jeoshua