How to cure CTD's

[SirTwist]

1) Always use a mod manager. I choose to use Mod Organizer 2 to manage my mods. However, it is in alpha stage for all games. Nexus Mod Manager, if set up correctly from the start is a good way to go. However, as I stated, must be set up correctly. Do NOT install anything into your Data folder itself, unless it's part of F4SE, or something like that needs to be in there. You want to install your mods outside of the Data folder. I know, this sounds crazy, but trust me, it helps.

2) Make sure your game is up to date, and always make sure that once it's updated, to go through the main menu, hit play, and go to the main menu. Then exit out. This will initiate either new .ini files, or make changes to your existing ones.

3) Make sure your video card drivers are up to date. I know people will say that not having the latest drivers is a good thing. I say it is. The drivers that are updated can handle games better than previous drivers. I do not recommend using beta drivers. This is for Nvidia users only. And Nvidia desktop users. Have Geforece experience optimize your game. Find a balance between performance and quality. Not sure how to help you ATI/AMD users, but you all can help each other out.

4) You have a limit of 255 .esm and .esp mods. You can load up with more meshes and textures than this, if you want to, and have 400+ mods. However, be careful doing this. I would recommend about 175-200 .esm's and .esp's. You can add a few more, you have room for dlc's, and you can mess around with some other stuff. The texture mods, the reason I say be careful of, is because you don't want to bog down your system too much. Nor do you want to overlap mods. You can get some really funky textures, and meshes, if you mix and match too much. But you can run a lot of different textures without too many problems. Also, the textures do depend on your graphics card. If you have a lower end one, you want 1k and 2k ones. Mid range, stick with the 2k ones, maybe an occasional 4k, but the 2k should be good. High end video cards, 2k to 4k. Might even do one or two 8k, but try not to push it too much.

5) Remember that LOOT is your friend. LOOT can optimize your load order, and make it run well. I recommend everyone to run loot. Also, be aware that some mods need to be placed specifically. There are some that need to be at the bottom of the order. LOOT might not know that. So, you have to do it manually. However, you can change the load order after you run Loot.

6) I don't use Wyre Flash, but I do recommend reading up on it, and perhaps using it when you know enough about it. I don't use it, but it doesn't mean I don't like it. I just don't have experience with it, and I know my limitations. However, that doesn't mean I won't use it, just that I have no need to, really, use it right now. Later on, maybe.

7) ENB's. I don't use them myself for Fallout 4. I do use one for Skyrim. However, I also know my system, and I know my limitations of said system. That being said, I would be very cautious as to using them. As with Wyre Flash, you will want to learn to use them. And you will need to understand it.

8 ) F4SE. Always keep this updated. This is important. This is what you need to run the game better than vanilla. This is a frame work for all the keyword mods, as well. You need F4SE. I can't stress that enough. F4SE should be all you need to run your game. The launcher is for updates only, and to update .ini files. Nothing else.

9) For people new to modding games, you need to take a minute, and learn from us who are, at various levels, from novices to experts. Me, I am somewhere in between. Most of what I know is from other people. Between the forums here, and youtube, I am proficient at using, and understanding mods, mod orders, and the like. I am not a modder. I would like to be, eventually, but I am going to stick with what I know, right now.

 

One last thing, the mods I use are ones I have used for a long time. I have kept watch on the mods, and have used most of them for a long time. Gopher has a list of mods he has reviewed for Fallout 4, and I recommend people going to his youtube channel, and taking a look at them. He also has a website that is well done, and you should check it out as well. Links will follow. I recommend you check out the mods he reviews.

https://www.youtube.com/user/GophersVids/featured

https://www.gophersvids.com/