Vortex 1.0 Release

[thetag]

My two main issues with Vortex are:

interface: double clicks to see extra options doesn't make sense. I tried, but I just can't get used to it.

Right click, this is what should be used to see extra options.

or that pop-up on the right side, is it possible to "fix" it (permanent) on the window? that way would probably be less frustrating to use it (it's kind of hard to explain that, hopefull I'm expressing myself correctly lol).

 

and of course... manual sorting.

Seriously, if you don't want new-corner users doing sh*t, just hidden it, make it secret passwords required or something, or maybe hidden command lines (xEdit is a good example), but manual sorting should definitely exist on Vortex.

[Tadortot]

I'm not a big fan of Vortex in all honesty. My mods keeping messing up and breaking my game. This never happened with NMM. I don't know what the issue is but it just breaks my mods.

[AugustaCalidia]

In response to post #72154938.

Tadortot wrote: I'm not a big fan of Vortex in all honesty. My mods keeping messing up and breaking my game. This never happened with NMM. I don't know what the issue is but it just breaks my mods.

There's abundant help available on the Vortex Support Forum referenced at the end of the news release.

[AugustaCalidia]

In response to post #72154393.

thetag wrote: My two main issues with Vortex are:
interface: double clicks to see extra options doesn't make sense. I tried, but I just can't get used to it.
Right click, this is what should be used to see extra options.
or that pop-up on the right side, is it possible to "fix" it (permanent) on the window? that way would probably be less frustrating to use it (it's kind of hard to explain that, hopefull I'm expressing myself correctly lol).

and of course... manual sorting.
Seriously, if you don't want new-corner users doing sh*t, just hidden it, make it secret passwords required or something, or maybe hidden command lines (xEdit is a good example), but manual sorting should definitely exist on Vortex.

If you have suggestions for Vortex UI improvement, use the Vortex feedback feature (three vertical dots on upper right hand side of Vortex UI) to submit your suggestions to the developers. Feedback through Vortex is the only way suggestions can get logged, tracked, and worked on.

As for "manual sorting," Vortex actually has four ways to intervene manually in plugin management: (1) set a rule by dragging one dependency to another. (2) set a rule by using the drop down menu on the plugin page taskbar, (3) assign a plugin to a specific group, and (4) lock the mod index. Manual sorting is not exclusively moving plugins up and down a plugin list ("drag and drop"), as many seem to think.

Therefore there's no need to hide manual sorting, as many conceive it, from newcomers, because Vortex neither uses nor requires dragging plugins up and down a plugin list to achieve a proper load order. Edited July 30, 2019 by Augusta Calidia

[jaydawg55]

Congratulations on Vortex moving to full release!

 

Having used it since the alpha version became available, Vortex is now my preferred mod manager. Learning how to exert more personal control over load order with Vortex required a bit of effort. But I understand it better now and have been just as pleased with its results as when I used to drag mods around within Wrye Bash.

 

Since I like to try out a lot of mods, I appreciate the virtual file system of MO2. I read here that someone is testing a similar feature for Vortex. For me, it would be great if that could be added to Vortex. Until then, I keep a vanilla default game save around for import and restarting if I decide to remove a mod.

 

I also heard about mod packs on a Skyrim forum page and would like to learn more about how they might work with Vortex. Staying below the mod limit has always been a problem for me.

 

You are creating something great here: a near-universal mod manager. Keep up the good work.

 

[gfreeman1]

I am not a mod author, so I can't comment on whether or not Vortex is awesome or terrible when it comes to creating mods. I just want to share my experience with and opinions on using Vortex as a mod user.

First, ignore my post count - I've never been very vocal on the forums, but I've been around this site and modding since it was TESSource and I discovered Morrowind. I've used all of the most popular mod managers and tools for Gamebryo and Non-Gamebryo games. I've used both manual and tool assisted load order management. I've learned what does and does not work when modding, quite often the hard way. I've spent days tracking down CTD issues, as well as done the whole "spend a week modding instead of playing" thing. I've created custom tools for my own use that parse plugin and save game files in C++ and C# and even made contributions to NMM. I've made countless merged / bashed / smashed patches. I'm definitely not a novice when it comes to modding.

I've been using Vortex since the alpha release, version 0.13.1 I believe, and have never thought about switching back to another manager. I found the workflow so similar to that of MO / MO2, even NMM, that I was able to jump in without watching any tutorial videos. It does what I need a mod manager need to do, and does so quickly and efficiently.

The automatic load order sorting hasn't failed me yet, nor have I needed to define any custom rules / groups. This is with currently 168 plugins in Skyrim SE and 88 plugins in Fallout 4. If load order issues were to arise, its nice knowing that there are tools I can use to "correct" the automatic load order. I really don't miss manual, drag-and-drop plugin load ordering. I used to spend hours trying to get the "correct" load order, but I simply haven't cared since I started using Vortex.

As for how Vortex installs mods, I personally feel the hardlink deployment is superior to the alternatives. It has the flexibility and power of the VFS from MO / MO2, without requiring you to run games and tools through Vortex or leave Vortex running. It's also really fast when it comes to deploying / purging. Want to change which files overwrite each other? Swap the order and redeploy - done in seconds. Decide you don't like that mod you just installed, but want to keep it around for a future character / playthrough? Deactivate it and redeploy - done in seconds. Have a couple of huge texture mods that you just can't seem to decide between? Activate one, deactivate the other, deploy and play - done in seconds. The only time you may need to reinstall a mod is if you chose the wrong options when installing, or need to choose a different set of options.

While MO / MO2 have effectively the same benefit, their disadvantage, to me, is that your modded game directory doesn't actually exist anywhere. It is dynamically created and only exists (in memory, not on disk) while MO / MO2 is running. You need to run the game and all tools through MO / MO2, which I found to sometimes cause issues and crashes.

TLDR; Vortex is awesome, the 1.0 release is well deserved (already installed it), looking forward to the features to come!

[Jormunrr]

Congratulations to the Vortex team for reaching full release! That is a huge achievement!

 

I've used Vortex since the Alpha release and have seen it grow to become a mod manager I can trust.

TRUST.

 

I used Mod Organizer with Skyrim and others before that with Morrowind. I played with close to 100 mods with Skyrim which was not always stable. I know it was possible to play with more and some did with 200 and more, but that was a bit beyond me with that system.

 

I started out with Vortex on several starting plays of 30 to 60 minutes learning the interface and how it worked in the early days, usually with 10 to 20 mods. Then I added more and had a playthrough with 50 or so mods. It was ok even in alpha. The interface did take some time to get used to for me; mostly in learning to trust it. After about 6 months and several Vortex updates that improved the organization capabilities greatly in my opinion; I found I could start adding more mods without any real problems. I've been able to upgrade Vortex anywhere in a playthrough without any problem all through the beta phase.

 

I currently have over 200 mods for Skyrim SE, and it is completely stable. I don't use anything special to keep it that way either; no bashed patches or anything like that. While I'm comfortable cleaning some older mods for Skyrim SE, I'm not skilled in some of the higher end tools that have been created. I really don't think a user of my skill level could be running this many mods without Vortex. I know there are plenty of people out there that could and kudos to them, but this is a fantastic tool. The later changes with suggested mod order have been very helpful and time saving. I can spend far less time organizing mods to make them compatible and more time playing!

 

Job well done!

[mjb1985dot]

Great job guys! I know you get a lot of flack from some of the more serious modders, but you are doing great work. The average modder is going to benefit greatly from your effort and I think you guys will figure out how to bring modding even more mainstream. Modpacks sounds like a giant leap in that direction, I'm so excited for the progress. I used MO2 for a while and I have to say, Vortex is clean and I love it. No issues from me! Thanks! We appreciate you!!!

[CitadelServers]

Thank you for providing such an amazing tool for this community.

[ctuck61]

I have used Vortex since version 0.17.1 and never thought of going back. Sure there was a learning curve, and some frustrations at first. But after reading tutorials, comments, and google searches this period of time was only for a weekend. Thank you for all your hard work. :)