Load Order Help Thread

[rbroab]

Not everyone is so tech savvy. Some people have a better understanding of load orders than others. Nothing wrong with asking for help. Hell, I was having issues staying organized even before TTW. I want this thread to be one where people can post tips, and others can post their load orders and ask for help.

Simply reorganizing your load order can improve the stability of your game, or even give you more CTD than you'd know what to do with. Most everyone is using mods, so why not optimize that load order?

If you have tips for other members, post them.

If you feel your load order could be improved, post it.

[plumjuice]

Step 1 - Use BOSS.

Step 2 - Use BOSS Userlist Manager.

Step 3 - Roflroll around in your massive pile of win.

These two programs are essential for any mod-including playthrough. They are easy to learn and use. There is no easier way to keep your load order running smooth. Period.

Anyone using mods should also have Wrye Bash and/or FNVEdit (I recommend both) but they are probably not directly relevant to this thread.

But yeah, BOSS and BUM are pure win.

[rbroab]

Funny thing, I used BOSS once and it completely rearranged my Load Order in a really odd way, not a good one mind you. I've never had much luck with it, and have been hesitant to try it again.

[delta534]

With TTW, I would advise against using BOSS. Mostly because it does not recognize the TTW files and screws the load order up. I wish I could offer more tips but I manually order things based on how the conflicts turn out in FNVEdit and manually create a merged patch to fix things when changing load order does not help or when a bashed patch screws something up. 

[plumjuice]

I am unsure what you mean by "a really odd way". I am guessing that you had your own load order and boss changed it to what it most commonly used, and by-and-large, accepted to work the best.

That said, I have 2 mods currently that are the same name as the original mod but have been re-done to work with PN, that BOSS insisted on putting before PN in the load order, despite having PN as a master. And that is where BUM comes in.

BUM can create override rules for any plugin already in the BOSS masterlist, so you can sort them however you want. It also allows a user to make their own custom rules (I have quite a few, namely ones that keep my TTW load order where it need to be).

I personally am very fond of the BOSS/BUM combo, and would highly recommend using them for Load Order management.

If any players are still hesitant about using an automated process, and would prefer to use a manual method, make sure that you have mods that need other mods as their masters loading after the masters. Wrye Bash checks the plugins you have in your list and makes sure that you have them in the right order. I am unsure if FOMM has this capability (I'm pretty sure it doesnt), but it is very helpful.

Really though, the best advice is to read up and educate yourself on the ins and outs of mod usage and becomming comfortable with operating the ***Edit tool. Pretty universal advice though.

[rbroab]

Odd as in moving mods in a way that wouldn't make sense to do. It put quite a few Project Nevada files ahead of their masters. It put GRA above New Vegas. 

Im not saying its bad or broken, but I don't feel it works for everyone. And seeing as we are no longer using just Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas mods, it's important to order correctly.

Some people have a hard enough time organizing as is, TTW can complicate that. Since people now use FO3 and FNV mods together, I think an area of support would be helpful.

Load orders may not seem important or like a huge deal. Most people think its really only the masters you should worry about, but any number of small changes can improve performance and stability.

[plumjuice]

That does sound odd.

Nevertheless I urge people to at least try out BUM.

And if manual is your prefered method, I would suggest keeping notes, detailing why certain mods are where they are, in case the list needs to be altered later if adding or removing a different mod.

[rbroab]

Awesome, exactly what I wanted to see. Thanks WizardofAtlantis

[WizardOfAtlantis]

 

Here are some guidelines by mod category/type originally written by dev_akm, modified by bben46, and made more Fallout-appropriate by yours truly.  

1. Official ESM's in their correct load order

[collapsed title=Official TTW Download Instructions] 

 

• 
  FalloutNV.esm


• 
  DeadMoney.esm


• 
  HonestHearts.esm


• 
  OldWorldBlues.esm


• 
  LonesomeRoad.esm


• 
  GunRunnersArsenal.esm
  
  
  
  The Courier's Stash packs are optional.
  
   


• 
  CaravanPack.esm


• 
  ClassicPack.esm


• 
  MercenaryPack.esm


• 
  TribalPack.esm
  
   


• 
  Fallout3.esm


• 
  Anchorage.esm


• 
  ThePitt.esm


• 
  BrokenSteel.esm


• 
  PointLookout.esm


• 
  Zeta.esm


• 
  TaleOfTwoWastelands.esm

 

text [/collapsed] 

2. All other ESM files, followed by esp's in the following general order:

3. Any Unofficial patches

4. Weather/Environment/Sound mods

5. Minor mods/houses/items

6. Major Overhaul Mods (Project Nevada, EVE, Weapon Mods, Monsters)

7. Compatibility patches for said overhauls

8. Mods that conflict with above overhauls but need to take precedence (esp's like TTW_XPReduction, TTW_NoKarmaDCFollowers, T3T_TTW_ArmorTweaks, etc)

9. Grand Compatibility patches/merged leveled lists

10.Special Handling Mods that MUST override others (Deadly Reflex for Oblivion, etc)

11. Bashed patches and merged patches

12. Super Special Handling Mods that REALLY MUST override others and really be last (such as SkyRe reproccers and Automatic Variants for Skyrim)

 

Within that guideline, they've put certain mods (like Quest mods) towards the end if you are either working on them or haven't finished them, but then they advise to put them higher up (I would assume before the Major Overhauls) once you've completed them. I've generally always had them higher up to begin with. :)

 

Some Fallout weather mods like to go lower in the load order, if I remember correctly, but I really don't know if that makes much of a difference. BOSS will certainly sort those out.

I'm sure there's something I'm forgetting...edit: yeah, like SkyRe reproccers go after bashed patches, but that's fixed now

[WizardOfAtlantis]

You are more than welcome, rbroab. I think having a scheme like the above in mind for load orders is really helpful when you want to do things manually, either by choice or when BOSS doesn't get a mod right. That's pretty much the order BOSS uses, anyway.

On a Tale of Two Wastelands note, I put my TTW-specific esp's in position number 8 on the above chart (esp's like TTW_XPReduction, TTW_NoKarmaDCFollowers, T3T_TTW_ArmorTweaks, etc)...or should I say, BOSS does. Doesn't matter. Amounts to the same thing in this case. :) Maybe I'll edit that in.