Mod Organizer For Mod Making/testing Even If Playing Using Nmm Or Wrye Bash

[Uhuru N'Uru]

Mod Organizer for Mod Making/Testing even if playing using NMM or Wrye Bash

 

I'm Making this guide in response to a shortcoming highlighted by SkyrimII in the SD+ (Sanguine Debauchery Enhanced) Support Thread the issue was a user was having issues with the mod OBIS and SD+, SkyrimII with a heavily modded current install, 255 Plugin with merged files heavy, many of them customised (by SkyrimII) files, indeed SD+ began that way. He hasn't actually specified whether he uses NMM or Wrye Bash, I suspect NMM as though it's old and unweildy, Wrye Bash does have a profile system. Not designed for SSD's and requiring full Data Folder contents transfers, but it exists.

 

So this is for when you have a cherished setup with many custom edits that would not be recreated by a standard transfer, which is basically just recreate the Mod List and Load Order and then use old saves and Ini's on that.

 

First why do this ?

Simply this, multiple Profiles means multiple Test Rigs, backup Profiles to return to when it goes wrong. All with separate saves and Ini's, all using the same mods.

MO installs mods in separate Mod Folders, each in it's own folder, to Mod Organizer Mods = Folders, contents are irrelevant, it is the Folder that defines the mod.

Want a Profile with one FoMod setup and for the next Profile a different setup of the same FoMod, you can do that, but it's not the best way when using a SSD.

Most FoMod's are separated into folders that match the options you can choose.

Simply Install these as Mods with suitable names, making clear when the options are the choose just one Type or select as many as you like Type.

Folder structure is straightforward, The Mod Folder=Skyrims Data Folder, this means everything that would go into Skyrims Data Folder goes in the  Mod Folder.

 

How do you do this?

We have three Key Folders all called err... oh yes "Skyrim", first job is to protect what you have, you should know where these folders are on your machine if you are a mod maker, it does help to know the location of these folders.

I'll give my setup as examples, I have a Games Drive, 512 GB SSD it will soon be just a Skyrim SSD.

My Mod Organizer is at 125GB and that's just the installed mods, the archives are much bigger at 600GB but on a HDD.

 

D:\The Elder Scrolls Series\TES5 - Skyrim\Skyrim (Steam)

D:\GameData\Uhuru N'Uru's Saved Games\Skyrim (Steam)

D:\GameData\AppData\Local\Skyrim (Steam)

Yes those are the actual locations, but I use a tool called Link Shell Extention (Google It) to mange my files with Symbolic Links (Not HardLinks they are very dangerous).

This stops windows reinstalls trashing all my settings, it's beyond the scope of this guide and for Power Users only.

I wont explain more, if this is not more than you need, honestly do not try to use them, they can trash your PC if used wrong.

Now the Standard Locations.

 

D:\Steam\SteamApps\Common\Skyrim

C:\Users\Uhuru N'Uru\Documents\My Games\Skyrim

C:\Users\Uhuru N'Uru\AppData\Local\Skyrim

 

Backups, make them, 7-Zip best but however you do it, Back Them Up.

Now Rename them I suggest

Skyrim (NMM)

or

Skyrim (WB)

and when the time comes

Skyrim (MO)

This will be a recurrent process, whatever you are using now is simply called Skyrim, by naming the unused one by the Managers Name you will never get mixed up.

So now you have no current game as far as Steam is concerned, so Get the Game by starting in Steam (even if it says Play Game) just doing that will redownload it.

When the download is complete Start the Game as Normal to bring up the Launcher, Set it up for your system and Start Skyrim, you need the default Ini's. now I can't remember which Smoke screen is required, you may need to start new game but Escape and shut down as soon as possible.

Shouldn't be any saves made but delete them if made, while checking you have Skyrim.ini and Skyrim Prefs.Ini

 

Only Now Install Mod Organizer I have mutiple game versions so make my path (remember to delete the extra ModOrganizer thats always added).

D:\ModOrganizer\Skyrim

For just Skyrim slect the Root Folder D:\ and the auto name adder will give you

D:\ModOrganizer

Don't install in Default Program Files (x86) as well as UAC and Admin Rights why waste Path space anyway.

 

Now Start MO Lots of Options follow my sticky to Support and Guide do RTFM of course but for here and now its Profiles that matter.

So top Left Six Icons yuo want the 3rd one the ID card with Yellow Dot, Click on the (little picture thingy) otherwise called an Icon.

We now have a Profiles window (Scroll down to the 50th name... No wait they just got the default one) with one existing profile called Default.

 

Tick Local Savegames, so each profile has it's own set of saves, Skyrim.ini and Skyrim Prefs.Ini, you do not need Automatic Archive Invalidation (Oblivion Does).

Select the Default Profile and hit Copy Name Virgin Vanilla (Or something more inappropriate if you wish).

OK it and thats your pure and unsullied Vanilla good to go. Now what Copy does is what it says exatly copy that Profile including Saves and the Ini's of the Profile. Create goes right to basics Only Skyrim and Update selected and it copies the original Ini's as they are at that moment not reset ones. you would have to have backups or go through the delete and restart game routine. Transfer Saves can switch saves between existing setups.

 

1st Icon is for Manual Mod Install (Program Box with Disc)

• Opens the Downloads Folder for you to select the Archive to install

 

2nd Icon is for Skyrim Nexus (Earth from Space)

• Opens Skyrim Nexus Home Page in your default Browser

 

4th Icon is for Apps (Gears)

• If you had SkSE installed than it shows up already. Apps must be Started in MO here is for setting Paths to them.
• LOOT is Built In with v1.2.1 Beta but it'sa Client not Full LOOT you still need Full version to set a user config. It's great for quick resorts though.
• MO only installs Data Folder Contents but any App like SkSE which has a Data Folder Section, That section only can be a MO Mod.
• Simple rule Anything put in Data Folder is an MO Mod

 

5th Icon is for Config (Jigsaw)

• Ini's for the Current Profile are changed here
• Also a Skyrim Configator (It's the Mod Skyrim Configurator by Pfannkuchen Gesicht 39=Utilities=814 built in)
• NMM Import System (Can be done but not a simple procedure due to file overwriting method) Reverse install mod by mod. 

 

6th Icon is for Settings (Spanner over Screwdriver)

• Download with Manager works on Nexus just fine and if you didn't choose it at Setup you can set it in the Settings Icon
• One point when switching to NMM unset it in MO first. It won't work in NMM if you don't
• Set Mod Path (I Leave as Default) SSD is Ideal (Any Folder already here or put here shows in MO as a Mod after a Refresh/Restart)
• Set Downloads Path (I Change this) HDD is Ideal (Any Archive already here or put here shows in MO after a Refresh/Restart)
• I prefer the Dark Style choose to your taste.
• Categories are optional and you can stick with MO style or Nexus or whatever (2 Tier Multiple-choice system)
• Set your Nexus Login and choose preferred Download Servers and order to try them

 

That's only the absolute bare essentialls one last feature BSA's are Good for SSD's as they use Less Space

Loose files are good for user conflict management but Bad for SSD's approximately twice the size of BSA's

What you want ideally is BSA's with User Conflict Management, MO gives you that option (automatic in latest v1.2.1 Beta but it may revert to an option if a New Vegas issue isn't fixed)

 

Finally, You can now create as many Test Profiles as required With Multiple Defaults to Copy from and return to as you wish

 

Get your Mod Tested In any Mod Setup you want Set up a Users Mods to Test Specific Issues they discover, for real Testing experience check out STEP's Official Mod Testing Guide. They know more than anyone else, especially with making mods play nice together.

Sheson ended up at STEP for Testing his Memory Patch, He new it worked, but the independant STEP Testing got it accepted much quicker.

 

Then when you want to just play the game, your cherished character is safe and sound.

Backups, make them, 7-Zip best but however you do it, Back Them Up.

Now Rename them I suggest

Skyrim (NMM)

Skyrim (WB)

and when the time comes

Skyrim (MO)

 

Rename the favourite to

D:\Steam\SteamApps\Common\Skyrim

C:\Users\Uhuru N'Uru\Documents\My Games\Skyrim

C:\Users\Uhuru N'Uru\AppData\Local\Skyrim

 

Go Rape and Pillage or knowing this site as I do Go get raped and get Pillagged Enslaved and Impregnated by your favourite method.

but above all have Fun Sex, Lots of Sex.

 

TLDR: Well then you're TSTLA (Too Stupid to Learn Anything) as you might gather I hate that acronym because my new one is what it means.

These things take time and planning, to post TLDR and comment is an insult of the worst kind, the above is a pre-emptive strike.

I don't mind that you chose not to read, it's a guide for a specific purpose, but by not reading you lost the right to have your comment considered worth reading as well.

Putting it simply  If you don't read, you don't comment the second requires the first

[most_wanted]

I thought of making a guide for MO myself..i mean a huge one for every user, "newbies-friendly" with images\videos. Maybe I will some day.

 

gl

[Uhuru N'Uru]

I thought of making a guide for MO myself..i mean a huge one for every user, "newbies-friendly" with images\videos. Maybe I will some day.

 

gl

 

No real Need to do that here it already exists on Step the Main Documentation Wiki see My Sig Links. Artful Daemon has posted a lot of help here.

I said the above is only for keeping a Data Folder heavy, ModMaker type install where many mods are custom edited.

Ordinary Mortals should just Install the Mods in MO and Transfer Saves over to preserve a character, there is a built in Importer in MO but it only works for Regular Mods.

The Documentation can always be improved though and doing so on STEP helps all users.

Those willing to Help Out are few so more are alwys welcome, I'd advise starting on a single aspect, The little guide above took me about 5 hours, making sure of the facts is the vital and time consumingf thing, Noob guides are the hardest to right well as you must assume they know nothing about a PC never mind MO or modding, They may have a willingness to learn and just not understand, what you mean, sometimes explaining a dufficult concept in a different way helps the best.

I'm just Uhuru on STEP and one of the MO Moderators, so can say for sure your help or anyones is welcome.

 

Main thing is if users help other users, Tannin (MO's sole Developer) can do what he should be doing, writing better code.

[most_wanted]

Yep I agree Uhuru, I've used that guide myself not so much time ago. And I've expanded my (practical) knowledge by using MO.

I'd change a lot of things though, especially where it's not noob friendly or too verbose or..ehm, wrong.

To save me some time, can you suggest me an easy way to make a video for YT? I mean what program do you suggest, I'll take care of the rest.

[Uhuru N'Uru]

I really know nothing about you tube videos but generally Sony Vegas is considered a good program Death Neko has made MO videos it can all depend oin your seriousness as to cost of kit, The best advice gopher gives is a good mike and he uses hardware recording. Noit my field really my skill ais explaining difficult topics so all understand from noobs to advanced. which is not easy. basically you assume reader knows nothing but is wanting to learn. as to wiki it also must explain to all so some is for noobs and some for the power users. It was written mostly by one person . That's part of the problem no one helps, the same few only more write on forums, but Wiki never. Tannin is making the program all alone so really does not have time to document it, he relies on us few who STEP up, Here Artful Demon really helps and me recently but time I spend here is time away from playing game, I post on STEP at work using free hotspot while waiting for customers, LL is blocked on the hotspot though. I don't know if Artful Demon goes on STEP not under that name but even if it's just here it all helps and if he wants to keep 2 separate ID's thats his business not mine. Nexus Forum is a mess.

Do whatever you feel able to do, get proper video advice from someone with experience though a good mike is a must.

I'm just Uhuru on STEP.