I plan on starting a mod of my own, but first off I need some help/advice. I'll put up a list:

1:Do I need to run as administrator for it to work/save properly?

2:How exactly do I save? I've tried but it keeps giving me an invalidation(something similar) message.

3:What is recommended to start on, followers/NPCs, DLC, or added locations?

4:If I place something in a location in the GECK and save, will it show up in the game?

5:How do I upload my creations for myself and put them on a site like The Nexus?

Thankyou if you comment!

Hey, welcome to modding. Enjoy your stay

To answer your questions...

1) Yes. You should always run as admin, to avoid the many issues that can happen from not doing this.

2) When you open the geck and load Fallout.esm you then click Save. The first time you save it will ask for a name for your .esp file, or the mod itself.

3) Start by adding new interior spaces. Simply ones with short quests, and little NPC interaction or complicated scripting. First off, there is a tutorial. http://geck.gamesas.com/index.php/gamesas_Tutorial_GECK_Setup. It explains all the basics of the GECK and will really help you get started. Complete it, start to finish, before doing ANYTHING else. That website is also the wiki for the geck and contains helpful info on almost everything in the geck. Go there first with any questions as most of the time they will be answered. If not, then ask here.

4) Yes. Anything you change then save will show up ingame if you activate the .esp file you just saved.

5) If you have an account, on the website click Members and you will find buttons to make your own files where you can name it, upload things, and screenshots.

Have fun with modding. Just remember it takes time and patience to learn it, and make something thats good, but if you try it wont be so hard.

Gunmaster95

1. Depends on your OS. If you run XP, then no. If you run Vista or 7, then Yes or you need to adjust the directory permissions to allow all users to save files Or install Fallout3 in a directory that any user can write to. Your probably on Vista or 7 and hitting this problem.

2. Clicking the save button is enough, if your getting errors then you have permission problems as listed in #1

3. Start with the video tutorials by Bethesda (listed in the YouTube link at the top), and start to get familiarity with how the GECK works - there is a Steep learning curve. There are over a dozen you can start with.

4. Yes.

5. See instructions on how to upload files on Nexus, the GUI is very straight forward.

I'm not sure exactly how to fix the file permission problem as I still run on XP, so you'll need one of the Vista/7 folks here for that.

Luck!

Miax

Thanks! I'll start when possible but now I can't. I've seen most of the tutorials but wasn't running as admin. and couldn't save.

It keeps saying invalid directory but I'm running as admin.

I can't save anywhere.

You need to have it installed in your Fallout 3 folder.

Modding is like smoking. Easy to begin, hard to quit

I just made alot of stuff, are you saying I can't save it unless I reinstall, meaning that I lose everything?

I pulled the following from my Fo3Edit tutorial on Vista security:

2.2.3 Windows Vista and UAC Security

The UAC Security feature of Vista protects the Program Files directory from un-authorized access. Unfortunately this also causes problems for FO3Edit and Fallout3, and requires some manual intervention on your part to resolve. You have 3 options for dealing with UAC Security:

1. Disable the UAC completely, but this will leave your system more vulnerable. (not recommended)

2. Install Fallout3 and FO3Edit in the C:\Games\Fallout3 folder, which is not controlled by UAC and will prevent conflicts. (recommended)

3. Assign the "Users" group "Full Control" of the Fallout 3 folder in UAC, which will prevent UAC from causing problems.

Any of the above options will work, though it is probably a better option to install Fallout3 and FO3Edit into C:\Games\Fallout3 directory and avoid the Program Files directory all-together. That leaves your system secure and averts the UAC problem for Fallout3.
If you are unable to get past the UAC restrictions, post the details of the problem to the Fallout3 GECK forum for additional assistance

Try that and see if you can save.

Luck!!

Miax

Fallout 3 is already stored in that folder, though(C:\Games\Fallout3).

Then did you install the geck to the same folder? If not it shouldn't even be able to open >.>

I don't think I did, I should probably do that.

i recommend starting the Bethesda Vault 74 tutorial it covers pretty much all the basics http://geck.gamesas.com/index.php/gamesas_Tutorial_GECK_Setup

Not really the topic as of now, I've already seen that like twice anyway.