I would love a more modular version of these tweaks, if possible.

Thanks! I'll likely be updating this mod for a while, as I'm still learning how to mod more of the changes that I want to add. But the intent of this mod is just to supplement the other mods in my mod list, and never to became a huge overhaul. I originally just made this mod for myself, as I wanted to make some specific changes to gameplay.

The main mod already consists of 3 esps, which are completely independent of each other (you can use just 1, or 2 of them, or all 3). The optional download is just a single combined esp that contains all my tweaks (for those that want all 3).

I tried Lork's Spint mod, and found it pretty unrealistic . . . and it really made my game feel unbalanced, since it only affects the player character. I really don't recommend using it with my mod.

I would still like a version that comes only with the durability fix, if you could isolate it.

If you don't want any of my other changes, there are other mods that you can use that just increase durability.

Do a FO3 Nexus search under "Degradation" or "Durability.

I like most of your tweaks, the weight thing is a little too realistic for me! It is just too tedious to manage your inventory with that low weight limit.

I use a custom tweak file and I will be adding a couple from your mod to my own custom one. Thanks for posting

I like what you did to the power armor. Do you have any plans to add the power armor from the Pitt and BS?

Thanks! I will eventually add patches for DLC, but I only have the Expansion Pack for Operation Anchorage & The Pitt (which I haven't even installed yet), so it will be awhile.

Version 1.1 is now available, in both the Main modular file and the Optional single esp file.

This new version includes a couple more tweaks:

1.) Action Points take 4 times longer to recharge (this should add a bit more balance to VATS)
Now using VATS will become a bit more strategic, as you'll have to make your Action Points count.

2.) Spent shells from bullets last 4 hours before they begin to disappear (instead of only a few seconds)
This change was actually added to later versions of 1.0

I played Fallout 3 extensively on the xbox 360 and when I had NPC companions I noticed they had their own sprinting ability built into the game. I noticed when my companion was lagging behind and was far off, they would automatically move at a increasingly fast rate until they caught up with you. So in a way the NPC's do have their own sprinting ability, if you don't believe me, test it out yourselves, its happened many times to me in my game.

I realize that; but that's just a way for companions to keep up and does not seem to affect any other NPCs. The imbalance that I found was that, when using the Sprint mod, I could easily outrun any enemy NPC. Plus the speed was totally unrealistic . . . no one can sprint that fast.

You can certainly use the Sprint mod with my tweak mod, as there there doesn't seem to be any actual conflicts . . . I just don't recommend using it, as it goes against the basic rationale that was behind all my tweaks.
The only problem that I see is that the latest version of my mod make Action Points take 4 times longer to regenerate (and you need Action Points to sprint).

well isnt it possible to tweak the sprint mod so you cant go too fast? Gears of war 2 had the perfect sprint speed

Arwen, considering the change in AP recharge time, can you please modify AG to give more AP, let's say at least 25% more? I forgot how many AP you get for each point of AG, but please consider this. Thanks.

Yes, I could adjust the Sprint speed, but that still doesn't make the mod balance, as the enemy NPC cannot sprint.
Honestly, I just don't see the need to run faster. Like I wrote earlier in this thread, running speed would ideally be reduces as you carrying load increases, but I don't know how to script that into a mod.


I just finished testing out my changes again, with my level 2 character, fresh from Vault 101. I was able to take on 6 Raiders (as many as 3 at once), using just the Overseer's 10mm pistol ... and having enough Action Points was not really that much of an issue. The only I noticed was that I had to keep a closer eye on how low my Action Points were, before switching to VATS combat. When my Action Points were low, I just stuck with normal combat.

But I will take a look at the relationship between AG and APs ... perhaps I can tweak things a bit.

Is there any particular reason why you need more Action Points? It is because another mod requires more APs?

The reason for my request is that I thought (F3 not installed yet) the 4x slower recharge time is a bit extreme so that could be compensated by bringing up the number of AP generated by AG. Plus, FWE has a component that does something similar and at the same time increases the number of AP - not by much - and I thought that gives that part some balance. I'm not saying you should follow what FWE is doing, i like the light-realism changes of your mod a bit more. So if you think, from your testing that the change is OK, then good. Then again, as I already said, I hope you'll consider some more light-realism changes to the SPECIAL system and maybe the skills. Cheers.
And something else. Since you know more about how mods affect the game, I have a question. If I start F3 and save just after I configure the looks of my character but BEFORE putting points in SPECIAL, then bring some mods in the game - including yours - I play the game a bit and after 1-2 days you upgrade your mod: would there be a big problem if I use the new version and start from that save game? I'd like to do this so I can avoid the starting sequence and visual configuration every time I try some new mods. Thanks

You really should spend some time in the unmodded game before you add a bunch of mods. In my opinion, VATS in the unmodded game is a nearly god-like cheat ... it is very unbalanced. My mod is my attempt to make VATS more balanced (among other things). The default Action Point regeneration speed was so fast that I rarely had to even worry about having enough.


All of my mods are pretty basic. You can add them at anytime. You can even just uncheck an esp and then check it again, when you want to make it active. You can delete them from any saved game and they really shouldn't cause any problems at all (I've done this dozens of time, just testing them out). But this is not true for all mods, some do require a new game (or require that you follow some very specific steps, especially to uninstall them).

Most mods will work just fine if you install them before you leave Vault 101 (the tutorial part of the game), but a few do require that you start a new game. So if you save your game just before you leave the Vault cavern ... that way you won't usually have to repeat the tutorial part.

I already finished it once when it came out and yes, it did feel a bit too easy. I guess my fear comes from the fact that last time I played I used XFO and that was a bit extreme, even considering I like to role-play a lot in Oblivion and Fallout. But now I'll keep in mind that your mod doesn't make such hard-core changes.
For the other part, I know pretty good how to handle mods, but I wasn't specific enough. Mainly, I wanted to know how to deal with your mod on new versions. Sorry for filling your thread with this and thanks for the answers.

Sorry for not understanding your question (and thanks for filling me in):
My intent at this point is to keep this mod fairly simple, which means that updating is as easy as just replacing the old esp(s), with the updated version (and if for some reason you're not happy with my newest version, you can just replace the esp(s) with an older version).
Or you can use FOMM to uninstall and and reinstall.

I also tried XFO and FWE, and I found that their changes were not always all the ones that I wanted. So I started testing out the smaller mods, and eventually put together http://amito.freehostia.com/Fallout/FO-mods.htm (which are the ones that I'm using in my own game). My own mods (I've only created 3 so far) are just what I made to compliment all the other mods that I'm using, but they are totally independent from any other mod.

I'm nearly done with a major update, which will include the addition of at least two new esps (to keep my Realism Tweaks modular):

My new sneak.esp changes the way that sneak works. I'm still testing this one, but basically it will make sneaking more effective (easier in some conditions, and harder in others)

My new combat.esp addresses weapons (and armor) in a global way (instead of making changes to individual weapons)

- Melee damage will be based more on strength than skill. I'm also trying to increase the penalty when an arm is crippled, but haven't really figured that part out yet. All I have learned is that "MeleeArmConditionPenalty = BaseWeaponDamage * (fDamageArmConditionBase - 1 + fDamageArmConditionMult * ArmCondition) / 2" AND that in the vanilla game, damage is at most only reduced 10% when arms are crippled. I just haven't figured out exactly how to change the values to reduce the effect of being crippled.
Any help here would GREATLY be appreciated!.

- Gun damage will be affected less by skill; but accuracy will be skill based (and damaged weapons do less damage, be less accurate, jamb more frequently, and have a much slower fire rate).

My new version will also make the game much more deadly, but I'm doing this a bit differently. Again, global changes seem to be the way to keep things simple, while being more compatible with mods that add/change weapons and armor.
My approach to combat changes is similar to my VATS.esp, in that it attempts to add more balance between NPCs and the player. Instead of making weapons do more damage, my mod just decreases the health base, for both the player and for the NPCs). Other mods also use this approach, but they weren't very compatible with Real Injuries (which I highly recommend). My mod should be more compatible, while keeping things more balanced with all my other tweaks. Although it does look like my next project will be a compatible patch for RI and the Better Chems mod, to make all three mods more compatible.

I will probably just add the health changes to the main esp (which will also make radiation 4 times more deadly), as it is an important balancing part of my realism tweaks.

There's also a number of additional changes, which should hopefully balance everything out (which I'm still tweaking).

I just made version 2.0 available today, which is a pretty MAJOR update.

Changes (7/27/09) - I added a LOT more tweaks:

My goal has been mostly to increase immersion ... by increasing realism a bit, but not so much that the game becomes overly frustrating, and is no longer fun to play. And I've spent a great deal of time on balancing ... which is definitely the hardest part of any major gameplay modification. If you install my Tweaks, you'll instantly have a game that requires you to use a LOT more strategy (especially if you use my Sneak and Survival modules). For me, my mod makes Fallout both more immersive AND more fun.

The 5 Modules (esps) - [see my ReadMe for more details]:

1.) Main Tweaks (Arwen_Tweaks_Main.esp):

2.) Power Armor Tweaks (Arwen_Tweaks_PowerArmor.esp):

3.) VATS Tweaks (Arwen_Tweaks_VATS.esp):

4.) Sneak Tweaks (Arwen_Tweaks_Sneak.esp):

5.) Survival Tweaks (Arwen_Tweaks_Survival.esp)
This one is makes some MAJOR GLOBAL changes! It will make your game MUCH more challenging, so survival will become much more difficult. We all know that the default weapon damage is too low . . . it really shouldn't take 6 bullets to kill a Mole-Rat. The solution has usually been to add mods that make the default weapons more powerful, but that causes compatibility issues with add-on weapons. My solution is different. Now that you've been warned, I can tell you what this mod actually changes:

The download also includes Single esp version (Arwen_Tweaks_FULL.esp (this is the all-or-nothing esp)

Download link: http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=7565

This definitely sounds awesome...I'm definitely going to be downloading this. I'll let you know what I think on your nexus page

Thanks! I could really use some feedback on this mod. I spent a LOT of time testing and tweaking it, but there's no way that I could test everything. So it would be really helpful to find out what others think, after using my Tweaks mod.

This is just the mod I was looking for!

Hi Arwen. I like all the changes you've incorporated in your mod, I'm giving the full version a tryout. One thing I noticed is the sneak is a little different than what I've been using which is xfo's sneak harder. A good place to try the sneak settings out I think is in the vault with the two armed guards at the end of the corridor in the Atrium. They should be able to see me coming towards them before I get too close to the corrider. Its the setting fsneakmaxdistance which I feel isn't quite right. I'm not sure about the running speed yet, but I'd like to give the settings in the mod a decent try before making up my mind about that.

Thanks for the work you've put into this.