Yea, so...

I am level 14 now in the PC version (first game) and I just learned via reading the forums here that there are MODs! I knew there were 'cheats' but I do not like to use them so I never bothered looking into them. So I feel pretty stupid... I do not play online, although I understand that you can and a lot of people do it, but I am not sure really what the difference is other than I imagine it's the same game with a real person acting as a groupmate... but anyhoo, should I bother trying any MODs for my first run through in your opinion or just stick with what I am doing?

Thanks for the help and you're welcome for the laugh!

no i wouldn't recommend trying mods for your first run through, play the game see what you don't like about it, then get the appropriate mods

And you're mistaken in thinking there's an online mod for Fallout 3. There's not.

Finish the game without first, then you know completely what mods will change. Stuff like FWE is great for a second playthough because you can ramp up the difficulty and make loot rarer.

After you're done with the game think about what you would like changed or added to the game and then look for mods that do those things.

Considering that this game is really huge, even if you are halfway through your first run, you should already know by now what you would like changed to the game so perhaps it is not as bad for an idea to start trying a couple of mods now for yourself.

Well there's a mod forum that could give you lots of info on Mods.

I also don't recommend mods for a first playthrough. Maybe the Unofficial Patch, but maybe not even that.

Afterwards you might want to consider them. For example, if you'd like something more challenging I'd recommend FWE.

Play endless hours without mods...it will be just that much more rewarding when you do get mods later

It's a great game without mods, the mods just enhance things in the game and others appeal to certain audiences. But like a lot of people said, play it without first and get a really good feel for what Bethesda made.

Yeah, playing through all the way, or even another 5 or 6 levels will tell you what you need to know....

I do recommend trying some mods BEFORE you get burned out on the game, before you have it all memorized.

I just started using FWE 3 days ago and it fixes soooooo much stuff that was goofy about gameplay. Don't get me wrong, gameplay is awesome in the original, but now I can adjust exactly how I want to run, how fast my weapons wear, how much radiation, how much cartoonlike decapitations & severed limbs fly around I see, etc.etc.

And I loaded, but haven't had a chance to get my character into yet, a mod called DC Interiors. It puts playable, explorable interiors into several big neighborhoods where there are tons of buildings, but they're just boarded up and inaccessable. This seems like such an obvious fun-adding fix that Bethesda just ran out of time and money to finish.... I mean, they made a bunch of interiors for stores and houses, but left hundreds un-done. I'm inclined to recommend loading it right now, and I haven't even tried it out yet!

thanks for the input guys! i am going to run through it as i've been doing and worry about mods if (when?) i decide to play through again after this run.

i still cant get the darn mods to even work dangit . And about that unofficial patch is that a MUST have for any mod to work? if so then that might of been the problem because i never downloaded that one .

Download http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=640

I have played without mods for years now, but there are some good ones and I am starting to see what I would like to change.
As I have more of an idea of what I want I am just using the G.E.C.K to make it so I can learn some new skills.
But as everyone has said alot has been done already just make sure you know what you are looking for, and that the mod gives it to you.

No. The unofficial patch is not required.

I also recommend using FOMM as posted above.

What is the specific problem you are having with mods?

i did install FOMM and still couldnt get a mod to work . i just find it hard to understand readme they start telling how to install the mod but them after 3 or 4 steps. Alot of them say oh and if you dont have such and such file you can get that here its recomended. I dont understand why they dont start with those file if they are recomended . Not have them listed at the bottom. But i did have the game installed in the file not recomended for it to be in on vista, program files. So i ended up kind of makijg alot of mistakes and messed the game up with the console after it glitched to where i could not progress. Then tried resetting the Quest , that diddnt work .

SO i said [blank] it. deleated all the FOMM and the game .Then i reinstalled the game into game files . But i havent yet tried to see if i could get one to work. Mostly because of whats listed above. Its just so cofusing with all the merge mod files or the invalid invalidater . i looked for a sinple "clear "read me but could not find any i dont want a bunch of mods just one or two at most. SORRY OP for doing this in your thread but they seemed willing to help and i cant pass that up . I'm a noob when it comes to installing and using mods . i have a problem what to do with the file first" run it "or "save it"

I did manage to get one working for dragon Age but that was i think just luck. After trying and trying and it not working . Like i said i think it was shear luck i got one to work. So thats why Itjust blows me away i have build many computers from scrach with ease i could build one with my eyes close. But when it comes to some programs i feel like moron lol

Don't you need FOSE as well for certain mods? It's been a while since I've played FO3, but I had both FOMM and FOSE installed.

oh ya forgot to list that one yes you need that one as well so just trying to get a texture mod you sometimes need to install like 4 or 5 different programs it can get confusing for a noob to do. then you try and ask question and everyone says its easy, well maybe for someone thats done it alot it is . so...

I'm with ya, Poetry. Also a total noob at computer files.

It took me about 3 hours of fiddlin' and cussing to make it go. I got FOMM loaded, loaded FWE, reordered the loads like the readme said, and then had a bear of a time getting FOSE loaded right. I finally got FOSE working following the directions in the MOD FAQ for unzipping and loading individual files.

sheesh. Now I know why so many computer experts started out just trying to make games run. There are just so many branches to everything you do.

It is worth persisting, though... the mod community has made some sweet stuff.

You need FOSE for some mods but not for all mods. The README for the particular mod should tell you.

There are a few mods that you would benefit from on a first play through. A couple that come to mind are CASM and More Hotkeys. CASM is save game manager, you can set whatever time frame you want to have the game be saved at and under what conditions. For example, you can have it save your game every 10 minutes, and after each new area you discover. It's much better than simply relying on the default saves. More Hotkeys is pretty self explanatory I think, it adds 2 extra banks to your hotkeys using a modifier key, like Shift and Alt. One bank is for extra weapons, the other for armour. If you go to the Fallout Nexus site and look around, you'll probably a bunch more that don't alter the gameplay at all but add something to the game. Texture mods would be a good example, there's lots of those. Another good one to look into is DarN's UI. It simply makes improvements to your user interface and allows alot more options to show info on your game screen. You'll need FOSE for some parts of that mod to work though. That's not a big deal really, it's very easy to install.

Perhaps http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1098568-video-install-guide-for-fallout-3-mods/ will help you get your mods up and running properly. Once you get it done the first time, you will realize that installing mods is not all that hard to do.

Get RH iron sights

IT depends on what your preference is, for mods, OP.
I never used iron sights mod, and I don't know what it means, even.

It makes you have iron sights on all your weapons? Uh, okay...what does that mean?

But still, it can be a bit complicated to add mods.

I do recommend you getting Fallout patched up to 1.7, and then use the unoffical patch, so you don't run into game breaking bugs that Bethesda didn't fix.

My list of recommended mods are FOOK 2, and a lot of the perk mods that are out there, and a leveling mod so you can get to level 20 faster/slower and can get above level 20, so to speak, without getting a copy of GOTY Fallout 3.
At least the perk mods play nice with each other.

Yeah, take your time. There's a lot of stuff out there and it's not going anywhere. I'd steer clear of FOOK2 for your first mod. They're still ironing out bugs and it's quite invasive and throws a lot of stuff at you right away.

I disagree about waiting until your second playthrough. For big mods, yes, this is likely a good idea. But things like Mart's Mutant one and the smaller, more atmospheric ones are a lot of fun. There are mods for just about everything you can think of.

What you choose is up to you, OP, but I assure you, Fook 2 is worth a try.