Nexus Mod Manager (NMM) vs. Oblivion Mod Manager (OBMM) vs Wrye Bash

[Casul Gamer]

Update: I ended up using Wrye Bash (I'll edit the title), but I'm not sure yet whether it worked properly.

Since I'm already familiar with NMM (and know how to manually install mods with it), I'm tempted to use it, but I used Mod Organizer with Skyrim and that worked very well so I'd consider using OBMM instead of NMM if it has a lot of useful/better features.

One concern with NMM is whether manually installing mods will work with it if they zip/rar doesn't have the right file structure. Mod Organizer had a pretty much fail-safe method where you could almost always install it correctly regardless of whether the file path was "correct".

Also, please take into account that I'm lazy

Edit: I found another thread discussing this, but I'm still interested in getting response: https://steamcommunity.com/app/22330/discussions/0/34093781617168429

[Frostbite]

From my modding experience, if some program have a specific game's name in it, you use that program for said specific game only and nothing else.

[Casul Gamer]

Thanks. I actually ended up using Wrye Bash instead. I'm not sure if I'm going to need OBMM too or if Wrye Bash takes care of everything.

So far, the process has been relatively easy, but I'm not sure yet whether there are any additional steps to get everything installed properly.

[Johnny Casey]

Do all the installings manually, and make merged patch by yourself. That's by far the best way.

Never trust a program to do your job.

[Frostbite]

You are right, manual is the way for modding Oblivion. But...

Originally posted by Johnny Casey:

Never trust a program to do your job.

I wish you good luck in the following years with this mindset.

[Johnny Casey]

I was about to state as 'Never trust a machine', but I figure that would be too nerdy.

[Kongha]

lazy you say. Then Wrye Bash is the best take :)

[Casul Gamer]

Originally posted by Kongha:

lazy you say. Then Wrye Bash is the best take :)

Thanks. Yeah, I'm finding it pretty easy to use. I still don't know how to make "Bashed Patches" (something I heard people talking about back in my Skyrim days), but hopefully the basics will work for what I'm doing.

[Kongha]

Originally posted by SuperLotus:

Originally posted by Kongha:

lazy you say. Then Wrye Bash is the best take :)

Thanks. Yeah, I'm finding it pretty easy to use. I still don't know how to make "Bashed Patches" (something I heard people talking about back in my Skyrim days), but hopefully the basics will work for what I'm doing.

look at my guide, some short tips of how to build the bash patch :)
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=971312438

[Casul Gamer]

Thanks for the guide.

If you install everything manually, doesn't make it extremely difficult to uninstall the mod?

At the very least, it does look like it's necessary to at least unpack the archive to view the file structure and look at readme files before installing with Wrye Bash. I've had several mods that didn't install properly and had to repack them. Now I'm wondering if I should go back and reinstall all of my mods...

[SnickerToodles]

A few things to keep in mind when you use Wrye Bash, since you've had some trouble with file structure. I've also had some trouble with it but once you know what to do it's not too bad.

When you open a mod (in my experience), you should see a folder called "Data". When you open it, there will be a "meshes" and "textures" folder, possibly some other folders, and an esp below it.

Wrye Bash will often get confused if the esp/esm is in another sub-folder. It needs to be DIRECTLY inside the "Data" folder or Wrye won't see it.

Some modders will also put their "meshes" and "textures" folder inside a "Resources" folder or whatever. This will also confuse Wrye. The meshes and textures folders need to be directly inside the Data folder or they won't install correctly and you won't see them in-game.

If there isn't a Data folder and the mod files are just right inside the main folder, I think that will work too.

If any of the mod is packed wrong, just move the stuff around yourself, then drop your edited mod folder into Wrye. This should fix any issues. You shouldn't need to re-install any of your mods unless they packed their meshes and textures folders wrong.

(I could be wrong so if you notice a mod packed this way, I'd recommend teleporting to the mod area and seeing if the custom stuff is displaying.)

Also, you won't need to use OBMM for 99% of mods. A handful won't work without it but you'll know when you encounter them. Wrye Bash seems to work fine on its own.

Hope it helps and wasn't too confusing.

[Psycho Al]

Another option is to manual download.
Follow manual instructions copying to a temporary folder. Zip that data folder as your mod to install from file in Vortex.

Also use Oblivion Mod Manager to reset BSA timestamps. Click Utilities and select Archive Invalidation. Click Reset BSA timestamps.

https://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/2097

[Kongha]

Originally posted by SuperLotus:

Thanks for the guide.

If you install everything manually, doesn't make it extremely difficult to uninstall the mod?

At the very least, it does look like it's necessary to at least unpack the archive to view the file structure and look at readme files before installing with Wrye Bash. I've had several mods that didn't install properly and had to repack them. Now I'm wondering if I should go back and reinstall all of my mods...

never install anything manual, if you do you cant roll back :). Just follow my simple guide of how to use wrye bash and you are set :)

[Casul Gamer]

What about Mod Organizer or Mod Organizer 2? I thought things were going ok with Wrye bash, but then I ran into major issues.

I like the control I have with Mod Organizer where easy to see exactly where everything is going. Almost like installing them manually.

If anyone's interested, I'm doing my blind playthrough for Youtube. It's not going to be everyone's cup of tea (don't expect Gopher), but it's my way of playing. (The armor mods I'm using aren't actually that skimpy btw...)

https://youtu.be/smhh0hEV92k

[Liquid Burek Snake]

I use MO for Skyrim, but for Oblivion Wyre Bash is the easiest one. And I can fix conflicting mods easy. Check Predcaliber or Bevilex on youtube for modding Oblivion with Wyre bash.

[Casul Gamer]

I'll check those guys out, but I would still prefer to use Mod Organizer. Something I just realized is that I wasn't launching Oblivion with OBSE...or is that only necessary with Skyrim and SKSE?