I'm not sure of the 'mod mods' i have to have in order to play mods.
I'm currently downloading FOOK2... what else should i download?
because there are so [censored] many...

FOOK2 comes with it's own installer, so that one will take care of itself. I think FOOK2 requires Fallout Script Extender (FOSE) to work properly, latest version can be found here: http://fose.silverlock.org/

http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=640 (FOMM) is the only way to install mods that come as FOMOD format, and it's pretty handy tool to manage your load order too.

http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=637 is a must for large load orders for it's merged patch functionality, it also a handy tool in seeing mod conflicts and making small alterations. Also it's Master Update functionality can help prevent some crashes.

http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=10193 is a tool that gives you a suggested load order that you should load your mods in, when used from http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=11336 it also sorts them automatically. Gary Bash is a port of a tool for Oblivion, it is very powerful and it's bashed patch functionality is a more advanced version of FO3Edit's merged patch, but it is quite complex and requires a lot of learning to make best use of.

In conclusion, essentials are FOSE, FOMM and creating a merged patch with FO3Edit, those should get you playing.

Okay, i'm trying to download and install all the requirements for Gary Bash... except when it comes to the "psyco-1.6.win32-py2.6.zip" when i try to install it, it says i dont have Python2.6, i mean, i dont, i have Python2.7 but my problem is, there's no other download for a later version.
What do i do now? is it absolutely essential?

Sorry to double post, i just really gotta know...

You can download it from the Wrye Bash TesNexus page here: http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=22368 (all nexus sites share the same login information, so no need create another account), but it really isn't essential, FOMM is enough and much simpler to use.

thanks so much man, you're so damn helpful, i really appreciate it!

I think this question relates here in this thread...so here goes:

I have the utility programs now

FBOSS for load order

FO3edit for making bashed patch

FO3MasterUpdate

and FoMM

So, when I add a new mod, in what order do I run these utilities?

Thanks!

~Wayne

I haven't used FBOSS, but I assume it actually sorts your mods into what it thinks is the best load order instead of suggesting a load order and leaving you arrange them yourself. With that being said, you'd do something like this.

1. Run FOMM to install the mod (unless the mod's readme had different installation instructions) and activate it, deactivate any existing merged patches you may have, then exit.
2. Run FBOSS to set up the load order, then exit.
3. Run FO3Edit to check if you have the correct mod files selected, create the new merged patch, save it and then exit.
4. Run FOMM again to select the new merged patch, and then exit.
5. Run FO3MasterUpdate and then exit.
6. Start FOMM and launch the game.

I highly recommend you download the following guide to FO3Edit, created by Miax. It has a ton of useful information about FO3Edit.

http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=8629

Thank you Gator Country! That is a most awesomely excellent PDF tutorial! I wish we had that back with Oblivion!