Is it possible to combine two preexisting settlement objects (specifically, a floor & roof metal prefab with a power armor display) into a new obj

[t317]

(title has a few letters left out - can't be helped now.)

I'm wanting to make a power armor garage/museum with some metal prefabs. The problem is, I intend to make the building fairly large with room for at least 20 different sets of power armor and it will be quite difficult and tedious to ensure that up to 20 power armor displays all align perfectly in the metal prefabs they wind up in.

So, I'm wondering if it is possible to combine two different parts while also ensuring that the functionality of each individual part is left intact (the conduit/power armor snapping for the PA displays, snapping to other prefabs and walls for the metal prefab part). The prefab in the middle shows what this combined part would look like.

https://i.imgur.com/upCNOb7.png

The image also shows a wall-pass through conduit junction added to a metal wall on the left. I'd also like to know if a wall-pass through conduit can be combined with a metal wall and finalized as a new part.

(I'm not aiming to do this myself - I have no experience with the the creation kit or faith that I can successfully create this sort of mod and not crash the game. If it's possible to do this, I'll most likely commission someone to make the parts. I just want to know if it can be done before I pursue it.)

Edited December 20, 2019 by timone317

[instyne49]

From what you're describing, it sounds like you need some, or more snap points. I don't have a clue because I can't give you a technical answer. I suggest you search for "snap" with out quotes. There are about 35 mods that show up, you'll have to look at them, to see if any can help you. Or after looking, try contacting a mod author, and ask if they can help. The worst most will do is say no, if they bother to respond at all..

[Ethreon]

All can be combined as long as you 1. have the patience to combined them and create snaps and 2. remember that any initial functionality is lost and they all become one item with the new function eg. the power armor frame and roof/wall combo will all become a static item you can't interact with if that's what you chose your result to be.

[StormWolf01]

Hiya Timone. Ok, I get the gist of what you're asking about. And back in the days that I did actually play with settlements, I do know what kind of a pain in the rump it is to get building pieces to line up, as well as to get PA stations to line up. It's a ROYAL pain in the tail!!

 

Now, keep in mind, that I don't play with settlements hardly at all anymore. I've got some mod houses that I use as stopping points, and that's pretty much it. SOOOOOO.... I have NOT used these tools. But, they look like something that you could use, to accomplish your goal.

A lot easier, and a lot faster, than the way that you've got in mind.

https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/39804 This mod allows you to literally copy and paste a settlement or part of a settlement. From the posts section, the comments say that it works.

 

If this tool works as advertised, you could literally build ONE of your PA bays in the game, copy it, and then paste copies of it repeatedly. OR, once you've got say, three to five of them (or however many) set up in the game, copy that, and start pasting the multiple bays.

 

Now the mod says that you can share the files with other characters, and even other players. I dunno about that, since I don't hardly see files for this mod being posted here on the nexus.

I do know that this https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/22442 Settlement Blueprints is used quite a lot, to save settlements for sharing with other people, IF this is a mod that you're planning on making public.

 

[Edit] There is also a mod called Place Everywhere, that can allow you to snap pieces together. Bad info. Thanks for the correction Ethreon! Meaning, that you can drop them in game, and they'll automatically follow a gridline. You can also further manipulate workshop pieces by their XYZ settings (Front to back, side to side, up to down) with they keyboard, as well as rotate pieces. This could also help you to fine-tune your item placements.[/Edit]

 

Again, I haven't used these tools myself. But, they look like they might simplify your end goal. So I thought that I'd mention them.

Good luck!

-Storm

Edited December 21, 2019 by StormWolf01

[t317]

Very interesting, and the ability to save copies of my settlements once they are completed sounds great. A bit concerned how mods might affect the save files and future imports (have a lot of custom prefabs scattered about), but I'm definitely going to take a look at it all.

I'm currently messing around with Place Anywhere, but I'm unclear on how it changes snapping. Do you mean the mod makes it possible to clip the PA display through a prefab, or that the mod adds additional snapping locations for precise placement?

___

(edit, have yet to look into the clipboard mod, but as of now, I'm not seeing a way to snap the prefab with a power armor display to other prefabs.)

Edited December 21, 2019 by timone317

[StormWolf01]

Place ANYwhere. Right, Sorry about that, and thanks much for the correction! :)

Yes, for something like that, you would definitely want to have a stable load order, as you'd need to remove any mod items from the saves in game, before uninstalling the mods for them.

 

Basically what snapping is, is that snapping sets up an invisible grid pattern of box shaped, interconnected grids. Like a checkerboard. Each of the horizontal and vertical lines, are what are called snap points. When you have objects that can snap, they will automatically line up with the closest snap points to where you've got them hovering. In essence, they'll just naturally go to the closest point, without having to manually line it up.

Which is really great for lining up walls, floors, ceilings, and other items that you have a hard time manually getting to piece together properly. In the case of the PA benches, it would let you place them in a straight line, rather than having to nudge them again and again and again.

 

Ok, for the clipboard mod. Or maybe even in settlement blueprints. I'm not sure just how much of a settlement it will let you save. But you'd basically want to copy your prefab, after placing the PA stand in it, then copy the entire thing. After you've got the the one building put together, you could paste a copy of it in, and then snap the two buildings together.T

That is of course, if I'm understanding the way that the mod works, correctly.

[t317]

Actually, my confusion on this was whether or not Place Anywhere introduced new snapping options that did not exist before. I wasn't seeing this after installing so I wasn't sure what you were referring to.

I'm beginning to think some sort of snap alignment mod may be my only solution here (similar to the invisible red guides included in the Craftable Castle Wall Patches Redux mod). It doesn't seem as if I can reattach a metal prefab with a PA display to a new or previous metal prefab once the PA display is set. And if this isn't an option, there may be no point in looking into the clipboard mod.

[Ethreon]

PE doesn't introduce snapping. Snapping has to be added manually at mesh level.

[StormWolf01]

PE doesn't introduce snapping. Snapping has to be added manually at mesh level.

Ahhhh. I see. I soooo much apologize. I was very much under the impression that it did.

Thanks for the correction Ethreon!

[HeyYou]

I thought I saw some power armor displays that would snap?? Was I hallucinating?