DLC + First Game Question. : Fallout 3

» Thu May 05, 2011 8:07 pm

To set the traders as essential, you need to open the console in the game by hitting the key to the left of your "1" key on the main keyboard - on US keyboards this has the "~" and "`" symbols.

Once you have done that, type the following commands, hitting the Enter key after each line.

setessential 63BF8 1
setessential 63BF7 1
setessential 63bfa 1
setessential 63bf9 1
setessential 69c49 1
setessential 69c47 1
setessential 69c45 1
setessential 69c43 1
setessential 27de7 1
setessential 27deb 1
setessential 27ded 1
setessential 27de5 1

Exit the console with the same key you used to enter it, and you're done.

Note that you only need to enter the first four lines to make the traders themselves essential, but each trader has his own pack brahmin and guard, and the remaining eight lines set them to essential as well. You can still trade with the merchants even if their guards and brahmin die, but IMO it just makes the game better if you preserve them as well.

Thanks Gator.

I used the option they had at the Wiki, it has the 4 traders made essential, but also has a few other things as well. For example, it has PRID 63C05 as the top line. I'm not sure what those ones are(there's also PRID 63C06, PRID 63C07, PRID 63C08). I am such a newb! LOL!

» Fri May 06, 2011 1:26 am

I know this is the general forum, but Welcome To Mod Using! :wave:

If you decide to start using more mods as you play, you will have to start considering their load order. Luckily this is easy with http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=20516 - Better Oblivion Sorting Software also supports FO3. (You could install this and run it to make sure your unofficial patches are installed in the correct order, but as it's the only mods you're using it won't matter). Just make sure you activate these mods you've installed, for this you can use FOMM
If you do decide to use more mods, the very best advice I can give is to take it slow, add 1-2 at a time.

There are then some other utilities like Wyre Flash and creating Merged Patches which are needed if you start adding even more mods

Thanks for the welcome, Torrello! :foodndrink:

Also, thanks for the advice Tw1stedMoogle and AiTenshi1. :happy:

I want to take this slow, and perhaps just dip my feet in at the moment. This is only my second time playing(first time with the DLC) so I want to experience all the "regular" stuff before I get to the added goodies from the good folks here and at the Nexus.

I've loaded Fallout 3 twice today and all the options were still "checked" the second time through, including the Unofficial Patch. It looks to have taken effect, as the PipBoys that everyone has in the game are turned off(something the creator of the Patch mentioned that he was going to do in his Readme). Also, I got all the radio signals for the official DLC so it looks like it is loading in the correct order.

Just in case, this is the order it is under the 'Data Files' section on my loadup screen:

1. Anchorage.esm
2. BrokenSteel.esm
3. Fallout3.esm
4. PointLookout.esm
5. ThePitt.esm
6. Unofficial Fallout3 Patch -BrokenSteel.esp
7. Unofficial Fallout3 Patch -Mothership Zeta.esp
8. Unofficial Fallout3 Patch -Operation Anchorage.esp
9. Unofficial Fallout3 Patch -PointLookout.esp
10. Unofficial Fallout3 Patch -ThePitt.esp
11. Unofficial Fallout3 Patch.esm
12. Zeta.esm

Plus there is a box(that it looks like I have to check every time I load the game) called 'Load Loose Files'. Is that something I NEED to check, or is it something that is not required to be checked off?

Is that the proper order of things or is there going to be an issue further down the road?
I have read quite a few posts about weather Mods. I was thinking of just adding one little one so I can get some neat weather effects(rain, snow, fog, etc.). Any recommendations in particular? If I get one, I should get BOSS and also FOMM and install them both. Are they very big files?

Sorry for all the questions(and ones I've probably pestered you all with before! :blush: ) everyone. I am a little worried that I will do something wrong and pooch my game so I figured I would play it overly cautious for now.

» Thu May 05, 2011 11:25 pm

I forgot things are different in FO3 to Oblivion. All the DLC is esm and the UFP are esps, so the unofficial patches will always load after the DLC.
The only other mod thats a must-have for the 1st play through is a user interface one, cos you're on a pc not a console. I used Darn's FUI3 (in fact I don't know any others)
It has many options, but the scripted FOMM install wouldn't work for me so I used the manual install (via Flash installers and editting the fallout.ini)

» Thu May 05, 2011 9:53 pm

I forgot things are different in FO3 to Oblivion. All the DLC is esm and the UFP are esps, so the unofficial patches will always load after the DLC.
The only other mod thats a must-have for the 1st play through is a user interface one, cos you're on a pc not a console. I used Darn's FUI3 (in fact I don't know any others)
It has many options, but the scripted FOMM install wouldn't work for me so I used the manual install (via Flash installers and editting the fallout.ini)

Just a note for anyone looking for this "FUI3" mod as i was.
It's actually called DarNified UI F3 (DUI F3)

Thanks for the tip Torrello, i think i will use that one as well.
Also http://modsreloaded.com/darnified-ui-f3/images/ is the link to download and some screenshots. It's a really good idea for a mod.

On a side note, i am also interested in the "Load Loose Files" checkbox... what does it do?

::EDIT::

Well i used FOMM to add DUIF3 and it worked fine, only thing is my Fallout3 seems to be a little more sketchy... not nearly as smooth.
Plus i think some of the text stuff is too small, makes me feel like i can just glance and see how much health/ammo i have as easily.
It's a good mod, but i will probably be removing it.

» Thu May 05, 2011 8:19 pm

I knew that only the PC could take Mods, but I wasn't sure if an Unofficial patch would be considered a Mod or not.

I'll sign up at Nexus tomorrow, as I'm heading off to bed shortly.

Thanks for the help.

If you already have a Nexus account used for another game whose mods are on there, you won't need a new account specifically for the Fallout area on Nexus.
I learned this when, as an experiment, I logged into the Fallout area, using the account I'd created for the TES area on Nexus.

Jenifur Charne

» Fri May 06, 2011 2:33 am

I forgot things are different in FO3 to Oblivion. All the DLC is esm and the UFP are esps, so the unofficial patches will always load after the DLC.
The only other mod thats a must-have for the 1st play through is a user interface one, cos you're on a pc not a console. I used Darn's FUI3 (in fact I don't know any others)
It has many options, but the scripted FOMM install wouldn't work for me so I used the manual install (via Flash installers and editting the fallout.ini)

To be honest, I don't really have any issues with the user interface being the way it is so I'll probably leave it as is for now. Thanks anyhow.

Would that actual Mothership Zeta DLC being loaded after the Unofficial Patch cause any issues(as it appears last due to it being called Zeta.esm)?

**********************************

Jenifur, this was the first Nexus account that I've created. Thank you for the tip, though. It could be helpful to others who read this thread.

» Thu May 05, 2011 11:20 pm

I do not use Darn's UI mods myself, although some people do. For Oblivion, I use a different "mod" (actually a scripted editor) that alters some things about the UI (positioning of elements, mostly).

Nexus offers access with a single account. It's much easier for everyone that way (both users and the person who runs it).

ESMs should all be loading before any ESPs.

One thing to remember about mods: they will create greater instability in the game, including crashing from time to time (or more often) and other possible issues. People tolerate the consequences because they add greatly to the game, but it's good to be aware of the issues so that you are not disappointed or upset when issues arise.

» Thu May 05, 2011 6:34 pm

I do not use Darn's UI mods myself, although some people do. For Oblivion, I use a different "mod" (actually a scripted editor) that alters some things about the UI (positioning of elements, mostly).

Nexus offers access with a single account. It's much easier for everyone that way (both users and the person who runs it).

ESMs should all be loading before any ESPs.

One thing to remember about mods: they will create greater instability in the game, including crashing from time to time (or more often) and other possible issues. People tolerate the consequences because they add greatly to the game, but it's good to be aware of the issues so that you are not disappointed or upset when issues arise.

Thanks for the warning. I can tolerate the odd bit of instability(it's not like Vanilla Fallout 3 didn't have it's "wonky" moments after all). I got used to it playing Temple Of Elemental Evil(which was far superior with the Circle of 8 additions and fixes!).

I'm not sure I should bother getting a loader at the moment, just for Zeta being at the bottom. Like I mentioned above, it doesn't appear to have caused any issues thus far and the radio signal for it popped up when I exited Vault 101. I probably won't even check out the Zeta section for a very long time(I'm only level 4 at the moment.).

I really do appreciate all the help you folks have given me(I'm afraid I've stolen the poor OP's thread! :blush: ). This really is one of the friendliest(and helpful) forums I've belonged to.

» Fri May 06, 2011 4:20 am

Thanks for the warning. I can tolerate the odd bit of instability(it's not like Vanilla Fallout 3 didn't have it's "wonky" moments after all). I got used to it playing Temple Of Elemental Evil(which was far superior with the Circle of 8 additions and fixes!).

I'm not sure I should bother getting a loader at the moment, just for Zeta being at the bottom. Like I mentioned above, it doesn't appear to have caused any issues thus far and the radio signal for it popped up when I exited Vault 101. I probably won't even check out the Zeta section for a very long time(I'm only level 4 at the moment.).

I really do appreciate all the help you folks have given me(I'm afraid I've stolen the poor OP's thread! :blush: ). This really is one of the friendliest(and helpful) forums I've belonged to.

Items for download:
1. SecuROM Removal Tool.
Get it here: http://www.mediafire.com/file/mmj2jfdmzz1/SecuROM_Remover.zip
Use this tutorial from Reclaim Your Game for how to remove the Sony malware trojaned onto your system: http://reclaimyourgame.com/content.php?173-SecuROM-Removal-Tutorial-Revised
You need this to remove the Sony consumer rights removal malware trojaned onto your system by FO3 and other games.

2. the Fallout Mod Manager (aka FoMM).
Get it here: http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=640
It lets you select which mods you want to have as active, without the need to use the default FO3 Launcher which when run ALWAYS checks for the presence of; and if necessary carries out a silent trojan reinstall of; the Sony consumer rights removal malware on your system. FoMM also lets you sort the mod load order, and gives you the leading 2 digit hexcode for each active mod in your load order.

As for only being level 4, If you have Op: Anchorage, don't waste time. Do that ASAP for earlier access to power armor than vanilla, which forces you to wait till you have entry to the Citadel in the MQ.

edit: add FoMM url on Nexus

Jenifur Charne

» Fri May 06, 2011 3:08 am

Items for download:
1. SecuROM Removal Tool.
Get it here: http://www.mediafire.com/file/mmj2jfdmzz1/SecuROM_Remover.zip
Use this tutorial from Reclaim Your Game for how to remove the Sony malware trojaned onto your system: http://reclaimyourgame.com/content.php?173-SecuROM-Removal-Tutorial-Revised
You need this to remove the Sony consumer rights removal malware trojaned onto your system by FO3 and other games.

2. the Fallout Mod Manager (aka FoMM).
Get it here: http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=640
It lets you select which mods you want to have as active, without the need to use the default FO3 Launcher which when run ALWAYS checks for the presence of; and if necessary carries out a silent trojan reinstall of; the Sony consumer rights removal malware on your system. FoMM also lets you sort the mod load order, and gives you the leading 2 digit hexcode for each active mod in your load order.

As for only being level 4, If you have Op: Anchorage, don't waste time. Do that ASAP for earlier access to power armor than vanilla, which forces you to wait till you have entry to the Citadel in the MQ.

edit: add FoMM url on Nexus

Jenifur Charne

Thanks for the link, Jenifur.

I'll probably download FoMM later today. I may not install it, but I may as well get it downloaded now for future usage.

The SecuRom for Fallout 3 is just a CD-check, isn't it? If so, I probably won't bother with getting rid of it...at least for now. I haven't checked the link, but is it an easy program to use or is there lots of "fiddling" involved. I am not very good with "fiddling" I'm afraid.

I'm still at the entrance of the Super Duper Mart with Jericho(he rocks!). When I get that completed I was going to check out the Springvale School. After that, I will check out the location where the Outcast signal was coming from. It should be a treat to see for the first time.

ETA: The FoMM file was really small. It was only 1.33MB. I was expecting it to be larger. :blink: