Fallout 3 - Vanilla setup (2024)

[Vick, The Conqueror]

Here are some steps just to install mods and setup for Fallout 3.

1. A clean install of Fallout 3 and run Fallout 3 at least once for the Fallout.ini needs to be created. After that close.

2. Install a program called Vortex (its a mod manager from NexusMods)

Here is the Link: https://www.nexusmods.com/site/mods/1?tab=description
-Vortex will require to install this program as you just installing Vortex. Just click on the fix button during the install and it will install it.
- https://aka.ms/dotnet/6.0/windowsdesktop-runtime-win-x64.exe
Make sure you sign in on Vortex with your Nexusmods login.

3. After the install is done go to the Games tab on the left on Vortex and you will search for Fallout 3. Once it pops up you will click on manage on the Fallout 3 icon. It will setup the folders for Vortex.

4. Once that is done, Click on Dashboard tab on the left. On the very top click on Archive Invalidation. (Archive invalidation simply adds a line to the ini files that allows for texture override, and a .bsa)

5. Finally the mods. Download the one's below in order:

-1 http://fose.silverlock.org/ Download Version: v1.3 b2
(Is this Fallout Script Extender (FOSE)) This is a manual download, download and wait until the next step(5. Installing).

-2 https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout3/mods/23682?tab=description
(This is Command Extender) This can be downloaded and installed via Mod Manager Download on Nexus.

-3 https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout3/mods/25717?tab=description
(Unofficial Fallout 3 ESM Patcher) This is a manual download, download and wait until the next step(5. Installing).

-4 https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout3/mods/19122?tab=description
(Updated Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch) This can be downloaded and installed via Mod Manager Download on Nexus.

-5 https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout3/mods/24913?tab=description
(Fallout Anniversary Patcher) This is a manual download, wait until the next step
(5. Installing).

-6 https://aka.ms/vs/17/release/vc_redist.x64.exe
(This is Microsoft Visual C++, its needed for the Fallout Anniversary Patcher) Download and just run the exe, it will install itself.

-7 https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout3/mods/23561?tab=description
(This is lStewieAl's Tweaks, for Quality-of-Life improvements) This can be downloaded and installed via Mod Manager Download on Nexus.



5. Installing.....
*Follow the order below and you will be fine

*1. For FOSE(Fallout Script Extender), you will open (fose_v1_3_beta2.7z) and Copy the .dll files and fose_loader.exe to your Fallout 3 directory(where fallout 3 is installed). I will look like this is: (C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Fallout 3 goty). You can find this by going on steam and right click fallout 3 from your library, click on Manage > Browse local files. Thats it for this step.

*2. For Unofficial Fallout 3 ESM Patcher, make a new folder on your desktop, name it what whatever you want and open it. Open (Unofficial Fallout 3 ESM Patcher-25717-1-4-1708771056.7z), copy everything in that folder and paste it in the new folder you made. Once done, double click on (Unofficial Fallout 3 ESM Patcher) to run it. You will need select the
Fallout 3 directory like it shows here: (C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Fallout 3 goty). Once done it will say: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Balls! :), Next step

*3. For Fallout Anniversary Patcher, you will open (Fallout Anniversary Patcher-24913-1-1-1634894885.7z), Copy everything and paste this to your Fallout 3 directory. Next you will run the exe named: Patcher. It should run on its own but if it does, just click in the Cmd window and hit enter. Once its done just close the window.

*4. At this point you should have Downloaded the other mods via Mod Manager Download on Nexus. Make sure they are the latest files for those mods. They are usual on top of the list of files on the mod page.

*5. Go to Vortex and make sure everything was downloaded and deployed. There will be a notification on the bell icon on Vortex when something was downloaded and installed. Make sure your plugin's are Enabled. That's it!

6. Enjoy the game.

[Covid Anal Swab]

First off:
Do just what he says, without smoking 5-6 bong hits (before or during the steps), It's really complicated when stoned.
I'm knee deep in F3 GOTY rn Mutha Fkas

[Vick, The Conqueror]

Originally posted by corporate:

i just installed it and played, i didn't have to do any of this. Fallout 3 really doesn't have many bugs that are even worth fixing. New Vegas on the other hand...

Not everyone has the same PC build as you.

[Theluxito]

In the instalation of the Unofficial Fallout 3 ESM Patcher, I get this issue "XD3_INVALID_INPUT /* invalid input/decoder error */" :(

[Vick, The Conqueror]

Originally posted by Theluxito:

In the instalation of the Unofficial Fallout 3 ESM Patcher, I get this issue "XD3_INVALID_INPUT /* invalid input/decoder error */" :(

When I had this issue, basically I found out that a DLC file was missing.
Look for these files in the Fallout 3 directory:

Fallout3.esm
Anchorage,esm
BrokenSteel.esm
ThePitt.esm
PointLookout.esm
Zeta.esm

If they are missing, Verify your game through Steam.
Here is how to do it:
1. launch Steam
2. Next, you can either right click the game in your Library, or click the gear icon from the
3. game's Library page on the far right
4. From the drop down menu, select Properties... Select the Installed Files tab and click the Verify integrity of game files button.

There you go you should have those files back. Backup(make a copy) of those files.

Now to fix this issue for ESM Patcher, before doing the patch make sure all files are there. That's why you need to make backup's for those files, some mods will move or delete those files.
Just place the files back into the directory and try the patch again.

[Vick, The Conqueror]

Originally posted by Covid Anal Swab:

First off:
Do just what he says, without smoking 5-6 bong hits (before or during the steps), It's really complicated when stoned.
I'm knee deep in F3 GOTY rn Mutha Fkas

Sounds good dude, Have fun.