I'm installing a bunch of mods that have conflicts, and I know that mod load order is critical in terms of when .,esm files are loaded, but when you load a mod with a data file that conflicts with a previously loaded mod, does it overwrite that data file at that time...or does it only load the one associated with the .esm that is further down in the load order?

Hopefully, that's clear.

- ELB

The only time files will be overwritten, is if they have the same name, and are in the same folder. Mostly an issue with texture packs. In any event, if files are overwritten, the one INSTALLED last wins. Load order doesn't matter.

I was hoping that perhaps the bashed patch would help that.

That's as I thought, so how do you know which to load first?

And can OMM assess conflicts before they arise?

- ELB

Its issues like this that made me almost completely transition from OBMM to BAIN.

Yep. BAIN is the best and surest way to be easily, instantly aware of mod conflicts, current or potential, and to adjust or "heal" from same. Plus, it can do bunch of other things for you. Really neat things. Oh, and more functions and conveniences are being added, almost daily.

It appears to be, on the face of it, less user-friendly than OBMM, but once you acclimatise, it's quite the reverse. And the more mods you use, the more this is true.

I may go this direction then. I tried loading a good number of mods to a fresh install (new game) last night. Took me a good while, used OBMM, BOSS, Wrye Bash, etc. And while the game loaded and did play, it was messy to be sure. Ended up with two starter spells that didn't really work. My fire spell did damage, but as soon as I chose it and fired off the spell, it would revert back to a heal spell that, while the animations activated, actually healed nothing.

Perhaps I'm just too unfamiliar with modding to be attempting this. My list is below in case anyone is interested or has knowledge of how these mods do or do not interact:

Oblivion.esm
Cybiades.esm
Windfall.esm
You Are Here.esm
All Natural Base.esm
Cobl Main.esm
Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esm
HorseCombatMaster.esm
ScreenEffects.esm
TNR ALL RACES FINAL.esp
Unofficial Oblivion Patch.esp
Oblivion Citadel Door Fix.esp
All Natural.esp
All Natural - Real Lights.esp
WindowLightingSystem.esp
AmbientDungeons.esp
Enhanced Economy.esp
BookTrackerOBSE.esp
DropLitTorchOBSE.esp
ScreenControls.esp
Streamline 3.1.esp
Dynamic Map.esp
Map Marker Overhaul.esp
Enhanced Hotkeys.esp
Cobl Glue.esp
Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esp
Creature Diversity.esp
EM_CompInnsleeping.esp
AleswellHomeQuest.esp
MountainShackR121.esp
The Ayleid Steps.esp
Windfall.esp
za_bankmod.esp
Cybiades.esp
CybiadesDungeon.esp
TOTF.esp
The Lost Spires.esp
HoarfrostCastle.esp
Salmo the Baker, Cobl.esp
Harvest [Flora].esp
HUD Status Bars.esp
Kyoma's Journal Mod.esp
PersuasionOverhaul.esp
Toggleable Quantity Prompt.esp
RealisticHealth.esp
RealisticForceMedium.esp
Ashes to Ashes.esp
Mark & Recall.esp
SupremeMagicka.esp
SM_EnchantStaff.esp
RenGuardOverhaul.esp
sycHearNoEvil.esp
Enhanced Grabbing.esp
Deadly Reflex 5 - Timed block and 1.5x damage.esp
DeadlyReflex 5 - Combat Moves.esp
Duke Patricks - Near Miss Magic And Arrows Alert The Target.esp
Duke Patricks - Fresh Kills Now Alert The NPCs.esp
RealisticLeveling.esp
bgBalancingEVCore.esp
bgMagicEV.esp
bgMagicBonus.esp
bgBalancingEVOptionalNPCDiversity, TNR Merge.esp
Duke Patricks - Magic you can believe in.esp
Cobl Silent Equip Misc.esp
Bashed Patch, 0.esp