First off some basic info about my system, q6600 core 2 quad -2.4ghz, 4 gig 1066 ram, hd 5850, steam GOTY edition. Well i got my starter set of mods that i would like to use, im sure ill add other ones down the road. I tried installing all these last night, the game crashed and i ended up deleting the game and redownloading.

Fallout Wanders Edition
Marts Mutant Mod
Weapon Mod Kit
Fellout
Enhanced Weather
DC Interiors Project
Weapon Mod Kit
Darn's UI
Energy Visuals Enhanced
Ultimate Perks Pack
Buildable Bots
Robo Certified
Wasteland Mastery

Now im thinking there is something im doing wrong with setting up fallout 3 for mods. These are the base things i tired installing. I read in a number of things they are all required for certain mods.

FOMM - Fallout Mod Manager
FOSE - Fallout Script Extender
Casm - Cipscis' Automatic Save Manager
Calibr - Community Ammunition Library
Craft - Adds custome workbench formulas

I have fallout mod manager installed, version 10.2. As of right now, its installed, but im not done reading the documentation, so i dont know if there is anything else i need to do with it other then running it to get things underway. I installed it in with the FO3.exe

I have fallout script extender, i know some of the mods require it. Now there is 3 things i can download for this, the loader, the download, and the documentation. I basically take all the items from the download folder and place it in the FO3 data folder, then place the launcher in with the FO3.exe and shortcut that to the desktop.

Those 2 things i believe i need to work on the most. The other 3 seem pretty easy with the documentation. Now i know i read something about some Archive Validation thing, but im kinda drawing a blank. The other thing is the unoffical fallout 3 patch. Im assuming i should get it, worth it? Is it worth it to try and convert the mods to FMODs, or whatever its caller where you basically use the FOMM to install the mods by double clicking on them?

Now that i have listed out my base set of mods i want, and the setup mods so to speak. Im not sure how i should really proceed. I did go through and install everything the best i could and the game crashed, not sure if it was the load order or something i screwed up. Should i just start with FWE, install that and all the required mods, and make sure the game runs that and them move onto the other ones? I would really appreciate any help i can get with this.

Load order is vital to have the game running. Mods have certain dependencies and if you load a mod before it's master is loaded, the game won't start.
Here's a basic template for load orders(not all those mods are required, for example I dont use Project beauty and none of it's files):

---------------------------------------------------- OFFICIAL MASTERSFallout3.esmAnchorage.esmThePitt.esmBrokenSteel.esmPointLookout.esmZeta.esm---------------------------------------------------- MOD RESOURCESCRAFT.esmCALIBR.esm---------------------------------------------------- MOD MASTERS (In this order!)Project Beauty HD version.esmFO3 Wanderers Edition - Main File.esmMart's Mutant Mod.esm---------------------------------------------------- ESP's to load BEFORE overhaulsCRAFT - Activation Perk.espDarNifiedUIF3.esp---------------------------------------------------- Fallout Wanderers EditionFO3 Wanderers Edition - Main File.espFO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC Anchorage.espFO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC The Pitt.espFO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC Broken Steel.espFO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC Point Lookout.espFO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC Mothership Zeta.espFO3 Wanderers Edition - Alternate Travel.espFO3 Wanderers Edition - Followers Enhanced.esp (Choose BS OR Non-BS Version)FO3 Wanderers Edition - OTHER OPTIONAL FWE MODULESFO3 Wanderers Edition - Project Beauty.esp (FROM FOIP)FO3 Wanderers Edition - Project Beauty (HD Addition).esp (FROM FOIP)FO3 Wanderers Edition - Project Beauty (Followers Enhanced).esp (FROM FOIP, Choose BS OR Non-BS version)---------------------------------------------------- Weapon Mod KitsWeaponModKits.espWeaponModKits - FWE Master Release.esp (FROM FOIP)WeaponModKits - FWE Optional Worn Weapons.esp (FROM FOIP, if using FWE's Worn Weapons)WeaponModKits - OperationAnchorage.esp (FROM FOIP)WeaponModKits - ThePitt.esp (FROM FOIP)WeaponModKits - BrokenSteel.esp (FROM FOIP)WeaponModKits - PointLookout.esp (FROM FOIP)WeaponModKits - Zeta.esp (FROM FOIP)---------------------------------------------------- Energy Visuals EnhancedEVE.espEVE Operation Anchorage.espEVE - FWE Master Release.esp (FROM FOIP)EVE Anchorage - FWE DLC Anchorage.esp (FROM FOIP)EVE - FWE with WeaponModKits.esp (FROM FOIP)---------------------------------------------------- Mods to load AFTER overhauls---------------------------------------------------- Mart's Mutant ModMart's Mutant Mod.espMart's Mutant Mod - DLC Anchorage.espMart's Mutant Mod - DLC The Pitt.espMart's Mutant Mod - DLC Broken Steel.espMart's Mutant Mod - DLC Point Lookout.espMart's Mutant Mod - DLC Zeta.espMart's Mutant Mod - FWE Master Release.esp (FROM FOIP)Mart's Mutant Mod - FWE with EVE.esp (FROM FOIP)Mart's Mutant Mod - Project Beauty.esp (FROM FOIP)Mart's Mutant Mod - Project Beauty (HD Addition).esp (FROM FOIP)Mart's Mutant Mod - Project Beauty + FWE.esp (FROM FOIP)---------------------------------------------------- Merged filesi.e. Mez's Merged Patch

If you don't have the FOIP patches, they can be found http://fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=4968.
To apply archive invalidation you simply have to open Fallout Mod Manager and hit the 'Toggle Invalidation' button and it should ask you if you want to apply Invalidation.

Thanks alot, thats very helpful. Stuff can be confusing in the begining. I used to play oblivion a good bit a couple years back and i ran a bunch of mods. I remember it being a pain trying to figure things out.

Well i started to install some of the mods, but i kept getting a CTD. These are the things i have done so far,

I got FOMM working, from what i could tell. I installed to the FO3 directory where the FO3.exe is( is this right?)

Then i installed the unoffical patch. Its an installer, pretty self explanatory.

Then i went to install FWE, i got these 5 zip files which i place in the fallout3\fomm\mod folder.
FWE Master Release 5-0 - FOMOD Version-2761
FWE_Master_Release_Patch_5-02-2761
DarnUI_Update_for_FWE-2761
Mezs_Merged_Patch-2761
Primary_Needs_Sound_Disabler-2761
Then i started FOMM up and click on the package manager, add new, and then selected those 5 zip files. After that, i activated them and closed the window, they didnt show up under the FOMM main window right away, but i clicked launch fo3 anyways to see if it would work with the basic stuff. This is the things that were activated and the load order they were in.

fallout3.esm
anchorage.esm
thepitt.esm
brokensteel.esm
pointlookout.esm
zeta.esm
unoffical fallout 3 patch.esm
unoffical fallout 3 patch - operation anchorage.esp
unoffical fallout 3 patch - thepitt.esp
unoffical fallout 3 patch - brokensteel.esp
unoffical fallout 3 patch - pointlookout.esp
unoffical fallout 3 patch - zeta.esp

It still CTD even after unchecking everything but the fallout3.esm in the fomm and the data files in the fo3 launcher. I tried uninstalling the unoffical patches and did a few other things but no luck. Now i did redownload it last night before i did any of this and i didnt run it. So now im reinstalling, going to make a copy of the main fo3 folder and paste it somewhere so i dont need to reinstall it all the time if i mess something up. Then im going to load the game up and make sure it works and go from there. Maybe see if i can get a more step by step instruction on getting this working. Casue i dont think im confused on the mods themselves, just getting all the basic stuff working first.

Thanks in advance for anyone who helps, i know its probably annoying having to help me out so much, just get a little discouraging and some of the stuff i stuggle with understanding. Just dont want to get to point where i say the heck with the game.

First off, is your game working without any mods?
Before installing them the first time?

Next thing is, I think you are using FOMM wrong here.
If the mod in question is a FOMOD version you can use it with the package manager.
That means, just put it wherever you want, select it from within the package manager and activate it (it is possible that FOMM seems to hang during this procedure).
There is one caveat though: In theory I think FOMM should decompress archives, but some mods for FOMM are actually FOMOD-files contained IN an archive (I think DarnUI a11 is such a case). If thats the case it will not work right away. To check simply open the archive before using the package manager (e.g. with 7z). If it contains an .fomod file, you have to decompress it manually first. If it contains multiple files and folders you can directly use it in the package manager.

The updates (like the a11 hotfix for DarnUI or 5.02 for FWE) usually have to be installed manually, NOT in the package manager by unzipping them into the /Fallout 3/Data/ directory, overwriting existing files.

Do you allready have FOSE installed? For the non-steam version it goes directly into the Fallout 3 directory that also contains the .exe.
Afterward you should start FO3 using FOSE loader or start it from FOMM.

EDIT: Also, the DarnUI update for FWE only should be used when DarnUI is installed (seperate mod), otherwise a CTD is pretty likely.

I am running the steam game of the year version. Yes the game works by itself. The ctds i was getting were from the ini file in my documents. I deleted that and it worked. As far as the FOMM im sure i am using it wrong. So basically if i open the zip file and its just a single file in there i need to decompress it first? If the zip containsf folders and other files, i can leave them in the zip file and put it into the fallout3\fomm\mod folder and then use the package manager to install them? How do i decompress them and set them up to be used with FOMM then?

FOSE is not installed yet, im still confused on it. THere is 2 files to download, 1 is a fose_loader.exe and another is one that contains alot of dll files, a folder, and a fose_loader.exe. The readme said to copy the dll files and the loader to the directory where the fo3exe is located, doesnt say anything about the folder. There is also no documentation with the other file.

I know im not to run the darnui update for fwe until i get darns installed, it was just in the list of things that were included with FWE.

I guess what I wrote about FOMOD archives sounds a bit confusing and anyway I encountered this only once, on DarnUI a11.
If the mod you want to install is labeled "FOMOD" or described as a FOMM version you can use it with FOMM package manager (and only then).
FOMM will usually decompress and install it for you.
However, if it seems not to work, check wether it is a compressed file that contains the .fomod file (or any other compressed file).

About FOSE:
I'm not sure what happens when using FWE without it, but I would install it to be safe.
Simply copy all files (loader.exe, .dll and the src folder) into the folder that contains your Fallout3.exe.

Well i got things up and running, hard to say if its all working right. I know i cant get into the Darn's UI options when i hit escape. Does nothing when i click on it. But here is my load order, please let me know if i need to change anything around.

Mod load order report
! Warning: current load order template contains 13 duplicate entries

Fallout3.esm

Anchorage.esm

ThePitt.esm

BrokenSteel.esm

PointLookout.esm
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

Zeta.esm

Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch.esm

CRAFT.esm

CALIBR.esm

Project Beauty HD version.esm

StreetLights.esm
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

PB mika.esm
* This mod does not exist in the current template

FO3 Wanderers Edition - Main File.esm
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

Mart's Mutant Mod.esm
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

StreetLights - Wasteland.esp

Fellout-pipboylight.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch - Operation Anchorage.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch - The Pitt.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch - Broken Steel.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch - Point Lookout.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch - Mothership Zeta.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

DarNifiedUIF3.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

CRAFT - Activation Perk.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

Project Beauty.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

PB MMM HD.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

Project Beauty- Broken Steel.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template
Requires Broken Steel DLC

Project Beauty- Point Lookout.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template
Requires Point Lookout.esp

Project Beauty- Point Lookout MMM.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

Raider preset beta.esp
* This mod does not exist in the current template

FO3 Wanderers Edition - Main File.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

FO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC Anchorage.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

FO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC The Pitt.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

FO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC Broken Steel.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

FO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC Point Lookout.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

FO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC Mothership Zeta.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

FO3 Wanderers Edition - Followers Enhanced (BrokenSteel).esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

FO3 Wanderers Edition - Optional VATS Halftime.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

FO3 Wanderers Edition - Project Beauty.esp
* This mod does not exist in the current template

FO3 Wanderers Edition - Project Beauty (HD Addition).esp
* This mod does not exist in the current template

FO3 Wanderers Edition - Project Beauty (Followers Enhanced B-S).esp
* This mod does not exist in the current template

FO3 Wanderers Edition - UFP Support.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

WeaponModKits.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

WeaponModKits - FWE Master Release.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

WeaponModKits - OperationAnchorage.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template
Requires Anchorage.ESM

WeaponModKits - ThePitt.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template
Requires ThePitt.ESM

WeaponModKits - BrokenSteel.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template
Requires BrokenSteel.ESM

WeaponModKits - PointLookout.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template
Requires PointLookout.ESM

WeaponModKits - Zeta.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template
Requires Zeta.ESM

WMKAA12Shotgun.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

EVE.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

EVE Operation Anchorage.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template
Requires Anchorage.ESM

EVE - FWE Master Release.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

EVE Anchorage - FWE DLC Anchorage.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

EVE - FWE with WeaponModKits.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

EVE - FWE Master Release (Follower Enhanced).esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

Mart's Mutant Mod.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template
Requires Mart's Mutant Mod.esm

Mart's Mutant Mod - DLC Anchorage.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template
Requires Anchorage.ESM

Mart's Mutant Mod - DLC The Pitt.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template
Requires ThePitt.ESM

Mart's Mutant Mod - DLC Broken Steel.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template
Requires BrokenSteel.ESM

Mart's Mutant Mod - DLC Point Lookout.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template
Requires PointLookout.ESM

Mart's Mutant Mod - DLC Zeta.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template
Requires Zeta.ESM

Mart's Mutant Mod - FWE Master Release.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template
Requires FWE.

Mart's Mutant Mod - FWE with EVE.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

Mart's Mutant Mod - Feral Ghoul Rampage.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

Mart's Mutant Mod - Hunting & Looting.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

Fellout-Full.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

Fellout-BrokenSteel.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

Fellout-PointLookout.esp
* The current load order of this mod does not match the current template

Fellout-Zeta.esp
* This mod does not exist in the current template

Mez's Merged Patch 5-0 - DLC-FWE-WMK-MMM.esp
* This mod does not exist in the current template

Choose your own hairstyle (load this last on FOMM).esp

The order that the current template suggests is as follows:
fallout3.esm
pointlookout.esm
anchorage.esm
thepitt.esm
brokensteel.esm
zeta.esm
unofficial fallout 3 patch.esm
craft.esm
calibr.esm
streetlights.esm
pb mika.esm
fo3 wanderers edition - main file.esm
mart's mutant mod.esm
project beauty hd version.esm
unofficial fallout 3 patch - operation anchorage.esp
unofficial fallout 3 patch - the pitt.esp
unofficial fallout 3 patch - broken steel.esp
unofficial fallout 3 patch - point lookout.esp
unofficial fallout 3 patch - mothership zeta.esp
darnifieduif3.esp
craft - activation perk.esp
fellout-full.esp
fellout-brokensteel.esp
fellout-pointlookout.esp
fellout-zeta.esp
mez's merged patch 5-0 - dlc-fwe-wmk-mmm.esp
fellout-pipboylight.esp
project beauty.esp
project beauty- broken steel.esp
project beauty- point lookout.esp
project beauty- point lookout mmm.esp
raider preset beta.esp
pb mmm hd.esp
fo3 wanderers edition - main file.esp
fo3 wanderers edition - dlc anchorage.esp
fo3 wanderers edition - dlc broken steel.esp
fo3 wanderers edition - dlc mothership zeta.esp
fo3 wanderers edition - dlc point lookout.esp
fo3 wanderers edition - dlc the pitt.esp
fo3 wanderers edition - ufp support.esp
fo3 wanderers edition - followers enhanced (brokensteel).esp
fo3 wanderers edition - optional vats halftime.esp
fo3 wanderers edition - project beauty.esp
fo3 wanderers edition - project beauty (hd addition).esp
fo3 wanderers edition - project beauty (followers enhanced b-s).esp
weaponmodkits.esp
weaponmodkits - fwe master release.esp
weaponmodkits - operationanchorage.esp
weaponmodkits - thepitt.esp
weaponmodkits - brokensteel.esp
weaponmodkits - pointlookout.esp
weaponmodkits - zeta.esp
wmkaa12shotgun.esp
eve.esp
eve - fwe master release.esp
eve - fwe master release (follower enhanced).esp
eve operation anchorage.esp
eve - fwe with weaponmodkits.esp
eve anchorage - fwe dlc anchorage.esp
mart's mutant mod.esp
mart's mutant mod - dlc anchorage.esp
mart's mutant mod - dlc the pitt.esp
mart's mutant mod - dlc broken steel.esp
mart's mutant mod - dlc point lookout.esp
mart's mutant mod - dlc zeta.esp
mart's mutant mod - feral ghoul rampage.esp
mart's mutant mod - hunting & looting.esp
mart's mutant mod - fwe with eve.esp
mart's mutant mod - fwe master release.esp
streetlights - wasteland.esp
choose your own hairstyle (load this last on fomm).esp

Bump, anyone?

Are you using FOSE 1.2 beta2 or later?

Also you can remove:
mart's mutant mod - feral ghoul rampage.esp
mart's mutant mod - hunting & looting.esp

Both are manageable now via the FWE ingame menu- you only need the DLC esps for MMM and mart's mutant mod - fwe master release.esp.

Im using the beta, i did get darns to work. But other then that it looks good?