Fallout 4 Modding vs. Skyrim Modding

[TheCoryGuy]

Hey all...

 

So I suck at modding. However I am curious, as a means to make myself a "how-to" for installing any kind of mod (i.e. not like those that the STEP tutorial suggests), are the installs relatively the same when using 3rd party tools for installing Fallout 4 mods as you would tidying up Skyrim mods?

 

In other words, do you need to "clean" things up or mesh things together or whatever?

 

I am really desperate for a stable modded game, so if I need to "apply filters for cleaning" all the time or whatever I would like to know what I'm in for.

 

Sorry if this post is confusing. MODDING for me is confusing because of all the extra set up. If only I had the stamina and intelligence of a Gopher.

 

 

[repusDude]

Don't worry. We are all started the same way as you. It's just some people are way better or have more talent/skills/equipments/resources/connection to do modding.

 

For starter, I usually just start at a website called www.Google.com and search whatever I need . I usually get good information on certain websites.

 

Check this google suggested websites out

 

https://www.google.com/m?&q=how+to+get+stable+modded+fallout+4

[panurgy]

Modding is very similar to Skyrim and earlier Beth games. There are always a few differences from game to game, but they're more similar than different.

 

What exactly do you mean by "clean things up or mesh things together"?

 

Merging mods is done to fix incompatibilities between different mods. It's necessary for all Bethesda games if you want all of your mods to work right. But you only need to do it for mods that conflict. If, for example, you have multiple mods that change the same NPC, or that change the same type of thing, like weapons, than you need to merge them, or the mods won't work right. This doesn't necessarily mean that the game will have problems, it usually just means that some features from some mods won't work (and honestly, a lot of people don't even seem to notice those kind of silent failures).

 

Cleaning mods (and official DLC) always applies to Beth games, too. Dirty edits are minor, unintentional changes that sneak into mods and DLC. Bethesda's own tools cause this to happen, and the only way to fix it is via xEdit. Gopher has a vid on this. Cleaning can improve the stability of a game, but only if you do it right. Also, FO4Edit is not as far along in development as TES5Edit was, so keep that in mind.

 

 

For installing normal mods (other than ENB, ReShade or F4SE), install and use NMM and LOOT. Install mods with NMM. Then, after you've got the mods you want, run LOOT (which can be done from drop down in NMM, or by clicking on the executable). After that, every time you install a new mod, run LOOT after.

[damanding]

Cleaning mods (and official DLC) always applies to Beth games, too.

It was my understanding that cleaning Fallout.esm and DLC esm files is an extremely bad idea. Otherwise good advice. :)

[panurgy]

It was my understanding that cleaning Fallout.esm and DLC esm files is an extremely bad idea. Otherwise good advice. :smile:

Yeah, the main esm should never be cleaned. But DLCs have dirty edits just like mods do. The CK itself will occasionally insert junk into files, and it can happen even with small, careful edits. And people make mistakes. So Bethesda's DLC have problems, too.

 

In Skyim, the consensus opinion was that the DLC needed to be cleaned. Is FO4 different? I wouldn't mind links, because I've had trouble finding good sources of info.

[damanding]

Oh I fully agree the DLCs have issues, I mean...it is a Bugthesda product. I'm just not positive they're safe to clean and thought a warning would be in order. Hopefully someone with more knowledge on this than I (which I fully admit isn't extensive) will pop in with something more.

[bill8872]

After looking this up, it seems every reply is yes. Clean the DLCs but never clean the main .esm.

FO4 seems to get the same answer as other Bethesda games.

 

Some have also said if you ever need to verify the game files for any reason, the DLCs might revert back to the original state requiring cleaning again.

 

 

I have never cleaned the DLCs for this or Skyrim, and don't want to find out it was a bad idea.

Edited October 4, 2016 by bill8872

[panurgy]

After looking this up, it seems every reply is yes. Clean the DLCs but never clean the main .esm.

FO4 seems to get the same answer as other Bethesda games.

 

Some have also said if you ever need to verify the game files for any reason, the DLCs might revert back to the original state requiring cleaning again.

 

 

I have never cleaned the DLCs for this or Skyrim, and don't want to find out it was a bad idea.

If you verify, Steam will revert the DLC. The only thing to do about that is to make your own backups. It's a case where you know better than Steam's automation. Or you can clean the DLC again.

 

Anyway, I played hundreds of hours of Skyrim with cleaned DLC, and had a super stable setup even with a large mod list. I definitely saw a huge improvement after cleaning mods and DLC. But I also can't confirm how much of that improvement was from clean DLC vs clean mods. And I don't know enough specifically about FO4 modding to give any authoritative advice about DLC.

 

I know that there are mod authors in FO4 who say their mods are clean, but whose mods generate hundreds of warnings in FO4Edit, so it's definitely best practice to check and clean mods yourself.

[TheCoryGuy]

Very informative so far. So are there stable tools to keep in mind for when I start modding tomorrow?

 

I do plan to mainly change AI, combat, weapons balance, item balancing. I usually don't ADD content.

 

Also would like to do an ENB and some retexturing.

[bill8872]

 

After looking this up, it seems every reply is yes. Clean the DLCs but never clean the main .esm.

FO4 seems to get the same answer as other Bethesda games.

 

Some have also said if you ever need to verify the game files for any reason, the DLCs might revert back to the original state requiring cleaning again.

 

 

I have never cleaned the DLCs for this or Skyrim, and don't want to find out it was a bad idea.

If you verify, Steam will revert the DLC. The only thing to do about that is to make your own backups. It's a case where you know better than Steam's automation. Or you can clean the DLC again.

 

Anyway, I played hundreds of hours of Skyrim with cleaned DLC, and had a super stable setup even with a large mod list. I definitely saw a huge improvement after cleaning mods and DLC. But I also can't confirm how much of that improvement was from clean DLC vs clean mods. And I don't know enough specifically about FO4 modding to give any authoritative advice about DLC.

 

I know that there are mod authors in FO4 who say their mods are clean, but whose mods generate hundreds of warnings in FO4Edit, so it's definitely best practice to check and clean mods yourself.

 

Skyrim is 1000 times stabler than FO4 as it is.

Before cleaning mod it is best to ask first. I know of one mod for Skyrim that has to keep it dirty edits or it will not function correctly.

 

Very informative so far. So are there stable tools to keep in mind for when I start modding tomorrow?

 

I do plan to mainly change AI, combat, weapons balance, item balancing. I usually don't ADD content.

 

Also would like to do an ENB and some retexturing.

I have no problems with ENB for FO4, except for some FPS loss

I had to remove ENB from Skyrim. Every Time I started the game I keeped getting an error about not finding a setting in the system32 file.

I don't really need it, as I get 60fps without it.