The Manager to use

[Time]

I'm your noob nightmare folks!

 

So I'm new to Skyrim (yesterday) and new to the idea of modding (yesterday + a few minutes).

 

I kind of get the idea, and I don't want to break my 4 hours of game-play by manually installing a mod and breaking my game.

 

So, the questions are - I think these are the questions:

 

Is there a mod manager that will work for any mod on any site?

Is there one I can, and should, use for mods on this site?

If I download something I find on a web site how the hell would a mod manager know of that mods existence?

If I MUST do it manually (merging data files - god help me) is there some technique whereby if Skyrim doesn't work after I can repair it without sitting for hours (it took a long time) whilst I download it from Steam again? 

Is there any question I should have asked and didn't?

 

 

If you can spare a few minutes to help the dumb noob I'll be grateful.

 

Thanky all.

 

[RitualClarity]

 

Is there a mod manager that will work for any mod on any site?

No. Mod managers are matched to the game used. Different mod managers for different games.

 

Is there one I can, and should, use for mods on this site?

For Oblivion use the OBMM or Oblivion Mod Manager. For Fallout3 and Fallout New Vegas use FOMM or Fallout Mod Manager. For Skyrim use NMM or Nexus Mod Manager. There are others that can be used however for ease of use and general support the above is what I would advise. The Skyrim users here might have another mod manager that they would advise related to the mods here I haven't mod Skyrim very much since it came out. As on their Tech Support area to be sure.

 

If I download something I find on a web site how the hell would a mod manager know of that mods existence?

Choose to manually download to a directory of your choice (folder, perhaps on a desktop) and direct the mod to use that folder to load the mods. Don't use the automatic option if it is available. There may be some customized options given in the mod that the mod managers may not handle correctly. You may have to manually modify the folder for the mod manager to manage following the "readme" file and or other instructions give to you by the mod creator or someone of knowledge here at this site.

 

If I MUST do it manually (merging data files - god help me) is there some technique whereby if Skyrim doesn't work after I can repair it without sitting for hours (it took a long time) whilst I download it from Steam again?

You shouldn't manually manage or merge files in the actual game folder at this point in your mod experience. You managed and work the mods in a separate folder and only then install the mod. Avoid mods for the time being that require massive customization for game play until you get more familiar with the modding process. If you are using a mod manager most should install and un-install the game without issues or damage. NOTE: Damage to the game not the save. You might need to have a "clean save".

 

For Gods sake why aren't you backing up your Skyrim game? If it is backed up you won't have have to wait "sitting for hours" again. You should only ever download a Steam game once. Then if needed "verify" if there are issues and work from a backup.

 

Is there any question I should have asked and didn't?

Yes, for many of the mods on this site and others require various supporting mods and "scripts" and other "tools" that you need in place before you even load the game. For Skyrim you most likely need the SKSE I believe which is the script extender that gives added functionality to the game and allows for many of the mods to work. Without it nadda. You need to read the entire instructions that the mod author created before installing any game. If you don't understand something ask on the mod author's mod download (preferred) or here on a tech support for the game if no response is given.

 

Another questions are the "plugins". Each game here seems to have a varied set of individual plugins that have to be MANUALLY installed. Follow the instructions it should be easy just drag and drop into a folder that you might have to create. The instructions are reasonably easy.

 

I kind of get the idea, and I don't want to break my 4 hours of game-play by manually installing a mod and breaking my game.

I don't want to break it to you but some mods REQUIRE a new game. If you aren't ready to start a new game find out if they require a new start and avoid them until you are ready for a new play through. Unless you want to "break" the 4 hours of game play.

 

Have Fun, but most of all have PATIENCE. It is a time consuming process to get the added material working properly and it takes time to learn and gain experience. Give it the proper time and if you do you will soon be able to handle most if not all problems that arise in you game.

[Time]

Thank you for the reply ritualclarity; it's gone a long way to make the things I've seen and read drop into place.

 

So I'll work out how to back up steam games; I've never bothered before. I'll use NMM as I only have skyrim. I'll make a mod folder (good plan man). Point NMM at that folder, find a simple and obvious mod that doesn't need a restart, and try out this new wizardry.

 

Thanks again for the helpful and concise reply friend. 

[lordofthedread]

NMM is also supporting fallout and oblivion, I have no idea how good it does tho..... 

 

For Skyrim I personally had not much troubles with NMM, after a while you will end up using Wrye Bash and maybe TES5Edit anyway if you pan to use many mods or extensive mods like overhauls and stuff like. (you shold use BOSS right from the start, just saying).

[Synthael]

For Fallout New Vegas (and Fallout 3 while I was playing it) I use Fallout Mod Manager (FOMM), it served me well, backed up with FNVEdit and few other utilities, and for Skyrim Tes Mod Manager. It's more-less the same as FOMM, just for Skyrim and Oblivion, respectively. Haven't had any problems with it.

I didn't use NMM as I hate it, like my mods installed manually and stuff...

[RitualClarity]

For FNV or FO3 if you use Sexout mods the supported mod manager is FOMM. There have been reported issues using NMM and FNV with Sexout.

[lordofthedread]

the OP talk only about Skyrim and since he is a noob I would suggest to go with something simple (so not installiing mods manually) : Nexus Mod Manager.

 

It is working with SexLab and most of the sex mods, it should work with any mod that is compressed into 7z or rar and follow the simple fact that it needs to contain a Data folder (so pretty much any mod).

 

A word of advice, once you installed a fresh Skyrim, before modding make a backup copy of your clean install folder and store it somewhere.

 

Even before that you can install SKSE, you can get it here : http://skse.silverlock.org/, just unzip it inside your Skyrim folder as it is a must have for many mods.

 

Then you will have to run skse.exe and not the regular exe.

[Time]

Hi guys,

 

Cheers for the input. After pondering about how sensible it was to start off slow and careful, I decided on another way forward: it seemed me me that at this point (a backed up Steam vanilla install and only a few hours in) I had nothing to loose, and knowledge/experience to gain...so I went for it.

 

I've used NMM to install heaps of things, I've used SKSE, I installed SexiS and got it working fine (not worth the trouble imho though: mechanical and banal), UFO and USKP (even though I only have one follower - and she's annoying me), better naked men and women - though I don't know how to make them naked without the SexiS or the console. SKSE made me think for a while, but I got there. You get the idea: all sorts of things. 

 

Now I'm going to delete the lot and start vanilla and just load up a few of them. I'm still looking for some nice landscape and environmental mods, but I get tired waiting for f'ing Nexus to plod along. Also romance; after fighting bad guys I feel the need to hit on women, but the topic never seems to come up in conversation! I have a couple of weeks off from work, and so I have time to play the actual game for a while. In truth, after a weekend of all this stuff I feel like a break...you know that slightly vacuous and scrambled feeling?

 

Next step: Noob Mod creation!!!

[RitualClarity]

Hi guys,

 

I've used NMM to install heaps of things, I've used SKSE, I installed SexiS and got it working fine (not worth the trouble imho though: mechanical and banal), UFO and USKP (even though I only have one follower - and she's annoying me), better naked men and women - though I don't know how to make them naked without the SexiS or the console. SKSE made me think for a while, but I got there. You get the idea: all sorts of things. 

 

Careful of installing multiple mods at this stage in your understanding for your regular game. Install one or two test, install a few more, test again, until you are comfortable they work properly. This way when something goes wrong you can trace back to the cause and fix it easier.

 

Don't worry in time you will be able to do more and more mods and such until you are easily fixing and resolving most of all your issues by yourself. It isn't that hard. So long as you have good backups of your games, and  of your mods, the links to them for info and instrucitons (or copies of needed instrucitons for later in case you forget) and a general understanding of what you are doing you will be well on your way to modding bliss.

 

Soon you will be building your own mods and answering Noobie questions on this site