First playthough--mod suggestions please !

[csbx]

Having played Fallout 3 and NV several hundred hours I've developed a fairly good idea how I like to set up my fallout games--problem is that I have no idea where to start for FO4.

 

Here are the things I'd like to have for my first playthrough:

 

1) a full needs / customization mod like Project Nevada
2) 'locations' mods like New Vegas Interiors / DC interiors that add detailed touches to the world while fitting in well

3) extra content like e.g. more pipboy games / music etc. as long as reasonably lore friendly

4) a mod that scales out the game for a longer playthough--(1) may take care of this. E.g. I noticed you get the power armor like 5 seconds into the game--any way to delay these things so there is a longer build-up, better pacing ? Delay DLC, e.g.

5) HUD minimization mods

6) Player homes that fit into the world well

 

I'd appreciate any suggestions along the lines of the above categories. Thanks !

[AGreatWeight]

Here's a few that are well recommended.

Player Home mods-

Boxcar bungalow - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/13691

Faction Housing Overhaul - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/15814

The Tailgater - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/15687

Noir Apartment - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/21790

Eden Meadows Cinema Player Home (requires Far Harbor DLC) - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/27327

or any of the player home mods by RedRocketTV.

 

Location mods-

Better UFO Site - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/13521

in fact, just download all of the 'Better' location overhauls by Mika999

https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/12827

https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/17038

https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/15388

Lexington Interiors - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/19120

Subway Runner - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/18639

Beantown Interiors - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/4612

 

Extra content-

Classic Overseer monofonto (+ Fallout and New Vegas font replacers) - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/11937

Deeper Voice for Supermutants - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/3884

Fallout Suite (music overhaul) - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/15870

Varied Raiders - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/15780

Varied DC Guards - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/15419

Randomized DC Guard Outfits - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/12100

DC More Security - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/13078

Detailed Feral Ghouls - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/20555

Retextured Super Mutants - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/24514

Power Armor Overhaul (textures) - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/3344

X02 Power Armor - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/11017

Hellfire X03 Power Armor - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/26251

Faded Glory (soundtrack mod) - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/26014

Dead Body Collisions - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/2570

Reverb and Ambience Overhaul - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/10189

Glowing Animals Emit Light - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/9239

T-51.C Advanced Computer System - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/7733

Diamond City AUTO Close Gate - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/12928

 

HUD content-

Better Dials for Power Armor - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/10937

Full Dialogue Interface - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/1235

 

Extras-

Power Armor Movement Sounds - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/1544

Swinging Meat Bags - https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/21087

 

Not a definitive list by any means, as it would take me hours to list all my recommendations, but this should get you started.

[el2mador]

The mod "Amazing Follower Tweaks" (by Dheuster) is something you'll always want to have whether it's your 1st playthrough or your 21st; whether you're only using vanilla followers, or downloaded several custom ones.

 

(My old post)

 

 

Link to the mod

For those not aware, AFT is one of the most highly used and most stable companion system back in Skyrim. It’s iteration for Fallout 4 was uploaded back in September and many updates have been added since then.

Here's the gang: https://imgur.com/a/OxKnD

 

What it does:

• support for multiple followers (5 that take up a follower slot + Dogmeat)
• support for multiple saved outfits for companions (ie. combat outfit, casual outfit)
• set up a campsite
• have companions scrap settlements for you (instead of doing it yourself)
• pose companions
• tweak companions so they do not take fall damage, have unlimited ammo, set essential or not, ignore friendly fire, enter/exit power armor, follow on weapon draw, stealth when you sneak, etc
• set companion aggressiveness and follow distance
• set companion home location (even your current location or any internal cell)
• set or reverse companion likes and dislikes
• set number of random comments depending on the situation
• sculpt followers/change appearance
• force recruit an npc to be a companion
• scanning npcs to find their stats and traits
• locates a managed companion; places a marker on them which disappears the moment you get close to them so you don't get a lot of clutter
• has an extremely detailed readme/documentation on its Nexus page so you know everything there is to know
• active mod author
• and tons of other features

Basically, it makes a ton of mods obsolete since it can already offer you all the necessary features all in one esp.

 

A couple of neat features to add:

 

(1) Saving your spouse in the most immersive way possible

• If you recruit Curie and go to Vault 111 before the end of the game’s first act (before you kill Kellogg), Curie will remark that she can save him. Your spouse becomes a companion, suffering from amnesia, and has variable likes/dislikes based on how consistent your character acts.
• The game even remarks on how your spouse was frozen after the bullet hit him, and thus while he/she is alive, some neural damage was irreparable (hence memory loss, some dialogue feeling a bit odd, etc)
• You even get a perk and rekindle the romance once you get max affinity with your spouse

(2) “Smart” companion recruitment

• Companions that take up a slot with automatically be managed by AFT the moment you recruit them (ie. ”Shall we go?” -> “Join me”)
• Custom companions that don’t take up a slot (ie. Heather Casdin, Wastelander Barb) are NOT added as managed companions so they avoid conflicts; the only way you can have conflicts is if you manually managed them using AFT (which you should not do)

(3) Smart companion “control”

• There are certain quests that involve a companion being somewhere/not being with you; using other mods that allow multiple companions can cause problems - NOT with AFT
• Example - during a main quest, I had both Piper and Nick with me; AFT automatically had Piper dismissed to avoid conflicts while doing the quest; she was made available again after finishing that mission

(4) Active fixes and support

• The mod is made by Dheuster (same guy who made AFT for Skyrim)
• Tons of fixes have been released for every update, and Dheuster regularly replies in the Nexus forums
• To give an example of how quick a fix was, I mentioned that Automatrons lost their “self-destruct” command when talking to them. The only way to remove them was to set them as killable via AFT, then shoot them. Dheuster found out what was causing the issue and released an update the next day.
• Updating is also fairly easy, just install and overwrite; no need to unmanage/dismiss all companions for every version

---------------------

 

And of course, if we're on the subject of having a nice and hassle-free playthrough, the Unofficial Fallout 4 Patch is definitely a requisite: https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/4598

[AGreatWeight]

Dammit, I knew there was something I missed (Unofficial Fallout 4 Patch is essential)

[csbx]

@AGreatWeight - thanks for the generous list - helps not only find them but also acts as confirmation from someone who has played that they function well. Ah, yes, F0:4 patch !

 

@El2Matador - Totally remember AFT from skyrim. Thanks, man.

[jkruse05]

If it's your very first playthrough of the game keep things simple starting out. Focus on quality of life changes.

 

Unofficial Fallout 4 Patch: Self explanantory

Full Dialogue Interface: Lets you see exactly what you are about to say.

Vanilla Extensions: Fills in some gaps in the vanilla building parts, and makes them easier to work with.

Better Companions - No Conflicts: Makes some basic changes to companions to make them more effective and actually worth having. Infinite Ammo, No Fall Damage, Better Accuracy, and No Power Armor Breakage.

 

Fallout 4's progression system is broken crap. Go for Be Exceptional if you want something more like F3 or FNV, but at the very least use something that removes the level requirement.

Unleveled Perks with the Nuka World patch, if needed. Or the OTHER Unleveled Perks, that requires Far Harbor and Nuka World, or No Perk Level Requirements, which requires at least Far Harbor and has a version for both.

A Few mods that many others rely on:

AWKCR

Settlement Menu Manager

Fallout 4 Script Extender

Use those as your core. Now for some other optional ones will further improve your experience.

DEF_UI with Valdacil's Item Sorting will make your UI more PC friendly. A bit like SkyUI if you're familiar with that.

Scrap Everything: Lets you get rid of almost everything in settlements.

Place Everywhere: Lets you place things where you want in settlements, without worrying about red 'no-placement' highlights.

Attackers - Get off my Build Zone: Keeps settlement attackers from spawning in the middle of your settlements.

You'll Probably end up wanting somethng to expand the build limit in settlements. I'm using Increased Build Limit Enhanced 4K , but there are many others.

 

Start from there and see what you want to change.

 

Other Fun Stuff:

Backpacks of the Commonwealth: Just came out. Looks to be the most 'immersive' backpack mod out there.

What's Your Name: Lets you ask a generic Settler what their name is, making them less generic.

N0sf3ratu's Weapon Replacers: Specifically the "Combat Replacer" in Miscellaneous Files, because I hate that they dumped the R91 from F3 for a lazy copy of the Combat Shotgun and a giant machine gun that they call an "Assault Rifle". You;ll have to manually install everything except the .esp from the R91 first. Or you could just add in a different R91 if you want everything.

Combat Zone Restored: Just a little cut content for you.

Darker Nights with something like Legendary Lamps will have a nice effect on overall atmosphere.

[jcdenton2012]

I know that this is strange, but I love the rain in this game. Might I recommend...

More Common Weather

 

And, if you want even better weather.

True Storms

[laowai68]

You might want to try Vivid Fallout: Landscapes if starting a new playthrough. Vivid Fallout

[laowai68]

To extend gameplay, try Tales of the Commonwealth You won't be able to tell it from vanilla.