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Posted byVive11 months ago
Archived
Guide to Modding with Vortex (if you're still using NMM, come on in!)
Intro (if you want to just start installing, skip this section)
It seems like every week we have a new post here on getting mods to work. And even though Vortex is really easy to install and use, I think some people will feel better if they can follow a guide. One thing if you want to just run off without the guide, be sure you have your mods and game on the same drive! I wrote a comprehensive guide to using Vortex Mod Manager over on r/skyrimvr, and I thought we could use it over here. I fear that merely as a post this'll get drowned in a few days, so I propose it may be a good idea for moderators to make this more permanent/visible.
For those of you who don't know, Nexus Mod Manager (NMM) should not be used anymore. Here's what Vortex can do that NMM cannot: it directly supports FO4VR (& Skyrim VR), it deploys mods as a 'hardlink' instead of directly copying them, it has LOOT integration and automatically runs it, you don't have to mess with your
plugins.txt
, it's new, it's alive, and it's supported.A note about Mod Organizer 2. Just like Vortex, MO2 is currently updated and does support FO4VR directly so if you already know MO, you may want to check that out instead. For everyone else I highly recommend Vortex, and it's more user friendly, and updated more often.
Activating Mods: (If you have already activated mods with the ini tweak than you can skip to this section.)
- Be sure you've launched the game for the first time, and it runs (then quit).
- Navigate to:
Documents>My Games>Fallout4VR
and openFallout4Custom.ini
(You can get to this directory quickly by pasting this into the address bar in Windows Explorer:C:Users%USERPROFILE%DocumentsMy GamesFallout4VR
) NOTE: if you don't see this specific file here be sure you're in the right place, and you can always create it if you need to. - Go to the bottom of the document, and Add the heading
[Archive]
. right under it add the line:bInvalidateOlderFiles=1
and below that:sResourceDataDirsFinal=
then save.
Looks like this:
[Archive]
bInvalidateOlderFiles=1
sResourceDataDirsFinal=
That's it for enabling, now on to using Vortex...
Vortex: Installing & Using
The following guide is very detailed to help everyone, and if you're well-versed in stuff like this I'll summarize: Download and install the latest version of Vortex (< Github release), open it, and activate Fallout 4 VR (& Skyrim VR if you want), have Vortex handle your downloads in Settings:Download (pic), and then download your mods. Here's a video guide by Gopher if it helps.
Detailed Guide:
- Download and install: Link (Click the .exe download link, as of the writing of this guide, it's called
vortex-setup-0.15.2.exe
, but you may see a more updated version). - Run Vortex
- Click 'Games' in the left pane (pic), and click on the 'Discovered' tab (pic).
- Hover over the target game (in this case Fallout 4 VR, but Skyrim VR should show up too along with any other games that Vortex can manage) and click 'Manage'
- Click 'Settings' on the left pane (pic)
- You should be on the 'Interface' tab. I recommend disabling 'Deploy mods immediately when...' because I've had them mess up with this active (pic). With this off you'll simply have to push the 'Deploy' button when you're done managing your mods. NOTE: if you're planning on attempting to import your mods from NMM or MO you'll want to do that now, see Importing from MO/NMM below.
- Click the 'Mods' tab (pic). If you see red text you'll need to set up the mod directory. In the 'Base Path' box, put where you want your mods to be stored. It's easiest if you have
/{GAME}
at the end (pic) (it appears you can put anything you want here as long as your mod directory is different than you install directory and it's on the same drive, thanks u/andyjs1969). - Now, click the 'Download' tab. At the top activate 'Handle Download With Manager' (pic).
- Now, go to the Fallout 4 Nexus (Link here)and download your mods. When downloading, you'll click the 'Mod Manager Download' (pic) instead of 'Manual Download'. (NOTE: if you're choosing to download not on from the 'files' tab on the mods page, the button you want to hit has 'NMM' on it) (pic)
- As your mods finish downloading, they'll show up in the 'Downloads' pane on the left. Hit the orange 'Install' button on the right (pic). Note that you can highlight multiple downloaded mods and hit the 'Install' button on the bottom that shows up (pic). Because these mods are technically for Fallout 4 pancake it'll either say it can't find Fallout 4 VR and ask if you want to install for Fallout 4 VR, or if you have both games managed it'll ask you which one you want to install it for, click 'Install for Fallout 4 VR' (pic).
- After you've installed, go to the 'Mods' pane on the left. When a Mod is done installing you'll have to first enable it but hitting 'Enable' on the left (pic), or you can highlight multiple mods and hit the 'Enable' button on the bottom (pic).
- If there are file conflicts or missing dependencies (and if you're worried about your load order) Vortex will warn you about them as they are enabled (pic). With conflicting mods, make sure the mod you want more is loaded last. If you'r missing a required mod, find it on the Nexus and download it. I recommend reinstalling the dependent mod after you install the one that's required. You can also manually set load order by clicking and dragging the little dependency icon for the mod to the same icon on a different mod (pic). It'll then ask you which you want loaded first (pic), but sure you've selected the higher priority or the mod that depends on the other to load last.
- When you've got what you need hit the 'Deploy Mods' button at the top. (pic) < Don't forget this step!
You're done unless you have files that conflicting files, or missing dependencies, both of which Vortex recognizes and asks you about. You can close Vortex after you've deployed.
'Importing from MO/NMM'
I've never actually used the import feature of Vortex because it's so easy to just do it manually so I cannot speak to how well it works. When I switched from NMM, I just dragged my mods into the 'Drop File' pane at the bottom. When Vortex imports your mods, it will keep your setup for those programs in tact (with the obvious exception of editing the
plugins.txt
). Because of that it'll make a copy of all your mods, and if you have some big ones it'll take a little time.First, an note: Automatron does not work 100%. The game crashes when you try to make your robots. There's no word on if this'll be fixed in the future. Okay, there are two flavors for getting them to work with mods. You got the originals, and you have the VR Optimization Project which has integrated the VR fixes. You should use this one for sure. Here's the link. It's not too clear, but you'll need to download all of these:
- VR Optimization Fix - Nuka-World DLC
- VR Optimization Fix - Commonwealth -Downtown (not required for DLC, but recommended!)
- VR Optimization Fix - Far Harbor DLC
- VR Optimization Fix - Interiors
- VR Optimization Fix - Far Harbor ESP Update
- VR Optimization Fix - Nuka-World ESP Update
Be sure the 'Update' files load AFTER the other ones when you mod manager detects the conflict. There's another issue, you have to have them load last in your load order. You have to do this manually in the plugins tab. After you've selected all your mods click the sort manually button. Then, select the esps for the mod. There are 4 of them, and they start with
RDTG
. Double click on them, switch OFF the 'Sorted manual' switch, and set them high, I put mine at 6A
. Best way for me to tell if I got 'em working right is I go to Far Harbor and a whole bunch of the ground textures are missing, and the performance is really bad (or I guess I should say worse). I don't know how to get this to work in MO2, but I hear it's a bit easier to dictate mod order because LOOT isn't automatic.Troubleshooting
'Missing dependent mods or conflicting files'
Vortex will warn you if you have any missing masters or any file conflicts and will prompt you to take action. That's pretty much all you have to worry about. If you do want to dictate a particular mod's priority in the order than follow these steps:
- Click 'Plugins' (pic)
- Then look over on the right (pic)
- Click on the mod you want, and you can set the mod priority. (pic)
More on this: In the past, some mod programs didn't help too much with mods that try to use the same texture/material/mesh, and they didn't alert you when you're missing a required mod. Vortex will warn you about these conflicts/problems with the notification 'bell' at the top. If it says there are missing dependencies, then you need to find the mod back on the Nexus. You can always choose to disable or uninstall the mod if you don't want what it depends on. Now, if you have mods that conflict or are on based upon each other, Vortex may ask you which one you prefer over the other. You'll want the mod you want more to load last when you're asked.
![Configure Fnis Nmm Configure Fnis Nmm](http://www.mediafire.com/conv/96d81e7a5c4805e45f45f0575ceb764eb2ac70a4cb157863380a3698a465f0056g.jpg)
'No deployment...'
Apparently there are a lot of people who are getting the 'No deployment' error when switching over. This just means that vortex doesn't have it's file structure set up right (I think it may have something to do with NMM being installed). Also, you must have these directories on the same drive letter as your game.
- Click on 'Settings' (pic) on the left pane
- Click the 'Mods' (pic) tab near the top
- In the 'Base Path' select your general mods folder then put
{GAME}
after that. Mine looks like this:
C:Users(yourusername)DocumentsMods{GAME}
So your mod file structure will be in folders in this 'Mods' folder named after each game. FO4VR will be
fallout4vr
can Skyrim VR will be skyrimvr
.If that doesn't work, you may not have selected your game yet? Click 'Games' on the left pane (pic). Click the 'Discovered' tab (pic), and mouse over Fallout 4 VR and select 'Manage'.
'Vortex won't handle Nexus downloads?'
![Configure Fnis Nmm Configure Fnis Nmm](/uploads/1/2/5/3/125397246/429744777.png)
I assume you activated Vortex as described in the guide above (Settings:Download:Handle...). Apparently, there's a problem with chrome that Vortex fixes for you. You have to click the button (pic).
'Mods stored on other drives?'
Mods cannot be stored on other drives (i.e. game on SSD, mods on HDD). Vortex uses 'hardlinks' for your mods instead of making copies of them. Vortex can use symlinks, but these bethesda games don't work with them. Symlinks and hardlinks just make it so it's easier to manage mods, makes the deployment much faster, and makes it so you can have multiple profiles (i.e. stealth build mods, heavy combat mods, etc., super cheating sith mods).
Mod Organizer 2?
Vortex does some cool stuff including supporting both Fallout 4 VR and Skyrim VR officially (EDIT: MO2 has recently updated to directly support both as well!). It's also consistently updated (about every week) and the new official program of The Nexus (replacing NMM which is no longer supported). Vortex also has integration with LOOT (though you don't need it as Vortex handles load order and conflicts by itself. It creates 'hardlinks' for your mods instead of making copies (here's an explanation on how that works). This makes the deployment much faster, and lets Vortex offer different mod 'profiles' (i.e. stealth mods, Melee mods, etc.). Couple this with the fact that Vortex has an integrated tool to import your mods from MO/NMM it's a good choice. Oh, and don't forget that Vortex is being developed by the developer of Mod Organizer with the intention of making a better program to replace both MO and NMM.
That's all I got. If you continue to have trouble, you can post here, and I'll try to help you out between my (long) gaming sessions. If you don't/can't get support here I also recommend going to the Vortex forums over on the Nexus: Link. Let me know if you feel like I forgot anything.
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