KOTR Modding KotOR and TSL using Vortex

[Milo49]

Requirements: This guide assumes that you use the Steam versions of KotOR, and is as-yet untested for the GOG version.

 

Getting Set up: To begin, open up Vortex and navigate to the games section. Locate KotOR in the "Unmanaged" section or by using the search. Use the “Manage” button on the game tile to add it to your managed games. The game artwork will appear in the top left of Vortex to confirm your active game.

 

Installing Mods: There are two types of mods for KotOR games, either manual installation, or mods installed through a community made tool called TSL Patcher. Except in very rare occasions, TSL Patcher mods cannot and should not be installed through Vortex.

 

There are several considerations to take when installing KotOR mods through the Nexus, therefore this guide will demonstrate all those considerations with the following mods:

KotOR Robes Stat Boost https://www.nexusmods.com/kotor/mods/1267

Quanon’s T3-M4 Reskin https://www.nexusmods.com/kotor/mods/1103

Improved Female Jedi Robe Model https://www.gamefront.com/games/knights-of-the-old-republic/file/improved-female-jedi-robe-model

Quanon’s Lightsaber Pack https://www.nexusmods.com/kotor/mods/14

 

Loose File Mods: Most mods on the Nexus are like KotOR Robes Stat Boost and can be easily installed using Vortex.

1. Navigate to the files tab and click “Mod Manager Download.”
2. Go into Vortex and install the mod.

Files in Folder Mods: Some mods, like Quanon’s T3-M4 Reskin mod have their files located inside of a folder. These mods are still easily installed with Vortex, but require some manual sorting, as only files that are located directly inside of the game’s override folder will be read by the game. If you download mods from other sites, you will most likely need to follow all the following steps after step 1.

1. Navigate to the files tab and click “Mod Manager Download.” Or drop offsite .rar download onto the “Downloads” page of Vortex.
2. Install the mod with Vortex.
3. Right click the mod or go to the drop-down menu on the far right and click “Open in File Manager.”
4. Navigate inside of the folder within the mod and select all files inside.
5. Cut and paste the files into the main level of the mod: or the folder that first opened with the “Open in File Manager” folder.

Mods with Optional Files: Some off-site mods include optional files. In the case of Improved Female Jedi Robe model, the options here are for the PCs robe hand style to accommodate heads of different races. In this case, you need to choose either the hand that fits your race or the gloved version and move it into the main level of the mod. For any mod with optional files, follow these steps.

1. Navigate to the files tab and click “Mod Manager Download.” Or drop offsite .rar download onto the “Downloads” page of Vortex.
2. Install the mod with Vortex.
3. Right click the mod or go to the drop-down menu on the far right and click “Open in File Manager.”
4. Navigate inside of the folder within the mod and select the optional file or files you want (use mod description or readme to know which file you want.)
5. Cut and paste the file or files into the main level of the mod: or the folder that first opened with the “Open in File Manager” folder.

TSL Patcher Manual install: Quanon’s Lightsaber pack is one of the rare TSL Patcher mods that can be installed with Vortex, and that is due to it only using files that go into the override. Always check a TSL Patcher mod’s contents before attempting a manual install to make sure that it is not using a non-override file. For mods that only use override files, follow the usual process of installation.

Common non-override files: .wav + .mp3 + .mod & .2da*

1. Navigate to the files tab and click “Mod Manager Download.” Or drop offsite .rar download onto the “Downloads” page of Vortex.
2. Install the mod with Vortex.
3. Right click the mod or go to the drop-down menu on the far right and click “Open in File Manager.”
4. Navigate inside of the mod to the “tslpatchdata” folder and select all files within.
5. Cut and paste the file or files into the main level of the mod: the folder that first opened with the “Open in File Manager” folder.

TSL Patcher Installer: If the includes non-override files, or if you’re not sure, manually extract the mod yourself and install it using the TSLPatcher.exe located within the main folder. It will ask you to navigate to your folder where swkotor.exe is installed. For Steam default this is “C: \Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\swkotor.

 

Notes:

*.2da files are override files, but TSLPatcher is able to edit .2da from different mods together, never attempt to manually install a .2da or install one through Vortex.

 

This guide also works for KotOR 2 mods, but don’t combine Steam Workshop mods with Vortex mods, use one or the other.

 

Due to the placement of all files into the override folder, Vortex will see all mod Readmes as conflicting and ask you to decide load order when you attempt to deploy the mod. To prevent this either delete (not recommended), rename, or move Readmes into a separate folder.

 

 

[dantalionex]

Thanks for the guide, just got KOTOR, and had this exact question!