Newbie questions regarding Mod Installations (FO:NV)

[Alva]

Okay, So I've been over the forum a couple of times and tried to read the various start up guides, but I'm still somewhat confused about the installation of mods for Fallout New  Vegas using the Fallout Mod Manager.

I've seem to got the hang of it in Skyrim, but I don't know if it is just that FOMM works differently than Mod Organizer but - I just don't seem to get the result I'm after in New Vegas.

 

So - I'm sorry if these questions are obvious to people or I've posted in the wrong part of the forums, but here goes....

 

I've installed NVSE

I downloaded FOMM from here because of the mention that the script extender plugin did not work with the Nexus one.

I've run FOMM and go to package manager and installed some fomod files and I can activate them and that seems fine (ish). For example Mod Configuation Menu and the Sexout files. They then appear in the "File" load order in the main window as I expected.

 

Then I install NVSE Extender and the 7zip file for BnB Body Extender Compatibility Skeleton (a bit unsure whether this is actually needed based on various guides).

 

But when I active these - they do not appear in the File order. Is that intended?

 

The very same happens when I start installing other mods - basically mods which seems to contain only texture or meshes. But I'm not sure these actually work in my game (missing textures/items in animations etc) - but I can take that in specific threads once I'm sure that my approach is (generally) all-right.

The files from the mods appear in various sub-folders in the games original data folder. Is that also intended? I though the mod manager would keep files separate from the game's data folder in its own structure? But that might be one of the areas I misunderstand?

 

 

Then when it comes to esp files - how are these installed via the fallout mod manager?
Or are they just dropped into the games original data folder? And then activate via the Mod Manager or is this the wrong way?

 

 

I hope you can sort through my rambling, but I feel like there's just a few issues missing to be solved - but I'm seeing strange results in the game and I fear it's because I'm overwriting things wrong via the Mod Manager and it's messing with my game data folder.

 

 

[nyaalich]

Correct:  NVSE and the BNB Compatibility Skeleton (which is needed again since Pride had to remove it from the Sexout installation) WILL NOT appear in your load order.  NVSE files do things on their own.  The BNB skeleton merely replaced existing skeleton.  No esps were in either file.  This is the same thing with texture/mesh replacers.  For example, if you install Breeze's male body, the only thing that ever ends up displaying in your load order is an esp that fixes some issue with armor.

 

HOWEVER, you do have to have Archive Invalidation turned on to refresh the new meshes and textures in game.  Tools > Toggle Archive Invalidation.  Some people say to just turn this on and forget it, but I could swear that there have been times that I had it enabled, but the new textures, etc. didn't show up until I actually disabled and reenabled the Toggle Archive Invalidation option in FOMM.

 

FOMM is different from MO in that it does install stuff in the Data directory.  If you un/install with FOMM's Package Manager, installed files from a mod will be removed from the Data directory. 

 

ESPs and ESMs are installed in the Data folder just like everything else.

 

I know that this is exactly what you want to hear:  There are different versions of FOMM.  There are 2 different ones on the Nexus (the original and then a fork), and one here that prideslayer works on.  So I hesitate to mention anything else about the default order that the installed mods appear or how to check your load order.

[Alva]

Thank you - it helps a lot getting things clarified. I know the game is old (relatively speaking) and a lot of guides therefore is out of date or have component missing - so at least I'm on the right track.

Now I can worry about finding a body mod I like, relevant armor and hopefully a way to stop seeing 'invisible bodies' in the game.

Thanks for you help.

[nyaalich]

If you're seeing invisible male bodies during sex, you need to reactivate either Sexout Data or Core, and when the prompt for installing a male body comes up, pick either Breeze or Robert's.  It's actually a bit confusing.  Those only install the skins that are needed for the animations.  That's why a male might look naked normally if you undress them but then be invisible during sex.

 

Sexout installs the T6 body for females by default.

[RitualClarity]

Sexout Data is what holds the male and female bodies. Basically that is all that is in Sexout Data.