Deleting objects from downloaded mods

[charlottenoyen]

So I've stumbling through the basics of modding for years, picking things up as I go, and now I've come across a problem I can't seem to get around.

 

I have some mods that are just a little too bloated in terms of how many objects they add and want to delete a few. For example, I have SOE and I don't need a bunch of the Institute stuff. I figured out how to use FO4Edit to delete those from the workshop menu by directly editing the mod files. But what I want to do is create a new esp that contains all my changes and deletions from multiple mods.

 

I tried making my edits in CK and saving those changes in a new esp, but it doesn't seem to stick. I'm fresh out of ideas at this point. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Macrophobic]

Yeah, I tried to do the same: make an addon to Crafting Workbenches and it's pre-war stuff addon to remove some clothing recipes. I wanted to replace clothing items I don't like with something completely different (made of different materials) and make these clothes craftable on armorsmith workbenches, so the mod would contain new recipes as well.

 

I had to merge Crafting Workbenches with the addons, edit the file and remove recipes one by one, while I would prefer to leave the mod as it is and disable recipes with a patch or make my new mod disable these recipes.

Edited March 30, 2017 by MeetTheFuture

[damanding]

The best approach is to merge all the mods you want together and then edit their recipes, or do it in the reverse order. It really doesn't matter. I suggest either using Matortheeternal's Merge Plugins tool (it's hosted on Skyrim side but works with FO4) or to merge manually in FO4Edit.

[charlottenoyen]

That actually sounds like something even I can pull off. Thanks for the help, and the link to that tool! (And your mods. Big fan :p)

[Greslin]

The best approach is to merge all the mods you want together and then edit their recipes, or do it in the reverse order. It really doesn't matter. I suggest either using Matortheeternal's Merge Plugins tool (it's hosted on Skyrim side but works with FO4) or to merge manually in FO4Edit.

 

I still use his Merge Plugins script for FO4Edit. Works better for me than his standalone.

[charlottenoyen]

The best approach is to merge all the mods you want together and then edit their recipes, or do it in the reverse order. It really doesn't matter. I suggest either using Matortheeternal's Merge Plugins tool (it's hosted on Skyrim side but works with FO4) or to merge manually in FO4Edit.

 

So, before I start messing with mods, let me get this straight.

 

Say I want to change some material costs in Homemaker and delete some build items from SOE. I'd merge those two mods and create a new esp, I'd edit that esp in FO4Edit/Creation Kit, and then activate the new esp, Homemaker and SOE? Or would I deactivate the two original mods and use the merged plugin?

[Greslin]

I'd do the whole thing in FO4Edit unless I had no other choice but to go into CK.

 

I'd also be careful about merging big mods like HM and SOE. Other mods may depend on them as masters. But what you want to do is use Merged Plugin to create a THIRD esp file from the first two. Then edit that resulting file to your tastes, and only use that one. Don't attempt just to merge file #1 into file #2. Create file #3. That's your merge.

[greekrage]

 

The best approach is to merge all the mods you want together and then edit their recipes, or do it in the reverse order. It really doesn't matter. I suggest either using Matortheeternal's Merge Plugins tool (it's hosted on Skyrim side but works with FO4) or to merge manually in FO4Edit.

 

So, before I start messing with mods, let me get this straight.

 

Say I want to change some material costs in Homemaker and delete some build items from SOE. I'd merge those two mods and create a new esp, I'd edit that esp in FO4Edit/Creation Kit, and then activate the new esp, Homemaker and SOE? Or would I deactivate the two original mods and use the merged plugin?

 

read the instructions on HOW to uninstall the mods at each mod's page that you want to edit because you WILL have to uninstall it prior to editing it. I dont suggest merging big mods like this cause if it goes wrong youre gonna break your menus.(lost categories etc.).

I suggest editing the mod you want and play with that esp edited...

Also note .. DO NOT edit the menu structures unless you know what youre doing.. Just remove the recipes you dont want and youre done.

Problem is that if you update it later on you have to do everything all over.

[charlottenoyen]

Thanks for the clarification, and the advice, I really appreciate it. I'm confused about one thing though. If I deactivate the original mods, wouldn't that mean I have to do all my edits again when the originals update? And if that's the case, wouldn't it make more sense to edit the mods directly instead of merging them and making my edits in a new esp?

 

Sorry about all the n00b questions, I just want to make sure I get my facts straight before I start.

[damanding]

You would have to re-do changes if they update regardless of if you modify the originals or make a third, new esp. I would just plan on not getting any updates unless you learn enough about using FO4Edit that you can copy their new changes into your new plugin. I think the biggest challenge you'll have is that the menu structure between Homemaker and SOE isn't compatible (I think, I've not actually used them). Had I known those were the two mods you wanted to merge I'd have suggested that you edit each one individually to your taste and keep them separate. Trying to adjust the menu structure for both might be a bit of a learning curve and also a huge headache given how big both mods are.