How to partially merge two mods

[DrakeTheDragon]

Fixed that to "gender seperation". Language issues on my part, couldn't find the right word from the start.

 

No, there is no such thing. A plugin can only affect "both" genders at the same time or none. So loading a female body mod after a male one kills the male one. "Rule of One".

Only Wrye Bash (or compatibility plugins merging the settings of both the old school way) can prevent this. And this is the case with many settings in plugins.

 

But you can't simply "create" your own Bash Tags. There's a defined list of all tags currently available and what they select. Wrye was regularly updating them a while ago, adding to the list further ones which made sense or were requested, but I don't know if there's any new ones as of late.

 

Isn't there a famous "Wrye Bash Pictorial Guide" around somewhere? Should help getting used to this monster of a swiss-knife-equivalent mod-using tool without much hassle. The list of tags can be read up at Wrye's site on a dedicated sub-page as far as I remember.

[Nephenee13]

The place to go for help with Bash is the Bethsoft forums, where the people maintaining and updating the program have their main threads.

 

By and large, you don't need to worry about Bash Tags, BOSS and Wrye Bash together can get them sorted out basically automatically.

[Striker879]

A while back MarkInMKUK posted an explanation of bashed tag choices, and he generously gave me permission to re-post. It's lengthy, so I'll put it in spoiler tags.

 

 

Please note, when I say that it should be checked, that only applies if there are items on the right side as well (except for one patch option which is detailed below). Also when I say mods, I mean just that, mods. Don't check any of the csv files unless you know that they're what you want.

 

Alias Mod Names

Should you check it? Not normally.

What does it do? If a mod has been renamed, it allows patch options that use the original mod name to know that it needs to use the new mod name instead.

When does the user need it? If for instance, you rename Oscuros_Oblivion_Overhaul.esp to OOO.esp (for whatever reason), you'll need this option so that Bash knows that OOO.esp is really Oscuros_Oblivion_Overhaul.esp.

 

Merge Patches

Should you check it? Yes. Unless you need it, it won't help you, but it also doesn't hurt to have it active.

What does it do? It copies mods into the Bashed Patch so that they don't have to be active.

When does the user need it? If you're running out of space in your load order (Oblivion can only handle 255 mods at a time) this can merge some mods into the Bashed Patch so that you have more space. Some mods have to be merged to work properly (filter mods, Item Interchange), but this should be noted in the mod's readme.

When does a modder need it? If you're creating a filter or item interchange type mod. See the readme for details.

 

Replace Form IDs

Should you check it? No. This is an advanced option. If you need it, you'll know it (or be instructed to use it).

What does it do? It replaces a set of formIDs with another set of formIDs defined by a csv file.

When does the user need it? If you want to replace all usage of one item for another. For instance, P1DCandles replaces all static, non-movable candles with candles that can be picked up, moved around, stolen, etc. It only works for Oblivion.esm though. This option allows P1DCandles to work for all mods (assuming you have the original mod installed).

When does a modder need it? If you're systematically replacing a formID with another, this will do the work for you. It also works across all mods the user has.

 

Import Actors

Should you check it? Yes. All mods should probably be checked unless you are told otherwise.

What does it do? Some mods make changes to NPCs and Creatures and want those changes to be preserved even if another mod changes the same NPC / Creature. This ensures that those changes are kept.

When does the user need it? Normally always. Advanced users may prefer to keep changes from one mod and not the other.

When does a modder need it? If you make changes to one of the following and it is important that the change is kept:

Actor aggression, confidence, energy level, responsibility, services, training skill, or training level you need to tag the mod with 'Actors.AIData'.

Actor skills (armorer, athletics, etc), health, attributes (strength, speed, etc) you need to tag the mod with 'Actors.Stats'.

Actor base spell, fatigue, barter gold, level, calc min, calc max, IsBiped, sex, IsEssential, IsWeaponAndShield, IsRespawn, IsSwims, IsFlies, IsWalks, IsAutoCalc, IsPCLevelOffset, IsNoLowLevel, IsNoBloodSpray, IsNoBloodDecal, IsNoHead, IsNoRightArm, IsNoLeftArm, IsNoCombatInWater, IsNoShadow IsNoRumors, IsSummonable, IsNoPersuasion, IsCanCorpseCheck you need to tag the mod with 'Actors.ACBS'.

NPC class you need to tag the mod with 'NPC.Class'.

NPC race you need to tag the mod with 'NPC.Race'.

Actor combat style you need to tag the mod with 'Actors.CombatStyle'.

Creature blood spray path, blood decal path you need to tag the mod with 'Creatures.Blood'.

Actor model path, bound radius, modt you need to tag the mod with 'Actors.Skeleton'.

 

Import Actors: AIPackages

Should you check it? Yes. All mods should probably be checked unless you are told otherwise.

What does it do? Some mods make changes to NPCs and Creatures AI Packages and want those changes to be preserved even if another mod changes the same NPC / Creature. This merges the AI Packages so that they are all present from all tagged mods.

When does the user need it? Normally always. Advanced users may prefer to keep changes from one mod and not the other.

When does a modder need it? If you make changes to one of the following and it is important that the change is kept:

Actor AI Packages you need to tag the mod with 'Actors.AIPackages'. If you're re-adding an AI Package that was previously removed, you need to tag the mod with 'Actors.AIPackagesForceAdd' as well.

 

Import Actors: Animations

Should you check it? Yes. All mods should probably be checked unless you are told otherwise.

What does it do? Some mods make changes to NPCs and Creatures animations and want those changes to be preserved even if another mod changes the same NPC / Creature. This merges the animations so that they are all present from all tagged mods.

When does the user need it? Normally always. Advanced users may prefer to keep changes from one mod and not the other.

When does a modder need it? If you make changes to one of the following and it is important that the change is kept:

Actor animations you need to tag the mod with 'Actors.Anims'.

 

Import Actors: Death Items

Should you check it? Yes. All mods should probably be checked unless you are told otherwise.

What does it do? Some mods make changes to NPCs and Creatures death items (items that are added to the NPC / Creature only when it dies) and want those changes to be preserved even if another mod changes the same NPC / Creature. This ensures that those changes are kept.

When does the user need it? Normally always. Advanced users may prefer to keep changes from one mod and not the other.

When does a modder need it? If you make changes to one of the following and it is important that the change is kept:

Actor Death Items you need to tag the mod with 'Actors.DeathItem'.

 

Import Actors: Spells

Should you check it? Yes. All mods should probably be checked unless you are told otherwise.

What does it do? Some mods make changes to NPCs and Creatures and want those changes to be preserved even if another mod changes the same NPC / Creature. This ensures that those changes are kept.

When does the user need it? Normally always. Advanced users may prefer to keep changes from one mod and not the other.

When does a modder need it? If you add or remove an actor's spell and it is important that the change is kept you need to tag the mod with 'Actors.Spells'. If you're re-adding a spell that was previously removed, you need to tag the mod with 'Actors.SpellsForceAdd' as well.

 

Import Cells

Should you check it? Yes. All mods should probably be checked unless you are told otherwise.

What does it do? Some mods make changes to cells (the areas your character can enter) and want those changes to be preserved even if another mod changes the same cell. This ensures that those changes are kept.

When does the user need it? Normally always. Advanced users may prefer to keep changes from one mod and not the other.

When does a modder need it? If you make changes to one of the following and it is important that the change is kept:

Cell climate, or IsBehaveLikeExterior you need to tag the mod with 'C.Climate'.

Cell music type you need to tag the mod with 'C.Music'.

Cell name you need to tag the mod with 'C.Name'.

Cell owner, rank, global variable, or IsPublicPlace you need to tag the mod with 'C.Owner'.

Cell water, water height, IsHasWater you need to tag the mod with 'C.Water'.

Cell ambient, directional, or fog lighting you need to tag the mod with 'C.Light'.

Cell flags not mentioned above you need to tag the mod with 'C.RecordFlags'. Use with care, it also overrides the above flags.

 

Import Factions

Should you check it? Yes. All mods should probably be checked unless you are told otherwise.

What does it do? Some mods make changes to the factions that an NPC / Creature belongs to and want those changes to be preserved even if another mod changes the same NPC / Creature. This ensures that those changes are kept.

When does the user need it? Normally always. Advanced users may prefer to keep changes from one mod and not the other.

When does a modder need it? If you make changes to one of the following and it is important that the change is kept:

Adding a faction, removing a faction, or changing the actor's rank in a faction you need to tag the mod with 'Factions'.

 

Import Graphics

Should you check it? Depends. This is an aesthetic choice. Choose whichever mod graphics you prefer.

What does it do? Some mods make changes to the graphics of the game. This ensures that the graphics from the mod(s) you like are preserved even if another mod changes the same graphics.

When does the user need it? If you use a mod that changes the graphics of the game, and you want those graphics to always be used even if another mod changes the graphics to something else.

When does a modder need it? If you make changes to one of the following and it is important that the change is kept you need to tag the mod with 'Graphics':

Birthsign icon path

Loading Screen icon path

Class icon path

Land texture icon path

Region icon path

Activator model path, bound radius, or modt

Door model path, bound radius, or modt

Flora model path, bound radius, or modt

Furniture model path, bound radius, or modt

Grass model path, bound radius, or modt

Static model path, bound radius, or modt

Potion/Poison icon path, model path, bound radius, or modt

Ammo icon path, model path, bound radius, or modt

Alchemical Apparatus icon path, model path, bound radius, or modt

Book icon path, model path, bound radius, or modt

Ingredient icon path, model path, bound radius, or modt

Key icon path, model path, bound radius, or modt

Light icon path, model path, bound radius, or modt

Misc icon path, model path, bound radius, or modt

Sigil Stone icon path, model path, bound radius, or modt

Soul Gem icon path, model path, bound radius, or modt

Weapon icon path, model path, bound radius, or modt

Tree icon path, model path, bound radius, or modt

Armor or Clothing male body (model path, bound radius, or modt), male world, male icon path, female body, female world, female icon path, or flags (IsHead, IsHair, etc)

Creature body parts or nift

Magic Effect icon path, model path, bound radius, modt, effect shader, enchant effect or light

Almost anything in an Effect Shader

 

Import Inventory

Should you check it? Yes. All mods should probably be checked unless you are told otherwise.

What does it do? Some mods make changes to the items that an NPC / Creature / Container start with and want those changes to be preserved even if another mod changes the same NPC / Creature / Container. This merges all these changes.

When does the user need it? Normally always. Advanced users may prefer to keep changes from one mod and not the other.

When does a modder need it? If you add, remove, or change the count of an item in an NPC / Creature / Container and it is important that the change is kept you need to tag the mod with 'Invent'.

 

Import NPC Faces

Should you check it? Depends. This is an aesthetic choice. Choose whichever mod has the NPC faces that you prefer.

What does it do? Some mods make changes to NPC faces. This ensures that the NPC faces from the mod(s) you like are preserved even if another mod changes the same NPC faces.

When does the user need it? If you use a mod that changes the NPC faces of the game, and you want those NPC faces to always be used even if another mod changes the NPC faces to something else.

When does a modder need it? If you make changes to one of the following and it is important that the change is kept:

NPC Face-Gen Symmetric, Face-Gen Asymmetric, Face-Gen Texture Symmetry, eyes, hair, hair length, hair color, fnam you need to tag the mod with 'NpcFaces'. You may tag it with 'NpcFacesForceFullImport' if you want all of the previous attributes to be kept even if they haven't been changed.

 

Import Names

Should you check it? Depends. This is an aesthetic choice. Choose whichever file has the names that you prefer.

What does it do? Some mods make changes to the various names in the game. This ensures that the names from the mod(s) you like are preserved even if another mod changes the same name.

When does the user need it? If you use a mod that changes the names of things in the game, and you want those names to always be used even if another mod changes the names to something else.

When does a modder need it? If you make changes to one of the following and it is important that the change is kept you need to tag the mod with 'Names':

Class name

Faction name

Hair name

Eyes name

Race name

Magic Effect name

Enchantment name

Spell name

Birthsign name

Activator name

Alchemical Apparatus name

Armor name

Book name

Clothing name

Container name

Door name

Ingredient name

Light name

Misc name

Flora name

Furniture name

Weapon name

Ammo name

NPC name

Creature name

Soul Gem name

Key name

Potion/Poison name

Sigil Stone name

World name

Cell name

Dialogue name

Quest name

 

Import Relations

Should you check it? Yes. All mods should probably be checked unless you are told otherwise.

What does it do? Some mods make changes to the way that a faction interacts with another faction and want those changes to be preserved even if another mod changes the same faction. This ensures that those changes are kept.

When does the user need it? Normally always. Advanced users may prefer to keep changes from one mod and not the other.

When does a modder need it? If you add, or change the relation that a faction has with another and it is important that the change is kept you need to tag the mod with 'Relations'.

 

Import Roads

Should you check it? Yes. All mods should probably be checked unless you are told otherwise.

What does it do? Some mods make changes to the layout of the world, and this requires that the roads match the new layout even if another mod changes the same world. This ensures that the road is kept.

When does the user need it? Normally always. Advanced users may prefer to keep changes from one mod and not the other.

When does a modder need it? If you change the road record of a world, and want that road kept even if the world is possibly changed by a later mod, you need to tag the mod with 'Roads'.

 

Import Script Contents

Should you check it? No.

What does it do? It copies the actual script into the bashed patch.

When does the user need it? Never.

When does a modder need it? Never. It has a good chance of breaking the patch unless you know exactly what you're doing. It is disabled in CBash mode for safety.

 

Import Scripts

Should you check it? Yes. All mods should probably be checked unless you are told otherwise.

What does it do? Some mods make changes to the script associated with an object and want those changes to be preserved even if another mod changes the same object. This ensures that those changes are kept.

When does the user need it? Normally always. Advanced users may prefer to keep changes from one mod and not the other.

When does a modder need it? If you make changes to one of the following and it is important that the change is kept you need to tag the mod with 'Scripts':

Activator script

Potion/Poison script

Alchemical Apparatus script

Armor script

Book script

Clothing script

Container script

Creature script

Door script

Flora script

Furniture script

Ingredient script

Key script

Light script

Leveled Creature script

Misc script

NPC script

Quest script

Sigil Stone script

Soul Gem script

Weapon script

 

Import Sounds

Should you check it? Depends. This is an aesthetic choice. Choose whichever mod has the sounds that you prefer.

What does it do? Some mods make changes to the various sounds in the game. This ensures that the sounds from the mod(s) you like are preserved even if another mod changes the same sound.

When does the user need it? If you use a mod that changes the sounds of things in the game, and you want those sounds to always be used even if another mod changes the sounds to something else.

When does a modder need it? If you make changes to one of the following and it is important that the change is kept you need to tag the mod with 'Sound':

Activator sound

Container open, close sounds

Creature foot weight, inherits sounds from, other sounds

Door open, close, loop sounds

Light sound

Magic Effect casting, bolt, hit, area sounds

Weather sounds

 

Import Spell Stats

Should you check it? Yes. All mods should probably be checked unless you are told otherwise (such as if you're using a spell overhaul, you'll probably want to only check that overhaul).

What does it do? Some mods change spells in order to fix bugs or to rebalance them. This ensures that these changes are kept even if another mod doesn't use the same changes.

When does the user need it? Normally always. Advanced users may prefer to keep changes from one mod and not the other. Some mods may instruct you on which items should be checked.

When does a modder need it? If you make changes to one of the following and it is important that the change is kept you need to tag the mod with 'SpellStats':

Spell name, cost, level type, spell type

 

Import Stats

Should you check it? Yes. All mods should probably be checked unless you are told otherwise (such as if you're using an item overhaul, you'll probably want to only check that overhaul).

What does it do? Some mods change items in order to fix bugs or to rebalance them. This ensures that these changes are kept even if another mod doesn't use the same changes.

When does the user need it? Normally always. Advanced users may prefer to keep changes from one mod and not the other. Some mods may instruct you on which items should be checked.

When does a modder need it? If you make changes to one of the following and it is important that the change is kept you need to tag the mod with 'Stats':

Potion/Poison weight, value

Ammo weight value, damage, speed, enchantment points

Alchemical Apparatus weight, value, quality

Armor weight, value, health, strength

Book weight, value, enchantment points

Clothing weight, value, enchantment points

Ingredient weight, value

Key weight, value

Light weight, value, duration

Misc weight, value

Sigil Stone weight, value, uses

Weapon weight, value, health, damage, speed, reach, enchantment points

 

Globals

Should you check it? Depends. Each option is entirely up to you and you may use or not use whatever option you want.

What does it do? Sets various global values for you.

When does the user need it? If you want to try one of the listed options. Each option is documented in Bash.

 

Tweak Actors

Should you check it? Depends. Each option is entirely up to you and you may use or not use whatever option you want.

What does it do? Makes various changes to actors for you.

When does the user need it? If you want to try one of the listed options. Each option is documented in Bash.

 

Tweak Assorted

Should you check it? Depends. The following options are recommended for all users: Bow Reach Fix, DarNified Books if you use DarN's UI, and Nvidia Fog Fix (even if you don't have an Nvidia graphics card). Each option is entirely up to you and you may use or not use whatever option you want.

What does it do? Makes various misc changes for you.

When does the user need it? If you want to try one of the listed options. Each option is documented in Bash.

 

Tweak Clothes

Should you check it? Depends. Each option is entirely up to you and you may use or not use whatever option you want.

What does it do? Makes various changes to clothing for you.

When does the user need it? If you want to try one of the listed options. Each option is documented in Bash.

 

Tweak Names

Should you check it? Depends. Each option is entirely up to you and you may use or not use whatever option you want.

What does it do? Mostly modifies names to make them sort "better" in game. Lore Friendly Names is the exception and simply replaces one word for another for consistency.

When does the user need it? If you want to try one of the listed options. Each option is documented in Bash.

 

Tweak Settings

Should you check it? Depends. The following options are recommended for all users: UOP Vampire Aging and Face Fix.esp. Each option is entirely up to you and you may use or not use whatever option you want.

What does it do? Sets various game setting values for you.

When does the user need it? If you want to try one of the listed options. Each option is documented in Bash.

 

Cobl Catalogs

Should you check it? If you use COBL, yes. Otherwise, no.

What does it do? It updates the in game COBL catalogs to include all ingredients and effects added by your mods.

When does the user need it? If you use COBL and want the in game catalogs to be accurate.

 

Cobl Exhaustion

Should you check it? If you use COBL and use its Exhaustion feature, yes. Otherwise, no.

What does it do? It updates greater powers added by other mods that are listed in the selected csv files so that they're compatible with COBL's Exhaustion feature.

When does the user need it? If you use COBL and its Exhaustion feature.

 

Contents Checker

Should you check it? Yes.

What does it do? It checks for some errors in your active mods.

When does the user need it? Always. Unless you know for certain that your actives mods are safe (because you ran this option previously and haven't changed your mods).

 

Leveled Lists

Should you check it? Yes.

What does it do? It merges changes to leveled lists so that mods play nicely with each other.

When does the user need it? Always. Advanced users may want it disabled, or may want to take it off automatic.

 

Morph Factions

Should you check it? If you use COBL and Wrye Morph, yes. Otherwise, no.

What does it do? It updates factions so that they are more likely to work with Wrye Morph.

When does the user need it? If you use COBL and Wrye Morph. Then again, you should only be using Wrye Morph if you're an advanced user, so you probably aren't reading this.

 

Power Exhaustion

Should you check it? No. It is only available for backwards compatibility.

What does it do? It updates greater powers added by other mods so that they're compatible with Wrye's deprecated Power Exhaustion mod.

When does the user need it? Never. Update to COBL Exhaustion already.

 

Race Records

Should you check it? Yes. Unlike all other options, even if there are no mods on the right, it should still be selected. All mods should probably be checked unless you are told otherwise.

What does it do? Some mods make changes to races and want those changes to be preserved even if another mod changes the same race. This ensures that those changes are kept. It also checks for and fixes various errors as described in the patch window.

When does the user need it? Normally always. Advanced users may prefer to keep changes from one mod and not the other. Some mods may instruct you on which items should be checked.

When does a modder need it? If you make changes to one of the following and it is important that the change is kept:

Race hairs you need to tag the mod with 'Hair'.

Race male height, weight, tail (model path, bound radius, modt), upper body texture path, lower body texture path, hand texture path, foot texture path, tail texture path you need to tag the mod with 'Body-M'.

Race female height, weight, tail (model path, bound radius, modt), upper body texture path, lower body texture path, hand texture path, foot texture path, tail texture path you need to tag the mod with 'Body-F'.

Race male voice you need to tag the mod with 'Voice-M'.

Race female voice you need to tag the mod with 'Voice-F'.

Race teeth lower (model path, bound radius, modt, icon path), or teeth upper (model path, bound radius, modt, icon path) you need to tag the mod with 'R.Teeth'.

Race mouth (model path, bound radius, modt, icon path), or tongue (model path, bound radius, modt, icon path) you need to tag the mod with 'R.Mouth'.

Race male ears (model path, bound radius, modt, icon path), or female ears (model path, bound radius, modt, icon path) you need to tag the mod with 'R.Ears'.

Race head (model path, bound radius, modt, icon path), Face-Gen Symmetric, Face-Gen Asymmetric, Face-Gen Texture Symmetry, or snam you need to tag the mod with 'R.Head'.

Race male attributes (strength, speed, etc) you need to tag the mod with 'R.Attributes-M'.

Race female attributes (strength, speed, etc) you need to tag the mod with 'R.Attributes-F'.

Race skills, skill modifiers you need to tag the mod with 'R.Skills'.

Race description you need to tag the mod with 'R.Description'.

Race factions (add/remove/change relation modifier) you need to tag the mod with 'R.Relations'.

Race spells (adding) you need to tag the mod with 'R.AddSpells'.

Race spells (removing or removing some and adding others) you need to tag the mod with 'R.ChangeSpells'. Don't use 'R.AddSpells' and 'R.ChangeSpells' at the same time.

Race eyes (adding,removing) you need to tag the mod with 'Eyes'.

 

SEWorld Tests

Should you check it? Yes (assuming you aren't using a really old patch).

What does it do? It fixes any quests that aren't suspended while your character is in the Shivering Isles.

When does the user need it? Always (assuming you aren't using a really old patch). If you don't have the Shivering Isles expansion, this won't do you any good, but it also won't hurt you. So it's safer to just leave it enabled.

 

[Richard123]

Thanks Striker. "Import NPC Faces" seems to be what I need. And several others look useful too. I gather from the way everyone is speaking of it that Wrye Bash isn't terribly difficult to use, it's just intimidatingly large and complex. I'll bury myself in the readme's for a few days and ser if I can't make sense of it.

 

Nephenee, what exactly is the advantage of using BOSS?

 

Thanks for your help everyone.

[Striker879]

If I can step in for Nephenee13, the BOSS team updates it's masterlist frequently, whenever a new mod is reported to them. They determine what tags will be useful for Wyre Bash to use when building a bashed patch (along with finding and reporting dirty edits, outdated esps etc.).

[DrakeTheDragon]

In addition to auto-tagging the plugins according to continuously-collected community feedback the Better Oblivion Sorting Software automatically sorts your load order, again according to continuous feedback from the community which plugin should be in which place relative to which other plugins etc. It basically uses the combined knowledge of a large part of the community to present you with the ideal load order for your list of mods, or as close as it gets. Load order is likely the most vital part of conflict-free mod using, once your number of mods exceeds "2". So it's very handy to have a tool sorting it for you, if you're still unsure how to do it right.