Modding help pls (ini)

[Fatal AR]

Hello, i've just bought the game and i want to mod it right away, i've modded FO4 and TESV before and it seems to be different now in Starfield.
Do i need to manually add the .ini line from each mod i download from Nexus (through Vortex) in the StarfieldCustom.Ini ?
I've installed few mods already and my .ini is just like this;
[Archive]
bInvalidateOlderFiles=1
sResourceDataDirsFinal=

[General]
bEnableMessageOfTheDay=0

[Display]
sPhotoModeFolder=Photos

If you can provide a how to mod starfield guide for dummies i'll really appreciate it.

[PocketYoda]

Did you update to the beta, if so modding wont work on a lot.

[Drake Ravenwolf]

There are a few different types of mods atm; some are simple console commands editing global values (likely the type you are thinking of if you are talking StarfieldCustom.Ini)

Others are actual .esp or .esm plugins, and the list goes on.

Just follow the instructions in the mods you want to use, check for prerequisites for those mods and download/install those as well.

[Drake Ravenwolf]

If you use multiple console command "mods" then I recommend just opening the txt and cut/paste the console commands all into ONE txt and load that ONE via the ini. You can try loading them separately or else create one txt that calls all the other txts, but what I suggested works best for me.

Example StarfieldCustom.ini:

[General]
sStartingConsoleCommand=bat optraderon
[Interface]
fScanHighlightDotAngle=0.2
[ResourceVeins]
fResourceDecalRenderRadiusFalloffPct=10
fResourceDecalRenderRadiusPct=10
[Archive]
bInvalidateOlderFiles=1
sResourceDataDirsFinal=

Example optraderon.txt:

setgs fAIExclusiveGreetingTimer 300.000000
setgs fAIGreetingTimer 300.000000
setgs fAIHelloTimer 300.000000
setgs fAIMaxHeadTrackDistanceFromPC 5
setgs fAIMinGreetingDistance 1.000000
setgs fPickPocketMinChance 100
setgs fPickPocketMaxChance 100
setgs fPlayerGreetingSameActorTimer 300.000000
setgs fHandScannerBaseRange 500
setgs fHandScannerMapMarkerMinRange 5000
setgs fMaxShipTransferDistance 2500.00
setgs fSpaceshipLootingDistanceDefault 5000
setgs fXPDeathRewardHealthThreshold 0.001
setgs iDaysToRespawnVendor 0
setgs iSecondsToSleepPerUpdate 4000
SetGS uSpaceshipMaximumOwnedSpaceships 100

[Vlad 254]

I mod Bethesda games myself but every single Bethesda game releases the Official Modding Tools after about 4-6 months (on the average) after the game's release. So those tools have not yet been released.

And because those tools have not yet been released I'm not modding my game and I don't advise others to do so either. I know many are but even the mod authors that are releasing mods are announcing the risk involved.

I do use pure model and texture mods currently. Pure meaning they do not have any plugins. They are simple nif and dds files.

But yes even with only using models and textures I had to make a custom ini file.
Also; just about every single mod page has the information on how that Custom ini should be setup.

I'll also add that it's always recommended to play the game vanilla first. Obviously that's not a requirement but it is something I always do so while waiting on the Official Tools I'm playing what is basically an unmodded game as far as plugins are concerned.

[PocketYoda]

Here is a choice of mods to enable Achievements. Do this First!
https://www.nexusmods.com/starfield/mods/658
https://www.nexusmods.com/starfield/mods/1402

I use the second one because it still works after an update the first one is more popular but breaks due to SFSE.

Here are the top 6 mods you need to Mods Starfield
https://www.nexusmods.com/starfield/mods/106
https://www.nexusmods.com/starfield/mods/3256
https://www.nexusmods.com/starfield/mods/4157
https://www.nexusmods.com/starfield/mods/1599
https://www.nexusmods.com/starfield/mods/2740
https://www.nexusmods.com/starfield/mods/1

[Fatal AR]

Originally posted by PocketYoda:

Did you update to the beta, if so modding wont work on a lot.

Just downloaded the game, if that beta comes out with the default download then yes.

[PocketYoda]

Originally posted by Fatal AR:

Originally posted by PocketYoda:

Did you update to the beta, if so modding wont work on a lot.

Just downloaded the game, if that beta comes out with the default download then yes.

Its already out but you need to opt in. It kills modding for now though.

[Vlad 254]

Originally posted by Fatal AR:

Originally posted by PocketYoda:

Did you update to the beta, if so modding wont work on a lot.

Just downloaded the game, if that beta comes out with the default download then yes.

The beta patch should go live by the end of this month.

I wouldn't mod the game until the official tools come out but that's your choice. But if you do mod and accept the beta patch then the only mods you can not use are the Script Extender and any mod that depends on it.

[Fatal AR]

Originally posted by PocketYoda:

Here is a choice of mods to enable Achievements. Do this First!
https://www.nexusmods.com/starfield/mods/658
https://www.nexusmods.com/starfield/mods/1402

I use the second one because it still works after an update the first one is more popular but breaks due to SFSE.

Here are the top 6 mods you need to Mods Starfield
https://www.nexusmods.com/starfield/mods/106
https://www.nexusmods.com/starfield/mods/3256
https://www.nexusmods.com/starfield/mods/4157
https://www.nexusmods.com/starfield/mods/1599
https://www.nexusmods.com/starfield/mods/2740
https://www.nexusmods.com/starfield/mods/1

What should i do if installed all the mods without the ''Baka disable my games folder'' ? delete everything and start again?

[Fatal AR]

Originally posted by Vlad 254:

I mod Bethesda games myself but every single Bethesda game releases the Official Modding Tools after about 4-6 months (on the average) after the game's release. So those tools have not yet been released.

And because those tools have not yet been released I'm not modding my game and I don't advise others to do so either. I know many are but even the mod authors that are releasing mods are announcing the risk involved.

I do use pure model and texture mods currently. Pure meaning they do not have any plugins. They are simple nif and dds files.

But yes even with only using models and textures I had to make a custom ini file.
Also; just about every single mod page has the information on how that Custom ini should be setup.

I'll also add that it's always recommended to play the game vanilla first. Obviously that's not a requirement but it is something I always do so while waiting on the Official Tools I'm playing what is basically an unmodded game as far as plugins are concerned.

Yeah i'm aware of that step in every mod but i ignored most of them since it's just 'Oh, before modding just make sure you have the ini file with the following lines:
[Archive]
bInvalidateOlderFiles=1
sResourceDataDirsFinal= ''

[Fatal AR]

Originally posted by Drake Ravenwolf:

If you use multiple console command "mods" then I recommend just opening the txt and cut/paste the console commands all into ONE txt and load that ONE via the ini. You can try loading them separately or else create one txt that calls all the other txts, but what I suggested works best for me.

Example StarfieldCustom.ini:

[General]
sStartingConsoleCommand=bat optraderon
[Interface]
fScanHighlightDotAngle=0.2
[ResourceVeins]
fResourceDecalRenderRadiusFalloffPct=10
fResourceDecalRenderRadiusPct=10
[Archive]
bInvalidateOlderFiles=1
sResourceDataDirsFinal=

Example optraderon.txt:

setgs fAIExclusiveGreetingTimer 300.000000
setgs fAIGreetingTimer 300.000000
setgs fAIHelloTimer 300.000000
setgs fAIMaxHeadTrackDistanceFromPC 5
setgs fAIMinGreetingDistance 1.000000
setgs fPickPocketMinChance 100
setgs fPickPocketMaxChance 100
setgs fPlayerGreetingSameActorTimer 300.000000
setgs fHandScannerBaseRange 500
setgs fHandScannerMapMarkerMinRange 5000
setgs fMaxShipTransferDistance 2500.00
setgs fSpaceshipLootingDistanceDefault 5000
setgs fXPDeathRewardHealthThreshold 0.001
setgs iDaysToRespawnVendor 0
setgs iSecondsToSleepPerUpdate 4000
SetGS uSpaceshipMaximumOwnedSpaceships 100

Where can i find that optraderon file?

[Drake Ravenwolf]

Originally posted by Fatal AR:

Where can i find that optraderon file?

Just right click and select "New" -> "Text Document." You can call the txt file anything you want; that name was just the random mod I decided to shove all my console commands into. Most probably call it eg custom.txt instead, but what you call it doesn't matter as long as the file name matches what comes after:

sStartingConsoleCommand=bat 

Oh you do want to put the custom.txt in the same folder as the game's exe tho; that's where the game's console commands will look by default to run any bat command and that bat command just executes each console command you put in the custom.txt

[PocketYoda]

Originally posted by Fatal AR:

Originally posted by PocketYoda:

Here is a choice of mods to enable Achievements. Do this First!
https://www.nexusmods.com/starfield/mods/658
https://www.nexusmods.com/starfield/mods/1402

I use the second one because it still works after an update the first one is more popular but breaks due to SFSE.

Here are the top 6 mods you need to Mods Starfield
https://www.nexusmods.com/starfield/mods/106
https://www.nexusmods.com/starfield/mods/3256
https://www.nexusmods.com/starfield/mods/4157
https://www.nexusmods.com/starfield/mods/1599
https://www.nexusmods.com/starfield/mods/2740
https://www.nexusmods.com/starfield/mods/1

What should i do if installed all the mods without the ''Baka disable my games folder'' ? delete everything and start again?

No just add it.
But you need to make a plugins.txt with wordpad in

C:\Users\YourPCname\AppData\Local\Starfield (same folder as piple.cache)

in the file you need the lines
# This file is used by Starfield to keep track of your downloaded content. (You HAVE to keep a # on the first line here)
*StarfieldCommunityPatch.esm
*all other mods names here .esp/.esm etc
*etc


Mods get added to the main steam Starfield Data file mostly.

[Fatal AR]

Originally posted by PocketYoda:

Originally posted by Fatal AR:

What should i do if installed all the mods without the ''Baka disable my games folder'' ? delete everything and start again?

No just add it.
But you need to make a plugins.txt with wordpad in

C:\Users\YourPCname\AppData\Local\Starfield (same folder as piple.cache)

in the file you need the lines
# This file is used by Starfield to keep track of your downloaded content. (You HAVE to keep a # on the first line here)
*StarfieldCommunityPatch.esm
*all other mods names here .esp/.esm etc
*etc


Mods get added to the main steam Starfield Data file mostly.

I'm asking because i wanted to install this; https://www.nexusmods.com/starfield/mods/1119
and if you want to install it with vortex it says:
''Finally, delete the "...\Documents\My Games\Starfield\Data\" folder.''
But that data folder is 122gb, it's the whole game. That makes me think that author designed that mod to be used with ''Baka disable my games folder'' mod... right?

[PocketYoda]

Originally posted by Fatal AR:

Originally posted by PocketYoda:

No just add it.
But you need to make a plugins.txt with wordpad in

C:\Users\YourPCname\AppData\Local\Starfield (same folder as piple.cache)

in the file you need the lines
# This file is used by Starfield to keep track of your downloaded content. (You HAVE to keep a # on the first line here)
*StarfieldCommunityPatch.esm
*all other mods names here .esp/.esm etc
*etc


Mods get added to the main steam Starfield Data file mostly.

I'm asking because i wanted to install this; https://www.nexusmods.com/starfield/mods/1119
and if you want to install it with vortex it says:
''Finally, delete the "...\Documents\My Games\Starfield\Data\" folder.''
But that data folder is 122gb, it's the whole game. That makes me think that author designed that mod to be used with ''Baka disable my games folder'' mod... right?

Don't use Vortex its having issues with Starfield due to the new way it works. many mods don't work in Vortex.

The mod seems straight forward

To install manually, extract the contents of the zip file directly into the "Documents\My Games\Starfield" folder. Even if it is not where files typically go for modding in other games, they must go there for this mod to work by default. The loose DDS files should end up in the following directory:

Ignore this
"...\Documents\My Games\Starfield\Data\Textures\effects\luts"

And put them in
..:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Starfield\Data\Textures\effects\luts

This seems important though in
StarfieldCustom.ini

[Archive]
bInvalidateOlderFiles=1
sResourceDataDirsFinal=

You may already have a line like this in your "Starfield.ini" file:

sResourceDataDirsFinal=STRINGS\

If so, simply replace it with the one above.

That mod was before Baka was made.