Question 1

What essential mods need installing before a playthrough is commenced? I have already identified Arwen's Realism Tweaks, but I also as want as much available as I can for character creation. I am assuming I won't be able to change the character once I have started? (snuck another question in there)

Question 2

If I do all the mod work on one machine, what is involved in transferring this setup to another machine. I am curious about this for backup purposes in, any case.

I will try to answer both of your questions. Regarding the first one, it majorly depends on your personal liking, but I will do my best to propose some suggestions built on personal experience.

First of all, install FOSE http://fose.silverlock.org/ and ArchiveInvalidation Invalidated plus Fallout Mod Manager if you haven't already done that.

There are 3 amazing quest mods created by PuceMoose which make those vanilla ones ...inferior at best.

http://fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=4730
http://fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=5630
http://fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=6921

I see you mentioned Arwen's Tweaks but I will recommend another overhaul mod called Fallout's Wanderer's Edition with fantastic incorporated quality mods (including Arwen mods).
http://fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=2761

I also strongly recommend installing DarnifiedUI mod which greatly enhances User Interface of the game. You can find it here on gamesas Forums in Fallout 3 modding board.

There are of course many other great mods for you to consider: MMM (new creatures mod by Martigen), XFO (some modules of it are included in FWE), EVE, CRAFT, CALIBR, Fellout, Owned, Closer To Classics (amazing bunch of mods, incompatibile with DarnUI), more perks by dree74. Look 'em up on www.fallout3nexus.com website.


As of question number two, all you have to do is backup data folder and have it copied over previously installed (on the new machine) patched vanilla version of the game

Question 1) http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=3729 is the only mod I recommend for a first playthrough EVER!!! Play through vanilla at least once then you can more easily decide what you want changed, as well as making it easier to detect what has been changed etc. The mods will still be on the Nexus once you have completed the game.

Question 2) I'll let someone else answer that one.

Read the first post carefully, barrettsfloyd. It's his new playthrough which I assume means he beat the vanilla version of the game.

Thanks for prompt replies! All good stuff.

If FWE has Arwen's mods in and other goodies, that sounds win, win to me - downloading now. It is her list that has been my main guide. Also spotted Fellout that looked quite good. I have got as far as installing both disks and was hunting for official patches. CASM is definitely on my list - thanks for that.

I asked the first question as I am generally happy to mod as I play, but didn't want to get 20 hours in and then discover a belting mod that required a new playthrough for its use! Figuring out the install order is beginning to get tricky - hehe. Also I wanted as many options as possible for character creation.

This is not my first playthrough of FO3. Just done that on the Xbox and have now got my mitts on the GOTY ed for the PC, so I can mod - bliss

Good to hear that backup is straight forward - I was really hoping to hear that answer

That's not true at all. Only a tiny piece of my Realism Tweak is included in FWE . . . a much older version of my old Smarter AI module.

My Realism Tweaks is just as much of a game play overhaul as FWE. I just don't integrate a bunch of other mods into my overhaul, because my mod is designed to be used with the other mods on my FO3 mod list (so the user can use as many of these totally compatible mods as they like with my Tweaks).

Your going to get entirely different gameplay with my Realism Tweaks than what you would get with FWE. Basically it al depends on what you want in your game.

Sorry OP, just from reading your post led me to believe that you hadn't yet completed the game. In that case then you may want to take a look at http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1056342-mezs-gameplay-and-immersion-mod-list/. ther are lots of great ideas in there. found more than a few there that I liked.

@ sydneyroo: nothing personal, but I prefer to hear that from OP instead. :whisper:

Yeah, backup is problemless. They did good job with it. Few other suggestions:

Advenced Power Armor (the classic one from F2
http://www.nma-fallout.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=49402&start=0

http://fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=1146
(it's "simply" hairpack but you mind find it useful as you mentioned you want to have as many caracter cration options as possible).

http://fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=6341 (makes NPCs look better)

EDIT: No worries barrettsfloyd, we're both here to help the guy. Sorry, Arwen I must've mistunderstood FWE readme. Damn, I really thought there were more of your modules in FWE. Now it makes me wanna refresh your mod list
EDIT2: I actually had to check OP meaning on UrbanDictionary. You make me feel old

@Arwen
Ah..that does make a difference. I spent quite bit of time reading through your mod description for the Realism Tweaks and other mods in your list - it seemed such a balanced mix that I have been using your list to source most of the mods - thank you so much for putting it together! I have decided to go with yours to start with, having read the description for FWE. I like your philosophy of separate mods.

These suggestions are excellent. I have tendency to spend ages on character creation and the more options, the better. Can I tweak once I am in-game?

Sure you can, press tilde and type in ShowRaceMenu

Good stuff Last game I modded to the hilt was DAO and I couldn't change my character once I was in the game. To do anything, a new playthrough had to be started :angry:

Am now twiddling thumbs watching progress bars :whistling:

This IS all about different philosophies. Plus people see my Realism Tweaks listed in FWE's credits and naturally just assume that my ENTIRE mod has been integrated into FWE, which is totally wrong.

You can definitely tweak things after you are in-game, but this depends on what mods you install and what you mean by "tweak."
With the current version of my Realism Tweaks, the only things you can alter from my in-game Options Menu are my XPR Multiplier and the Timescale. (I'll likely be adding a few more configurable setting in the future.)
You can also tweak out-of-game, but adding or removing modules (just deactivate and then reactivate my Realism Tweaks in FOMM's Package Manager. And you can add and remove other mods.

Now, I've never assumed ENTIRE mod is incorporated, Arwen.
ModerateOsprey, you might also check out a mod that removes POI which makes the game more challenging and Pointiac (fantastic skills system).

Since ModerateOsprey is planning on using my Realism Tweaks, he should NOT install Pontiac, as my Hard-Core module completely alters skills and stats.

Removing the POI with my mod is NOT recommended either, since my Dynamic Stealth changes the way detection works, to the point that you're going to have to rely on your Friend/Foe Markers . . . if you expect to survive very long. Trust me, my Full Realism Tweaks makes the game VERY challenging.

In the context of my PC appearance, I like to be able to have the ability to alter this as I need to play a bit before I really decide whether s/he is right, but I am bit of a serial tweaker :/ I am going to go with all your realism mods and see how I get on - configurable or not - I like the sounds of them and cover a lot of what I was grumbling about when I played through on the console. Timescale control is good. As for XP, the slower the better for me. In the vanilla game, I felt as if I was going to max out before I was even half way through.

Off topic - I also ordered Oblivion GOTY at the same time as FO3 and have your list for that bookmarked and ready



I like that. The empty triangles annoyed me - I wanted to discover on my own!

Checking out the skills system...

Just read the description for Pointiac - not recommended with other mods that alter skills, etc. Yours it is.

I do want the friend/foe markers, but it would be good to get rid of the indicators for undiscovered areas.

You can turn off the just Quest Markers and the Landmarks in the DarN UI. You just have to edit the DUIF3Settings.xml (under compass: lines 128 and 129), just change the 1 to 0 in both lines.

Thanks for that, will do the job nicely. Just working my way through your load list for early game quests, etc. Methinks it will be tomorrow before I actually start building a character.

Just throwing out another quick question (topic should have been 2 + n questions) - Install is not equal to load? So two orders - install order and load order?

With mods that don't have esps (or esms), like texture and sound mods, you have to be careful to install the ones that you want the most after the ones that you want less.

My own current load order is posted on my FO3 mod list.