New to PC, really confused and need input on a few things

[wats6831]

Ok first off thanks for reading. I just bought the GOTY version and I'm very excited about all the incredible mods that you great people and others have put out.

 

But I'm very confused about several things. I come from WoW (bad i know boo :down: ), where most of the mods have an .exe that installs everything for you.

 

I've read several Modding FAQs including the Wiki one and several optimization guides as well as the stickies in this and the Bethesda Forums.

 

Let me start off by telling what I'm planning on doing mod wise and then you can tell me that my game will be mashed up into bits and my computer will melt into a puddle :nuke:

 

So, I installed the retail GOTY DVDs. It's got SI and NOTN as you probably know. It's also patched to 1.2.xxx as well.

 

I have only ran the game once to confirm the version. I have never played the game. (on PC)

 

I also installed the Obilivion Mod Manager, Wyre Bash, and I will install TES4View.

 

I will back up my data folder before I install these mods!!

 

I figured I would need these three things to install the mods and track down the probable errors.

 

I have read the Wrye Bash FAQ, but I really have no clue how to use it. I have a pretty clear idea on how to use the OBMM but from what I read you have to manually tell it which mods you have so that it can figure out how to install them (?), is this right? :unsure:

 

SO not knowing how to use these things per se. These are the mods I plan on using. Please feel free to let me know if you know of any conflicts with any of these, if they are redundant, or suck, or....whatever. I'm also unsure about how load order works and I've up on that as well. It kinda sounds like it's a whole lot of trial and error.

 

My goal is to get everything exactly the way I want it, BEFORE starting a game so that I don't have to patch saved games and all that other stuff.

 

Osucro's Oblivion Overhaul

 

Martigen's Monster Mod

 

Auryn's Levelling mod

 

Jarrod's texture replacements

 

Shaja's landscape LOD replacements

 

Bluesteel's Landscape normal map fix

 

BTMod with Darnified BTMod configs (I think is that how it works? lol :huh: )

 

Advanced Water Modification

 

Natural Environments

 

Seasonal Weather for More Sky Climates

 

Hunters mod

 

No Psychic Guards

 

Combat Behaviour

 

TF_Timemod

 

Illumination Within

 

Foxmaiden's Rebalancing

 

Life (I haven't been able to find this one yet!)

 

Turn off lights

 

Attack and Hide

 

Reduced Backward Speed

 

Bedrolls v1.1 by aaaBors

 

Real Sleep v1.4 by Dominic Watson

 

Real Hunger v1.4 by Dominic Watson, updated by Thingamajig

 

Realistic Fatigue v1.8 by Donovan Baarda

 

Reneer's Gold Mod by Reneer

 

Hammerfist Shiny Gold v1.1 by Hamacek

 

Bank of Cyrodiil v1.1 by Zarkis

 

Vaults of Cyrodiil v2.0 by bkrisher-Guiles

 

Crowded Roads Revamped v2.0 by BkWyrm13, updated by MaXiMiUS

 

Living Economy v3.63 by creepyfellow

 

Denock Arrow v1.0 by Scruggs

 

Thievery in the Imperial City v1.2 by JOG

 

Lynge's Thieves Highway v1.0 by Martin Lynge

 

Stealth Overhaul v1.3 by JOG

 

Bag of Holding v1.5 by Quarn

 

Immersive Caves v1.4 by addiktive

 

Darker Dungeons v1.1 by Galcyon

 

Brighter Drop Lit Torches With Weight v1.0 by Frugal, updated by StarX

 

SM Plugin Refurbish v1.03 by Strategy Master

 

Inebriation - Booze has drunk effects!

 

Ranger Class

 

XiDragon's Advanced Inns (need a link for this one if anyone has it!)

 

Mighty Bows

 

Mighty Magick

 

Smooth faces

 

Regional Bounties

 

There's a few more but that's about it for now.

 

I'm also looking for suggestions on which mods to use that improve on, replace, modify etc the Official Plugins like Theives Lair, Fighters Stronghold, etc.

 

I plan on implementing those and getting them all working together stable before i start my main game. that way I don't wreck hours of gameplay.

 

Thank you in advance for any input. I'm new to this whole thing and need advice. :thanks:

[bben46]

Welcome to Oblivion and Tesnexus

 

If you try to install all of those mods at once, you won't get much game play at all. First two on your list, OOO & MMM, don't play well together at all. However there is another mod that puts them together. it's called FCOM. There will be more conflicts as you go along.

 

First, go ahead and install the BT first. It has very few conflicts and will work with NEARLY anything. Second, Get OBMM and OBSE up and working - these are not really mods, but utility programs - they do not install like mods so be sure to read the instructions. OBSE is required for many mods. OBMM makes working with mods easier.

 

Then, start small, Denock arrows would be a simple mod that's easy to install and easy to test. You list several texture texture mods. Its probable that they will conflict - maybe not bad enough to crash, but you might see some strange things. The same for the various weather mods. Typically anything that changes the same kind of thing as something else can cause problems.

 

Try installing one, then testing, then add the other one and testing again.

 

There is also another utility called FCOM Helper. It sets the mod load order based on the experience of a group of experienced users. You won't need it until you have about a dozen mods.

 

Bash is great, but it requires a little more computer experience than OBMM. If you can work with it do it.

 

As you go, you will find more and more mods you want to add. If you just want to play the game don't start with mods, they are addictive!

 

When you run into problems post them, there will be someone here that has seen it before and can help.

 

I'm sure you will get a lot more advice, both good and bad.

 

Good Luck

[wats6831]

Welcome to Oblivion and Tesnexus

 

If you try to install all of those mods at once, you won't get much game play at all. First two on your list, OOO & MMM, don't play well together at all. However there is another mod that puts them together. it's called FCOM. There will be more conflicts as you go along.

 

First, go ahead and install the BT first. It has very few conflicts and will work with NEARLY anything. Second, Get OBMM and OBSE up and working - these are not really mods, but utility programs - they do not install like mods so be sure to read the instructions. OBSE is required for many mods. OBMM makes working with mods easier.

 

Then, start small, Denock arrows would be a simple mod that's easy to install and easy to test. You list several texture texture mods. Its probable that they will conflict - maybe not bad enough to crash, but you might see some strange things. The same for the various weather mods. Typically anything that changes the same kind of thing as something else can cause problems.

 

Try installing one, then testing, then add the other one and testing again.

 

There is also another utility called FCOM Helper. It sets the mod load order based on the experience of a group of experienced users. You won't need it until you have about a dozen mods.

 

Bash is great, but it requires a little more computer experience than OBMM. If you can work with it do it.

 

As you go, you will find more and more mods you want to add. If you just want to play the game don't start with mods, they are addictive!

 

When you run into problems post them, there will be someone here that has seen it before and can help.

 

I'm sure you will get a lot more advice, both good and bad.

 

Good Luck

 

Hi, thank you for the information. I did read about FCOM, however it seemed kinda overwhelming. I'm willing to give it a shot first if you think it will work correctly.

 

As far as the texture mods go, the guide I read located here says that those three texture mods can be used together. How well they work together is probalby an entirely different thing altogether but I'll probably give it a shot.

 

As far as OOO and MMM working together: I'm going off of this guide here

 

His opinion is that MMM is the neccessary companion to OOO. Sounds like I'm a bit nieve to expect them all to work well together. :wallbash:

 

 

 

I forgot to mention I'll also be installing the Unofficial Patch for fixes, Fathis Fix and some other misc fix mods. :thumbsup:

 

and in addition to the utilities I mentioned above I'll also be using AutoValidator and Conflict Catcher.

 

I'm still pretty fuzzy on the whole Load Order thing. I know that i can change it in OBMM and what not.

 

I'm also pretty fuzzy on how the actual mods that aren't .exe get installed. I'm hopeing that OBMM wil have a way for me to do that as I don't understand Wrye Basher and it seems more geared toward patching saved games, of which I have none.

 

 

:unsure:

 

Thanks again and any other input is welcomed and appreciated. :thanks:

[BossDweebe]

As you go, you will find more and more mods you want to add. If you just want to play the game don't start with mods, they are addictive!

 

Ain't that the truth. When I was just playing the game I still had half a life... :wacko:

 

Like bben said take it slow and easy. One simple maybe two mods at a time. Then play test.

 

The load order is not all that difficult, but is important. I'm not the pro, but basically, what loads

last rules. So for example if you load two mods that change the same thing the one that loads last

will overwrite the previous one.

The load order is the list on the left in OBMM. You don't have to install the mods in any special order

although I like to start with the ones that make the most changes early on. Having said that, you should

still start with some simple things to get the feel of what you are doing.

The top of the list loads first, bottom last.

 

 

Also be sure that any esm's load at the top of the list starting with Oblivion.

Personally I load landscape and effects changes first followed by misc. stuff and then armour,

clothes and bodies last - unless the read me of a mod insist I load it last.

Be sure to use OBMM's archive invalidation after every mod. Just to be safe.

 

Read the read me's. They tell you where everything goes. One thing I might add is that most read me's

will say something like "just extract to your Oblivion data folder". This may be O.K. if you were only

installing one or three mods, but I prefer to examine the file structure and manually place the last folder

or file in the list my self (this is the folder or file that has no other folder or file with the same name already).

Hope I'm being clear here. By doing it the long way you will better know what is where, and in the process learn a little of why, and it will help heaps in trouble shooting.

 

When getting into complex mods sets it helps to keep on reading and re-reading all the tutorials and other

info you gather. Cross you fingers and good luck to you.

[f00m0nch00]

You may want to consider some body replacers and unique landscapes to throw in your list, but thats just my opinion. If you get frustrated trying to get OOO working you could try Adrenaline Oblivion. It makes monsters spawn in large groups, makes things harder but isnt nearly as complicated or varied as OOO

[Shadowcran]

The latest Martigen's Monster Mod, 3.6beta 2 has a MMM for OOO.esm that seems to help a ton with the problems with the 2.

 

Oblivion WarCry and Francesco's are worth considering as well.

[maYuYang]

Hi there,

Welcome to the Modding Community^^,

 

You do not have to backup the data folder. Better backing up your mods, so you do not have to dl them again if your game messes up. You CAN install all at once, but activating them all in one go is a no go^^. You should also take care of the Load order. I Suggest this Site:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pb7...gmsEA&gid=0

Here is a wonderful and working Load order(tried it myself) and judging from your mods, this list should suit you well.

Then, Activate them one by one or pair by pair, never all at once.

Last but not least, you should consider downloading Streamline as well. It will set the graphic Settings for you so it runs smoothly most of the time. The no. Advantage with this however is the memory Purge.

Also check the Threat on chrashes/lockups and how to solve them also in the Genaral Mod Talk Section of the TESNEXUS Forum.

 

Finally, feel free to ask for help when encountering problems, but please describe it well then^^.

 

Good Luck! ^_^/

[wats6831]

THanks for all the input guys. I'm gearing up right now to install FCOM and all the associated mods. We'll see how it goes!

 

:bomb_ie: :bunny: :iluvff: :starwars:

[MrCooper2006]

Good luck getting rid of that BSOD when you start Oblivion for the first time!!

 

 

Haha jk

[wats6831]

Damn it i can't even get XP to create a shortcut to Wrye Bash :wallbash:

 

I guess installing Oblivion under "program files" was a baaad idea. :verymad: