How To Use Wyre Bash For Modding

[QHD_144hz_MLED_5ms]

Yes, I'm aware that Vortex and ModOrganizer exists, but I'll stick with using Wyre Bash since I installed it to fix the Abomb bug. I may consider switching over to Vortex in the future, but for now I'll use Wyre Bash. I already have experience manually installing mods in a few Valve games before, such as Left 4 Dead 2 and Counter-Strike: Source, along with Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (not from Valve). The following text after this paragraph I copied from ChatGPT, let me know if the information is inaccurate:

Using **Wrye Bash** for mod installation in *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion* can streamline the process and help manage your mod setup more efficiently, especially when it comes to compatibility, load order, and stability. Here's a guide on how to use Wrye Bash to install mods for Oblivion.

**Step-by-Step Guide to Using Wrye Bash for Oblivion Mod Installation**

1. **Download and Install Wrye Bash**
- **Download**: Get Wrye Bash from a trusted source like the Nexus Mods website. Make sure to download the version that supports Oblivion.
- **Install**: Follow the installation instructions on the download page. You’ll typically extract the files to your Oblivion directory (`Oblivion\Data\Bash Installers`).

2. **Launch Wrye Bash**
- Navigate to your Oblivion directory and launch **Wrye Bash** by double-clicking the executable (`Wrye Bash.exe`).
- You'll see several tabs across the top: **Installers**, **Mods**, **Saves**, and **Bashed Patch**.

3. **Setting Up the Installers Tab**
- **Organize Your Mod Files**: Create a `Bash Installers` folder inside your `Oblivion\Data` directory. This is where Wrye Bash expects mod files to be placed. 
  - You can place the `.zip`, `.7z`, or `.rar` mod archives directly into this folder.
  - Wrye Bash will automatically recognize them, and they will appear in the **Installers** tab.

4. **Install Mods Using the Installers Tab**
- **Check for Mod Listings**: Once your mods are in the `Bash Installers` folder, they should appear in the **Installers** tab.
- **Right-Click to Install**: Right-click on the mod archive in the Installers list and select **Install**. Wrye Bash will automatically unpack and install the mod into the correct directories within Oblivion.
  - **Indicator Colors**: Different colors in the Installers tab indicate the status of the mod:
    - **Green**: Installed and in order.
    - **Blue**: Installed but with extra files or conflicts.
    - **Red**: Missing files or not properly installed.
  
5. **Adjust Load Order in the Mods Tab**
- **Activate the Mod**: Go to the **Mods** tab in Wrye Bash. You will see a list of all the `.esm` and `.esp` files installed.
  - Make sure the checkbox next to the mod's plugin (e.g., `modname.esp`) is checked to activate it.
- **Adjust Load Order**: Wrye Bash will automatically sort the load order to minimize conflicts, but you can also adjust it manually by dragging and dropping the plugins in the **Mods** tab.
  
6. **Create and Use the Bashed Patch**
- **What is the Bashed Patch?**: The **Bashed Patch** is a powerful tool in Wrye Bash that merges leveled lists, resolves conflicts between mods, and makes many mods more compatible with each other.
- **Build the Bashed Patch**:
  - Right-click on the **Bashed Patch, 0.esp** at the bottom of your load order in the **Mods** tab.
  - Select **Rebuild Patch**.
  - Wrye Bash will present you with a window showing what it will merge, tweak, or disable. Go through the options and select/deselect features as needed.
  - Click **Build Patch** to finalize it.
  
7. **Verify Mod Installation**
- **Run the Game**: Start Oblivion through your mod manager or directly from the executable to test the game and ensure the mods are working properly.
- **Check for Conflicts**: If you experience crashes or issues, go back to Wrye Bash, double-check your load order, and ensure that all necessary compatibility patches are installed and active.

8. **Manage Your Mods**
- **Uninstalling Mods**: To uninstall a mod, right-click it in the **Installers** tab and select **Uninstall**. Wrye Bash will remove all the files related to that mod, ensuring a clean uninstallation.
- **Updating Mods**: If a mod author releases an update, download the new version and place it in the `Bash Installers` folder. Right-click the mod in Wrye Bash and select **Anneal** or **Install** to apply the update.

**Tips and Considerations**
- **Mod Compatibility**: Always read the mod descriptions to check for compatibility with other mods you have installed.
- **Backups**: It's a good idea to backup your save files and `Oblivion.ini` before installing a lot of mods.
- **Conflict Resolution**: Use Wrye Bash's Bashed Patch and leveled list merging features to resolve potential conflicts between mods.
- **TES4Edit**: For more in-depth conflict resolution, you can also use TES4Edit alongside Wrye Bash to clean mods and check for deeper issues.

By following these steps, you can manage mods efficiently for *Oblivion* using Wrye Bash, ensuring a stable and enjoyable gameplay experience.

[Malala]

Why don't you just read the Wyre Bash page instead of just using ChatGPT to give you a probably erroneous summary?

[QHD_144hz_MLED_5ms]

Originally posted by Malala:

Why don't you just read the Wyre Bash page instead of just using ChatGPT to give you a probably erroneous summary?

i read that page and some of it still confuses me; thankfully, i asked ChatGPT to summarize the more confusing parts and now i've modded my game. i also read the descriptions of each mod i got from NexusMods

[arottweiler]

A guide created by AI is the last thing I would read when learning how to use software. There's a section for posting guides and hopefully it doesn't allow AI generated ones because tutorials need a human touch to be interactive and useful and that reads like Robocop or Rainier Wolfcastle wrote it. The readme and PDF guides that unpack with the utility is the best place to start learning how to use it. If there are issues someone else has usually posted about it online somewhere so you can find a solution from googling or youtube or online forums.

[QHD_144hz_MLED_5ms]

You would've been correct when ChatGPT still used the inferior models known as GPT 3.5 and GPT 4, but since last month, OpenAI has shelved them for the superior models known as GPT 4 Mini and GPT 4 Omni. These still are quite dumb when it comes to specific domains of knowledge and specific tasks, but they're a godsend over what used to be integrated with ChatGPT.

Besides, I have a background in coding and I've dealt with software issues almost my entire life, so I don't blindly rely on just AI bots. I also do view the readme files, although they just regurgitate and/or summarize what's already in the mod webpages. And as of last month (or month before idk), premium features like internet browsing, custom GPTs, advanced data analysis, etc., are now available for free users (I ain't paying them).

[arottweiler]

I don't know how ChatGTP works and am not anti-AI but technical material should be authored and proofread by humans so it's presented in a natural and more agreeable way. AI generated text always stands out like a sore thumb.