An apology

[brumpor]

I have spent quite awhile today doing nothing more than trying to clean up my downloaded mod list and could not help but feel sooo frustrated.  I will start off by saying modding is what keeps me playing...or rather you guys modding is what keeps me playing.  Most modders are awesome and even the ones that are not, hey I have never done it so kudo's for attempting.  If I could see one massive change for FO4, it would be the way you guys label.  I mean if you are working hardcore and have the "main" file, that makes perfect sense.  However, once you are ready to upload, just a hint in the title or the description that pops up when you click on your installed mod, would save someone like me HOURS.  I realize I do not mod and have no clue what all you must do to get a good mod off the ground and I probably deserve the time waste, but when game has been sitting awhile and you are trying to figure out what you did to it; having someone leaving author, description, and giving it a title like "main" or "this one" just seems sadistic lol   Most of my time was spent trying to track down these mods and figure out what they were and what they meant to me.  Because being the weird, ocd hermit that I am...I just could not bring myself to delete the unknown...I might hate me later lol   Do not get me wrong, appreciate the hell out of what you guys and gals do but just seems like such a little thing that y'alll could do for me and I would love you forever!!!  On a more serious note...really do appreciate everyone, y'alls work makes me feel like paying $49 or I guess now $59 for a game nearly worth it.  You complete me.  Just a random insomniac induced rant.  But seriously, name your shit rofl....Oh yeah and I apologize to the 90% of you modders that did not need to hear this at all

[Guest endgameaddiction]

I'm not quite sure what you are trying to get at. You mean a feature like Nexus when it comes to downloading a mod having a pop up box?

 

 

[brumpor]

Lol I wrote a long reply but then I hit the wrong button sooo briefly:  Click plugin when name gives no clue as what mod it actually is or went with, then in the window that shows master files needed, there is no description and the author is "default"...makes it hard to figure out why I had that there and if I still want or need and will I blow something I love up if I get rid of that lol

 

[brumpor]

This might of course just be me, I tend to go on modding binges and download all I "might want to play with later."  Then when I return to the game I can't remember what it was and it is usually the poorly labeled that have no read-me note attached either.  Not a big deal really, just something newer or infrequent modders might not have thought about and maybe a heads up now will have some grand effect on my life later when I am going back and playing FO4 over and trying to figure out what I did to it lol 

[A.J.]

You're right. I personally never change these descriptions nor the author's field, because I consider that superflous. Now that I realized some people could not find it superflous, I'll start editing them.

[Guest endgameaddiction]

Oh I see. Yeah, I can relate to that. No readme attached to the archive file can be annoying. And the reason why is because some times mods get removed and you have no idea what's going on. It didn't happen back in the days, but I see this a lot with Skyrim mods on Nexus. And this does present a problem if a mod requires such and such. It's up to one to either copy n paste the jibberish on the description (and most descriptions on Skyrim mods on Nexus are just scattered all over the place) from the mod. Sadly this is a practice that's been going on for a while now.

 

I always make sure to include a readme to my files for this specific reason.

[A.J.]

 

I tend to go on modding binges and download all I "might want to play with later."  Then when I return to the game I can't remember what it was and it is usually the poorly labeled that have no read-me note attached either.

 

EDIT from previous message.

I thought the reason was different. If what I quoted above is the real reason, then no, I don't feel to agree.

[brumpor]

 

I tend to go on modding binges and download all I "might want to play with later."  Then when I return to the game I can't remember what it was and it is usually the poorly labeled that have no read-me note attached either.

 

EDIT from previous message.

I thought the reason was different. If what I quoted above is the real reason, then no, I don't feel to agree.

 

 

Well the FO4 release made me want to dust off and play the previous titles.  So I went through the mod sites grabbing  everything I would want to play with to start the game perfect and fun forever....well that being said the plugin list ended up being over 300 long...needless to say a bit of crashing.  Reading all those mods back to back and installing everything at once, I just did a huge number on myself.  Either the game engine or my comp but 142 plugins are all I am allowed, so when I started trying to decide what I was going to keep and/or what I needed to keep that is when I realized my little problem.   I did not mean to sound like I hoarded files for six months or so, then did it.  All of them downloaded in past couple of days.  Of course, now that I know my limit...I won't make that mistake again.  But, I am actually here right now trying to find a few files, to know if I can thin out the sexout section of my list...I still got to clear some to be able to play.   Like I said, no biggie but would be helpful.

[RitualClarity]

It would be useful if

• Mods actually was consistently name and versioned
• Had the actual version number attached, edited in GECK etc
• Had the author also added to the GECK. Basically what A.J mentioned. Most authors do because they are busy and don't realize the impact this can have.
• Proper Readme with needed info .. short instructions etc. Basicly if someone looks at it.. they can use it to reconstruct the install and know the requirements. Not an actual tutorial but list.. ex.. SexoutNG.. requires, NXextender, BnB body extender, NVSE (etc.).

So I do agree with the OP.. However...proper organization on YOUR computer can solve all these problems you are having.

Possible suggestions:

• Download the mod into a folder with the name, author and version number on it.
• Copy the web page (for future reference and review if needed)
• Copy the info off the page or make your own Readme that gives everything you feel is needed for future reference to reconstruct the mod. this includes the requirements and versions of those requirements. For example SCR has many files incuded with it, also SexoutNG does the same. Most of the time these files are specific to that version of the mod. Either keep notes on the versions needed in your "Mod folder" or actually keep the required copies of the mods for the Sexout, SCR etc in the same folder. Your choice.
• Note, tutorials etc also copied.
• Web capture of any events or locations.. For example armors are often spread throughout the wasteland.. Have a copy of the location written or photo if needed. Most mods do this but .. when they don't.. .

Basically there are many ways to avoid the problems you are experiencing. I drop the mods (download them) onto the desktop normally or directly to MO. Then I create a folder for them and name it like I mention above. (most of the time.. lol) then have copies of the data I need and any other info needed to reconstruct the mod install.

 

If you are experienced.. you can merge the files from SexoutNG into one install folder and repackage it right back up and just have one zip file to maintain . Same with SCR, Tryouts, almost any mod that has multiparts. Then all you need is to have a simple note on the requirements (version number) and not have to worry or run into missing parts or install the wrong part. (which is a major problem with archiving many mods as you well know).

 

I agree there is much that can be done to make it easier for the mod user to keep their mods archives nice and tidy.. however.. there is many ways even though they are inconvenient to do, that can help minimize the issue. Thumbs up for bringing this up and hopefully some of the authors here might do their part (editing info in the GECK, packaging, simple instructional Readme, etc) that can help with the issue.

[brumpor]

I do not deny for one sec that I completely do these things to myself.  Sometimes though you can extract a fomod, has a nice name, activate it, click over to plugins and it put several things in.  All normal, but then an idiot like me comes along and activates 100 or so mods at once and it only takes a few generic named, unlabeled plugins to suddenly turn a pleasant evening into banging one's head on the desk repeatedly.  Do not think of it so much as a gripe or complaint, but as an extremely long mod request.  Help save idiots like me from ourselves.  On a more serious note, nothing but respect and I am grateful y'all do it.  I looked at one tutorial on modding and then I laughed/cried myself to sleep and decided to wait patiently for someone else to do everything...

[RitualClarity]

I agree I had some mods that were named strangely from what everyone called them and couldn't for the life of me figure out what it was.. I had to research to realize it was a core requirement for a mod I wanted to use.. There are definatly better ways to do this and on that point I agree but not sure if anyone will do anything about that considering they are working for free. Hopefully at least a few that read this thread might consider adding some Geck info etc. That can help greatly I am  sure.

 

AS for modding it is like anything else. If you shown an 8th grader the physics book of a Master level Phsics student his/her eyes would glaze over and he / she would give up. The key is simple steps. One is just changing the hair styles of your NPCs, Eye color, or armor. FNVedit does this pretty easy. Perhaps merge a few mods together. Useful for those mods that come in parts but no other mod requires accessing. It is a learning curve but there are simple steps to start and you might find it fun. I changed Sunny's hair style after years of looking at the same ol". same ol'. .

 

There are many things you can do for your own personal enjoyment. Change the armor rating.. perk timing duration etc. soon you will be making mini mods. The authors here are creating massive mods. Nobody states that you have to start a project like this.. Also LL has some of the best support.. so if you do change some eyes and screw it up.. Likely someone will be able to walk you through fixing it.. .