One of my favorite threads in the Oblivion mods forum is the Underdog Mods thread.

The idea is to make a list of these smaller, obscure, or less visible mods that you could not live without. It could also be mods that are popular but do not usually come up as the usually recommended mods when people ask around.

I went through a lot of mods building my version of Fallout, and I came across a few gems that add a lot of character to the game :

http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=7804

http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=999

So... what are the gems in your load order ?

take a look at http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=8934, and only 184 downloads. i can't seem to do without it.

This is just the type of thread I was looking for. Hopefully more people will share their goodies. (I need more mods! )

I can't live without http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=7781. They entertain me endlessly.
The next two are gaining in popularity but I still love them: http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=6338 and http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=1489.

http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=5351

Apparently it is famous, but I never see anyone mention it.

I wouldn't say 20k downloads makes it an "underdog" mod.

I use Less View Distance, which is a lot like the Oblivion mod Morrowind Fog that I couldn't play without. I can't find the page, now. Maybe it's called something else. That's the name of the esp, anway.

Others I have had for ages are:
http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=1650
http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=898 - though I've custom edited it to include some of my own.
http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=6052
Better Fire - Not available anymore
http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=2820
http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=161
http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=5205

There's always a lot of smaller mods in my load order. Ones I rarely hear (read) other people mentioning. Some days I just browse the categories and usually end up finding something really good, but not so well-known

I think the question is...what truly counts as 'underdog' in a mod?

My own teams mod, Path of the Gunslinger, for example, gets the reaction of 'Who? What?' from most people...and yet it has over 6,000 downloads on the Nexus, and another 5 or 6 thousand on lone of the other sites, so to me, the modder, that makes it an underdog, but to the community, it might be considered a comfortable 'medium'.

Personally, I would say, less than 25 endorsemants, less than 1,000 downloads, and a general consensus of 'huh?' from the community would make a mod an underdog.

With that in mind, I definately nominate NPC's Sleep Tighter.

Yet no one ever mentions it.

It is integrated into many overhaul mods.

http://fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=3711

I know a lot of people complain about things that shouldn't be around after 200 years, paper should be #1 on the list

Excellent !


Maybe 'Underdog' is a misnomer, but I wanted to reuse the same name as the original Oblivion forum thread.

It is a very subjective thing, not necessarily driven by number of endorsemants or downloads. I would consider this thread for hidden gems, mods that don't necessarily come up when people ask around for suggestions. Combat Eyebot and NPCs Sleep Tighter are perfect examples.

ive always liked the pibboy light replacer
http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=8619
replaces the pip boy with lantern,

My own http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=9418 seems to have slipped under the radar. Probably because it's only a minor addition to the game. But a well executed and immersive one, if I may say so myself!

I'm definitely familiar with Path of the Gunslinger, but what's NPCs Sleep Tighter?


"Under the radar" at 660 downloads? Pfff! My own mods average 200 downloads each at Nexus! Compared to the 16,000 downloads one of my Morrowind mods got, I'd call all of mine "underdogs"!

I for one appreciate your Gifts 4 Kids mod, but perhaps what you and I have in common is that our mods are "gentler" sorts of mods, whereas the ones that tend to fare well tend to be combat-based.

I'd say my main mod (Gunslinger Girl Followers) is an underdog mod. Though that's likely because it's sort of directed at a smaller audience. I don't see anyone mentioning it, although the problem with making a mod in the companion mods section is that bigger/more popular stuff like Phalanx and SCC and Jessi tend to overshadow newer, lesser known mods. But at the same time, a lot of work has been (and is being) put into the mod. But it's my most popular mod by far, with 1000 downloads and 30 endorsemants. It could be considered a "cult hit".

Good point.

I would say http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=8107. You see, I don't like being lobotomize.

But Princess Stomper, although not many know your individual mods, almost every person knows atleast one of your mods ^_^ Apparently, you're famous around here I esspecialy love your fallout homes to let.

I was originally going to post a link to Megaton Gate Closes, but I saw that it had nearly 3000 Downloads. Not exactly underdog -_-

So, I will shamelessly promote my one and only mod, http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=10166! The must have mod for any chem user that doesn't use better living through chems! The best around! Be the first on the block to get it! Okay get it, I'll quit now

Harmy52

From the description:
When NPCs are sleeping and the player is sneaking they'll no longer wake up at the drop of a pin.

It's helpful in that I can sneak into the Megaton Common House, for example, murder one sleeping resident and the rest won't wake up :hehe:

Taking Out The Trash I remember that. Great, it includes Point Lookout! *grab*

Anyone interested in a http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=6647 to go with their http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=1391?
Yes, it's rather boring compared to most

I'd like to shamelessly plug my own mod http://fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=9022

I've less than 150 downloads, and I just got my first endorsemant! :rock:

So I think that it would classify as an underdog

That, is a MUST for me. i love sneaking around... and now i can thanks! i love this thread

heheh ... I think my mods are only known for Morrowind - they tend to sink fast for Oblivion and Fallout 3 - but I do have an evil plan to get at least one of my mods into everyone's modlist (surely out of 125+ mods there must be something you want!)

Glad you like Homes To Let. Your own mod looks very cool


Boring? That's awesome!

There are some really great ideas in this thread. I'll be sure to check out at least some of them.

http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=3512 is criminally underrated imo.

I was just about to recommend this one. Awesome mod that definitely keeps the player hungry, challenged and immersed.

hmm lets see

http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=9546
http://www.gamesas.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=1017204

its unique normal weapon textures, which makes almost every vanilla gun have unique textures ( those finished that is ) zableblaze put a lot of work into this and its a great mod :foodndrink: yet less than 96 downloads on nexus, and no one mentions it

prime underdog