Fallout:4 getting started

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Getting started modding Fallout:4

Before anything else

Do these steps before you start on anything else, as they are the basis for successfully modding.

Archive Invalidation

In the Fallout4Custom.ini file that is located in My Documents\My Games\Fallout NV\fallout.ini

    [Archive]
    bInvalidateOlderFiles=1
    sResourceDataDirsFinal=

Choose a mod manager

A mod manager will make it easier to install, remove, and generally manage your mods. In addition many mods have extra options in which are easiest enabled through the mod manager instead of copy pasting files into their correct location. Mod managers can support multiple games, have "profiles" which allows you to set it to install or remove a set of mods.

For Fallout 4 you have a couple options as to what to use to manage your mods.

Vortex: Nexus GitHub

The official mod manager by the Black Tree Gaming Ltd (NexusMods), very useful and friendly to new users.

Mod Organizer 2: Nexus GitHub

More versatile than Vortex but has a Higher learning curve and less flashy UI.

Knowledge Base

The section of the guide is for concepts that you must understand before doing any installing or troubleshooting of mods.

Load Order

The load order is the hierarchy in which mods and content is loaded by the game. Mods need to have the correct load order so that they may function properly with what they are over writing. Lets give a examples

    1st in load order / Fallout4.esm has Charlie npc
    2nd in load order / Charlie.esp makes them a companion and gives them quests and voice
    3rd in load order / Charlie_ATF_Patch.esp gives them a nude body + ero options + uses everything from Charlie.esp

In order for any of this to work, Fallout4 needs to first load Fallout4.esm, then Charlie.esp, then Charlie_ATF_Patch.esp . If it does not, you will have a broken mod (or more). There are many cases where mods will be dependent on 4-5 mods and the DLC to be loaded before it does, be aware of this.

In most cases, you will not have to worry about this by using a program called LOOT or the inbuilt LOOT for Vortex. Essentially what it does is smartly organizes the content. Although if anything is broken, makes sure to manually check where each broken mod is in the load order.

Loot's Github io

Bodies

Any time a mesh(the polygons) is changed greatly like between a male and female, or between an adult and kid, a body is used. There should only be one body mod for each type of character -male, female, female child, male child- sometimes a mod will include multiple bodies such as common children will include both bodies for female child and male child. You might run into issues if you install more than one body mod for a type of character, such as installing both CBBE and Janes body for the female type.

Depending on what bodies you choose will affect what other mods you can have that are built on those body mods. Most notably if you install the wrong physics mods for breasts physics that is not supposed to work for your body will create issues like body parts staying still even if you move, ect. Choosing a body will affect what looks menu presets will work for it and what armor "fits" it or will not give invisible bodies.