Hey, I just started Oblivion on the PC for the first time. I've played the regular game for a bit, but I was interested in getting some mods. Is there some sort of how-to? How does this mod manager work? I'm kind of overwhelmed.

If it helps, one of the mods I was hoping to install is Robert's Male Body Replacer. I can't figure out how to install it, and the mod manager doesn't seem to notice it. Help?

Thanks in advance!

If by 'Mod Manager' you mean the Nexus Mod Manager, that green button is supposed to start a download, and on completion if you have installed Nexus Mod Manager, the idea is Nexus Mod Manager would then install the mod ... It will not work for a lot of mods. TESNexus has enabled that button for just about everything on TESNexus and it is going to cause a lot of problems for people like yourself who have no idea about modding the game.

The files provided by Room207 for AMB will soon be dropped, instead he is now working on an OMOD (for use with OBMM) of the MaleBodyReplacerv5 (search for it on TESNexus). Currently there is a beta OMOD available but probably better waiting for the new version which will include the v5.2 files. Either which you intend to use you will still need to understand how to use OBMM. Nexus Mod Manager has a long way to go before it can handle scripted OMODS.

Roberts MaleBodyReplacerv5 files are manual install only. So you need to understand a fair bit about modding before even grabbing them. I have done a BAIN of the same files, but for that you need to understand how to use Wrye Bash properly.


I would suggest you start with either http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/449239-oblivion-mods-faq/ on this site (though it is a bit old now and has not been updated for ages) ...

Or better still - http://tescosi.com/wiki/Oblivion. A lot more up to date, Tomlong spent a lot of time over the last two years putting that site together with the best practices gathered from this forum and all the more experienced users.

Good luck - You have just opened a huge and complex hobby

PS - Take modding the game ONE mod at a time. And read its description fully.

Edit: Also note; Linking advlt mods on this forum is against http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/724862-forum-rules-and-general-information/

Did not even occur to me that the link was advlt...sorry! I'm a space cadet >.<

Thank you for all the help! I've gotten a couple of mods for my Fallout games, and thought the process would be similar. This whole "OMOD" thing is new to me...

(I edited my first post to take the link away)

you're not the only one who has broken that rule today :whistling:
II was told that for the most part, install order is not important, because a program called BOSS will reorder your mods correctly. I had a post recently asking about the order I should install mods and that is when I found that out. And alt3rn1ty is right about 1 mod at a time. I downloaded a ton of mods I wanted and now I'm a bit overwhelmed

If you use Oblivion Mod manager (OBMM) some mods can be downloaded in .omod archives instead of .7z or .zip. If you push the activate button in OBMM, those omod files will guide you through the install. It will give you options and you choose one and click next to go to the next option.

In line with comments above about developing good mod user habits:

Always, always read any mod's accompanying documentation. There are several good reasons for this. Warnings about conflicts, and where to place the mod in your load order. Statements for how to make installation choices on a complex mod. Statements about how to uninstall the mod. Suggestions for where and when a quest mod will start, or how to best use the mod. Recommendations for other mods that may enhance playing the one you're installing.

We regularly get pleas from users who simply pile on mod contents without bothering to read the docs. It's gotten bad enough that some of us don't even bother helping out people who want it all handled for them. Save us the hassles. Read before you install, please.

Install order IS very important, much of the time. Sure, BOSS is almost mandatory, once you get beyond a few simple mods... as is Wrye Bash.

And speaking of which, BAIN (Wrye Bash's mod installation/configuration/uninstallation method and more) does for installation order what BOSS does for load order... and then a great deal more, but this is the bit that's directly relevant to why I highlighted part of your post!

Check out the Wrye Bash Pictorial Guide (the link is in alt3rn1ty's sig). Work your way through it - the little time and "effort" it takes will pay off immensely, and almost straight away.

Yep, don't go confusing Install Order with Load Order.

Install Order is what you are looking at in the Installers Tab of Wrye Bash, Load Order is what you are looking at in the Mods Tab of Wrye Bash

Have a look at my BAIN install order http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=1333896Untitled.jpg

UOP for example, needs 3.2.0 to be installed, and then overwritten with newer fixed files from UOP 3.4.1. If it was the other way around and you installed UOP 3.2.0 last out of those two then there would be no point in having 3.4.1 (see the conflicts tab on the right, all those files are meant to replace files installed by 3.2.0).

Edit: For newbies looking at my list of installers, most of those BAINs have been put together by me, so dont go thinking you can just download all the same files and install them in the same order .. The packaging of a lot of them has been tailored for what I want out of them to actually install, utilising complex installer setups.

If you want a list of BAINs ready to use have a look at the description of Wrye Bash Pictorial Guide, scroll down and I have given links to them.

There are quite a lot out there in TESNexus land which will also be simple BAINs, but you need to study them to find out, and experimenting with having a look at the ones I link will help you figure out how they should be put together .. along with http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/images/35230-1-1317080713.png from Installers Advanced.

Forgot to mention something which may not be obvious to new mod users ..

If you are using different mod managers to install different mods, you have a further complication in that you would have to remember the order of installation between the two mod managers.

Looking at the UOP example above .. Lets say you installed UOP 3.4.1 with Wrye Bash (just using the manual install file as a BAIN)

Then afterwards you decided somethings wrong and needed to re-install all of your omods, including UOP 3.2.0 with OBMM (using the omod of 3.2.0)

You would now have to go back into Wrye Bash and again re-install UOP 3.4.1 to ensure the older UOP files from 3.2.0 are overwritten with the newer 3.4.1 files. Wrye Bash does not know what OBMM has installed at the individual file level, and vice versa.

I would also mention if you are using both mod managers, just let one of them handle Archive Invalidation. If you have Wrye Bash installed then the last thing you should do after any setup changes with your mods is to rebuild your Bashed Patch - So it makes sense to let Wrye Bash manage this aspect and use its BSA Redirection method of archive invalidation, and redating (which it automatically does), prior to rebuilding your bashed patch and then playing the game.

Additionally on the subject of Archive Invalidation - Dont let anyone convince you that you need to use BSA Alteration via OBMM, BSA Redirection is the best method, it has worked fine for every mod combination I have ever had installed .. And as mentioned above if you are using both mod managers Wrye Bash is the best tool for the job.

If you turn BSA Alteration on in OBMM just once, you can expect a lot of problems with your setup.

BSA Alteration does work, BUT there is a specific routine you have to adhere to very strictly ... with every mod you install and un-install. Make a mistake just once, and you have an unsolveable problem which may necessitate re-installing the game to get your un-altered BSA's back. Best sticking to BSA Redirection.

Reference is here >> http://devnull.sweetdanger.net/archiveinvalidation.html#AIDestroyed (the information there is a bit old, before it was found that BSA Redirection should be the recommended method full stop - But for the technical details its still a usefull reference).